The Medium

The Medium presents a demanding workload for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 880M combination. The measured frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings indicate a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics processor. This analysis examines the specific roles of the CPU and GPU, the combo’s overall ranking, and provides a detailed breakdown of the measured performance data.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 5 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a TDP of 55 W. The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, indicating a very high-performing processor. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and single-core score of 6030 demonstrate substantial processing power.

In the context of The Medium’s measured results, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The game’s frame rates are consistently low, even at 1080p, which suggests that the processor is not the primary bottleneck. The data shows that even at the lowest tested settings (Low at 1080p), the average frame rate is only 43 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a larger performance gap between low and high settings, as the CPU’s workload would remain relatively constant while the GPU’s load decreases. The fact that the frame rate changes significantly with settings points to the GPU as the limiting component.

The CPU’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 17939 and single-core score of 2532 further reinforce its capability. The Passmark multi-thread score of 51405 and single-thread score of 3907 indicate a processor that excels in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded tasks. This high level of CPU performance is likely more than sufficient for The Medium’s logical and physics calculations. The benchmark results suggest that the CPU can feed the GPU with data without being a limiting factor, but the integrated graphics on this combo cannot translate that data into high frame rates.

Given its 16 cores and 32 threads, this CPU is designed for heavy multi-tasking and content creation workloads. In gaming, such a processor typically ensures that frame pacing is consistent and that there are no CPU-related stutters. However, the measured FPS data shows that the system is unable to maintain playable frame rates in most configurations, which is a direct result of the GPU’s performance ceiling rather than any CPU deficiency. The CPU’s 64 MB of L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a robust platform for the GPU to operate from, but it cannot compensate for the GPU’s raw rendering capabilities.

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

The AMD Radeon 880M is an integrated graphics processor based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It features 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operations pipelines. The GPU has a base clock of 400 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. Its memory is system shared, meaning it relies on the CPU’s DDR5 memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent". The GPU’s FP32 performance is 4.454 TFLOPS.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, which is a mid-to-low ranking. Its Passmark G3D score is 7615, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 535. These scores indicate a GPU that is capable of basic 3D rendering but is not designed for high-end gaming. The nearest rivals to this GPU, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX and NVIDIA GeForce MX330, are older or entry-level dedicated graphics solutions, which gives context to its performance class.

In The Medium, the GPU’s limitations are immediately apparent. At 1080p with Low settings, the average frame rate is 43 FPS. This is the highest average FPS recorded in the entire dataset. As settings are increased to Medium, the frame rate drops to 27 FPS, and at High it is 19 FPS. At Ultra, the frame rate falls to 15 FPS. This pattern shows a clear and direct relationship between the GPU’s workload and the resulting frame rate. The GPU is the primary bottleneck, and its performance scales predictably with the graphical demands of the game.

The GPU’s low pixel rate of 46.40 GPixel/s and texture rate of 139.2 GTexel/s explain its struggles at higher resolutions. At 4K, the GPU must process four times as many pixels as at 1080p, which overwhelms its limited resources. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is just 10 FPS, which is effectively unplayable. Even at 4K Low, the average frame rate of 28 FPS is below the threshold for a smooth experience. The GPU’s performance is the defining factor in this combo’s poor gaming performance in The Medium.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 880M ranks 2843 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places the combo in the bottom 2.3% of all tested configurations, which is a very poor result. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s low performance relative to other components in the database.

To put this in perspective, the CPU alone is in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, showing that it is a top-tier processor. The GPU, however, is in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, showing that it is a below-average performer. The vast discrepancy between the CPU’s high standing and the GPU’s mid-to-low standing creates an imbalanced system. The data shows that this combo is severely GPU-limited, resulting in a ranking that is near the bottom of the list.

The fact that this combo ranks so low despite having a high-end CPU underscores the importance of the GPU in gaming performance. The CPU’s power is essentially wasted in this configuration, as the GPU is unable to utilize it effectively. Other combos with weaker CPUs but stronger GPUs would likely rank significantly higher. This ranking serves as a clear indicator that this particular pairing is not suitable for playing The Medium at satisfactory frame rates. The data suggests that the integrated GPU is the sole reason for this poor ranking, as the CPU’s performance is not in question.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across different resolutions and settings. The following breakdown details the exact average frame rates for each tested configuration.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 43 FPS average
• Medium: 27 FPS average (with a min of 23 FPS and a max of 31 FPS)
• High: 19 FPS average
• Ultra: 15 FPS average

