The Medium

The Medium presents a uniquely demanding workload, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT produces a set of measured results that are as revealing about the game’s engine as they are about the hardware. The data shows a configuration that is clearly capable of smooth play, but only if the user respects the title’s heavy appetite for graphical resources. The measured frames per second across the matrix of resolutions and presets paint a picture of a GPU-bound experience where the 12-core processor is rarely the limiting factor, and the settings menu is the primary lever for achieving playability.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data strongly indicates that the Medium preset is the optimal choice for this combination, as it delivers a balanced experience that avoids the performance collapse seen at higher settings while providing a significant visual upgrade over Low. At 1920x1080, Medium produces an average of 67.7 FPS, which is a substantial 42.8% improvement over the 47.4 FPS seen at High, while still being 39.3% below the 111.5 FPS achieved at Low. This suggests Medium occupies a sweet spot where the GPU’s workload is reduced enough to allow for fluid motion without sacrificing the core visual fidelity that the game’s fixed-camera horror aesthetic demands.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the Medium preset maintains a playable 61 FPS average, which is still comfortably above the 42.8 FPS at High. The gap between Medium and High narrows as resolution increases, but Medium remains the only preset besides Low that keeps the frame rate in a range suitable for a game that relies on atmosphere and timing. At 3840x2160, the choice becomes more critical; Medium drops to 43.9 FPS, which is a 28% reduction from the 1440p result, but it is still 41.2% faster than the 31.1 FPS at High. For users prioritizing a consistent experience, Medium is the clear recommendation across all tested resolutions, as it provides the best compromise between the visual complexity of the game’s dual-world rendering and the hardware’s capacity to process it.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the decisive component in this configuration, as the measured data shows a clear scaling pattern that follows the GPU’s workload. With 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus providing 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth, the card has ample capacity for the game’s assets, but the core clock speeds of 2321 MHz base and 2581 MHz boost are the primary drivers of performance. The data reveals that the RX 6700 XT’s 40 ray accelerators and 2560 shading units are heavily taxed by The Medium’s rendering techniques, evidenced by the sharp decline in FPS when moving from Low to Ultra at any given resolution.

The GPU’s role is most apparent when examining the scaling between presets. At 1920x1080, the jump from Low (111.5 FPS) to High (47.4 FPS) represents a 57.5% performance loss, indicating that the card is being pushed to its limits by the game’s advanced lighting and shadow effects. The fact that the 4K Ultra setting yields just 26.1 FPS, while 4K Low yields 71.1 FPS, underscores that the RX 6700 XT is a capable mid-range solution that can handle the game’s demands only at reduced settings. The card’s 77th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database further contextualizes its position, showing it is not a top-tier part but one that can deliver playable results when paired with the right settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are steep and reveal a component that is thoroughly GPU-limited. At the Medium preset, the progression is 67.7 FPS at 1920x1080, 61 FPS at 2560x1440, and 43.9 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 9.9% decline from 1080p to 1440p, but a much larger 35.2% decline from 1440p to 4K. The non-linear drop indicates that the RX 6700 XT’s memory bandwidth and pixel throughput are strained as the render target expands, a conclusion supported by the card’s 165.2 GPixel/s pixel rate and 384.0 GB/s bandwidth figures.

The pattern is even more pronounced at the High preset, where the FPS falls from 47.4 at 1080p to 42.8 at 1440p (a 9.7% drop) and then to 31.1 at 4K (a 27.3% drop). This scaling suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck, as the Ryzen 9 5900X would maintain a more consistent frame rate across resolutions if it were. Instead, the data implies that the game’s visual effects, which are likely resolution-dependent, place an increasing load on the GPU’s rendering pipeline. The 4K Low setting, at 71.1 FPS, shows that the hardware can handle high pixel counts when the graphical complexity is reduced, confirming that the resolution scaling is a direct consequence of GPU workload rather than a system-wide limitation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full range of settings yields a wide spread of results. Low averages 111.5 FPS, providing a very smooth experience that is likely overkill for a slow-paced horror title. Medium averages 67.7 FPS, which is the most balanced option. High averages 47.4 FPS, which is playable but may feel less fluid during camera transitions. Ultra averages 36.5 FPS, which dips into a range that could be problematic for sensitive users, especially given the game’s reliance on subtle visual cues.

