The Medium

The Medium presents a uniquely demanding workload, and this pairing of an Intel Core i5-12600KF with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 illustrates a classic bottleneck scenario. The data indicates a system where the GPU is the primary constraint, with the CPU’s substantial headroom going largely unused at higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, revealing that while the processor is capable of far more, the graphics card dictates the playable experience across all tested resolutions.

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. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and can boost up to 4.90 GHz, which provides a substantial amount of compute throughput for gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates significant strength, scoring 23,391 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,302 points in the single-core test. Its Passmark multithread score of 27,575 and a 79th percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicate that this processor is far from being a limiting factor in most gaming scenarios. The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache further supports its ability to handle complex game logic and asset streaming without stalling.

However, the measured FPS in The Medium suggests that the CPU is not the component driving performance. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 75 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 4K with the same Low settings, the average FPS drops to 50. This significant performance delta, even at a preset that is typically less demanding on the processor, points directly to the GPU being the bottleneck. The game’s fixed camera angles and pre-rendered backgrounds, a hallmark of the horror genre, likely place a higher load on the graphics card for rendering, while the CPU handles the logical and streaming tasks with relative ease.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, show an average score delta of only -0.3%, meaning the i5-12600KF is virtually on par with these heavier-hitting processors in general benchmarks. This parity reinforces that the i5-12600KF is not the weak link in this configuration. The data implies that the processor is waiting on the GPU to deliver frames, making it a high-performance component that is underutilized by the demands of this specific game. The 16 threads and high boost clock are more than sufficient to feed the GTX 1070, and any performance gains from a more powerful CPU would be negligible in this pairing.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Given the GPU-bound nature of this combo, the choice of settings is a direct trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate. The measured data provides clear guidance. At 1080p, the Low preset yields an average of 75 FPS, which is fluid and responsive. However, the Medium preset still provides a very playable 47 FPS average, with a minimum of 40 FPS. The jump to High and Ultra presets brings the average down to 34 and 27 FPS, respectively, which begins to feel less smooth for a game that relies on atmospheric tension.

The analysis suggests that the Medium preset is the optimal balance for this configuration. It offers a significantly better visual experience than Low, while maintaining a frame rate that is above the 30 FPS threshold typically considered the minimum for playability. The High and Ultra presets, while visually more impressive, drop the frame rate into a range that could be detrimental to the game’s pacing and player immersion. The data shows that at 1080p Medium, the user gets a solid 47 FPS average, which is a 38% improvement over the High preset’s 34 FPS. This is a substantial gain for a single step down in graphical quality.

At higher resolutions, the choice becomes more restrictive. At 1440p, the Medium preset yields a 40 FPS average, while the Low preset reaches 63 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall to 28 and 22 FPS, making them largely unplayable. At 4K, the situation is dire; even the Medium preset only achieves a 31 FPS average, and the Low preset is the only option that provides a playable 50 FPS. Therefore, for the best experience, users should prioritize the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p, and only consider Low settings for 4K gaming. The Ultra preset appears to be for future hardware, as it pushes the GTX 1070 to its limits, resulting in an unplayable 18 FPS at 4K.

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

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions is a textbook example of a GPU-bound scenario. When moving from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K, the number of pixels the GPU must render increases dramatically. The data for this combo shows a consistent and steep decline in performance as resolution increases, which is the definitive signature of a graphics card operating at its maximum capacity.

At the Medium preset, the average FPS drops from 47 at 1080p to 40 at 1440p, a decrease of roughly 15%. When pushing to 4K, the average further plummets to 31 FPS, a 34% reduction from the 1080p figure. This scaling behavior is not what we would expect if the CPU were the bottleneck. In a CPU-limited scenario, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the processor would be the limiting factor regardless of the rendering load. Here, the frame rate is inversely proportional to the resolution, indicating that the GTX 1070 is being saturated at all resolutions, and its fillrate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints.

The Low preset shows a similar, albeit less severe, trend. The average goes from 75 FPS at 1080p to 63 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 50 FPS at 4K. Even at the lowest settings, the GPU is still the limiting factor, with the 4K resolution proving to be a heavy burden. This analysis confirms that the i5-12600KF is not the source of the frame rate drops. The CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates, but the GTX 1070 cannot keep up with the increased pixel count at higher resolutions. The data strongly suggests that upgrading the graphics card would yield a massive improvement in performance, while upgrading the CPU would provide little to no benefit for this specific game.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12600KF bottlenecking the GTX 1070 in The Medium?

A: No, the data suggests the opposite. The performance scaling across resolutions indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU has a 79th percentile ranking and scores on par with stronger processors like the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, showing it has more than enough headroom.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this system at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset offers the best balance, achieving a 47 FPS average. This is a significant improvement over the High preset's 34 FPS while still providing a much better visual experience than the Low preset's 75 FPS.

