The Medium

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The processor supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, offering a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The CPU accesses the PCIe Gen 4 interface with 20 lanes. In this horror title, the processor's performance is sufficient to feed the GPU at all tested settings, as evidenced by the scaling of frame rates across resolutions. The processor's multi-threaded capabilities are reflected in benchmarks like Cinebench R23, where it scores 14,340 points in multi-core and 2,024 in single-core tests. Its average benchmark score of 17,177 places it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, indicating a solid mid-range standing. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-11400F is effectively tied with the AMD EPYC 7H12, trailing by just 0.3%, and it is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-12450H. This data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck, as the frame rate differences between settings are primarily driven by GPU load rather than CPU limitations.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-11400F provides 6 physical cores and 12 threads, which is a configuration well-suited for modern gaming workloads. The base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz allow the processor to handle both lightly-threaded tasks and more demanding multi-threaded scenes. In the context of The Medium, a game that relies heavily on fixed camera angles and pre-rendered backgrounds, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and draw calls. The benchmark results show that at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 125, which is only 5.6% higher than the 118 FPS observed at 1440p Low. This small difference indicates that the CPU is capable of maintaining high frame rates even when the GPU is under less load. The processor's single-thread performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,024, is adequate for the game's primary thread. The multi-core score of 14,340 in Cinebench R23 suggests that even in scenes that utilize multiple threads, the CPU has headroom. The data shows that the i5-11400F does not constrain the GPU at any resolution, as the FPS drops consistently across settings when moving from 1080p to 4K, which is a sign of GPU-bound performance. The processor's 12 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce latency when accessing frequently used data, which can benefit frame pacing in a game like The Medium that streams assets for its dual-reality mechanic.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the primary driver of performance in this configuration. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 672.3 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 2340 MHz, with a boost clock of 2610 MHz. This memory capacity and bandwidth are crucial for The Medium at higher resolutions, as the game uses high-resolution textures and complex lighting effects. The GPU is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process, with 84/48 shading units and 66 RT cores, though the game's benchmark results do not specifically isolate ray tracing performance. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the limiting component in most configurations. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 42, which is the lowest tested setting. This is a direct result of the GPU's computational load, not the CPU. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's performance at 1080p Low reaches 125 FPS, but at 4K Low it drops to 109 FPS, a 12.8% reduction. This relatively small drop at Low settings suggests that the game's rendering demands scale significantly with settings, and the GPU's 16 GB VRAM is sufficient to avoid memory-related stutters. The GPU's average benchmark score of 31,087 places it in the 76th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M5000, scores 31,206, which is 0.4% higher, while the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell is 1.4% ahead. These comparisons show that the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a high-end card that performs consistently with its peers.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The benchmark data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. This is a playable frame rate that maintains smooth motion. The High preset at 1080p yields 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 63 FPS. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 125 FPS, but this sacrifices visual fidelity. For most users, the Medium preset at 1080p is the optimal choice, as it provides a 31.6% increase in FPS over High while still offering significantly better visuals than Low. At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. This is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 1440p averages 67 FPS, which is acceptable, but the Medium preset offers a better experience with a 38.8% FPS improvement. At 4K, the Medium preset averages 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. This is the only 4K setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K displays. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 42 FPS, which is too low for a smooth experience. The data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot across all resolutions, providing a 73 FPS average at 4K and 104 FPS at 1080p, with acceptable minimum frame rates to avoid noticeable hitches.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER ranks 658th out of 3,724 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the top 17.7% of all configurations. This rank indicates that the pairing is well-balanced and performs admirably within the broader database of test results. The CPU's 71st percentile standing and the GPU's 76th percentile standing suggest a synergistic pairing where neither component is significantly weaker than the other. The combo's rank is influenced by the GPU's strong performance at 4K Medium, where it achieves 73 FPS, a result that many other combos with less powerful GPUs cannot match. The CPU's contribution to this rank is less pronounced, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rates scale almost entirely with GPU settings rather than CPU load. In comparison to other combos that might pair the same GPU with a faster CPU, the data indicates that the i5-11400F does not bottleneck the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER in this game, as the FPS differences between 1080p and 1440p at the same settings are minimal. This suggests that the combo's rank is primarily determined by the GPU's capabilities, and the CPU is sufficient to saturate it. The rank of 658 out of 3,724 combos places this configuration in the upper echelon, suitable for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming and playable 4K gaming.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Examining the FPS scaling across resolutions reveals the nature of the performance bottleneck in this system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 125 at 1080p to 118 at 1440p, a 5.6% decrease, and then to 109 at 4K, a further 7.6% decrease. This relatively flat scaling at Low settings suggests that the game is heavily CPU-limited at lower resolutions, as the GPU has ample headroom to render frames quickly. The CPU's performance ceiling is around 125 FPS, which it can maintain even at 1440p. However, at Medium settings, the FPS drops from 104 at 1080p to 93 at 1440p (a 10.6% decrease) and then to 73 at 4K (a 21.5% decrease from 1440p). This steeper drop at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as the rendering load increases. At High settings, the FPS drops from 79 at 1080p to 67 at 1440p (a 15.2% decrease) and then to 52 at 4K (a 22.4% decrease from 1440p). At Ultra settings, the FPS drops from 63 at 1080p to 53 at 1440p (a 15.9% decrease) and then to 42 at 4K (a 20.8% decrease from 1440p). The data shows that at higher settings, the GPU is the limiting component, as the FPS scales inversely with resolution and settings. At Low settings, the CPU is the limiting factor, as the FPS is nearly constant across 1080p and 1440p. This analysis confirms that the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the performance driver for this game at medium to ultra settings, while the i5-11400F is sufficient to avoid CPU bottlenecks at lower settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings is 104, with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 42, which is the lowest of all tested settings. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the rendering load at 4K Ultra exceeds the capabilities of the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations for The Medium?

A: This combo ranks 658th out of 3,724 tested combos, placing it in the top 17.7% of all configurations tested for this game.

Q: What is the FPS difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS is 125 at 1080p and 118 at 1440p, a difference of 7 FPS or 5.6% lower at 1440p.

Q: What is the CPU's multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F scores 14,340 points in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, and 2,024 points in the single-core test.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER has a memory bandwidth of 672.3 GB/s, using 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080:

• Low: Average 125 FPS
• Medium: Average 104 FPS, Minimum 88 FPS, Maximum 120 FPS
• High: Average 79 FPS
• Ultra: Average 63 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: Average 118 FPS
• Medium: Average 93 FPS, Minimum 79 FPS, Maximum 107 FPS
• High: Average 67 FPS
• Ultra: Average 53 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: Average 109 FPS
• Medium: Average 73 FPS, Minimum 62 FPS, Maximum 84 FPS
• High: Average 52 FPS
• Ultra: Average 42 FPS

The data shows a clear pattern: the Medium preset provides the most consistent experience across all resolutions, with the minimum FPS staying above 60 at 4K. The Low preset at 1080p reaches the highest average FPS of 125, indicating the CPU's performance ceiling. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding, with an average of 42 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. The High preset at 4K averages 52 FPS, which is marginal. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is sufficient for all settings, as no memory-related performance drops are observed in the data. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's boost clock of 2610 MHz and 84/48 shading units drive the frame rates, while the i5-11400F's 6 cores and 12 threads provide stable frame pacing. The benchmark results indicate that for the best experience, users should prioritize the Medium preset, as it offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, with a 73 FPS average at 4K and a 104 FPS average at 1080p.