The Medium

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a very constrained gaming experience in The Medium, with the data indicating that the GPU is the decisive bottleneck across all tested configurations. The benchmark results show a system that struggles to maintain playable frame rates even at lower resolutions, with the combination ranking in the 2581st position out of 2911 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 11.3% of all configurations. The analysis below breaks down the measured performance across resolutions, settings, and component roles.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and dramatic degradation in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, with the frame rate dropping by more than half in most settings. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 51 at 1080p to 43 at 1440p (a 15.7% drop) and then to 34 at 4K (a 33.3% drop from the 1080p figure). This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU that is severely limited in its raw rendering throughput, as the additional pixel count at higher resolutions directly translates into lower frame rates.

The Medium settings provide the only complete dataset with minimum and maximum FPS values, showing the scaling most clearly. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 32 FPS with a range of 27 to 37. Moving to 2560x1440 Medium, the average drops to 27 FPS (a 15.6% decrease) with a range of 23 to 31. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average falls to 21 FPS (a 34.4% decrease from 1080p) with a range of 18 to 24. The consistent reduction in both average and the entire FPS envelope indicates that the limiting factor is the GPU's ability to fill pixels, not any CPU-side constraint.

High and Ultra settings show even steeper scaling penalties. High settings drop from 23 FPS at 1080p to 19 FPS at 1440p (a 17.4% reduction) and then to 15 FPS at 4K (a 34.8% reduction from 1080p). Ultra settings are the most punishing, starting at 18 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 15 FPS at 1440p (a 16.7% reduction), and collapsing to 12 FPS at 4K (a 33.3% reduction). The fact that even the lowest resolution with the highest settings cannot exceed 18 FPS average strongly suggests that the GPU is the dominant constraint, as a more capable CPU would not be able to compensate for the graphics processing deficit.

The resolution scaling data indicates that the system is not CPU-bound at any point. If the Intel Core i5-12600KF were the limiting factor, we would expect to see more consistent frame rates across resolutions, as the CPU workload does not scale with pixel count in the same way. Instead, the linear degradation with resolution points squarely at the Intel Arc B390, which has a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, figures that are evidently insufficient for this game's rendering demands at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process with a 80 W TDP. Its specifications include 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, 24 raster output units, and 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and it uses System Shared memory, meaning its bandwidth is system dependent rather than fixed. This shared memory configuration is likely a significant factor in the low frame rates observed, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

The GPU's benchmark data is sparse, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all legacy NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, deltaPct 1.3), the GeForce 800M (score 1460, deltaPct 1.5), the GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, deltaPct 2.5), and the GeForce GT 710 (score 1443, deltaPct 2.7). The Arc B390 outperforms these older parts by margins of 1.3% to 2.7%, but these are all entry-level or ancient GPUs, underscoring the Arc B390's position at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

In The Medium, this GPU performance translates directly into the measured FPS. The highest average frame rate achieved across all tests is 51 FPS at 1080p Low settings, and even that falls below 60 FPS. The 12 FPS average at 4K Ultra is barely a slideshow, and the 15 FPS at 4K High is similarly unplayable. The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and FP16 of 15.36 TFLOPS are theoretically modest, but the real-world results show that the system shared memory and the integrated nature of the GPU severely hamper its effectiveness in a demanding title like The Medium.

The texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s are hard limits that explain the scaling behavior. At 1080p, the GPU can manage 51 FPS at Low settings, but as texture detail and resolution increase, the fill rate and texture throughput become the bottlenecks. The GPU's 24 ROPs are particularly low for a modern part, which directly impacts pixel fill at high resolutions. The ray tracing cores, while present, do not appear to provide any measurable benefit in this game's standard rendering paths, given the low overall scores.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2581st out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the bottom 11.3% of all tested systems. This rank is overwhelmingly determined by the GPU, as the CPU is a far stronger component relative to its peers. The CPU's average benchmark score is 27799, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU's average score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile. This massive disparity between CPU and GPU capability is the defining characteristic of this combo.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the Intel Core i9-10900K (avgScore 27872, deltaPct -0.3), the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (avgScore 27712, deltaPct 0.3), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (avgScore 27887, deltaPct -0.3), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (avgScore 27896, deltaPct -0.3). All of these are within 0.3% of the i5-12600KF's average score, showing that the CPU is competitive with high-end and mid-range parts from both Intel and AMD. However, this CPU strength is entirely wasted in The Medium because the GPU cannot keep up.

The combo rank of 2581 out of 2911 indicates that 90.7% of all tested combos perform better than this one in this specific game. The data shows that even a very capable CPU like the i5-12600KF, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, cannot rescue a system when the GPU is this weak. The rank is consistent across all resolutions and settings, with no configuration pushing the combo above the bottom quartile. This suggests that the GPU is such a severe bottleneck that the CPU's performance is almost irrelevant to the final frame rate.

Given that the GPU's nearest rivals are all parts from the early 2010s, it is unsurprising that the combo ranks so low. The data implies that any system with a discrete GPU from the last decade would likely outperform this combination, as the Arc B390's integrated nature and shared memory are fundamental limitations that no amount of CPU power can overcome.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in The Medium?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 51 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches playable frame rates, and even it falls below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest benchmark rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710 (1443). These are all very old, low-end parts.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF a high-performing CPU relative to others?