Q: Can this system run The Medium at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at the Low settings preset, which averages 50 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets at 4K produce averages of 31, 22, and 18 FPS respectively, which are generally considered too low for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 9,780. Its nearest rival, the AMD FirePro W5000, scores 9,803, which is only 0.2% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro M2000M is also close, with a score of 9,832, showing the 1070 is statistically on par with these professional cards.

Q: What does the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K tell us about the system?

A: The consistent drop in frame rates as resolution increases indicates a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would stay relatively stable across resolutions. The fact that it drops sharply confirms the GTX 1070 is the primary constraint.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at any resolution with this hardware?

A: The data shows the Ultra preset is not playable. At 1080p it averages 27 FPS, at 1440p it drops to 22 FPS, and at 4K it is only 18 FPS. These frame rates are below the threshold for a smooth, responsive gaming experience.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is built on the Pascal architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. Its core operates at a base clock of 1506 MHz and a boost clock of 1683 MHz. These specifications paint a picture of a capable mid-range card from its generation, but one that is clearly outmatched by the demands of The Medium at higher settings. The GPU’s 47th percentile ranking versus all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 9,780 indicate that it is a middle-of-the-pack performer in the current landscape.

The game’s performance is heavily tied to the GPU’s capabilities. The 8 GB of VRAM is a crucial factor, as The Medium is known for rendering high-resolution textures. The data shows that at the High and Ultra presets, the frame rates are consistently low across all resolutions, suggesting that the GPU is running out of memory or its compute units are saturated. The FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS and the texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s are simply not sufficient to maintain high frame rates with the visual complexity of the Ultra preset. The card’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD FirePro W5000 and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, confirming that this is a standard performance tier.

The performance drop from Medium to High settings is particularly revealing. At 1080p, the average FPS falls from 47 to 34, a 28% reduction. This steep decline suggests that the High preset introduces effects, such as more detailed shadows and post-processing, that are disproportionately taxing on the GTX 1070’s 1,920 shading units. The card is forced to work at its limit, and the result is a frame rate that is below the ideal for a smooth experience. The data indicates that the GTX 1070 is a capable card for older titles, but it struggles with the demands of this modern horror game, especially when pushing beyond Medium settings.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 75 FPS on Low, 47 FPS on Medium, 34 FPS on High, and 27 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum and maximum of 40 and 54 FPS, respectively, showing a playable range. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 63 FPS on Low, 40 FPS on Medium, 28 FPS on High, and 22 FPS on Ultra. At this resolution, the Medium preset's minimum and maximum are 34 and 45 FPS. Finally, at 3840x2160, the averages drop significantly to 50 FPS on Low, 31 FPS on Medium, 22 FPS on High, and 18 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 26 and a maximum of 36 FPS.

This breakdown highlights a consistent pattern. The Low preset is the only one that consistently provides a frame rate above 60 FPS, and only at 1080p. The Medium preset offers a "playable" experience, defined as an average above 30 FPS, at 1080p and 1440p, but falls just short at 4K with a 31 FPS average. The High and Ultra presets are generally not recommended, as they consistently produce averages in the 20s or lower across all resolutions. The data from the Medium preset at different resolutions also provides a clear look at the scaling trend; the 47 FPS at 1080p drops to 40 FPS at 1440p and then to 31 FPS at 4K, which translates to a 34% performance loss from 1080p to 4K.

The lack of min/max FPS data for the Low, High, and Ultra presets means we only have the averages to work with. However, the Medium preset data shows that the frame time variance is not extreme, with a spread of 14 FPS at 1080p, 11 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K. This suggests a relatively stable experience, but the low averages are the primary concern. The data clearly shows that users must be willing to compromise on visual quality to achieve a smooth frame rate with this hardware configuration.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks at 3,082 out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the bottom 17% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. The low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a high-end part that would rank much higher on its own.

The rank of 3,082 is a stark illustration of the pairing's imbalance. While the CPU is in the top 21% of all processors (79th percentile), the GPU is in the lower half of all graphics cards (47th percentile). The game’s performance, however, is tied almost exclusively to the GPU, dragging the entire combo's ranking down. This suggests that the combo is being held back by its weakest link, and that the i5-12600KF is overqualified for the GTX 1070. A user with a less powerful CPU but a more powerful GPU would likely see a much better ranking.

The data implies that this combo is not well-suited for The Medium. The rank of 3,082 out of 3,724 means that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings tested will deliver better performance. This is not a condemnation of either component in isolation, but rather a reflection of their combined capability in this specific, demanding title. The analysis points to a clear upgrade path: replacing the GTX 1070 with a more powerful GPU would result in a dramatic improvement in both the measured FPS and the combo's overall rank. The CPU has the headroom to support a much faster graphics card, making this a classic case where the processor is ready for a future GPU upgrade.