The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti combination in The Medium presents a study in balance, where the 12-core, 24-thread processor provides ample headroom for the game’s fixed-camera horror presentation, while the GPU becomes the definitive arbiter of frame rates as resolution climbs. The data indicates a system that is exceptionally capable at 1080p and 1440p, but which meets its match at 4K Ultra settings.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor built on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael) and fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform and features a base clock of 4.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This high-frequency design, combined with a substantial 64 MB of shared L3 cache, positions the CPU as a powerful engine for gaming workloads. Its benchmark scores reinforce this: a Geekbench single-core score of 2617 and a multi-core score of 19267, alongside a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 29300 points.

In the context of The Medium, a title that relies on simultaneous rendering of two worlds, the CPU’s threading capabilities are theoretically advantageous. However, the measured FPS data reveals a different story: the performance ceiling is consistently dictated by the RTX 3070 Ti. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the average frame rate hits 129 FPS. This high number suggests the CPU is feeding the GPU efficiently without becoming a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The processor’s 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53288, places it in the top tier of available hardware. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 7313P (average score 53206, deltaPct 0.2) and the Intel Core i7-14700F (average score 53620, deltaPct -0.6), show that the 7900X is competitively positioned within a tight performance band, but this raw compute power does not translate to a linear FPS advantage in this specific game.

The Ryzen 9 7900X’s role here is to ensure that frame pacing remains stable, particularly in scenes that involve the game’s signature split-screen mechanics. With a PassMark multi-thread score of 51406 and a 3DMark max-threads score of 12536, the processor’s headroom is substantial. Yet, the benchmark results show that as settings are increased from Low to Ultra, the FPS drops are almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s workload. The CPU does not appear to be the limiting factor at any tested configuration; instead, it provides a stable foundation upon which the GPU’s performance is expressed. The 7900X’s 170 W TDP and support for DDR5 memory with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth further support this role, ensuring that data can be fed to the graphics card without delay.

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

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Medium settings for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 81, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS, indicating a smooth experience with some minor fluctuations.

Q: How does the performance at 4K Ultra compare to the performance at 1080p Ultra?

A: The average frame rate drops from 46 FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra to 30 FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra. This represents a significant 34.8% decrease in performance when moving to 4K resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 49. Given that the GPU’s average benchmark score (29945) is in the 75th percentile, while the CPU is in the 91st percentile, the data suggests the RTX 3070 Ti is the limiting component at this resolution and settings level.

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded for this hardware combination?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 129 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This shows the system’s maximum capability when graphical demands are minimized.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6800?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 29945, while the AMD Radeon RX 6800 scores 30095. The deltaPct is -0.5, meaning the RX 6800 is marginally faster by approximately 0.5% in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the framerate range at 4K Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 53, with a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS. This shows that the game is playable at 4K with Medium settings, but frame times can vary.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of GPU-bound rendering. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 129 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 109 FPS, a 15.5% decrease. At 4K Low, the average falls to 85 FPS, representing a 34.1% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling is consistent with the RTX 3070 Ti’s memory bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s and 8 GB of GDDR6X memory, which are increasingly taxed as pixel count grows.

The trend becomes more pronounced at higher settings. With High settings, the average FPS drops from 58 at 1080p to 49 at 1440p, and then to 38 at 4K. That is a 34.5% decrease from 1080p to 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 46 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p, and 30 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is particularly telling, as it falls below the 30 FPS threshold that is often considered the minimum for acceptable playability, indicating that the GPU has reached its computational limits.

The fact that the FPS drops are roughly proportional to the increase in pixel count—rather than being a flat performance ceiling—confirms that the RTX 3070 Ti, with its 21.75 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 169.9 GPixel/s pixel rate, is the primary limiter. The Ryzen 9 7900X, with its high single-thread score of 2016.5 in Cinebench R23, does not exhibit signs of bottlenecking at any resolution. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across different resolutions, as the CPU’s workload remains constant. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested hardware configurations for The Medium, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti holds a combo rank of 1304 out of 3724 total tested combos. This places the pairing in the 65th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it delivers above-average performance for this title. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, and while the 7900X is a high-end processor, the RTX 3070 Ti’s 75th percentile ranking among all GPUs tempers the overall result.

The combo’s position in the rankings is influenced by the GPU’s performance class. The RTX 3070 Ti’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile (avgScore 29928, deltaPct 0.1) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 (avgScore 30095, deltaPct -0.5). These scores show that the RTX 3070 Ti is competitive within its segment, but it is not a top-tier card. Consequently, the combo rank of 1304 indicates that while this system is capable of running the game smoothly at many settings, there are numerous other combinations with faster GPUs that will achieve higher frame rates, particularly at 4K. The rank also suggests that the Ryzen 9 7900X’s power is underutilized in this scenario, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor in most configurations.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a comprehensive view of its performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the system delivers average frame rates of 129 FPS (Low), 81 FPS (Medium), 58 FPS (High), and 46 FPS (Ultra). The Medium preset shows a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS, indicating good frame consistency. At 2560x1440, the averages are 109 FPS (Low), 68 FPS (Medium), 49 FPS (High), and 39 FPS (Ultra). The Medium preset at this resolution offers a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS, which remains within a playable range.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset yields an average of 85 FPS, which is a strong result for 4K. The Medium preset yields an average of 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61 FPS, making it the highest quality setting that maintains an average above 50 FPS. The High preset averages 38 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to an average of 30 FPS. The data shows that the RTX 3070 Ti’s 8 GB of GDDR6X memory and 256-bit bus are sufficient for 4K at lower settings, but the card’s raw compute power (21.75 TFLOPS) is insufficient for maintaining high frame rates at 4K with higher graphical fidelity. The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a consistent performance hit, with the Ultra preset being roughly 64% slower than the Low preset at the same resolution.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend heavily on the user’s target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 81 FPS and a minimum of 69 FPS. This ensures a smooth experience without the significant visual downgrades of the Low preset. The High preset at 58 FPS is also viable, but the drop below 60 FPS average may be noticeable for some users. The Ultra preset, at 46 FPS, provides the highest fidelity but sacrifices the smoothness that the Medium preset delivers.

At 1440p, the Medium preset again provides the best experience, with an average of 68 FPS and a minimum of 58 FPS. This keeps frame rates above the 60 FPS threshold for the majority of the gameplay. The High preset, at 49 FPS, is playable but may exhibit more stuttering in demanding scenes. The Low preset at 109 FPS is exceptionally smooth, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, with an average of 53 FPS and a minimum of 45 FPS. This is the only preset that provides a playable experience above the 30 FPS minimum standard. The Low preset at 85 FPS is also viable for users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity. The High and Ultra presets at 38 FPS and 30 FPS, respectively, should be avoided as they fall into a range where the gameplay may feel sluggish. The data clearly indicates that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, as it provides the best compromise between image quality and smooth frame rates.