At 2560x1440, the numbers scale down predictably. Low averages 90.2 FPS, retaining a high level of fluidity. Medium averages 61 FPS, which is still a solid target for most displays. High averages 42.8 FPS, which is on the edge of acceptability. Ultra averages 32.7 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently comfortable experience. At 3840x2160, the results become more constrained. Low averages 71.1 FPS, making it the only preset that remains fully fluid at this resolution. Medium averages 43.9 FPS, which is playable but requires compromise. High averages 31.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 26.1 FPS, both of which are too low for a game that benefits from smooth motion to maintain tension. The data shows a clear hierarchy: Low is always viable, Medium is the best quality-for-performance choice, and High/Ultra are only for users who prioritize visuals over frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X + AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination ranks 953rd out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the 56th percentile of all configurations. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual components’ strengths, but it is explained by the game’s heavy GPU requirements. The CPU’s 90th percentile ranking among all processors is not reflected in the game’s performance, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor well before the CPU’s capabilities are exhausted. The combo’s position suggests that many other configurations, likely those with more powerful GPUs, will outperform this setup at higher settings.

The ranking implies that this combination is not ideal for enthusiasts seeking maximum fidelity, but it is a competent pairing for mainstream gamers. The data shows that the combo’s performance is more dependent on the GPU’s mid-range position (77th percentile) than the CPU’s high-end status. This is a classic example of a balanced system where the weakest link determines the outcome, and in this case, the RX 6700 XT’s limits are exposed by The Medium’s demanding rendering. Users with this combo should expect to use Medium settings to achieve a frame rate that matches the expectations of a mid-range system.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is a high-end processor that is significantly underutilized in this game. The CPU’s base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz, combined with its 64 MB of L3 cache, provide ample headroom for the game’s logic and AI. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck, as the FPS scaling across resolutions is consistent with GPU limitations rather than CPU thread saturation. The processor’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 33150 and single-core score of 4680 indicate a very capable part, but The Medium does not appear to leverage the full multi-threaded potential.

The data suggests that the game is primarily single-threaded or lightly threaded, as the CPU’s 24 threads do not yield a proportional benefit in frame rates. The comparison to rival CPUs, such as the Intel Core i7-13700F which scores 0.9% higher in average benchmarks, is irrelevant in this game because the GPU is the limiting factor. The Ryzen 9 5900X’s 90th percentile ranking and its position among rivals like the AMD EPYC 4245P (0.2% delta) confirm that it is a top-tier processor, but its role in The Medium is to provide a stable platform for the GPU to operate without introducing frame pacing issues. For this title, the CPU is a silent partner, ensuring that the GPU can deliver its best possible performance without being held back.

FAQ

Q: What is the best setting preset to use with this combo for a smooth experience?

A: The Medium preset is the optimal choice, delivering 67.7 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and 43.9 FPS at 4K, which are all playable while offering a significant visual upgrade over Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The FPS drops consistently with resolution increases and preset quality, while the Ryzen 9 5900X’s high benchmark scores (e.g., 33150 in Cinebench R23 multicore) show it has ample headroom that is not being utilized.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 953rd out of 1689 combos, placing it in the middle of the pack. This is due to the RX 6700 XT’s 77th percentile ranking, which limits the system despite the CPU’s 90th percentile performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Medium?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which average 71.1 FPS. At Medium, the average drops to 43.9 FPS, and at High/Ultra, it falls to 31.1 FPS and 26.1 FPS respectively, which are too low for a comfortable experience.

Q: What is the expected frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average is 42.8 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Users should consider dropping to Medium to achieve 61 FPS for a more fluid experience.

Q: Does the CPU’s multi-threading capability matter for this game?

A: The data indicates it does not. The 12-core, 24-thread processor’s performance is not a factor, as the game’s frame rates are entirely dependent on the GPU’s workload, evidenced by the steep FPS drops at higher settings regardless of CPU capacity.