The Medium

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 presents a balanced mid-range platform for The Medium, a horror title known for its fixed-camera angles and dual-reality rendering. The benchmark data shows a system that can handle the game comfortably at most settings, but with clear performance ceilings at the highest visual presets and 4K resolution. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to show exactly where this combo excels and where it struggles, providing a practical guide for optimizing your experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario, but with a twist. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 147.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p on the same Low preset drops that to 127 FPS, and at 4K it falls further to 100.6 FPS. This scaling pattern indicates that even at Low settings, where the CPU typically has more influence, the RTX 4070 is still the primary driver of performance.

The story changes dramatically as you increase graphical fidelity. When switching from 1080p to 4K on the Ultra preset, the average frame rate plummets from 53.5 FPS to 37 FPS—a 30.8% reduction. This steep drop confirms that the GPU's rendering load at 4K Ultra is the definitive bottleneck. The gap between High and Ultra settings also widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between High (66.8 FPS) and Ultra (53.5 FPS) is 13.3 FPS. At 4K, the difference between High (43.6 FPS) and Ultra (37 FPS) is only 6.6 FPS, showing that the game's Ultra preset has diminishing returns as the GPU saturates.

The most telling data point is the 4K Medium result at 64 FPS. This is a playable frame rate that sits comfortably between the High and Low presets, suggesting that the RTX 4070 has enough headroom to handle 4K if you are willing to compromise on settings. The 1440p results are the sweet spot for this card; even at High settings it maintains 59 FPS, and the jump to Medium yields a solid 79.8 FPS. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, with 4K being viable only if you are prepared to dial back the presets from the maximum.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, combined with 18 MB of shared L3 cache, provide a solid foundation for gaming. In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU, but it is sufficient to prevent any major bottlenecks at lower resolutions.

The benchmark results for the i5-12400 show a processor that is capable but not exceptional. Its 3DMark single-thread score of 910 and multi-thread score of 5890 indicate a strong performer for its class. However, in The Medium, the CPU's influence is most apparent when comparing the 1080p Low and 1440p Low results. A 20.6 FPS drop (from 147.6 to 127) between these resolutions is relatively small, which suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor. The GPU is handling the increased pixel count without the CPU holding it back.

The CPU's 77th percentile ranking versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19850, places it near the Intel Core i7-9700 and Core i7-8700, which are just 0.1% and -0.2% different in score, respectively. This indicates that the i5-12400 offers performance comparable to older i7 parts, making it a strong match for the RTX 4070. The measured FPS data supports this; the CPU is never the primary constraint, as evidenced by the consistent scaling from 1080p to 1440p across all settings. The game's reliance on the GPU for its rendering effects is clear, and the i5-12400 provides enough processing power to feed the RTX 4070 without creating a significant bottleneck, even at the high frame rates seen on Low settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only with settings adjustments. The data shows 4K High averages 43.6 FPS and 4K Medium averages 64 FPS. For a smoother experience, 4K Low gives 100.6 FPS, but this sacrifices visual quality.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU pairing?

A: The data indicates 1440p is the optimal resolution. At 1440p High, the combo achieves 59 FPS, and at Medium it reaches 79.8 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance without the steep drop seen at 4K.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37283. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, has a score of 37507, which is 0.6% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A is 1.9% higher, and the RTX 4080 Mobile is 2.2% higher. This indicates the desktop 4070 is competitive with these parts.

Q: Is the i5-12400 a bottleneck for the RTX 4070?

A: The data suggests no. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings, indicating the GPU is the primary limiter. The CPU's performance is sufficient to avoid holding back the GPU in this title.

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

A: At 1080p, High settings yield an average of 66.8 FPS, while Ultra drops to 53.5 FPS. This is a 13.3 FPS difference, which is a significant performance cost for the marginal visual improvement of the Ultra preset.

Q: Is the 4K Ultra preset playable?

A: The 4K Ultra preset averages 37 FPS. This is below the standard 60 FPS target and may feel stuttery in a horror game where smooth motion is critical. It is recommended to use a lower preset for a better experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for The Medium, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 holds a rank of 381 out of 1689 tested combos. This places it in the top 22.6% of all systems tested, indicating a strong performance tier. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, showing that while neither component is at the absolute top of its class, their combination is effective for this specific game.

The data shows that this combo outperforms a significant majority of other tested configurations. The high rank is likely due to the RTX 4070's strong raw performance, as evidenced by its 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs, combined with the i5-12400's capable multi-threaded performance. The fact that this is a measured result, not an estimate, adds credibility to its position. For a builder looking for a system that can handle The Medium without chasing the absolute highest-end parts, this rank indicates a very solid choice. The performance is not top-tier, but it is far from the bottom, and it provides a playable experience at most settings, as the FPS data confirms.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for this combo across all tested resolutions and settings.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 147.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 93.4 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 66.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 53.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 127.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 79.8 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 59.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 43.6 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 100.6 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 64.0 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 43.6 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 37.0 |

The data reveals a clear pattern: performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. The most significant jump in performance comes from moving from Ultra to High settings, which offers a substantial FPS boost at all resolutions. For instance, at 1440p, the jump from Ultra (43.6 FPS) to High (59 FPS) is a 35.3% increase. This makes the High preset a far more attractive option than Ultra for a smoother experience.

At 1080p, the system can easily handle high refresh rates with Medium and Low settings, but even High settings provide a playable 66.8 FPS. The 4K results show that while the card is powerful, it struggles to maintain high frame rates with the most demanding presets. The 4K Medium result of 64 FPS is a notable outlier, proving that the RTX 4070 can handle 4K if you are willing to use a mid-range settings preset. The data is consistent and shows no anomalies, reinforcing the reliability of the measurements.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on your target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p display, the High preset at 66.8 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. Dropping to Medium increases the frame rate to 93.4 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 53.5 FPS is the least attractive option at this resolution, as the performance cost is not justified by the visual gains over High.

For 1440p, the High preset at 59 FPS is the recommended starting point. It provides a solid, near-60 FPS experience that is suitable for most players. If you require higher frame rates, the Medium preset at 79.8 FPS is a strong alternative that still looks good. The Ultra preset at 43.6 FPS should be avoided for a smooth horror experience, as the frame rate is too low for comfort. The Low preset at 127 FPS is only for competitive play or if you prioritize frame rate above all else.

At 4K, the situation is more nuanced. The High preset at 43.6 FPS is below the ideal 60 FPS mark but is playable for a slower-paced horror game. However, the Medium preset at 64 FPS is the clear winner here. It offers a much smoother experience that is closer to the target frame rate, and the visual difference between Medium and High is often less noticeable at this high resolution. The Ultra preset at 37 FPS is not recommended due to its low frame rate. The Low preset at 100.6 FPS is viable if you want maximum smoothness, but it will significantly reduce the game's atmospheric visual effects. For the best overall experience, the data supports using High settings at 1440p or Medium settings at 4K.