The Medium

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT delivers a playable but demanding experience in The Medium, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and presets. The data shows this combo ranks 1707 out of 3724 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all systems. At 1080p, the combo handles Medium settings at 72 FPS average, but Ultra settings drop to 41 FPS, indicating that visual fidelity comes at a steep cost in this horror title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Medium?

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 provides the most consistent experience, with 115 FPS at Low settings and 72 FPS at Medium. At 2560x1440, Medium settings still achieve 61 FPS, while 3840x2160 Medium drops to 48 FPS, making 1440p the highest resolution where Medium settings remain fluid.

Q: How does the CPU's core configuration affect performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 3DMark max threads score of 7307 and single-thread score of 960 indicate balanced performance, which supports the GPU adequately across all tested resolutions without becoming a bottleneck in this game's measured results.

Q: Is the 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Ultra settings?

A: The RX 6750 XT's 12 GB GDDR6 memory with 432.0 GB/s bandwidth is not enough to maintain playable frame rates at Ultra settings. The data shows Ultra presets yield 41 FPS at 1080p, 34 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K, indicating that VRAM capacity does not compensate for the rendering load at maximum quality.

Q: What is the CPU's ranking compared to similar processors?

A: The i5-13400F sits in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25292. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, scores 25284, a 0% difference, while the Intel Core 5 120 scores 25362, placing this chip just 0.3% behind that model.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct competitors?

A: The RX 6750 XT holds the 71st percentile among all GPUs with an average score of 26011. The closest competitor, AMD Radeon R9 M395X, scores 25891, which is 0.5% lower, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile scores 25740, putting the AMD card 1.1% ahead.

Q: Should I use the Medium preset for the best balance?

A: Yes, the Medium preset provides the most balanced experience across all resolutions. At 1080p it delivers 72 FPS, at 1440p it hits 61 FPS, and even at 4K it maintains 48 FPS. Low settings improve frame rates significantly, but Medium offers the best compromise between visual quality and smoothness.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F brings 10 cores and 16 threads to this combination, a configuration that appears well-suited to The Medium's demands. The base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz provide a wide operating range, allowing the processor to scale performance according to workload intensity. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency in scene transitions common in horror games.

Benchmark data shows this CPU achieves a 3DMark single-thread score of 960 and a 2-thread score of 1880, indicating strong single-core performance. However, the multi-threaded scores tell a more interesting story: the 4-thread score of 3459, 8-thread score of 5591, and max-thread score of 7307 demonstrate that the chip scales well with additional threads. This scaling matters in The Medium, where the game's fixed camera angles and complex lighting calculations can utilize multiple threads for rendering and physics.

The processor's Cinebench R23 results reinforce this picture, with a multicore score of 22604 and single-core score of 3191. These figures suggest the CPU can handle both the main game logic and background tasks without starving the GPU. The PassMark multithread score of 25032 and physics score of 1437 indicate that computational workloads, such as the game's environmental interactions, are processed efficiently.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-13400F's average benchmark score of 25292 essentially ties the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS at 25284, a 0% difference. The Intel Core 5 120 edges ahead at 25362, a 0.3% gap, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D also scores 25365. These tight margins mean that in CPU-bound scenarios, this processor performs on par with several alternatives, though the measured FPS data for this combo shows the GPU is typically the limiting factor.

The CPU's 65 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility make it a straightforward drop-in for many existing motherboards, and its 10 nm process node from Intel with a 215 mm² die size balances power efficiency with performance. The data from this combo indicates that the i5-13400F provides enough headroom to support the RX 6750 XT without introducing frame pacing issues, as evidenced by the consistent FPS averages across all settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications directly shape the measured FPS in The Medium. Built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process from TSMC, the GPU packs 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output pipelines. The 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus delivers 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves adequate for Medium settings but struggles with Ultra.

The GPU's clock behavior is notable: a base clock of 2150 MHz, a game clock of 2495 MHz, and a boost clock of 2600 MHz. These high frequencies allow the card to push substantial pixel throughput, evidenced by the 166.4 GPixel/s pixel rate and 416.0 GTexel/s texture rate. The 13.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance provides the raw compute power needed for the game's volumetric fog and shadow effects, though the 40 ray accelerators (listed as rtCores) suggest ray-traced features would be limited.

Benchmark scores for the GPU show a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2548, a Geekbench Vulkan score of 98089, and a PassMark G3D score of 20700. These figures place the GPU in the 71st percentile of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 26011. The nearest competitor, AMD Radeon R9 M395X, scores 25891, putting the RX 6750 XT 0.5% ahead, while the AMD FirePro W7100 trails at 25856 with a 0.6% gap.

The 250 W TDP and dual-slot design with a 600 W suggested PSU indicate this card requires substantial power delivery, but the measured FPS results justify the energy draw. At 1080p, the GPU achieves 115 FPS on Low, 72 FPS on Medium, 52 FPS on High, and 41 FPS on Ultra. This pattern shows that the card's memory bandwidth and compute resources are sufficient for lower presets but become saturated as texture quality and shadow resolution increase.

