The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title from 2021, presents a unique challenge for modern hardware due to its dual-reality rendering technique. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, a combination that places 101st out of 3724 tested combos in this specific game. The data reveals a system capable of high framerates, but one whose performance ceiling is heavily dictated by resolution and the demanding nature of the game's visual effects.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The CPU's cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, alongside a 20 MB shared L3 cache. Its benchmark performance is solid, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23391 and a single-core score of 3302, placing the chip in the 79th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role is significant but not primary. The game is known for rendering two worlds simultaneously, which can increase draw calls and physics calculations. However, the performance data shows that the bottleneck shifts dramatically based on resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is more likely to be a limiting factor, as the GPU can produce frames quickly enough to expose CPU limitations. For instance, at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 164 FPS, a figure that is 21 FPS higher than the 1440p Low result of 155 FPS. This scaling suggests that at lower resolutions, the system is approaching a CPU-bound ceiling.

The processor's multi-threaded capability appears sufficient for the game's demands. The difference between the 3DMark 16-thread score of 7956 and the max-thread score of 7952 indicates that the CPU scales well with additional threads, though The Medium may not fully utilize all 16 threads. The CPU's 79th percentile ranking, alongside rivals like the Intel Core i9-10900K (avgScore 27872, deltaPct -0.3) and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (avgScore 27896, deltaPct -0.3), shows it performs within a tight band of high-end processors. This near-parity means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i5-12600KF will not hold back the RTX 5090 significantly compared to these alternatives.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant force in this pairing. Built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and the GB202 chip, this GPU features 21760 shading units, 680 TMUs, and 176 ROPs. It is equipped with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's clock speeds are set at a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz. Its raw compute capabilities are staggering, with an FP32 throughput of 104.8 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s. This hardware places the GPU in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79842.

The RTX 5090's 32 GB VRAM buffer is a critical asset for The Medium, which can be memory-intensive due to its dual-world rendering. The high memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s ensures that texture streaming is not a bottleneck, even at 4K resolution. The GPU's performance is evident in the measured FPS, where it drives framerates well above playable thresholds in most settings. For example, at 1440p High settings, it achieves 82 FPS, and at 1080p High, it reaches 97 FPS.

The GPU's benchmark rivals are interesting, as they include the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (avgScore 79605, deltaPct 0.3) and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (avgScore 78940, deltaPct 1.1). While these are not direct gaming counterparts, the deltaPct values show that the RTX 5090's average score is within 1.4% of these compute-focused or mobile parts, which confirms its versatility. In gaming, however, the RTX 5090's architecture and driver support provide a clear advantage, as evidenced by the high FPS figures in the measured data.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling of this combo reveals the shifting balance between CPU and GPU load. The data shows a clear trend: as resolution increases, average FPS decreases, but the rate of decline is not uniform across settings. At Low settings, the framerate drops from 164 FPS at 1080p to 155 FPS at 1440p, a modest 5.5% decrease. However, moving from 1440p to 4K Low brings a steeper drop to 143 FPS, a 7.7% decrease. This pattern suggests that at Low settings, the system is less GPU-bound, and the scaling is more efficient.

For High settings, the scaling is more pronounced. The framerate falls from 97 FPS at 1080p to 82 FPS at 1440p, a 15.5% drop, and then to 64 FPS at 4K, a 22% drop from 1440p. This indicates that at High settings, the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck, as the increased visual fidelity demands more from the RTX 5090's compute and memory resources. The most demanding setting, Ultra, shows the steepest curve: 77 FPS at 1080p, 65 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest in the entire dataset, highlighting the extreme load placed on the GPU.

The Medium settings also show a clear hierarchy. At 4K, the difference between Low (143 FPS) and Ultra (51 FPS) is 92 FPS, a massive gap that underscores the impact of the game's graphical options. The Medium settings provide a balanced middle ground, with 90 FPS at 4K, 114 FPS at 1440p, and 135 FPS at 1080p. These results indicate that the RTX 5090 is capable of delivering smooth gameplay at 4K Medium, but users seeking Ultra settings at 4K will need to accept a framerate below 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of the benchmark database, this combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 101st out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places it in the top 2.7% of all tested configurations, a strong showing that reflects the raw power of the RTX 5090. The rank is influenced by the fact that many higher-ranked combos likely use newer or higher-tier CPUs, but the i5-12600KF's performance is sufficient to avoid being a significant drag on the overall result.

