The Medium

The Medium pairs a 10-core Intel Core i5-12600KF with a 12 GB AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, and the benchmark data shows this combination lands in the 46th percentile of tested systems (rank 1707 out of 3724). The measured frame rates reveal a setup that is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet capable of strong 1080p performance. This analysis breaks down exactly what each component contributes, how the frame rates scale, and where this combo stands against other tested configurations.

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

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a flexible choice for a modern gaming rig. The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 79th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799.

Looking at the synthetic benchmarks, the i5-12600KF shows strong multi-threaded capability. It scores 7956 in 3DMark’s 16-thread test and 7952 in the max-threads test, indicating that its hybrid core layout scales well when all threads are loaded. Single-thread performance is also solid, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3302. In multi-core workloads, the Cinebench R23 score of 23391 and Geekbench multi-core score of 12137 confirm that this CPU can handle heavily threaded scenarios without bottlenecking a mid-range GPU.

For The Medium specifically, the CPU’s role is less about raw frame rate generation and more about maintaining consistent minimums. The game’s measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo hits 115 FPS average, which suggests the CPU is feeding frames efficiently. However, the data also reveals that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions; as resolution increases, the FPS drops proportionally, pointing to the GPU as the primary constraint. The i5-12600KF’s nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the Intel Core i9-10900K (avg score 27872, deltaPct -0.3), the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (avg score 27896, deltaPct -0.3), and the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (avg score 27712, deltaPct 0.3). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the i5-12600KF is essentially performance-equivalent to those parts in general CPU benchmarks, though the gaming-specific results will vary based on the title.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 22 chip, fabricated on a 7 nm process. It features 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units. The GPU has a base clock of 2150 MHz and a boost clock of 2600 MHz, with a game clock of 2495 MHz. Memory is a 192-bit bus carrying 12 GB of GDDR6 at 18 Gbps effective, yielding a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s.

This GPU’s benchmark percentile sits at 71 against all GPUs, with an average score of 26011. Its nearest rivals in the database are interesting: the AMD Radeon R9 M395X (avg score 25891, deltaPct 0.5), the AMD FirePro W7100 (avg score 25856, deltaPct 0.6), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile (avg score 25740, deltaPct 1.1). The fact that the RX 6750 XT is only about 1.1% ahead of a mobile RTX 3080 Ti in average GPU benchmarks suggests that its desktop performance is competitive but not dominant.

In The Medium, the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM is a relevant asset. The game’s measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 27 FPS, which is low, but the 12 GB frame buffer likely prevents texture swapping or stutter that would occur with smaller VRAM pools. The GPU’s compute performance, as shown by a Passmark GPU compute score of 9550, indicates it can handle the game’s rendering demands, but the frame rates show that at 4K, the card is overwhelmed by the pixel count. The card’s FP32 throughput of 13.31 TFLOPS is adequate for 1440p gaming, but the data shows a clear ceiling at 4K.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 115 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 97 FPS, a reduction of about 15.7%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 76 FPS, which is a 33.9% drop from 1080p. This pattern indicates that even at Low settings, the GPU is starting to feel the load as resolution increases, but the CPU is still capable of pushing high frame rates.

The scaling becomes more dramatic at higher settings. At 1080p Medium, the average is 72 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it drops to 61 FPS (a 15.3% decrease); and at 4K Medium, it falls to 48 FPS (a 33.3% decrease from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops—roughly 15% from 1080p to 1440p and another 33% from 1440p to 4K—is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would not scale so predictably with resolution.

The Ultra settings data reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 41 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Ultra yields 34 FPS, a 17.1% reduction. At 4K Ultra, the average is 27 FPS, a 34.1% reduction from 1080p. The frame rate at 4K Ultra is below 30 FPS, which makes the game nearly unplayable at that setting. The data suggests that the RX 6750 XT is the primary constraint, as the i5-12600KF’s single-thread performance (evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 3925) is more than sufficient to handle the game’s logic at these frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 1707 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the 46th percentile of all systems tested. This is a mid-pack ranking, which aligns with the hardware’s specifications: the CPU is above average (79th percentile) and the GPU is slightly above average (71st percentile), but the combination does not crack the top half of all systems tested for this specific game.

