The Medium

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the processor in this tested combo, and its specifications make it a formidable desktop part that is unlikely to be the primary constraint in a title like The Medium. This CPU is built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process from TSMC, and it houses 8 cores with 16 threads. The base clock is 4.70 GHz, and the boost clock reaches 5.60 GHz. This is a high-frequency part with a 120 W TDP, and its 96 MB of shared L3 cache is substantial for gaming workloads.

The benchmark data for this processor shows it is positioned in the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 58386. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (avg score 58323, deltaPct 0.1), the Intel Xeon w5-2545 (avg score 58504, deltaPct -0.2), the Intel Core i9-14900 (avg score 58115, deltaPct 0.5), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (avg score 58826, deltaPct -0.7). The deltas here are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the 9850X3D sits in a tightly contested performance band. In synthetic tests, it scores 3551 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 343 in single-core, while Cinebench R23 results are 22807 multi-core and 2228 single-core. PassMark results include a multi-thread score of 41318 and a single-thread score of 4704.

Relating these CPU capabilities to the measured FPS in The Medium, the data shows that even at the lowest resolution tested (1920x1080) with Low settings, the combo manages 44 FPS average. At that resolution and preset, the load on the CPU is highest relative to the GPU, yet the frame rate is still modest. This suggests that the processor is not the bottleneck; the graphics card is. The 9850X3D’s strong single-thread score (2228 in Cinebench R23) and high boost clock should be more than sufficient for the game’s logic and draw calls. Instead, the FPS figures are consistently low across all settings, which points to the GPU as the limiting factor. The CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads are also more than adequate for a 2021 horror title, which typically does not scale heavily beyond a few threads. In short, the processor provides a robust foundation, but the measured results are dictated by the graphics subsystem.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in The Medium?*

A: The highest average FPS is 44, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an average benchmark score of 58386, while the Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, putting the AMD part 0.5% ahead according to the deltaPct value.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded, and at which settings?

A: The lowest average FPS is 10, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Is there any resolution and settings combination where the combo achieves over 30 FPS?

A: Yes, there are two instances: 1920x1080 with Low settings (44 FPS) and 2560x1440 with Low settings (37 FPS).

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570 is in the 74th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28766.

Q: What is the combo’s rank in the game’s performance database?

A: The combo ranks 2793 out of 2911 total combos tested for The Medium, placing it in the lower portion of the performance table.

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

Examining the measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. Starting at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo delivers 44 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 37 FPS, a reduction of 7 FPS or roughly 16% from the 1080p result. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average falls to 29 FPS, which is a further drop of 8 FPS from the 1440p figure and about 34% lower than the 1080p baseline.

This scaling behavior is typical for a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck. As resolution increases, the pixel fill rate demand grows, and the RX 570’s 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus (224.0 GB/s bandwidth) become increasingly strained. The CPU’s performance is largely invariant to resolution changes, so the steady FPS decline is attributable to the graphics card’s inability to keep up with higher pixel counts. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the average is 28 FPS, while at 1440p Medium it is 23 FPS, and at 2160p Medium it is 18 FPS. The increments are roughly linear, indicating that the GPU is consistently the limiting component across all tested resolutions.

The data also shows that even at the lowest settings, the 4K resolution yields only 29 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. This further underscores that the graphics card is the constraining factor; a more capable GPU would show a smaller relative drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p or 2160p. The CPU, with its high boost clock and 96 MB L3 cache, is not the culprit here. Instead, the RX 570’s older Polaris architecture (GCN 4.0) and modest 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 throughput struggle with the game’s rendering demands at higher resolutions.

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

The measured FPS data for The Medium with the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and AMD Radeon RX 570 is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 29 FPS average
• Medium: 18 FPS average (min 15, max 21)
• High: 13 FPS average
• Ultra: 10 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 37 FPS average
• Medium: 23 FPS average (min 20, max 27)
• High: 17 FPS average
• Ultra: 13 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 44 FPS average
• Medium: 28 FPS average (min 23, max 32)
• High: 20 FPS average
• Ultra: 16 FPS average

Interpreting these numbers, the only settings where the combo achieves a playable frame rate (above 30 FPS) are at Low presets on 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p Low, the 44 FPS average is smooth enough for most players, but it drops to 28 FPS at Medium, which is a significant step down. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 16 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 8 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 4 FPS. This suggests that the Low preset is the sweet spot for this GPU, as the performance penalty for increasing settings is steep.

At 1440p, the pattern is similar: Low yields 37 FPS, Medium yields 23 FPS, High yields 17 FPS, and Ultra yields 13 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 14 FPS, which is substantial. At 4K, even Low settings only produce 29 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS threshold, and higher settings are unplayable, with Ultra at just 10 FPS. The min and max FPS values for Medium settings show some variance — at 1080p, the range is 23 to 32 FPS, and at 1440p, it is 20 to 27 FPS — indicating some frame pacing inconsistency, but the averages are the most telling metric.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is the graphics card in this combo, and its specifications directly explain the measured FPS figures. This GPU is based on the Polaris 20 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The base clock is 1168 MHz, with a boost clock of 1244 MHz, and the memory runs at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus, yielding 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory is a critical limitation for modern games, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU’s benchmark results place it in the 74th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 28766. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (avg score 28874, deltaPct -0.4), the AMD Radeon R9 M295X (avg score 28580, deltaPct 0.7), the AMD Radeon RX 470 (avg score 28996, deltaPct -0.8), and the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 (avg score 28421, deltaPct 1.2). These rivals are all within a narrow performance band, confirming that the RX 570 is a mid-range part that is now end-of-life.

In The Medium, the GPU’s 4 GB VRAM is likely a bottleneck at 4K, where texture and geometry demands exceed the available memory. The 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 performance is also modest by modern standards, and the 39.81 GPixel/s pixel rate and 159.2 GTexel/s texture rate are insufficient for high-fidelity rendering at higher resolutions. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component in this combo: at 1080p Low, it produces 44 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 10 FPS. The processor is more than capable, so the frame rates are entirely constrained by the RX 570’s compute and memory throughput. The card’s 150 W TDP and dual-slot design are consistent with its mid-range positioning, but its performance in this title is clearly dated.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo in The Medium depend on the user’s resolution and tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. The data provides clear guidance on which presets yield playable performance.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 44 FPS, which is the highest frame rate of any tested configuration. This is the only 1080p setting that breaks the 40 FPS barrier, and it is the recommended choice for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset drops to 28 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS threshold and may feel stuttery to some players. High and Ultra are even worse, at 20 FPS and 16 FPS respectively, so they are not viable for a good experience. Users on 1080p should stick with Low to maintain playability.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is again the best option, producing 37 FPS average. This is a playable frame rate, though not as high as the 1080p result. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 23 FPS, which is marginal, and High (17 FPS) and Ultra (13 FPS) are not recommended. For 1440p users, Low is the only reasonable choice, and it still provides a playable experience.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more dire. The Low preset produces 29 FPS, which is just below the 30 FPS threshold, and Medium (18 FPS), High (13 FPS), and Ultra (10 FPS) are all unplayable. Users attempting 4K should either lower the resolution to 1440p or accept that the game will run at a sub-30 FPS rate even on Low settings. The GPU simply does not have the memory bandwidth or compute power for 4K in this title.

Overall, the best experience per the measured rows is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which offers the highest average FPS (44) and the most consistent performance. For users who must play at 1440p, Low is the only viable preset, yielding 37 FPS. The data clearly indicates that higher settings provide diminishing returns in visual quality while severely compromising frame rates, so the Low preset is the recommended balance for this hardware combination.