The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 produces a mixed bag of results in The Medium, a horror title known for its fixed-camera angles and dual-reality rendering. The benchmark data shows a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics card at higher resolutions, while the processor’s substantial multi-threaded muscle keeps frame rates from collapsing at lower settings. The measured FPS across four presets and three resolutions reveals a configuration that demands careful settings tuning to achieve a consistently smooth experience, particularly at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K exposes a dramatic shift in system bottleneck behavior. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 94 FPS, which is more than sufficient for a narrative-driven horror game. However, scaling up to 2560x1440 at the same preset drops the average to 79 FPS, a reduction of roughly 16%. Moving further to 3840x2160 Low yields 62 FPS—a 21.5% decline from the 1440p figure and a 34% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern indicates that even at Low settings, the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes a limiting factor as resolution climbs.

The Medium preset tells a similar story with tighter margins. At 1080p, the average sits at 59 FPS, which falls to 49 FPS at 1440p (a 17% reduction) and then to 39 FPS at 4K (a 20.4% drop from 1440p). The High preset shows the most aggressive scaling: 42 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p (a 16.7% decline), and 28 FPS at 4K (a 20% decline from 1440p). The Ultra preset nearly mirrors this pattern, with 33 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p (a 15.2% drop), and 22 FPS at 4K (a 21.4% drop from 1440p).

The consistent 15-21% performance penalty when moving between each resolution step across all presets strongly suggests the RTX 5060’s 128-bit memory bus and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are the primary bottlenecks. The game’s reliance on high-resolution textures for its dark, detailed environments appears to saturate the 8 GB GDDR7 frame buffer at 4K, causing the average FPS to fall below the 30 FPS threshold for playability on every preset except Low. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting component in this scaling—the Ryzen 9 8945HX’s 16 cores and 32 threads remain largely underutilized as resolution increases, while the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become the dominant constraints.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process, brings 8 GB of GDDR7 memory across a 128-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 1750 MHz with an effective 28 Gbps, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. These specifications are modest for 2025-era gaming at high resolutions, and the benchmark results in The Medium reflect that limitation. The GPU’s 3840 shading units and 120 tensor cores provide adequate compute for the game’s DirectX 12 renderer, but the 48 ROPs and 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K.

The RTX 5060’s boost clock of 2497 MHz and base clock of 2280 MHz are relatively high for a mobile-oriented part, but the card’s 145 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest thermal throttling could be a factor in sustained workloads. In the measured data, the GPU’s performance ceiling becomes evident at 4K High, where the average FPS drops to 28—a figure that falls well below the 60 FPS target most players expect. The card’s PassMark G3D score of 20891 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628 place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-tier performer that struggles with the most demanding resolutions.

The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical constraint in The Medium, which renders two simultaneous worlds during key sequences. At 4K with High settings, the frame buffer likely exceeds 8 GB, causing texture streaming and draw call overhead to tank performance. The 62 FPS result at 4K Low versus 28 FPS at 4K High—a 121% improvement—demonstrates that reducing texture detail and shadow quality dramatically alleviates VRAM pressure. The GPU’s 19.18 TFLOPS FP32 compute is sufficient for the game’s lighting and particle effects at lower presets, but the memory subsystem remains the deciding factor in overall performance.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread monster based on the Zen 4 architecture and Dragon Range codename, manufactured on TSMC’s 5 nm process. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz boosts up to 5.40 GHz, and the 64 MB L3 cache provides ample capacity for gaming workloads. In The Medium, the CPU’s role is secondary to the GPU, but its multi-threaded prowess ensures the game never becomes CPU-bound, even at 1080p Low where the GPU is most relaxed.

Benchmark data shows the 8945HX achieving a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and a single-core score of 6030, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 51405 and data compression score of 677755 indicate exceptional throughput for background tasks, but The Medium is not a CPU-intensive title. The measured FPS deltas between resolutions—where 1080p Low hits 94 FPS but 4K Low drops to 62 FPS—confirm that the CPU is not the limiting factor. Even at 1080p, the game’s frame rate is capped by the GPU’s ability to render frames, not by the CPU’s ability to feed it draw calls.

The CPU’s 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and dual-channel DDR5 support are sufficient for the game’s streaming needs. The 8945HX’s nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, scores 76155 in average benchmarks versus the AMD’s 76212, a delta of 0.1%—essentially a tie. This indicates the CPU has headroom to spare in games, and The Medium’s measured results show no signs of CPU-induced stuttering or frame time spikes. The 32 threads handle the game’s background asset loading and audio processing without breaking a sweat, leaving the GPU as the sole performance arbiter.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration delivers playable frame rates across all presets, though with significant variance. Low settings produce an average of 94 FPS, which is excellent for a horror game that benefits from smooth camera pans. Medium settings drop to 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and maximum of 67 FPS—the tightest frame time distribution in the entire dataset. High settings yield 42 FPS, and Ultra falls to 33 FPS. The 61 FPS spread between Low and Ultra settings at this resolution indicates the GPU’s fill rate is the primary constraint, as the CPU can clearly handle higher frame rates given the Low preset result.

