The Medium

The Medium’s fixed-camera horror framing puts unusual stress on both the CPU and GPU, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 reveals a system that is consistently GPU-bound at higher settings but surprisingly responsive to resolution changes. This combination, ranked 925th out of 3,724 tested combos for this title, sits in the 75th percentile of all systems, indicating a strong but not elite performance tier. The measured FPS values across three resolutions and four quality presets show a clear pattern: the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 5 nm Ada Lovelace architecture dominate the workload, while the i3-12100F’s 4 cores and 8 threads provide just enough headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, but the shape of that curve changes dramatically depending on the quality preset. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 144 FPS at 1920x1080 to 126 FPS at 2560x1440, then to 99 FPS at 3840x2160 — a 31% reduction from 1080p to 4K. This modest decline suggests that at Low settings, the system is not fully GPU-bound; the i3-12100F, with its 3.30 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clocks, is likely limiting performance at 1080p, where the RTX 4070 could otherwise push far beyond 144 FPS. The data implies that the 144 FPS figure at 1080p Low is probably a CPU-imposed ceiling rather than a GPU maximum, given the GPU’s raw compute capability.

At Medium settings, the scaling is more pronounced: 93 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p, and 62 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 4K, slightly steeper than at Low, indicating that the GPU is beginning to take on more work as pixel count rises. The Medium preset also includes minimum and maximum FPS values (79-108 at 1080p, 67-91 at 1440p, 53-71 at 4K), and the relative stability of those ranges — the gap between min and max stays around 18-29% of the average — suggests no sudden spikes or drops, which points to consistent frame pacing rather than erratic CPU stalls.

High settings show the largest relative drop: 67 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and 44 FPS at 4K — a 34% decline. This is where the RTX 4070’s 192-bit memory bus and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth start to matter, as higher-quality textures and effects increase memory pressure. At Ultra settings, the system falls to 53 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 35 FPS at 4K, a 34% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The consistency of these percentages — all between 31% and 34% — reveals that resolution scaling is nearly linear across presets, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario where the limiting factor is pixel throughput rather than CPU logic.

The data suggests that the limiting component at 4K is unambiguously the GPU. The RTX 4070’s 29.15 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 158.4 GPixel/s pixel rate are being stretched thin at 3840x2160, especially at Ultra where 35 FPS is barely playable. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the 144 FPS figure aligns suspiciously close to common display refresh rates, hinting that either a frame cap or CPU limitation is in play. The i3-12100F’s 3dmark_single_thread score of 893 and passmark_single_thread score of 3444 are respectable for a quad-core, but they are not high enough to feed the RTX 4070’s full potential at low resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake-S processor with a 10 nm process node and a 58 W TDP. Its benchmark results paint a picture of a CPU that is strong for its class but modest in absolute terms: Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,860 and single-core score of 1,674, with Geekbench scores of 7,252 multi-core and 1,932 single-core. These numbers place it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500 (0.3% higher avg score) and the Intel Core 5 120UL (0.7% lower). For The Medium, this CPU appears to be adequate but not overkill.

In this specific game, the CPU’s role is most evident at Low settings and 1080p, where the 144 FPS average could indicate a CPU-imposed limit. The i3-12100F’s 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for the game’s fixed-camera scenes, which typically do not require massive thread counts, but the 12 MB shared L3 cache and 80 KB L1 per core suggest that memory latency could be a factor in complex scenes. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p Low, the FPS does not scale up when the resolution drops from 1440p to 1080p as much as one might expect (126 to 144 FPS, a 14% gain), whereas the GPU has plenty of headroom. This is a classic sign of CPU bottlenecking at low resolution.

However, the story changes at higher settings. At Ultra 4K, the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor, as the 35 FPS average is far below any CPU-imposed threshold. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 4,981 and 3dmark_16_threads score of 4,051 indicate that the CPU can handle the game’s logical threads, but the passmark_find_prime_numbers score of 60 and passmark_physics score of 985 suggest that integer and physics workloads are not its forte. The Medium’s horror genre often involves scripted sequences and environmental puzzles, which may rely more on single-threaded performance — and the i3-12100F’s 3dmark_single_thread score of 893 is competent, placing it in the upper tier for its generation.

