The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a thoroughly capable experience in The Medium, with benchmark results showing a system that can comfortably handle the game’s fixed-camera horror presentation across a wide range of settings. The data indicates a pairing where the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates at higher resolutions, while the 8-core, 16-thread processor provides ample headroom to avoid bottlenecking even at 1080p. The measured figures paint a clear picture of a system that prioritizes consistency, though the gap between Low and Ultra presets reveals significant performance scaling demands.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) and operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This configuration is well-suited for The Medium, a game that relies on traditional CPU tasks like scene management, AI pathfinding, and maintaining the dual-reality mechanic where two worlds are rendered simultaneously. The processor’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB per-core L2 cache help keep frequently accessed data close, reducing latency in a game that often switches between two distinct environments.

The benchmark scores for the CPU place it in the 94th percentile of all processors, indicating strong overall performance. In multithreaded workloads, it scores 36,470 in Passmark, while single-thread performance is 4,691. These numbers are relevant because The Medium is not a heavily threaded title; it typically relies more on single-core performance for its main game logic. The 9700F’s high boost clock of 5.50 GHz ensures that the primary game thread can execute quickly, which is crucial for maintaining stable frame pacing. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 191 FPS, suggesting that the CPU is not a limiting factor even when the GPU has less work to do.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the 9700F’s average benchmark score of 69,996 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which scores 69,875 (a 0.2% difference). It also edges out the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70,163, -0.2%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69,515, 0.7%). The fact that the 9700F is competitive with these higher-tier chips in synthetic benchmarks suggests that its 8-core layout is efficient for this game’s workload. In practice, the measured FPS results show that the processor handles the game’s demands without introducing stutter, as evidenced by the consistent minimum FPS figures at Medium settings (e.g., 86 FPS minimum at 1440p). The CPU’s 65W TDP and 4nm process node indicate a power-efficient design that doesn’t compromise on clock speeds, which is a benefit for sustained gaming sessions.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Examining the measured FPS data, the Medium preset emerges as the most balanced choice for this hardware combination. At 1440p, Medium yields an average of 101 FPS with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold with a comfortable margin, making it ideal for a horror game where sudden frame drops can break immersion. The minimum FPS figure is particularly telling; it indicates that the system can maintain playable performance even during intense scenes with multiple on-screen effects.

At 1080p, Medium settings deliver an average of 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, which is excellent for players using high-refresh-rate monitors. The jump from Low to Medium at this resolution is significant: Low averages 191 FPS, but Medium drops to 120 FPS, showing that the preset introduces notable graphical enhancements that impact performance. However, the 102 FPS minimum ensures that the experience remains fluid. Moving up to High at 1080p reduces the average to 86 FPS, which is still playable but sacrifices the headroom needed for consistent frame times.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the only viable option that maintains smooth performance, with an average of 79 FPS and a minimum of 67 FPS. High settings at 4K drop to 57 FPS average, which is borderline for a game that benefits from smooth motion. Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution, as they push the average down to 45 FPS at 4K and 68 FPS at 1080p, making the experience feel sluggish. The data suggests that Medium offers the best trade-off between visual fidelity and performance, providing a stable frame rate across all three tested resolutions without the steep penalties seen at High and Ultra.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which points to the GPU being the primary bottleneck in this configuration. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 120 at 1080p to 101 at 1440p (a 15.8% decrease), and then to 79 at 4K (a 21.8% decrease from 1440p). This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 4080’s rendering capabilities are being taxed by the increasing pixel count.

The RTX 4080 features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This memory configuration is crucial for The Medium at higher resolutions, as the game’s detailed textures and dual-world rendering require substantial memory throughput. The fact that 4K Medium still achieves 79 FPS average indicates that the GPU has sufficient memory bandwidth to handle the data, but the drop from 1440p suggests that the shader and pixel processing workload is the limiting factor.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced: 191 FPS at 1080p, 161 FPS at 1440p, and 127 FPS at 4K. This shows that even when the graphical load is reduced, the GPU’s compute units are still the main constraint. The CPU’s role becomes less significant at higher resolutions; the 9700F’s 5.50 GHz boost clock is more than adequate to feed the GPU at 1080p, but at 4K, the GPU is working near its limits. The data indicates that this is not a CPU-limited scenario, as the FPS drops are proportional to the resolution increase, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the broader context of tested hardware combinations for The Medium, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 173rd out of 3,724 combos. This places it in the top 4.6% of all tested configurations, indicating that it delivers performance that is well above the median. The ranking reflects the overall capability of the system across all tested settings and resolutions, not just the highest scores.