The 1080p results show that the game is only marginally playable at Low settings. The 43 FPS average at Low is the only configuration that approaches a playable frame rate. The Medium setting at 27 FPS is likely to feel stuttery, while High and Ultra are clearly not suitable for gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the results are as follows:

• Low: 36 FPS average
• Medium: 22 FPS average (with a min of 19 FPS and a max of 26 FPS)
• High: 16 FPS average
• Ultra: 13 FPS average

The 1440p results show a consistent drop in performance compared to 1080p. The Low setting at 36 FPS is below the playable threshold, and all other settings are firmly in the unplayable range. The frame rates at this resolution indicate that the GPU is struggling to handle the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the results are as follows:

• Low: 28 FPS average
• Medium: 18 FPS average (with a min of 15 FPS and a max of 20 FPS)
• High: 13 FPS average
• Ultra: 10 FPS average

The 4K results are uniformly poor. The highest average FPS at this resolution is 28 FPS at Low settings, which is still well below the 30 FPS minimum for a console-like experience. The Ultra setting at 10 FPS is a slideshow. The data shows that this combo is not viable for 4K gaming in The Medium.

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

The resolution scaling data shows a clear and consistent pattern of frame rate drops as resolution increases. Comparing the Low settings across all three resolutions: 43 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 28 FPS at 4K. This represents a 16.3% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 34.9% drop from 1080p to 4K.

This scaling pattern is a classic sign of a GPU-bound system. When a system is CPU-bound, the frame rate tends to remain relatively stable across resolutions because the CPU’s workload is largely independent of resolution. In contrast, a GPU-bound system shows a significant performance drop as resolution increases, because the GPU must render more pixels.

The data shows that the frame rate drops consistently with each resolution increase, which confirms that the AMD Radeon 880M is the limiting component. The CPU is not the bottleneck, as its performance is sufficient to handle the game’s logic at all resolutions. The GPU’s fill rate and pixel processing capabilities are simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions.

The drop from 1080p to 4K is particularly severe. At Medium settings, the frame rate drops from 27 FPS to 18 FPS, a 33.3% decrease. At Ultra settings, it drops from 15 FPS to 10 FPS, a 33.3% decrease. This consistent percentage drop across settings further reinforces that the GPU is the primary constraint. The scaling behavior is predictable and linear, indicating a pure GPU performance limit.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that offers a remotely acceptable experience is 1080p with Low settings, which achieves an average of 43 FPS. This is the only setting that breaks the 30 FPS barrier. While 43 FPS is not ideal for a smooth gaming experience, it is the best possible outcome for this combo in The Medium.

All other configurations fall below 30 FPS. The next best option is 1440p Low at 36 FPS, but this is a significant drop from 1080p Low and still below the smoother 60 FPS target. The data suggests that players should prioritize the lowest settings and lowest resolution to get the best frame rate.

For players who cannot tolerate the visual quality of Low settings, the Medium setting at 1080p provides 27 FPS, which is a compromise. However, this is still below the playable threshold for most gamers. The High and Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution, as the frame rates drop to below 20 FPS, which makes the game stuttery and difficult to play.

The data clearly indicates that this combo is not suited for playing The Medium at high visual fidelity. The best experience per the measured rows is achieved by setting the resolution to 1920x1080 and the quality preset to Low. This configuration provides the highest average frame rate and the most stable experience, as indicated by the min and max FPS data for other settings. The Medium setting at 1080p is the fallback option for those who prefer better visuals over frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 43 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in The Medium?

A: No. The best 4K result is 28 FPS at Low settings. All other 4K settings (Medium, High, Ultra) produce average frame rates of 18 FPS, 13 FPS, and 10 FPS respectively, which are unplayable.

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

A: This combo ranks 2843 out of 2911 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 2.3% of all tested configurations.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck in this setup?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution and settings increase, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. The CPU’s high benchmark scores (95th percentile) suggest it is not the limiting factor.

Q: What is the recommended settings configuration for the best playable experience?

A: The recommended configuration is 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings, which provides an average of 43 FPS. This is the only tested setting that achieves a frame rate above 30 FPS.

Q: How does the performance drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings?

A: At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 43 FPS at 1080p to 36 FPS at 1440p and finally to 28 FPS at 4K. This represents a 34.9% drop from 1080p to 4K.