The CPU's percentile ranking (79th) is lower than the GPU's (92nd), suggesting that the processor is the weaker link in this pairing. However, the benchmark data shows that the i5-12600KF is closely matched with several other high-end CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 27799 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872, deltaPct -0.3) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (27896, deltaPct -0.3). This indicates that in a game like The Medium, which may not be heavily multi-threaded, the i5-12600KF does not significantly disadvantage the RTX 5090 compared to these rivals.

The combo rank of 101 suggests that while the GPU is a top-tier performer, the overall system is not at the absolute peak of the chart. This is likely due to the CPU's mid-range positioning relative to newer flagship processors. Nevertheless, the measured FPS data shows that this combo is more than capable of delivering a high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p and 1440p, and a solid 60 FPS experience at 4K on Medium settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across resolutions and settings. Here is a detailed breakdown:

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest framerates. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 164 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings yield 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS, indicating good frame pacing. High settings reduce the average to 97 FPS, while Ultra settings bring it down to 77 FPS. The 1080p results show that the system is capable of exceeding 144 FPS in less demanding settings, but that Ultra settings will require a 144Hz monitor to be fully utilized.

Moving to 2560x1440, the framerates remain high but begin to show the GPU's load. Low settings produce 155 FPS, a minor drop from 1080p. Medium settings average 114 FPS, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. High settings drop to 82 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 65 FPS. At 1440p, the system can still handle high refresh rates on Low and Medium settings, while High and Ultra are better suited for 60 Hz displays.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5090's capabilities are truly tested. Low settings still manage an impressive 143 FPS, proving the GPU's raw power. Medium settings average 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS, which is a comfortable experience for most players. High settings drop to 64 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. Ultra settings bring the system to its knees with an average of 51 FPS, a figure that will be noticeable to users accustomed to higher framerates.

The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 5090 is powerful enough to drive 4K Medium settings above 90 FPS, but Ultra settings are reserved for users who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate. The minimum FPS figures for Medium settings (76 FPS at 4K, 97 FPS at 1440p, 115 FPS at 1080p) indicate that the system maintains a stable frame rate without significant stutters, even in the most demanding scenarios.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this system?

A: The data suggests 4K Medium is the sweet spot, delivering 90 FPS average with a minimum of 76 FPS. For higher refresh rates, 1440p Low (155 FPS) or 1080p Low (164 FPS) are excellent choices, while 4K Ultra (51 FPS) is only recommended for users who prioritize graphics over frame rate.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12600KF compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27799. It is nearly identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872, deltaPct -0.3) and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (27896, deltaPct -0.3), and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (27712, deltaPct 0.3). This indicates the CPU is a solid performer within its class.

Q: Is the RTX 5090's 32 GB of VRAM necessary for The Medium?

A: While the game can run on less, the 32 GB VRAM buffer, combined with 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, ensures that texture streaming and dual-world rendering do not cause stutters. The high minimum FPS values (e.g., 76 FPS at 4K Medium) suggest memory is not a bottleneck.

Q: Why does the FPS drop so much from 1080p to 4K?

A: The drop is due to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the CPU is more likely to limit performance (164 FPS), but at 4K Ultra, the GPU's compute and memory resources are overwhelmed, resulting in 51 FPS. The scaling is not linear, indicating a complex interaction between settings and resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 101st out of 3724 tested combos, placing it in the top 2.7% of all configurations. The high rank is primarily driven by the RTX 5090's performance, which is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is this system capable of 60 FPS at 4K?

A: Yes, on Medium settings it achieves 90 FPS, and on High settings it averages 64 FPS. However, at Ultra settings, the framerate drops to 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Users targeting 4K Ultra will need to adjust settings or accept a lower frame rate.