This rank suggests that while the individual components are competent, there are many other combos in the database that outperform this pairing in The Medium. The ranking is not a reflection of poor performance—the 1080p Low result of 115 FPS is strong—but rather an indication that the game’s engine or settings may not fully utilize the combination’s potential. The 46th percentile placement means that 53% of tested combos achieve higher average frame rates, which could be due to more powerful GPUs or CPUs that are better optimized for this title’s rendering style.

The data also shows that this combo’s rank is not influenced by a single weak component. The CPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, has a nearly identical average score (27896 vs 27799), suggesting that swapping the CPU would not dramatically change the ranking. Similarly, the GPU’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile, is only 1.1% behind in average GPU score, meaning the RX 6750 XT is holding its own. The mid-pack rank is likely a product of the game’s specific engine demands, which may favor other hardware architectures.

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

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 115 FPS average
• Medium: 72 FPS average, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 83 FPS
• High: 52 FPS average
• Ultra: 41 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all settings. The Low setting offers a high refresh rate experience, while Medium maintains a solid 72 FPS. The High and Ultra settings are playable but drop below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the game’s higher quality presets are demanding even at 1080p.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 97 FPS average
• Medium: 61 FPS average, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS
• High: 43 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

At 1440p, the Low setting remains competitive at 97 FPS, but Medium dips to 61 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. High and Ultra settings are below 45 FPS, making them marginal for serious play. The data shows that 1440p Medium is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance of visual quality and frame rate.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 76 FPS average
• Medium: 48 FPS average, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 55 FPS
• High: 34 FPS average
• Ultra: 27 FPS average

At 4K, the Low setting is the only one that maintains a playable 76 FPS. Medium drops to 48 FPS, which is playable but not smooth, while High and Ultra fall below 35 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 27 FPS is effectively unplayable for a horror game that requires quick reactions, and the data indicates that this resolution is too demanding for the RX 6750 XT at higher settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF sufficient for The Medium at 1080p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 115 FPS, and at Medium, it reaches 72 FPS. The CPU’s single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3925, is more than adequate for the game’s demands at this resolution.

Q: Does the RX 6750 XT’s 12 GB VRAM help at 4K?

A: While the 12 GB VRAM prevents memory-related stutter, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra is 27 FPS, which is too low for smooth gameplay. The VRAM capacity is not the limiting factor; rather, the GPU’s raw compute power (13.31 TFLOPS FP32) is insufficient for 4K Ultra settings in this title.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest GPU rival, the RTX 3080 Ti Mobile?

A: The RX 6750 XT has an average GPU benchmark score of 26011, which is 1.1% higher than the RTX 3080 Ti Mobile’s score of 25740. This suggests the desktop RX 6750 XT holds a slight edge in general performance, but the specific results in The Medium are determined by the game’s engine.

Q: What is the best resolution and setting for this combo?

A: The data indicates that 1440p Medium is the optimal balance, with an average of 61 FPS and a minimum of 52 FPS. At 1080p, Medium offers 72 FPS, but the higher resolution at 1440p provides better visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

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

A: The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K—where FPS drops by roughly 33% at each step for Medium settings—confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU’s performance is consistent across resolutions, as indicated by its strong multi-threaded scores like 23391 in Cinebench R23.

Q: How does this combo’s ranking compare to the CPU’s individual percentile?

A: The CPU is in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, but the combo ranks in the 46th percentile (1707 out of 3724) in The Medium. This gap suggests that the game’s performance is more dependent on the GPU, which sits in the 71st percentile, and that the overall system rank is dragged down by the GPU’s limitations at higher settings.