The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT produces a clear performance curve in The Medium, with frame rates that scale predictably as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combination delivers strong triple-digit performance on lower presets, but the demanding 4K Ultra settings push the system to its limits. The data indicates a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel count rises, while the high-core-count CPU provides ample headroom even in the most taxing scenarios. This analysis walks through the measured results, focusing on how resolution, settings, and component characteristics shape the final experience.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals a steep performance decline that points directly at the GPU as the limiting factor. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 61 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 1440p, then falls further to 40 FPS at 4K. That represents a 34.4% reduction from 1080p to 4K High, a significant loss that shows the rendering load increasing faster than the GPU can compensate. The pattern is even more pronounced at Ultra settings, where the 1080p average of 48 FPS collapses to 40 FPS at 1440p and then to 32 FPS at 4K — a 33.3% total drop from the starting resolution. These numbers indicate that the RX 7800 XT, with its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth, is being saturated by the higher pixel counts, especially when quality presets demand more from the rasterizer.

Low settings tell a different story, as the frame rate scales more gracefully. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 135 FPS average, which drops to 114 FPS at 1440p and then to 89 FPS at 4K. The 1080p-to-4K reduction here is 34.1%, nearly identical to the High preset percentage, but the absolute numbers remain much higher, suggesting that even at 4K Low the GPU is not fully maxed out. Medium settings show a similar trend, with 84 FPS at 1080p, 71 FPS at 1440p, and 56 FPS at 4K, a 33.3% decline. The consistency of these percentage drops across presets — all hovering around 33-34% — indicates that the scaling is driven by resolution alone rather than by settings-specific effects. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload, where the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames at every resolution tested.

The implication is clear: at 1080p, the Ryzen 9 9900X with its 12 cores and 24 threads is never the constraint, as even the most demanding Ultra preset yields 48 FPS, which is well above playable thresholds. At 4K Ultra, the 32 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS target, and the data shows that reducing resolution or settings is necessary for smoother gameplay. The gap between 1080p and 4K at any given preset is roughly one-third of the starting frame rate, which is a substantial penalty for users targeting high refresh rates on 4K displays.

GPU Role

The Radeon RX 7800 XT is the dominant factor in this combination, and its specifications explain the measured behavior. With a boost clock of 2430 MHz and a game clock of 2124 MHz, the GPU operates at a high frequency, but the 256-bit memory bus paired with 16 GB of GDDR6 at 19.5 Gbps effective yields 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth. In The Medium, a horror title that relies on dense environments and lighting effects, this bandwidth is crucial for texture streaming and shadow calculations. The 4K results, where even Low settings produce 89 FPS, show that the GPU can handle the geometry at lower quality, but Ultra settings at 4K drop to 32 FPS, indicating that the additional shading work — the GPU has 3840 shading units and 96 ROPs — overwhelms the memory subsystem at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s 60 ray tracing cores do not appear to provide a meaningful advantage in this title, as the measured data shows no ray tracing-specific metrics, but the raw rasterization performance is what drives the frame rates. The 37.32 TFLOPS FP32 compute capability is substantial, yet the 4K Ultra average of 32 FPS suggests that the game’s visual effects at that preset exceed what the GPU can sustain. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for The Medium, which launched in 2021 and does not require extreme memory capacities, but the bandwidth becomes a limiting factor at 4K when textures and post-processing effects scale up. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 51 among all GPUs, based on an average benchmark score of 11627, positions it as a mid-range performer, and the nearest rival data shows it trading blows with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, which is 0.5% behind in average score. This context suggests that while the RX 7800 XT is not a top-tier card, it delivers consistent performance across the board, and the game’s results reflect that.