At 2560x1440, the performance picture worsens but remains usable for most presets. Low settings average 79 FPS, still above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 49 FPS, with a minimum of 42 FPS and maximum of 57 FPS—noticeable frame pacing variance that could cause judder during fast camera movements. High settings drop to 35 FPS, and Ultra falls to 28 FPS, which is borderline unplayable for a game that relies on atmospheric tension. The 1440p results show a consistent 16-20% penalty versus 1080p, confirming the GPU’s memory bandwidth is being taxed.

At 3840x2160, the configuration struggles to maintain playability. Low settings average 62 FPS, which is surprisingly good given the resolution, but the 8 GB VRAM limit becomes apparent as settings increase. Medium settings average 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and maximum of 45 FPS—the widest spread in the dataset, indicating frame time instability. High settings drop to 28 FPS, and Ultra falls to 22 FPS, both of which are below the 30 FPS floor for a stable experience. The 4K results demonstrate that this combo is only viable at Low or Medium settings, and even then, the Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 33 suggests occasional stutters.

The data reveals a peculiar anomaly: the 4K Low result of 62 FPS is higher than the 1440p High result of 35 FPS, despite the higher resolution. This indicates that settings adjustments have a more significant impact on performance than resolution scaling, making preset selection the primary lever for optimizing the experience.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Medium?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all four presets achieve at least 33 FPS. At 1440p, High and Ultra presets fall below 36 FPS, while at 4K, only Low settings remain above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5060's 8 GB VRAM affect 4K performance?

A: The 8 GB GDDR7 frame buffer becomes a bottleneck at 3840x2160, particularly at High and Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 28 and 22, respectively. The 62 FPS result at 4K Low suggests that reducing texture and shadow quality alleviates VRAM pressure significantly.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 8945HX a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 and 95th percentile ranking indicate it has ample headroom. The FPS deltas between resolutions and presets are consistent with GPU-bound behavior, not CPU limitations.

Q: Which preset provides the most consistent frame times?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p shows the tightest frame time distribution, with a minimum of 50 FPS and maximum of 67 FPS around a 59 FPS average. At 1440p, the Medium preset’s 42-57 FPS range is also relatively stable.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1914 out of 2911 tested configurations in The Medium, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This ranking reflects the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions despite the CPU’s strong performance.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: Yes, at 1080p Ultra the average FPS is 33, which is playable but close to the lower bound. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 28 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 22 FPS—both below the 30 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data points to a clear hierarchy for optimizing the experience in The Medium. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, with a 59 FPS average and a minimum of 50 FPS that ensures no major stutters. The High preset at 42 FPS is acceptable for players who prioritize visuals, but the Medium preset’s tighter frame time spread (50-67 FPS versus no recorded min/max for High) suggests better consistency. Low settings at 94 FPS are overkill for this genre, and Ultra at 33 FPS is too close to the 30 FPS floor for comfort.

At 2560x1440, players should stick to Medium settings, which deliver a 49 FPS average with a 42-57 FPS range. The Low preset at 79 FPS is smoother but sacrifices too much visual detail for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. High at 35 FPS and Ultra at 28 FPS are both below the 40 FPS threshold for a comfortable experience, making them unsuitable for sustained play. The 1440p Medium preset is the sweet spot for this resolution, offering a playable frame rate with acceptable visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the options are limited. Low settings at 62 FPS are the only preset that maintains a consistent 60+ FPS experience, but the visual downgrade is severe. Medium settings at 39 FPS (with a 33-45 FPS range) are playable but require a tolerance for occasional frame drops below 35 FPS. High and Ultra at 28 FPS and 22 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for anything other than static screenshots. For 4K play, the Medium preset is the maximum viable option, and even then, players may want to consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a more stable experience.

The overall recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1440p as the default configuration. This preset offers a 49 FPS average with a 42 FPS minimum, which is above the 40 FPS threshold for a playable horror experience. If the player prioritizes frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 4K (62 FPS) or Medium at 1080p (59 FPS) are both viable alternatives. The Ultra preset is only worth considering at 1080p, and even then, the 33 FPS average may cause noticeable judder during camera transitions.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 configuration ranks 1914 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the 34th percentile of all systems. This ranking is notably lower than the individual component percentiles—the CPU sits in the 95th percentile and the GPU in the 72nd—which indicates that the pairing is poorly suited for this specific game’s demands. The low ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU’s inability to maintain high frame rates at 1440p and 4K, rather than any CPU deficiency.

The combo’s position in the rankings suggests that the RTX 5060 is the limiting factor, as the Ryzen 9 8945HX’s nearest rivals (Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with a 0.1% delta, AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P with a -0.4% delta) all show similar CPU performance. The GPU’s nearest rivals—AMD Radeon 860M (-0.3%), NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (-0.3%), and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (-0.8%)—all have comparable average benchmark scores, yet the RTX 5060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus hold it back in The Medium more than in synthetic benchmarks.

For context, the combo’s ranking of 1914 out of 2911 means that approximately 997 tested configurations outperform it in this game. This is a middle-of-the-pack result that aligns with the RTX 5060’s 72nd percentile standing among all GPUs, but the game’s heavy VRAM usage at high resolutions pushes the system down relative to its component scores. Players with this combo should expect a subpar experience at 4K and should target 1080p or 1440p with Medium settings to achieve acceptable performance. The data suggests that the CPU has significant headroom, and upgrading the GPU to a model with more VRAM or a wider memory bus would yield substantial improvements in this title.