The Medium

The Medium presents a unique technical challenge for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Arc B370 pairing. This combination of a high-end desktop processor with an integrated-class GPU creates a significant performance bottleneck that is immediately visible in the measured frame rates. The data reveals a system where the CPU's substantial processing power is largely held back by the graphics solution, resulting in a gaming experience that struggles to maintain playable frame rates at most settings and resolutions. This analysis explores the measured performance metrics, the division of labor between the two components, and what the numbers suggest about the practical limits of this specific hardware configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for The Medium shows a clear and dramatic collapse in performance as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 46 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings, the average drops to 39 FPS, a reduction of approximately 15%. The most severe decline occurs when jumping to 4K, where the average FPS falls to 30, representing a further 23% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep scaling curve indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is being overwhelmed by the pixel count, and its rendering throughput is the primary limiting factor.

The pattern becomes even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At Medium settings, the frame rate falls from 29 FPS at 1080p to 24 FPS at 1440p and then plummets to 19 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable across the board, with an average of only 16 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 14 FPS at 1440p and a mere 11 FPS at 4K. This data suggests that the GPU's compute resources are so constrained that even the relatively modest increase in pixel load from 1440p to 4K causes a disproportionate performance penalty. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is likely idling for much of the time, waiting for the GPU to finish its work.

This behavior implies that for this specific game, resolution scaling is not a matter of finding a sweet spot but rather a question of which setting is least detrimental. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is immense, with a 30 FPS difference at 1080p and a 19 FPS difference at 4K. The data strongly suggests that the limiting component is the Intel Arc B370, as its performance relative to its peers is in the 5th percentile, placing it among the weakest GPUs in the database. The CPU's high benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark max threads score of 9771, are irrelevant here, as the GPU cannot translate that processing power into frames.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination run The Medium at a stable 30 FPS?

A: The data shows this is only possible at 4K with Low settings (30 FPS average) or at 1080p with Low settings (46 FPS average). At any other tested setting or resolution, the average frame rate falls below 30 FPS, with the Medium preset at 1080p achieving 29 FPS and all other configurations scoring lower.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable in this game?

A: The highest measured average is 46 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the data set that comes close to standard 60 FPS gaming targets, though it still falls short.

Q: How does the GPU's performance rank among all tested graphics cards?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a percentile rank of 5, meaning it performs better than only about 5% of all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad places it in direct competition with older cards like the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which has a score of 1190.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the primary bottleneck in this setup?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. While the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X demonstrates strong processing power with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20485 and a single-core score of 2211, the GPU's low performance percentile and the sharp FPS drops with increased resolution point directly to the graphics solution as the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best-case scenario for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combination produces an average of 24 FPS, with minimum and maximum frame rates of 21 and 28 FPS respectively. This is not a smooth experience, but it is more consistent than the High or Ultra presets at the same resolution.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 2681 out of 2911 indicate?

A: This rank signifies that this specific CPU and GPU combination is among the lowest-performing 8% of all tested combos for The Medium. It underscores that while the CPU is a top-tier part, the GPU's capabilities severely drag down the overall gaming performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The overall performance of this combination is quantified by its rank in the game's benchmark database. With a rank of 2681 out of 2911 total tested combos, this system sits in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This is a stark illustration of the performance ceiling imposed by the Intel Arc B370. The CPU, which ranks in the 86th percentile among all processors, is essentially wasted in this pairing for gaming purposes. The data shows a massive mismatch between the potential of the Ryzen 7 9700X and the reality of the Arc B370's output.