The relationship between clocks and frame rates is evident when comparing presets. At 1080p Low, the GPU boosts to its maximum capability, yielding 135 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, the same hardware averages only 32 FPS. The 33.3% drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is not due to clock throttling — the data shows the GPU is active and producing frames — but rather to the increased pixel shader workload. The 96 ROPs and 240 TMUs handle texture mapping and pixel output, but at 4K, the sheer number of pixels exceeds the fill rate capacity, which is rated at 233.3 GPixel/s. This is a textbook GPU-bound scenario, and users should expect to lower settings or resolution to achieve higher frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 offers the best balance of performance and quality, with an average of 84 FPS and a minimum of 72 FPS. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, and the minimum frame rate ensures smooth gameplay without significant stutters. At 1440p, the Medium preset drops to 71 FPS average with a 60 FPS minimum, which is still playable but closer to the edge, while 4K Medium yields 56 FPS average with a 47 FPS minimum, which may feel less fluid in a horror game where timing matters. The High preset at 1080p averages 61 FPS, which is playable but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes, and the 1440p High average of 51 FPS is below the ideal target.

For users prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, Low settings at 1080p produce 135 FPS average, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate displays, and even 4K Low at 89 FPS is solid. However, the visual quality at Low may undermine the atmospheric horror experience, so the Medium preset is the recommended middle ground. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not advisable, as even at 1080p it only reaches 48 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 32 FPS, which is below playable standards for most users. The data shows that Ultra settings provide diminishing returns, as the jump from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 13 FPS (61 to 48), while Medium to High costs 23 FPS (84 to 61), making Medium the most efficient choice.

The presence of min and max FPS values only for the Medium preset across all resolutions provides additional insight. At 1080p, the range is 72-97 FPS, indicating stable performance, while at 1440p it is 60-82 FPS, and at 4K it is 47-64 FPS. These ranges show that Medium settings maintain a consistent frame delivery, with the spread widening as resolution increases, which aligns with the GPU becoming more stressed. For the best experience, users should select Medium at 1080p or 1440p, with 1080p being the safest bet for consistent 60+ FPS performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset for this combination provides a full picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 32 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, Medium averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 47 and maximum of 64, and Low averages 89 FPS. These numbers show that 4K gaming is possible but requires significant setting compromises; Low settings nearly triple the Ultra frame rate, going from 32 to 89 FPS, which is a 178% increase. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS, High averages 51 FPS, Medium averages 71 FPS with a 60-82 range, and Low averages 114 FPS. The 1440p results are more balanced, with Medium providing a solid 71 FPS average and Low exceeding 100 FPS for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 48 FPS, High averages 61 FPS, Medium averages 84 FPS with a 72-97 range, and Low averages 135 FPS.

The step-up from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 51 FPS (135 to 84), which is a 37.8% reduction, while the step from Medium to High costs 23 FPS (84 to 61), and High to Ultra costs 13 FPS (61 to 48). The diminishing returns are clear: each higher preset yields smaller gains in visual quality relative to the frame rate loss. At 1440p, the same pattern holds, with Low at 114 FPS dropping to 71 FPS at Medium, then to 51 FPS at High, and 40 FPS at Ultra. At 4K, the drops are steeper in percentage terms, with Low at 89 FPS falling to 56 FPS at Medium and then to 40 FPS at High, before bottoming out at 32 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset’s minimum frame rates — 72 FPS at 1080p, 60 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K — are all above 45 FPS, which is a common playability threshold, but only the 1080p and 1440p variants maintain a 60 FPS minimum.

These measured values are the only data points available, with no min or max values for the other presets, but the averages alone tell a consistent story of a system that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming well, with 4K requiring Low or Medium settings for acceptable performance.

FAQ

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

A: The 1920x1080 resolution with Medium settings provides the best balance, averaging 84 FPS with a minimum of 72 FPS. At 2560x1440, Medium averages 71 FPS with a 60 FPS minimum, which is also viable, but the 1080p result offers more headroom.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low or Medium settings. At 4K Low, the average is 89 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it is 56 FPS with a 47 FPS minimum. High and Ultra settings at 4K produce 40 FPS and 32 FPS averages, respectively, which fall below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High across resolutions?

