The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that stresses both the CPU and GPU heavily, and this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 produces a specific performance profile. The data shows a system that can handle the game, but requires careful settings management to achieve a smooth experience, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, the role of each component, and how this specific combination stacks up against other tested systems.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and clearly demonstrates a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 51.5 FPS at 1920x1080 to 40.5 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 11 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the frame rate drops further to 34.3 FPS. This represents a substantial 33% decrease in performance from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the graphics card is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 115.4 FPS at 1080p to 94.6 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 75.7 FPS at 4K. This shows that even when graphical load is minimized, the GPU still struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K. At Medium settings, the progression is 72.1 FPS at 1080p, 59.8 FPS at 1440p, and 47.4 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the steepest relative decline, with 41.9 FPS at 1080p dropping to 37.1 FPS at 1440p and then to 28.5 FPS at 4K.

The data reveals that the RTX 5060 is not a 4K-capable card for The Medium at higher quality presets. The 4K results at High, Medium, and Ultra all fall below the 60 FPS threshold, and even the 4K Low preset at 75.7 FPS is the only playable option at that resolution. The performance gap between 1080p and 1440p is noticeable but manageable, while the jump to 4K introduces a hard ceiling that requires significant settings compromises. This indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and processing power are the bottlenecks at higher resolutions, not the CPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F provides a solid foundation for this game, with 6 cores and 12 threads. Its boost clock of 4.40 GHz and base clock of 2.50 GHz offer a good balance for gaming workloads. Benchmark results show a single-thread score of 909 in 3dmark and 2332 in Cinebench R23, indicating strong per-core performance that is crucial for game logic and frame pacing. The multi-threaded capabilities are also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16518 and a Passmark multithread score of 19433.

In The Medium, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions. The fact that frame rates drop so dramatically from 1080p to 4K suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor at 4K. However, at 1080p, the CPU's performance becomes more relevant. The 1080p Low preset achieves 115.4 FPS, which is a high frame rate that requires the CPU to feed the GPU efficiently. The 3dmark 8-thread score of 4779 and 16-thread score of 5895 show that the processor can handle multiple concurrent tasks, which is beneficial for games like The Medium that may have background processes or use multiple threads for streaming assets.

Comparing this CPU to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19221. This places it virtually tied with the Intel Core i7-8700K, which has an average score of 19210 and a deltaPct of 0.1%. It is also on par with the Intel Core i5-1335U (19167, deltaPct 0.3%) and slightly ahead of the AMD EPYC 7773X (18979, deltaPct 1.3%). The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS scores slightly higher at 19364, a -0.7% delta. For this game, the CPU's performance is adequate; it is not the primary bottleneck, but it is also not so powerful that it can overcome the GPU's limitations at high resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the decisive component in this pairing. With 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, it offers a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU has a boost clock of 2497 MHz and a base clock of 2280 MHz. Its Passmark G3D score is 20891, and it has a percentile ranking of 73 among all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer. The GPU's architecture is Blackwell 2.0, built on a 5 nm process with a die size of 181 mm².

The GPU's performance in The Medium is clearly the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K with High or Ultra settings, the game's memory requirements and texture detail may be pushing against the VRAM capacity, contributing to the lower frame rates. The 128-bit memory bus is also a constraint, as it limits the amount of data that can be transferred simultaneously, which is critical at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores show it is comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, which has an average score of 30097 and a deltaPct of 0%. The RTX 5060's average benchmark score is 30109. Interestingly, it also matches the older AMD Radeon RX 570 (30158, deltaPct -0.2%) in this synthetic benchmark, though the newer architecture and features would make it more capable in modern titles. The data indicates that the GPU is a capable 1080p and 1440p performer, but its 73rd percentile ranking suggests it is not a high-end part. In The Medium, this translates to playable 1080p and 1440p frame rates at medium and high settings, but 4K requires dropping to Low settings for a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the game is playable at most settings. The Low preset delivers an average of 115.4 FPS, which is excellent for a smooth experience. Medium settings yield 72.1 FPS, providing a good balance between visual quality and performance. High settings drop to 51.5 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for a 60 FPS target. Ultra settings bring the frame rate down to 41.9 FPS, which is a significant compromise and may feel less responsive.

At 2560x1440, the performance is more demanding. The Low preset still achieves a strong 94.6 FPS. Medium settings produce 59.8 FPS, which is just under the 60 FPS target. High settings drop to 40.5 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 37.1 FPS. This resolution is a sweet spot for the RTX 5060, as it can handle Medium settings comfortably and High settings for less demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overburdened. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently playable experience, with an average of 75.7 FPS. Medium settings drop to 47.4 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. High settings produce 34.3 FPS, and Ultra settings yield just 28.5 FPS. These latter two are not recommended for a playable experience, as the frame rates are too low for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and timing.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 839 out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is consistent with the individual component rankings. The CPU is in the 77th percentile, and the GPU is in the 73rd percentile, so a mid-pack ranking for the combo is expected.

The ranking indicates that while this system is capable, it is not a top-tier performer for this game. The data suggests that many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs will offer higher frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions. The mid-pack ranking is a direct result of the GPU's limitations at 4K and its inability to maintain high frame rates at Ultra settings even at 1080p. For a user seeking a high-refresh-rate experience or 4K gaming, this combo would not be the first choice. However, for a mainstream 1080p or 1440p gaming setup, it performs adequately.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for this combo is achieved by targeting a resolution of 1920x1080 or 2560x1440. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers a strong 72.1 FPS, which is a good balance of visual fidelity and smooth gameplay. For those who prioritize frame rate, the Low preset at 115.4 FPS provides an exceptionally smooth experience. The High preset at 51.5 FPS is acceptable, but the drop below 60 FPS is noticeable.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, delivering 59.8 FPS. This is close to the 60 FPS target and provides a good visual upgrade over 1080p. The Low preset at 94.6 FPS is also a viable option for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution result in frame rates in the 30s and 40s, which are not recommended for a smooth experience.

At 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which achieves 75.7 FPS. Any higher setting results in frame rates below 50 FPS, which is not ideal for a game that benefits from smooth motion. The data clearly shows that the RTX 5060 is not suited for 4K gaming in The Medium, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for the best experience. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it consistently produces the lowest frame rates and the graphical improvement over High is often not worth the performance cost.