The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that stresses both CPU and GPU, and the pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers a predictable, GPU-bound experience at most settings. The measured data shows that this combination is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, but it struggles to maintain smooth performance at higher resolutions with maxed-out graphics. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all settings and resolutions to determine the optimal configuration for this specific hardware pairing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for this combo. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers an average of 85.8 FPS, which is a significant jump from the 64.3 FPS seen on High. This is well within the smooth-playable range for most displays.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset remains the sweet spot, producing an average of 72.2 FPS. This is a more consistent and fluid experience than the High preset's 49.8 FPS, which can feel stuttery in a game that relies on atmospheric tension. The Low preset at 1440p does hit 120.2 FPS, but the visual downgrade is typically too severe for a horror game where lighting and shadow detail are crucial.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The Medium preset drops to 54.3 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The High preset at 42.6 FPS is too low for a smooth experience. For 4K, the Low preset is the only measured option that provides a consistently fluid frame rate, hitting 92.1 FPS. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo requires a significant compromise in visual quality. Consequently, for the best overall experience, the Medium preset is recommended for 1080p and 1440p, while 4K users should consider the Low preset for playability.

FAQ

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

A: Only at the Low preset. The measured data shows 92.1 FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings. The Medium preset drops to 54.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 33.4 FPS, which is not smooth.

Q: What is the maximum FPS achievable with this setup?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 138.8, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This indicates the hardware is capable of very high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Q: How does the Ultra preset performance compare between 1080p and 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset is demanding. At 1920x1080, it averages 51.7 FPS, while at 2560x1440, it drops to 38.3 FPS. Neither is ideal for a smooth experience, but 1080p is more viable.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at higher settings. The FPS scales consistently with resolution changes, and the CPU's high multi-threaded score (23,444 in Cinebench R23) indicates it has ample headroom for this game's fixed-camera rendering.

Q: What is the performance delta between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. The Low preset averages 120.2 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 38.3 FPS, a difference of roughly 81.9 FPS. This shows the wide performance range the game's settings can produce.

Q: Does the combo rank well among other tested configurations?

A: Yes, it ranks 570th out of 1689 tested combos, placing it in the top third of all systems tested for The Medium. This is a solid result for a mid-range to high-end pairing.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23,444 and a single-core score of 3,309. The PassMark multithread score of 27,575 further confirms its strong multi-threading capabilities. This CPU is not the limiting factor in this game.

The measured FPS data shows that performance scales heavily with resolution and settings, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 138.8 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it falls to 33.4 FPS. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions and settings, which is not the case here. The processor's high boost clock of 4.90 GHz and its robust single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread score of 3,925) ensure that it can feed the Radeon RX 6800 XT with data efficiently, even in scenes with many interactive elements. The CPU's performance is adequate for this title, leaving the onus on the graphics card.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for The Medium, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT holds a rank of 570 out of 1,689 tested combos. This places it in the 66th percentile of all systems, indicating that it outperforms a majority of other configurations tested for this game.

The CPU itself sits at the 84th percentile when compared to all other CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 27,827. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, has a nearly identical average score of 27,829, showing a performance delta of 0%. The i5-12600KF is also effectively tied with the Core i5-12600K, which has an average score of 27,851 and a delta of -0.1%. This indicates that the "KF" variant's unlocked multiplier and lack of integrated graphics do not hinder its gaming performance in this title.

On the GPU side, the Radeon RX 6800 XT sits at the 87th percentile with an average benchmark score of 49,982. Its nearest rival in the database is the NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, which is 2.6% faster, and the Intel Arc A550M, which is 0.5% slower. This high GPU percentile, combined with the strong CPU performance, explains why the combo ranks in the top third. The data shows a well-balanced system that is likely hindered more by the game's optimization than by any hardware deficiency.

Resolution Scaling

The impact of resolution on frame rate is dramatic and consistent, confirming a GPU-bound scenario. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 on the Medium preset results in a drop from 85.8 FPS to 72.2 FPS, a decrease of 13.6 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced, with the Medium preset falling from 72.2 FPS to 54.3 FPS.

This pattern is repeated across all settings. On High, the FPS drops from 64.3 at 1080p to 49.8 at 1440p, and finally to 42.6 at 4K. The scaling shows that the GPU's workload increases significantly with each resolution step. The Radeon RX 6800 XT's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth is sufficient for the high-resolution textures, but the raw compute power is taxed heavily.

The fact that the 1080p Low preset achieves 138.8 FPS while the 4K Ultra preset only manages 33.4 FPS highlights the massive computational range the game demands. This wide gap is the definitive indicator that the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the component determining the performance ceiling. The CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, but it's the GPU that limits the system at higher resolutions and graphical fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data is from the measured FPS rows in the fact pack, showing average frame rates for each resolution and settings preset combination.

1920x1080:

• Low: 138.8 FPS
• Medium: 85.8 FPS
• High: 64.3 FPS
• Ultra: 51.7 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 120.2 FPS
• Medium: 72.2 FPS
• High: 49.8 FPS
• Ultra: 38.3 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 92.1 FPS
• Medium: 54.3 FPS
• High: 42.6 FPS
• Ultra: 33.4 FPS

The data reveals that the Low preset is the only one that consistently provides frame rates above 90 FPS at all resolutions, making it the only viable option for 4K high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset is the highest quality setting that maintains playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The Ultra preset, while visually impressive, is only suitable for 1080p where it just breaks the 50 FPS threshold. The High preset offers diminishing returns over Medium, with a significantly lower frame rate for a marginal visual improvement. This breakdown provides a clear roadmap for users to prioritize their settings based on their display's resolution and refresh rate capabilities.