A: At 1080p, Ultra averages 48 FPS versus 61 FPS on High, a 13 FPS difference. At 1440p, Ultra averages 40 FPS versus 51 FPS, and at 4K, Ultra averages 32 FPS versus 40 FPS. The Ultra preset consistently costs about 20% of the frame rate relative to High.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates for the Medium preset?

A: The measured minimums are 72 FPS at 1080p, 60 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K. These are the only min FPS values provided in the data, and they indicate stable performance at 1080p and 1440p.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting component, as frame rates drop by roughly one-third from 1080p to 4K across all presets, while the CPU with 12 cores and 24 threads provides sufficient headroom even at 1080p Ultra.

Q: How does this GPU rank among all GPUs?

A: The Radeon RX 7800 XT has a percentile rank of 51 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 11627. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, is 0.5% behind in average score.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X plays a supporting role in The Medium, as the game’s performance is primarily GPU-bound. With 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, the CPU has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, providing substantial single-thread and multi-thread capability. Benchmark results confirm this, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32172 and a single-core score of 2253, along with a Geekbench multi-core score of 22174. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 92 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 57498, places it in the top tier, and its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9015 at 0.1% behind and the Intel Core i9-14900 at 1.1% ahead. This level of performance ensures that the CPU never becomes a bottleneck, even at 1080p where frame rates are highest.

The 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provide ample data throughput for game logic and asset streaming. In The Medium, which is a horror title with fixed camera angles and scripted sequences, the CPU load is relatively modest, and the measured frame rates reflect that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting. The fact that 1080p Low achieves 135 FPS average without any CPU limitation shows that the 9900X can feed frames far faster than the GPU can render them at lower resolutions. Even at 1080p Ultra, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU maintains 48 FPS, which is well within its capability.

The CPU’s 3DMark scores further illustrate its strength: a single-thread score of 1286 and a max-thread score of 13929. These numbers indicate that the CPU excels at both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads, making it suitable for a wide range of games. In this specific title, the CPU’s role is to ensure consistent frame pacing, and the Medium preset’s minimum frame rates — 72 FPS at 1080p — suggest that the CPU is delivering frames without drops. The data does not show any CPU-specific bottlenecks, as the frame rate scaling is entirely consistent with GPU load. For users considering this combo, the CPU provides future-proofing, but in The Medium, it is the GPU that determines the experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Ryzen 9 9900X and RX 7800 XT ranks 1221 out of 3724 combos for The Medium, placing it in the 67th percentile of all tested systems. This rank reflects the GPU’s mid-range positioning, as the RX 7800 XT’s percentile of 51 among all GPUs drags down the overall ranking, despite the CPU’s strong 92nd percentile. The combo rank indicates that there are 1220 combinations that perform better in this game, likely featuring higher-end GPUs, while 2503 combinations perform worse. This positioning suggests that the combo is above average but not outstanding, which aligns with the measured frame rates that show 4K Ultra struggling at 32 FPS.

The CPU’s nearest rivals provide context for the combo’s potential. The Intel Core i9-14900, which is 1.1% ahead in average benchmark score, would likely push the combo slightly higher in ranking if paired with the same GPU, but the difference is marginal. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 at 0.5% behind, indicate that the RX 7800 XT is not far from the performance of older or lower-tier cards in synthetic benchmarks, yet in actual game tests, the measured FPS shows it handles 1080p and 1440p well. The combo rank of 1221 out of 3724 is a solid mid-tier result, and the data shows that users can achieve playable frame rates at most settings, with only 4K Ultra falling below 40 FPS.

The ranking also reflects the balance of this pairing. A CPU with a 92nd percentile ranking paired with a GPU at the 51st percentile creates a system where the GPU is the limiting factor, which is the expected outcome for a 1080p or 1440p gaming rig. The combo’s position at the 67th percentile in this specific game suggests that it outperforms many other combinations, particularly those with weaker GPUs, but it does not compete with top-tier GPU configurations. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, this combo delivers excellent performance, as the 135 FPS Low and 84 FPS Medium results demonstrate, and the ranking confirms that it is a capable choice for most gaming scenarios.