The Medium

The Medium presents a unique challenge for the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B370. This combination, ranking 2681 out of 2911 tested combos, places it in the lower echelon of systems for this specific title. The benchmark data reveals a system that is fundamentally constrained by its graphics solution, struggling to maintain playable frame rates across most configurations. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and what the numbers indicate about this pairing's capabilities in this horror title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 46 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low settings drops performance to 39 FPS, a 15% reduction. The jump to 4K at Low settings further reduces the average to 30 FPS, another 23% decline from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern suggests that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck; as pixel count increases, the GPU's workload expands, and its performance degrades proportionally.

The trend becomes even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 21 FPS at 1080p to 17 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 14 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% total drop from 1080p to 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar pattern, with averages of 29 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The consistent nature of these drops—roughly a 5 FPS decrease for each resolution step—indicates that the GPU's rendering capabilities are being taxed in a linear fashion, with no sudden cliff or plateau that would suggest a CPU limitation coming into play.

The data implies that the Core i3-12100F, despite its modest 4-core/8-thread configuration, is not the limiting factor in this game. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates that are more similar across resolutions, as the CPU's workload (draw calls, physics, game logic) remains relatively constant regardless of resolution. Instead, the consistent performance degradation with increasing resolution points squarely at the Arc B370's fillrate and shading capabilities. The i3-12100F is likely providing frames faster than the GPU can render them, making this a clear case of a system held back by its graphics processor in The Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested configurations for The Medium, this combo's position is notably low. With a rank of 2681 out of 2911, it sits in the bottom 8% of all systems tested. This percentile placement is a stark indicator of the overall performance level. The data suggests that while the system can run the game, it does so at a level that is significantly below what most other tested combinations achieve. This low rank is not surprising given the GPU's individual standing; the Intel Arc B370 has a percentile ranking of 5 among all GPUs, indicating it is at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

The CPU, in contrast, is a mid-range performer, with the Intel Core i3-12100F holding a percentile rank of 68 against all CPUs. This disparity is key to understanding the combo's overall rank. The processor is capable of keeping pace with a more powerful graphics card, but it is paired with a GPU that severely limits the system's potential. The combination of a mid-tier CPU and a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is wholly defined by its weakest link. The benchmark data confirms that the Arc B370 is the anchor dragging the entire combo's ranking down, as the CPU's relative strength is unable to compensate for the GPU's fundamental performance deficit in this title.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370's role in The Medium is defined by its position as a low-power integrated graphics solution. Its benchmark score is a mere 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, and it ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows that this GPU is simply not designed for demanding modern titles at high resolutions. The measured frame rates, which fail to reach 30 FPS at 4K on any setting, confirm that it is overwhelmed by the game's rendering requirements.

The GPU's specifications paint a clear picture of its intended market. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation pipelines. Its boost clock is rated at 2400 MHz, and it offers a theoretical FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS. While these numbers are present in the data, their real-world impact is seen in the low average FPS figures. The fact that the GPU's memory is "System Shared" and its bandwidth is "System Dependent" further illustrates its limitations, as it must contend with system memory bandwidth rather than having dedicated high-speed VRAM.

The relationship between the GPU's clocks and the game's results is evident in the scaling. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 46 FPS, but this drops to 16 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This 65% performance penalty for moving from the lowest to the highest preset is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited shading and texture processing capabilities. The Arc B370's architecture, while modern, is not robust enough to handle the increased shader complexity and texture detail of higher presets, resulting in the observed frame rate collapses. The data indicates that this GPU is only suitable for the lowest settings at 1080p if a user expects a remotely playable experience in The Medium.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest average FPS recorded for this combo is 46 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F or the Intel Arc B370 the main bottleneck?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. This is supported by the steep FPS drops as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation, and the GPU's 5th percentile ranking compared to the CPU's 68th percentile.

