The Medium

The Medium presents a demanding fixed-camera horror experience, and this particular pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER yields a dataset that clearly illustrates the boundaries of the graphics card. The measured results across three resolutions and four settings presets provide a clear picture of a system where the GPU is the primary constraint, while the CPU’s substantial headroom ensures consistent frame pacing. The data shows a configuration that is workable at lower resolutions and settings, but one that quickly exhausts its graphical capabilities when pushed toward 4K or high-quality presets.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At the Low preset, the average frame rate drops from 92 FPS at 1080p to 77 FPS at 1440p, then to 61 FPS at 4K. This is a reduction of 16.3% moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 20.8% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total scaling from 1080p to 4K is a 33.7% decrease in performance, which is a steep but expected curve for a mid-range GPU from the Turing generation.

The Medium preset shows a similar pattern but with more pronounced losses. The average FPS is 57 at 1080p, 48 at 1440p, and 38 at 4K. The relative drops are 15.8% and 20.8% respectively, indicating that the increased shading and texture detail of the Medium preset amplifies the pixel-count burden. The High preset follows, with 41 FPS at 1080p, 35 at 1440p, and 27 at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most punishing, starting at 33 FPS at 1080p and falling to 27 FPS at 1440p and just 21 FPS at 4K.

These numbers indicate that the limiting component is overwhelmingly the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would show less variation across resolutions, as the processor’s workload remains relatively constant while the GPU’s pixel-pushing duties increase. Instead, the steady decline with each resolution step is textbook evidence of the RTX 2060 SUPER reaching its fill-rate and shader limits. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D, with its high boost clock and large thread count, is not the constraining factor here; it is the 12 nm TU106 chip that determines the ceiling.

The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution is also telling. At 1080p, the spread is 59 FPS (from 92 to 33), while at 4K, the spread narrows to 40 FPS (from 61 to 21). This compression of the settings range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is so saturated by pixel output that the relative cost of higher-quality effects becomes less impactful, as the core rendering work dominates.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, this pairing ranks at position 2026 out of 2911 combos for The Medium. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, indicating that while it is not a bottom-tier performer, it is far from the top echelon of hardware configurations. The percentile placement suggests that a significant majority of other tested combos deliver higher average frame rates in this specific title.

The GPU’s general benchmark percentile is 62, which places it above the median of all GPUs, but the game’s specific demands appear to weigh heavily on the combination. The combo rank of 2026 out of 2911 means that roughly 69.6% of tested systems outperform it in this game. This is a sobering statistic for a CPU that is a top-tier performer, as it underscores how much the graphics card drags down the overall system capability in this title. The CPU alone sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs, but the pairing’s in-game rank is much lower, reinforcing the notion that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the weak link.

The data suggests that this is a mismatched pairing for a demanding title like The Medium. The CPU has far more headroom than the GPU can utilize, creating a situation where many of the processor’s capabilities are left on the table. For a less graphically intensive game, this combo might rank higher, but for this specific horror title, the GPU’s performance ceiling is the definitive factor in the overall ranking.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is built on the TU106 chip using a 12 nm process, featuring 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. It operates at a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz. The memory subsystem consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 RAM on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. These specifications define its capabilities and limitations in The Medium.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor at higher resolutions and settings. The Medium’s fixed-camera scenes often involve detailed textures and complex lighting, which can consume significant memory. While the measured FPS data does not show direct VRAM overflow errors, the steep performance drop at 4K Ultra (21 FPS) compared to 4K Low (61 FPS) suggests that the GPU is struggling with both memory bandwidth and capacity. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for 1080p, but at 3840x2160, the demand for texture fetches and frame buffer updates likely saturates this interface.

The boost clock of 1650 MHz is modest by modern standards, and the FP32 performance of 7.181 TFLOPS places it firmly in the mid-range category. In The Medium, this translates to the observed frame rates: playable at Low settings across all resolutions, but dropping below 30 FPS at 4K High and Ultra. The GPU’s percentile rank of 62 indicates it is an average performer overall, but the game’s specific rendering techniques, which may rely heavily on compute shaders and memory throughput, push it to its limits.

