The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title, and the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 produces a severely GPU-limited experience. The data shows that this combination, ranked 1599 out of 1689 tested combos, is squarely in the bottom percentile for performance in this game. The 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 5950X is a top-tier processor, but the GTX 1650's 4 GB of VRAM and modest compute power become the definitive bottleneck across all tested resolutions and settings. The benchmark results indicate that playable frame rates are only achievable at the lowest settings and resolutions, and even then, the experience is marginal. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to provide a clear picture of what this combo can and cannot do.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 46.3, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K resolution in The Medium?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 27.8 on Low settings down to 11.5 on Ultra, making the game unplayable at this resolution regardless of settings.

Q: How does the GPU's VRAM capacity affect performance?

A: The GTX 1650 has 4 GB of memory. The data shows a significant drop in performance when moving from Low to Medium settings at 1080p (46.3 to 30.0 FPS), suggesting the game's higher detail levels may be exceeding the available memory bandwidth or capacity, heavily impacting frame rates.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5950X's processing power being fully utilized in this game?

A: No. The benchmark results indicate the system is GPU-bound. The Ryzen 9 5950X has a high multi-threaded score of 38607 in Cinebench R23 and a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, but the GTX 1650's performance ceiling prevents the CPU from being a limiting factor.

Q: What is the most balanced settings preset for this combo at 1080p?

A: Low settings at 1920x1080 provide the only average FPS above 30 (46.3). Medium settings at 1080p drop to exactly 30.0 FPS, which is the minimum threshold for playability, while High and Ultra settings fall to 17.6 and 19.1 FPS respectively.

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

A: It ranks 1599 out of 1689 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 6% of all tested systems for performance in The Medium.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a powerhouse processor, built on the Zen 3 architecture and codenamed Vermeer. It features 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates its strength, scoring 38607 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5450 in single-core tests. Its average benchmark score of 49062 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a top-tier performer. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-14600K, score within 0.2% to 1.1% of the 5950X, indicating a very close performance bracket at the top of the CPU charts.

However, in the context of The Medium with a GTX 1650, the CPU's role is minimized. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of GPU limitation. For instance, at 2560x1440 with Low settings, the average FPS is 38, while at 1920x1080 with the same Low settings, it is 46.3. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the difference between these resolutions would be smaller. The significant drop in frame rates as resolution and settings increase points directly to the GPU's inability to keep up. The Ryzen 9 5950X has more than enough processing headroom; the GTX 1650 is the sole constraint on performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the clear performance limiter in this configuration. It is a GeForce 16-series card based on the Turing architecture, with 896 shading units and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. Its most critical limitation is its memory: 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, providing 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's benchmark scores reflect its mid-to-low-end positioning, with a Passmark G3D score of 7880 and a percentile ranking of 43 among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 and AMD Radeon 550X, are all within 0.5% of its average score, confirming its performance class.

The impact of the GTX 1650's limitations is evident in the measured FPS. The gap between Low and Medium settings at 1080p is substantial, dropping from 46.3 to 30.0 FPS. This suggests that the game's medium textures and effects require more memory bandwidth or capacity than the card can efficiently provide. At 4K, the card is completely overwhelmed, with average FPS figures of 12.9 on High and 11.5 on Ultra, rendering the game unplayable. The data indicates that the GTX 1650 is only suitable for this game at the lowest graphical preset and resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data shows a consistent and predictable trend: performance degrades sharply with increased resolution and graphical fidelity. At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are uniformly poor. Low settings yield an average of 27.8 FPS, which drops to 19.5 at Medium, 12.9 at High, and 11.5 at Ultra. These numbers are all far below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves slightly but remains largely unplayable. Low settings average 38 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Medium settings fall to 24.3 FPS, High to 18.1 FPS, and Ultra to 11 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium represents a 36% performance hit, highlighting the GPU's struggle with increased graphical loads.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the results are the only ones that approach playability. Low settings produce an average of 46.3 FPS, which is acceptable for a slower-paced horror game. Medium settings hit exactly 30 FPS, which is the bare minimum for playability. High settings drop to 17.6 FPS, and Ultra settings are only slightly better at 19.1 FPS, likely due to a different bottleneck shifting. The data clearly shows that 1080p Low is the only configuration that provides a consistently playable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall ranking for The Medium, this combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is placed at 1599 out of 1689 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 6% of all tested systems, a very low position that underscores the significant mismatch between the CPU's high-end capabilities and the GPU's entry-level performance. The data confirms that this is a severely unbalanced pairing for this game.

The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations. While the Ryzen 9 5950X has an average benchmark score of 49062 and ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, its processing power is largely irrelevant to the final frame rate in this GPU-bound scenario. The combo's rank is almost entirely determined by the GTX 1650's performance, which is in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs. The result is a system that is held back by its weakest component, leading to a very poor in-game experience relative to other configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable settings preset for a playable experience is Low at 1920x1080, which yields an average of 46.3 FPS. This is the only tested configuration that provides a comfortable margin above the 30 FPS playability threshold. The Medium is a game that relies on atmosphere and story, and 46.3 FPS is sufficient for a smooth, albeit not high-refresh-rate, experience.

If a higher resolution is absolutely required, Low at 2560x1440 is the only option, but the average of 38 FPS comes with a greater risk of noticeable frame drops during intense scenes. The Medium preset at 1920x1080, with its exact 30 FPS average, is borderline and not recommended, as any slight dip in performance would make the game feel stuttery. All High and Ultra presets should be avoided entirely, as they consistently produce average frame rates in the teens, which is a slideshow-like experience. Users should accept that this game, with this GPU, requires the lowest settings to be enjoyable.