A: Yes, the CPU has an average benchmark score of 27799, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, are within 0.3% of its score, indicating strong multi-threaded performance.

Q: What is the worst performance recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS is 12 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is essentially unplayable, and the frame rate at 4K High (15 FPS) and 4K Medium (21 FPS) are also far below acceptable levels.

Q: Does increasing resolution from 1080p to 4K have a significant impact on FPS?

A: Yes, the impact is severe. At Low settings, FPS drops from 51 at 1080p to 34 at 4K, a 33.3% reduction. At Medium settings, FPS drops from 32 to 21, a 34.4% reduction. At Ultra settings, FPS drops from 18 to 12, a 33.3% reduction.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The CPU is in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. The linear FPS scaling with resolution indicates a GPU bottleneck, as the CPU workload does not scale with pixel count.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen series, based on the Alder Lake architecture and manufactured on a 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The CPU features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The CPU was released on November 3, 2021, with a launch MSRP of $264.

The CPU's benchmark scores are strong across the board. In Cinebench R23, it scores 23391 in multicore and 3302 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 12137 in multicore and 2157 in single-core. Its 3DMark scores range from 1016 in single-thread to 7956 in 16-thread tests. These results put the CPU in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799. The nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, are all within 0.3% of this score, confirming that the i5-12600KF is a high-performing processor.

In The Medium, however, the CPU's capabilities are barely utilized. The measured FPS data shows that even at the lowest resolution and settings (1080p Low, 51 FPS), the frame rate is far below what the CPU could theoretically support. The CPU's single-thread performance, as measured by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1016 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3925, is sufficient for most games, but the GPU's limitations cap the frame rate. The data indicates that the CPU is never the bottleneck in this configuration, as the FPS scales so heavily with resolution and settings that only the GPU can explain the variance.

The CPU's multi-threaded strengths, such as its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23391, are also irrelevant to this game's performance, as the frame rates are too low to benefit from high thread utilization. The 10 cores and 16 threads are more than adequate for The Medium, but the Arc B390 simply cannot render frames fast enough to take advantage of them. In any other context, this CPU would be a strong choice, but in this combo, it is held back by the weakest component in the system.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only playable configuration is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which achieves an average of 51 FPS. This is the sole setting combination that approaches a playable frame rate, and even it falls below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer. The data shows that any increase in resolution or settings results in a substantial FPS drop, making the game increasingly difficult to play.

At 1920x1080, Medium settings yield 32 FPS, High yields 23 FPS, and Ultra yields 18 FPS. All of these are below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay, which is typically 30 FPS or higher. The Medium setting at 1080p, with a range of 27 to 37 FPS, is marginal but may be playable for some users, though the average of 32 FPS is still low. The data suggests that users should prioritize Low settings at 1080p to get the best experience, as it is the only configuration that stays above 45 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the best result is 43 FPS at Low settings, which is playable but requires significant visual compromises. The Medium setting at 1440p drops to 27 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and High and Ultra are at 19 and 15 FPS respectively, which are not recommended. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only yield 34 FPS, and every other setting falls below 25 FPS, making 4K gaming impractical with this combo.

The data shows a clear pattern: Low settings are the only viable option for acceptable frame rates, and even then, users should stick to 1080p or 1440p. The Medium settings provide a minor visual improvement but at a significant FPS cost, and the High and Ultra settings should be avoided entirely due to sub-20 FPS averages. For users who prioritize smooth gameplay, 1080p Low is the recommended choice, while those who can tolerate lower frame rates may experiment with 1440p Low or 1080p Medium.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across all tested configurations. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are as follows: Low settings average 34 FPS, Medium averages 21 FPS with a range of 18 to 24, High averages 15 FPS, and Ultra averages 12 FPS. The 4K results show that the GPU is severely overwhelmed, with even the lowest settings failing to reach 40 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance improves but remains limited. Low settings average 43 FPS, Medium averages 27 FPS with a range of 23 to 31, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 15 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that Low settings are the only viable option, as the 43 FPS average is the sole configuration above 30 FPS at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the best results are achieved. Low settings average 51 FPS, Medium averages 32 FPS with a range of 27 to 37, High averages 23 FPS, and Ultra averages 18 FPS. The 1080p Low configuration is the highest-performing setup in the entire dataset, with 51 FPS average. The 1080p Medium configuration, with an average of 32 FPS, is the second-best option, but it still falls below the 51 FPS of Low settings.

The data shows a consistent pattern across all resolutions: Low settings outperform Medium by a significant margin (e.g., 51 vs 32 FPS at 1080p), Medium outperforms High (32 vs 23 FPS at 1080p), and High outperforms Ultra (23 vs 18 FPS at 1080p). The minimum and maximum FPS values are only available for Medium settings, showing a spread of 10 FPS at 1080p (27-37), 8 FPS at 1440p (23-31), and 6 FPS at 4K (18-24). This narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is more consistently bottlenecked, with less variance in frame delivery. Overall, the measured data confirms that this combo is only suitable for low-resolution, low-settings gaming in The Medium.