This low rank is directly reflected in the measured FPS. The system's best average of 46 FPS at 1080p Low is a far cry from what a high-end CPU like the 9700X could enable with a more powerful GPU. The fact that the CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14901E with a delta of 0.1%, are all similarly powerful processors, makes the low frame rates even more telling. It confirms that the GPU is the sole reason for the poor ranking, as any of these CPUs would perform nearly identically when paired with the same graphics card. The system is fundamentally imbalanced, with the CPU's capabilities far exceeding what the GPU can deliver in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the game is most playable, but still challenging. The Low preset yields an average of 46 FPS, which is the highest of any configuration. The Medium preset produces 29 FPS, with a range of 24 to 33 FPS, indicating some frame pacing inconsistencies. The High preset drops to 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the system to its knees with an average of only 16 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades further. The Low preset still provides the best result at 39 FPS. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28 FPS. High settings yield 17 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 14 FPS. At 3840x2160, the experience is largely unplayable. The Low preset is the only one that breaks the 30 FPS barrier, with an average of 30 FPS. The Medium preset averages 19 FPS, with a range of 16 to 22 FPS, while High drops to 14 FPS and Ultra plummets to 11 FPS. The data shows a consistent pattern: the game's performance is dictated by the GPU's ability to handle the rendering load at each resolution and preset.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a powerful processor that brings significant computational resources to this test. Its 8 cores and 16 threads are based on the Zen 5 architecture, and its benchmark scores demonstrate its strength. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20485 and the single-core score of 2211 indicate it is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics calculations. The PassMark multi-thread score of 37161 further reinforces its high processing throughput. The CPU's high percentile rank of 86 means it is more powerful than the vast majority of other processors in the database.

Despite this capability, the CPU's role in The Medium's performance is largely one of a spectator. The game's frame rates are so low that the CPU never becomes a limiting factor. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the CPU would be most likely to be challenged, the system only achieves 46 FPS, a load that a CPU of this caliber can handle with ease. The data suggests that the 9700X is not being utilized to its full potential, as the GPU's output is the definitive constraint. The processor's high performance is effectively capped by the graphics solution, making its advanced architecture and high clock speeds irrelevant to the final frame rate in this specific scenario.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured performance data, the settings recommendations for this combo are clear and conservative. The primary goal is to achieve the highest and most stable frame rate possible. The only configuration that provides a somewhat playable experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 46 FPS. This is the recommended starting point for any user, as it is the only setting that approaches the 60 FPS mark, albeit from a distance. While not a perfectly smooth 60 FPS, it is the most responsive configuration available.

For users who prefer higher visual fidelity, the 1080p Medium preset is a viable alternative, though it comes with a significant performance cost. At 29 FPS average, the game will feel less fluid, but it is a more visually detailed experience. The frame time variance (24-33 FPS) suggests some stuttering may occur. All other settings, including 1080p High and Ultra, and all 1440p and 4K presets, should be avoided if playability is a concern. The data shows that the Ultra preset at any resolution is a slideshow, with an average of 16 FPS at 1080p and 11 FPS at 4K. The optimal balance of visual quality and performance is heavily skewed towards Low settings, as the GPU's performance ceiling is too low to support higher presets at acceptable frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive component in this system's gaming performance, and its role is defined by severe limitations. The data shows it holds a percentile rank of just 5, placing it in the bottom tier of all GPUs. Its sole benchmark score, 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, is comparable to that of the ATI Radeon HD 5770, a card from a bygone era. This low performance is a direct result of its hardware specifications. The GPU is an integrated part of the Panther Lake chip, operating with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory is system shared, meaning its bandwidth is dependent on the rest of the system, which is a significant bottleneck for a game like The Medium.

The GPU's 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs are simply insufficient for the demands of a modern horror title at higher resolutions. The data confirms this, as the GPU's fill rate and texture rate capabilities are overwhelmed. The 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is a theoretical figure that does not translate into playable frame rates in this game, as evidenced by the measured results. The GPU's TDP of 25 W highlights its intended role as a low-power integrated solution, not a high-performance gaming part. Its performance is so low that it essentially determines the entire gaming experience, and the powerful CPU is rendered irrelevant in this context. The GPU is the sole reason for the system's low combo rank and its inability to run The Medium at playable settings.