The combo’s position is notable because it outperforms a vast majority of systems, yet the CPU and GPU are not the absolute top-tier parts available. The RTX 4080’s average benchmark score of 54,247 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and it is closely matched with the RTX 4080 SUPER (54,209, 0.1% difference). This suggests that the combo’s strong ranking is due to the balanced pairing; the CPU is powerful enough to avoid holding back the GPU, while the GPU has enough headroom to handle the game’s demands at high settings.

The fact that this combo ranks 173rd out of 3,724 means there are 172 other combinations that perform better, likely featuring higher-end GPUs like the RTX 4090 or more aggressively clocked CPUs. However, the data shows that for a mainstream high-end setup, this combo offers a strong balance. The percentile data for the CPU (94th) and GPU (86th) suggests that the system is well-matched, with neither component significantly dragging down the other. This is reflected in the measured FPS, which shows no obvious signs of a bottleneck at any resolution.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and is based on the AD103 chip, manufactured on a 5nm process by TSMC. It features a base clock of 2205 MHz and a boost clock of 2505 MHz, with 9,728 shading units and 76 RT cores. For The Medium, the RT cores are particularly relevant, as the game uses ray-traced reflections and lighting to enhance its atmospheric horror. The GPU’s 112 ROPs and 304 TMUs ensure that texture filtering and pixel output are handled efficiently, which is critical for the game’s detailed environments.

The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory running at 22.4 Gbps effective provides a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This is a substantial amount of memory bandwidth, and the data suggests it is sufficient for 4K gaming. At 4K Medium settings, the GPU achieves 79 FPS, which indicates that it is not memory-constrained. The 16 GB capacity is also future-proof, as The Medium’s high-resolution textures can consume significant VRAM, but the measured results show no signs of texture pop-in or stuttering that would indicate memory exhaustion.

The GPU’s FP32 performance of 48.74 TFLOPS is a key indicator of its raw compute power. This is leveraged in The Medium for the game’s complex shader effects and particle systems, which are visible in the fire and smoke effects that are central to the horror atmosphere. The 320W TDP and 700W suggested PSU indicate that this is a power-hungry card, but the performance numbers justify the power draw. The card’s triple-slot design and 310mm length mean it requires a spacious case, but the benchmark results show that it delivers the expected level of performance for its class.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this combo performs across all settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings average 191 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings reduce the average to 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS, offering a great balance of visual quality and performance. High settings bring the average down to 86 FPS, which is still playable but begins to show the game’s graphical demands. Ultra settings result in an average of 68 FPS, which is the lowest at this resolution but still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings average 161 FPS, showing that the GPU can still handle the lower preset with ease. Medium settings average 101 FPS, with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS, providing a solid experience for most players. High settings drop to 72 FPS average, which is acceptable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra settings average 57 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target and may cause noticeable stutter in fast-paced moments.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed harder. Low settings average 127 FPS, which is impressive for 4K and indicates that the RTX 4080 is capable of high refresh rates even at this resolution when settings are reduced. Medium settings average 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS, making it the recommended preset for 4K gaming. High settings average 57 FPS, which is borderline and may not be consistent enough for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. Ultra settings average 45 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a satisfying experience, as the frame rate dips below the standard 60 FPS target.

The data across all resolutions shows that Medium is the sweet spot, offering a minimum FPS above 60 at both 1080p and 1440p, and just above 60 at 4K (67 FPS). This consistency is crucial for The Medium, where sudden frame drops can ruin the tension and immersion. The measured results confirm that this combo is well-suited for the game, with the RTX 4080 providing ample power for high-resolution gaming and the Ryzen 7 9700F ensuring no CPU-side bottlenecks.