The RTX 2060 SUPER’s position relative to its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile with a deltaPct of -0.4%, shows that it performs nearly identically to that mobile part in synthetic benchmarks. This suggests that the desktop card’s higher power envelope does not translate into a significant advantage in this workload. The data implies that users seeking smoother performance in The Medium would need to step up to a noticeably more powerful GPU, as this card’s architecture is simply overburdened by the game’s demands at higher quality settings.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the average FPS exceeds 60 on any preset. At Low settings, it achieves 92 FPS, and at Medium it reaches 57 FPS. Higher resolutions result in sub-60 FPS averages even on the Low preset.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it averages 61 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 38 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 27 and 21 FPS respectively. The GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct competitors in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, has a score of 18159, which is a 0.4% difference. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 is 0.5% faster, while the AMD Radeon RX 460 is 1.5% slower.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is a signature of GPU limitation. The CPU, which ranks in the 91st percentile, is not being fully utilized, as evidenced by the large performance gaps between settings at the same resolution.

Q: What is the measured minimum FPS for the Medium preset?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 49. At 2560x1440, it is 41, and at 3840x2160, it is 32. These minimums suggest that frame pacing remains stable, but the average is already low enough to impact gameplay smoothness.

Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 2026 out of 2911 tested combinations for The Medium. This places it in the 30.4th percentile, meaning that about 69.6% of other tested systems deliver higher average frame rates in this game.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture. It has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache. Its benchmark scores are impressive, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739. These numbers place it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, indicating exceptional processing power.

However, in The Medium, the CPU’s role is largely supportive. The game’s fixed-camera angles and relatively static scenes do not require the massive thread throughput that the 9900X3D offers. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, meaning the CPU is likely idling well below its maximum capacity. The high boost clock and large cache do help ensure that frame times remain consistent, as evidenced by the minimum FPS values for the Medium preset (49 FPS at 1080p, 41 at 1440p, 32 at 4K), which are reasonably close to the averages.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF with a deltaPct of -0.6%, show that it is competitive with other high-end parts. But this competition is irrelevant in a GPU-bound scenario. The data shows that the CPU’s performance headroom is not being translated into higher frame rates because the RTX 2060 SUPER cannot keep up. The 12 cores and 24 threads are more than sufficient for this game, and the ultra-fast L3 cache helps with data retrieval, but none of this can compensate for the GPU’s rendering limits.

The processor’s PCIe Gen 5 interface and DDR5 memory support are forward-looking features, but they do not provide a tangible benefit in this specific benchmark. The game’s engine is likely not optimized to exploit the CPU’s advanced features, and the bottleneck remains firmly on the graphics side. Ultimately, the CPU is a non-factor in determining the playability of The Medium with this combo; it provides a stable foundation, but the experience is defined entirely by the GPU’s output.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance is found at the Medium preset. At 1920x1080, this preset delivers an average of 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The Low preset at 1080p achieves 92 FPS, but the visual fidelity is likely reduced to a point where the game’s atmospheric horror elements suffer. The High preset at 1080p drops to 41 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold for a responsive experience.

For users with a 2560x1440 monitor, the Medium preset yields an average of 48 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Low preset is the only other viable option at this resolution, offering 77 FPS, but again with reduced visuals. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall to 35 and 27 FPS respectively, which will likely result in noticeable stutter.

At 3840x2160, the only sensible choice is the Low preset, which produces 61 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K averages 38 FPS, which is technically playable but may feel sluggish in a horror game where precise timing is less critical. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are effectively unplayable, with averages of 27 and 21 FPS. The data strongly suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with Medium settings, or alternatively, 1440p with Low settings if a higher resolution is preferred over visual detail.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average FPS across presets is as follows: Low delivers 92 FPS, Medium delivers 57 FPS (with a min of 49 and max of 66), High delivers 41 FPS, and Ultra delivers 33 FPS. This resolution provides the widest range of playable options, with three presets above 30 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 77 FPS, Medium at 48 FPS (min 41, max 55), High at 35 FPS, and Ultra at 27 FPS. The jump from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 15-20% performance at each preset, with the gap widening at higher quality settings.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 61 FPS, Medium at 38 FPS (min 32, max 43), High at 27 FPS, and Ultra at 21 FPS. The Medium preset shows the most consistent frame pacing, with a 11 FPS difference between the minimum and maximum, suggesting that the GPU is handling the workload evenly despite the low average.

The data reveals a clear pattern: each increase in resolution reduces the average FPS by a consistent margin across all settings, confirming that the RTX 2060 SUPER’s rendering capabilities are the sole determinant of performance. The minimum FPS values for the Medium preset across all resolutions (49, 41, 32) indicate that frame drops are not severe, but the low averages at higher resolutions make the game feel less fluid. For users aiming for a stable 60 FPS experience, only the 1080p Low setting achieves this, while 1080p Medium comes close at 57 FPS.