The GPU's 12 GB VRAM capacity is a double-edged sword. It provides enough memory for high-resolution textures at Medium settings, but the Ultra preset's demands exceed the card's processing capability, not just its memory. The frame rate drops from 72 FPS at Medium to 41 FPS at Ultra at 1080p, a 31 FPS decrease that indicates a compute limitation rather than a memory constraint. This interpretation is supported by the 4K results, where Medium achieves 48 FPS but Ultra falls to 27 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core i5-13400F and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT places this system at rank 1707 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This position, roughly in the 54th percentile of all combinations, reflects a solid mid-range setup that can handle the game at moderate settings but does not compete with high-end configurations. The rank suggests that this pairing is well-balanced, as neither component severely limits the other in the measured scenarios.

Looking at the individual components, the CPU's 77th percentile ranking is higher than the GPU's 71st percentile, indicating the processor has more headroom relative to its peers. This disparity suggests that in some scenarios, the GPU may be the limiting factor, which aligns with the FPS data showing significant drops at Ultra settings. The combo's overall rank of 1707 is likely influenced more by the GPU's performance ceiling than the CPU's capabilities.

The measured FPS values across all resolutions and settings provide context for this ranking. At 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 72 FPS, which is a comfortable playable level. At 1440p Medium, it drops to 61 FPS, still acceptable for most players. However, at 4K Medium, the 48 FPS average approaches the lower boundary of smooth gameplay, and the Ultra presets at any resolution fall below 42 FPS. These numbers indicate that the combo's rank reflects its ability to run the game at medium quality settings across most resolutions.

The combo's position relative to other tested systems means that users with higher-ranked configurations will see better performance, particularly at Ultra settings or 4K resolution. However, for players targeting 1080p or 1440p with Medium or High settings, this rank represents a capable setup that delivers consistent frame rates. The 1707th position out of 3724 combos places it ahead of more than half of all tested systems, making it a reasonable choice for this horror title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data clearly identifies the Medium preset as the optimal choice for this combo in The Medium. At 1080p, Medium delivers 72 FPS average with minimum and maximum of 61 and 83 FPS respectively, providing a smooth and stable experience. The 1440p Medium setting maintains 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS, which remains playable, while 4K Medium drops to 48 FPS with a 40 FPS minimum, which some players may find borderline.

High settings offer a modest visual improvement but at a significant frame rate cost. At 1080p, High achieves 52 FPS, which is 20 FPS lower than Medium. At 1440p, High falls to 43 FPS, and at 4K, it drops to 34 FPS. These numbers suggest that High is only viable at 1080p, and even then, the reduced frame rate may not justify the visual gains for a game that relies on atmosphere rather than graphical fidelity.

Low settings provide the highest frame rates, with 115 FPS at 1080p, 97 FPS at 1440p, and 76 FPS at 4K. These figures are useful for players who prioritize smoothness above all else, but the visual downgrade is substantial. For a horror game like The Medium, where lighting and shadow play crucial roles in the atmosphere, Low settings may diminish the intended experience.

Ultra settings are not recommended for this combo. The data shows 41 FPS at 1080p, 34 FPS at 1440p, and 27 FPS at 4K, all of which fall below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS values are not provided for Ultra, suggesting the frame pacing may be inconsistent. Players should avoid Ultra unless they accept stutter and reduced responsiveness.

The practical recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1080p for the best balance of visual quality and performance, or Medium at 1440p if a higher resolution is desired and the player can tolerate a 61 FPS average. For 4K, Medium at 48 FPS is the only playable option, but players with high refresh rate monitors should stick to 1080p for the full benefit of the combo's capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates its strongest performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 115 FPS, providing a high-refresh experience for players who prefer competitive-style responsiveness. Medium settings achieve 72 FPS average with a minimum of 61 FPS and maximum of 83 FPS, offering a stable platform for the game's fixed camera angles. High settings drop to 52 FPS, which remains playable but introduces a noticeable reduction in smoothness. Ultra settings fall to 41 FPS, making this preset unsuitable for consistent gameplay.

The 2560x1440 resolution shows a predictable performance scaling. Low settings deliver 97 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings achieve 61 FPS average with a minimum of 52 FPS and maximum of 70 FPS, providing a borderline playable experience that many users will find acceptable. High settings drop to 43 FPS, which starts to feel sluggish for a game requiring precise timing in puzzle sequences. Ultra settings plummet to 34 FPS, rendering this preset nearly unplayable.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates except at lower presets. Low settings produce 76 FPS, which is surprisingly high given the resolution, suggesting the game's Low preset reduces rendering load substantially. Medium settings achieve 48 FPS average with a minimum of 40 FPS and maximum of 55 FPS, placing the experience at the edge of playability. High settings drop to 34 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 27 FPS, both of which are too low for a game that benefits from smooth camera movement.

The frame time consistency, indicated by the minimum and maximum values for Medium settings, shows that the combo maintains relatively stable performance. At 1080p Medium, the 61-83 FPS range represents a 30% variance, which is acceptable. At 1440p Medium, the 52-70 FPS range shows similar variance, while 4K Medium exhibits a 40-55 FPS range. These figures suggest that the combo does not suffer from severe frame time spikes, even at higher resolutions, which is important for maintaining immersion in a horror game where sudden stutters can break tension.