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

A: The data shows it cannot. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 30 FPS on Low settings to just 11 FPS on Ultra, making the game unplayable at this resolution for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the Arc B370's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: According to the data, the Arc B370 is nearly identical in performance to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, with a deltaPct of -0.2% (meaning the Arc is 0.2% slower). It is also comparable to the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which is 0.5% faster.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 46 on Low settings to 16 on Ultra settings. This represents a significant 65% decrease in performance when moving to the highest preset.

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

A: The combo ranks 2681 out of 2911 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for The Medium.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F's role in The Medium is to provide a baseline level of processing power that, while not top-tier, is more than sufficient for the graphics card it is paired with. The CPU's benchmark results show a capable performer; its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 11860, and its single-core score is 1674. These scores, combined with its 68th percentile ranking, indicate that the CPU has enough headroom to handle the game's logical and physics processing without becoming a significant bottleneck.

The CPU's specifications, including 4 cores and 8 threads with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, are modern enough to run the game's engine. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared, which is adequate for gaming workloads. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as evidenced by the resolution scaling. If the i3-12100F were the bottleneck, the frame rates at 1080p and 4K would be much closer together, as the CPU's workload would be the same. Instead, the FPS drops significantly with resolution, showing that the GPU is the component that is saturated.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals further reinforces this point. The nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, has an average score of 13492, which is essentially identical to the i3-12100F's 13494 (a 0% deltaPct). This puts the i3-12100F in a performance class with other entry-level and mid-range processors. The data implies that the i3-12100F is doing its job effectively; it is feeding the GPU with enough data to keep it busy. The problem is that the GPU's maximum output is so low that the CPU's potential is never fully utilized. In this specific game, the CPU is a silent partner, performing its duties without being the cause of the system's poor performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable settings for this combo are at 1080p with Low or Medium presets. The data shows that 1080p Low is the only configuration that breaks the 30 FPS threshold, scoring an average of 46 FPS. This is the only setting that could be considered "smooth" for most players. The 1080p Medium preset, with an average of 29 FPS, sits right at the edge of playability, and the minimum FPS of 24 could lead to noticeable stuttering in a horror game where smooth motion is important for atmosphere.

All other settings and resolutions are not recommended. The 1440p Low preset produces 39 FPS, but this is still below the 1080p Medium frame rate and may not be worth the resolution trade-off for such a marginal gain in visual quality. Every preset above Medium, at any resolution, results in average frame rates in the teens or low 20s, which is not a playable experience. The 4K resolution is entirely out of the question for this combo, with even Low settings only managing an average of 30 FPS.

The data indicates that the best experience is achieved by prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. For a game like The Medium, which relies on tension and atmosphere, a consistent frame rate is more important than higher resolution or graphical effects. Therefore, the optimal configuration from the measured data is 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This provides the highest average FPS and the best chance of a stable experience. If a user prioritizes visual quality over smoothness, the 1080p Medium preset is the only other acceptable option, but it comes with a significant risk of dips below 30 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of all measured average frame rates for the Intel Core i3-12100F with Intel Arc B370 in The Medium, organized by resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080:

• Low: The average FPS is 46. This is the highest performance recorded for this combo and the only setting that provides a comfortable frame rate.
• Medium: The average FPS is 29, with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 33. This is a borderline playable experience, but frame drops are likely.
• High: The average FPS drops to 21. This setting is not recommended for a smooth experience.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 16. This is a very demanding setting that the GPU cannot handle effectively.

2560x1440:

• Low: The average FPS is 39. While lower than the 1080p Low, this is still a playable frame rate.
• Medium: The average FPS is 24, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28. This is below the acceptable threshold for smooth gameplay.
• High: The average FPS is 17. This setting is not recommended.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 14. This is a very poor performance level.

3840x2160:

• Low: The average FPS is 30. This is the only 4K setting that reaches the 30 FPS baseline, but it is still not ideal.
• Medium: The average FPS is 19, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 22. This is not a playable experience.
• High: The average FPS is 14. This setting is not recommended.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 11. This is the lowest performance recorded and is unplayable.

The data across all resolutions shows a clear hierarchy: Low settings provide the best performance, followed by Medium, High, and finally Ultra. The differences between presets are substantial, highlighting the GPU's struggle with higher graphical workloads.