The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a highly constrained gaming experience in The Medium, where the integrated graphics solution is the definitive bottleneck across all tested configurations. The data indicates that the Arc B370, with a benchmark percentile ranking in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, is positioned at the extreme low end of the performance spectrum, resulting in frame rates that are generally below playable thresholds. The measured FPS data shows a maximum average of 46 FPS at 1080p Low, with all other settings and resolutions falling below 40 FPS, indicating that the system is only suitable for the lowest graphical presets at the lowest resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience is achieved at the 1920x1080 Low preset, which yields an average of 46 FPS. This is the only configuration that approaches a playable frame rate, and it is the clear choice for any user seeking the smoothest possible motion. The data shows that stepping up to 1080p Medium results in a significant 17 FPS drop to an average of 29 FPS, which is a substantial decrease in fluidity for a modest visual improvement. All other settings at 1080p, High and Ultra, produce averages of 21 FPS and 16 FPS, respectively, which fall into a range that is generally considered too choppy for a horror title that relies on atmosphere and timing.

At higher resolutions, the situation becomes more critical. The 1440p Low preset is the only other option that breaks the 30 FPS barrier, with an average of 39 FPS. While this is a playable frame rate, it comes at the cost of rendering resolution, and the visual clarity of 1080p may be preferable to the higher resolution but lower fidelity. The 4K Low preset produces an average of 30 FPS, which is borderline. Given the data, the recommendation is to prioritize the 1080p Low setting for the best balance of performance and image quality. If a higher resolution is mandatory, 1440p Low is the only viable alternative, but users should expect a less stable experience than at 1080p. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets are not recommended at any resolution due to the severe performance penalties they impose, with average frame rates falling well below 30 FPS in all cases.

FAQ

Q: What is the best-performing settings preset for this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The 1920x1080 Low preset is the highest-performing configuration, with a measured average FPS of 46. It is the only preset that reaches this level of performance, making it the definitive choice for playability.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770, have average scores of 1186 and 1190, respectively, placing them 0.2% and 0.5% ahead. The AMD FirePro M2000 is 1.4% behind with a score of 1168. These are all extremely close scores, indicating a similar level of performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The Intel Arc B370's low performance percentile and the fact that frame rates drop significantly at higher resolutions point to the graphics processor as the bottleneck, rather than the 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the 1080p Medium preset?

A: The measured data shows a minimum FPS of 24 for the 1920x1080 Medium preset, with a maximum of 33 FPS. This indicates a variable frame rate that can dip below the average.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested system combinations for this game?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2681 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the bottom 8% of all system configurations.

Q: Does the CPU's high multi-core benchmark score translate to high frame rates in this game?

A: No. Despite the CPU's strong scores, such as 32,172 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the measured frame rates in The Medium are consistently low. This indicates that the game's performance is not being limited by the CPU's processing power, but by the GPU's rendering capabilities.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and expected trend of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the scale of the drop is particularly severe due to the GPU's limited capabilities. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 46 to 39, a 15% decrease. This is a moderate decline. However, the jump from 1440p to 4K at the Low preset results in a more substantial drop from 39 FPS to 30 FPS, a 23% decrease. This pattern suggests that the GPU is struggling to manage the increased pixel count, with the fill rate limits of the Arc B370 being quickly exceeded.

The scaling is even more dramatic at higher settings. At the Medium preset, the average FPS falls from 29 at 1080p to 24 at 1440p, and then down to 19 at 4K. This represents a 34% total reduction from 1080p to 4K. The High preset shows a similar trend, with averages of 21 FPS at 1080p, 17 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. The performance cliff is most apparent when observing the Ultra preset, which starts at an already low 16 FPS at 1080p, then drops to 14 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 11 FPS at 4K. The consistent frame rate drops across all settings confirm that the rendering resolution is a primary factor in performance, and the GPU's output is heavily taxed by even a modest increase in pixel count. This behavior is characteristic of a GPU that is limited by its pixel throughput and memory bandwidth, which is "System Dependent" for this integrated part.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B370 combination at rank 2681 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This ranking, in the 8th percentile, firmly establishes the system as one of the lowest-performing configurations in the benchmark database for this title. The CPU, which is a high-end desktop processor, does not boost the system's standing; the GPU's performance is the sole determinant of this poor result. The combo rank is a direct reflection of the Arc B370's capabilities, which are in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is extremely low, and its nearest rivals are all legacy or low-end parts from over a decade ago, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770.

This ranking indicates that the system is not suitable for running The Medium with any expectation of modern gaming performance. The data shows that it will only achieve playable frame rates at the lowest settings and resolutions, and even then, it barely meets the standard. The combination is a stark illustration of how a powerful CPU cannot compensate for a severely underpowered GPU in a graphically demanding game. The 2681st place ranking serves as a quantitative warning for any user considering this configuration for gaming purposes. The overall system performance is entirely constrained by the integrated graphics solution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptionally high, including a 3DMark max threads score of 13,929 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 22,174. These results place the CPU in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, demonstrating that it has ample processing power for demanding applications. However, in The Medium, the CPU's role is diminished by the GPU's performance ceiling.

The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The frame rates are consistently low across all resolutions and settings, which is a characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would remain more consistent across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload is less dependent on pixel count. Instead, we see significant frame rate drops when moving from 1080p to 4K, which is a clear sign that the GPU is unable to keep up with the rendering demands. The CPU's high single-thread score of 3010 in Geekbench and its robust multi-threaded performance are more than sufficient for the game's logic and physics, but they cannot influence the GPU's raw output. The data suggests that the Ryzen 9 9900X is effectively idle, waiting for the Arc B370 to complete its rendering tasks, resulting in the low overall frame rates observed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves its best results. The Low preset yields an average of 46 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 FPS and a maximum of 33 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to an average of 16 FPS. This shows a clear and steep performance penalty for each increase in graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases further. The Low preset is the most playable, with an average of 39 FPS. The Medium preset drops to an average of 24 FPS, with a range of 21 to 28 FPS. The High preset averages 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 14 FPS. The pattern remains consistent, with a significant gap between the Low and Medium presets.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the system is severely strained. The Low preset is the only one that averages above 20 FPS, at 30 FPS. The Medium preset averages 19 FPS, with a measured range of 16 to 22 FPS. The High preset averages 14 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to an average of 11 FPS. This data confirms that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this combo, as even the lowest settings result in a frame rate that is often below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. It has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, and its memory is "System Shared" with a bandwidth that is "System Dependent". Its raw compute power is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS for FP32. The GPU's benchmark performance is extremely low, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 and a percentile rank of 5. Its nearest rivals are all legacy parts, such as the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which is 0.5% faster. This data unequivocally positions the Arc B370 as a component with very limited gaming capabilities.

In The Medium, the GPU's limitations are the primary cause of the low frame rates. The measured FPS data shows that performance is heavily tied to resolution, indicating that the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are the main constraints. The 20 ROPs and the system-dependent memory bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of a modern game at higher resolutions. The GPU's performance is so low that it cannot provide a playable experience at any setting above 1080p Low. The data suggests that while the GPU has some functional capabilities, it is fundamentally not designed for this type of workload. Its 5th percentile ranking and the fact that it is comparable to a GPU from the early 2010s make it clear that it is a major bottleneck, preventing the powerful CPU from delivering a satisfactory gaming experience.