The boost clock of 4.30 GHz is crucial here, as it allows the CPU to react quickly to frame-to-frame demands. The data shows that at Medium settings, the minimum FPS at 4K is 53, which is 85% of the average — a tight margin that suggests the CPU can keep up with frame pacing even when the GPU is stressed. The 4-core design is a double-edged sword: it has fewer threads than modern 6-core or 8-core chips, but it also avoids the scheduling overhead that comes with hybrid architectures. For a game released in 2021, this CPU’s 4 cores are sufficient, but the benchmark results imply that upgrading to a higher-core CPU would not yield significant FPS gains at 4K, where the GPU dominates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the clear star of this combination, and its specifications explain the measured FPS results. With 5,888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, the GPU is designed for high-throughput rasterization, and its 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores provide ample support for ray tracing and DLSS — though the measured FPS data does not include any ray-traced or upscaled settings. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus delivers 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is substantial but not top-tier, and the 2,475 MHz boost clock ensures high sustained performance.

The GPU’s benchmark scores are impressive: PassMark G3D score of 26,927 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3,854, placing it at the 81st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (0.4% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (1.3% higher), which puts the RTX 4070 in a competitive mid-to-high range. In The Medium, the GPU’s role is most apparent at 4K Ultra, where the 35 FPS average reflects the sheer pixel count and the game’s heavy use of volumetric effects and pre-baked lighting, which tax the GPU’s compute units.

The 29.15 TFLOPS FP32 performance is the key metric for this game, as The Medium does not heavily rely on ray tracing in its default settings. The GPU’s 158.4 GPixel/s pixel rate and 455.4 GTexel/s texture rate suggest it can handle high-resolution textures without stuttering, and the measured FPS data confirms this: at 1440p High, the system achieves 56 FPS, which is 84% of the 1080p High result. This scaling is better than linear, indicating that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is sufficient for the increased resolution.

However, the GPU’s 200 W TDP and 16-pin power connector imply it runs hot and requires a robust power supply, though the suggested PSU of 550 W is modest for its class. The 5 nm process node from TSMC allows for high efficiency, but the 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die are dense, and thermal throttling could be a concern in prolonged sessions — though the measured FPS data does not show signs of throttling, as the min-to-max FPS ranges are stable. The GPU’s 12 GB VRAM is a significant advantage in this game, as The Medium’s high-resolution textures can exceed 8 GB at 4K Ultra, and the data suggests that the GPU never runs out of memory, given the consistent FPS across all presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 925th out of 3,724 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the top 25% of all systems. This rank is notable because it pairs a mid-range CPU (68th percentile) with a high-end GPU (81st percentile), and the resulting performance is better than the CPU’s percentile alone would suggest. The data implies that the GPU is the dominant factor in this game’s performance, as the i3-12100F does not drag down the overall experience as much as it might in CPU-intensive titles.

The rank of 925 suggests that the system outperforms about 75% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing for a quad-core CPU. The nearest rival CPUs — the Intel Core i5-9500 and Intel Core 5 120UL — have nearly identical average benchmark scores (13,452 and 13,594, respectively), and this rank indicates that the RTX 4070’s performance boosts the combo well above what the CPU alone would achieve. In practical terms, this means that a user with this combo can expect smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with high settings, and acceptable performance at 4K with medium settings.

Comparing to the GPU’s nearest rivals, the RTX 4070’s average benchmark score of 37,648 is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P4 and 1.3% higher than the AMD Radeon PRO W6400, but the combo rank suggests that the RTX 4070’s gaming-specific features — such as its 12 GB VRAM and Ada Lovelace architecture — are well-suited to The Medium’s demands. The rank of 925 out of 3,724 is not in the top 10%, but it is respectable, and the data shows that the system is not held back by any single component. The bottleneck analysis from the resolution scaling section indicates that at 4K, the GPU is the limiter, while at 1080p Low, the CPU is the limiter — and the rank reflects this balance, landing the combo in a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate 1080p and smooth 1440p gaming.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at Medium settings achieves 79 FPS average with a minimum of 67 FPS, making it the best balance of visual quality and smoothness. At 1920x1080 Medium, the system hits 93 FPS, but the 1440p Medium result is more impressive given the higher pixel count.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 62, which is playable, while 4K High drops to 44 FPS and 4K Ultra falls to 35 FPS. The 4K Low setting achieves 99 FPS, but at a significant visual quality cost.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 in this game?

A: Only at 1080p Low, where the 144 FPS average suggests a CPU-imposed limit. At higher settings and resolutions, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as evidenced by the near-linear FPS scaling with resolution changes.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RTX 4070’s nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37,648, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P4 and 0.4% lower than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56. In game, the combo rank of 925 out of 3,724 indicates it outperforms most systems, but the CPU’s modest scores (68th percentile) prevent it from reaching the top tier.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low averages 126 FPS while Ultra averages 45 FPS, a difference of 81 FPS or a 64% reduction. This shows the significant performance cost of Ultra settings, which likely include higher-quality shadows and effects.

Q: Does the 12 GB VRAM on the RTX 4070 make a difference in this game?

A: The data does not explicitly show VRAM usage, but the consistent FPS at 4K Ultra (35 FPS average) without any reported min-FPS stutters suggests that the 12 GB GDDR6X memory is sufficient for The Medium’s highest settings, as memory overflow would typically cause erratic frame times.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers strong performance across all presets. Low settings average 144 FPS, which is likely the maximum the CPU can feed. Medium settings average 93 FPS with a range of 79 to 108 FPS, providing a smooth experience. High settings drop to 67 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 53 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 63% reduction in average FPS, highlighting the visual fidelity cost.

At 2560x1440, the results are more balanced. Low averages 126 FPS, which is still very high. Medium averages 79 FPS with a range of 67 to 91 FPS, maintaining smoothness. High settings drop to 56 FPS, and Ultra settings average 45 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 64%, nearly identical to the 1080p scaling, indicating that the GPU is handling the increased pixel count without additional CPU-related penalties.

At 3840x2160, the system becomes firmly GPU-bound. Low averages 99 FPS, which is playable but below the 144 FPS at 1080p. Medium averages 62 FPS with a range of 53 to 71 FPS, which is the sweet spot for 4K gaming. High settings drop to 44 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 35 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K results show a 65% reduction from Low to Ultra, consistent with the other resolutions.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all resolutions, and the data shows that the FPS range tightens as resolution increases: 79-108 at 1080p, 67-91 at 1440p, and 53-71 at 4K. This indicates that at higher resolutions, the frame pacing becomes more stable, as the GPU’s workload dominates and the CPU’s variable response time becomes less of a factor.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience on this hardware in The Medium, the data points to the Medium preset as the optimal choice. At 1440p Medium, the system achieves 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, which provides smooth gameplay without sacrificing too much visual quality. At 4K Medium, the 62 FPS average is also acceptable, and the 53 FPS minimum ensures no major stutters. The Medium preset appears to be the performance/quality sweet spot, as High settings reduce FPS by roughly 30% across all resolutions (67 to 56 to 44 FPS), while Ultra settings reduce FPS by another 20% (53 to 45 to 35 FPS).

If the user prioritizes frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 1080p (144 FPS) or 1440p (126 FPS) is the clear choice, as it provides the highest possible FPS for a high-refresh-rate monitor. However, the Low preset likely disables key visual effects that enhance the horror atmosphere, such as shadows and volumetric lighting. The data shows that the jump from Low to Medium costs about 35% of the average FPS (from 144 to 93 at 1080p), which is a significant trade-off.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the only viable option for a smooth experience, as High (44 FPS) and Ultra (35 FPS) fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The 4K Medium result of 62 FPS is adequate, but the minimum of 53 FPS means there will be occasional dips below 60 FPS. Users with G-Sync or FreeSync displays may still find this acceptable. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as the 35-53 FPS range is too low for a game that benefits from stable frame pacing, and the visual difference between High and Ultra is unlikely to justify the 20% FPS loss. The benchmark data suggests that Medium settings at 1440p offers the best overall experience, balancing the GPU’s capabilities with the CPU’s limitations.