The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title built on Unreal Engine 4, presents a unique load profile that stresses both CPU and GPU in ways that differ from typical action games. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070, using only the data from the provided benchmark results. The combination produces a playable but not uniformly smooth experience, with performance heavily dependent on resolution and the game’s preset quality level.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It features 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with a 65 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability, scoring 22,604 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7,314 in 3DMark’s 16-thread test. Its single-thread performance is also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,191 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 960.

For The Medium, the CPU’s role is significant due to the game’s dual-reality mechanic, which often renders two scenes simultaneously. This creates a heavy multi-threaded workload, which the 16 threads of the i5-13400F are well-suited to handle. The CPU’s 77th percentile ranking among all tested CPUs suggests it is a capable mid-range performer. When compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a near tie: it matches the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS with a 0% delta, sits 0.3% behind the Intel Core 5 120 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, and is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H. This indicates that the i5-13400F is essentially performance-neutral against these competitors in aggregate CPU benchmarks.

In the context of the game’s measured FPS, the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data shows that as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, frame rates drop significantly, which is a hallmark of GPU limitation. However, at 1080p with Low settings, the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU becomes more relevant. The 141 FPS average at 1080p Low suggests the processor can push high frame rates, but it is likely the ceiling for this pairing, as the GPU’s raw throughput is not being fully taxed at that level.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with a Navi 48 chip, manufactured on a 4 nm process. It comes equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1330 MHz, with a boost clock of 2520 MHz and a game clock of 2070 MHz. Its compute power is rated at 36.13 TFLOPS FP32, with 3,584 shading units and 128 ROPs. The GPU’s benchmark scores include a 25,381 in Passmark G3D and a 6,290 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs.

The 16 GB VRAM capacity is a critical asset for The Medium, which is known for high memory usage due to the dual-scene rendering. The data shows that the GPU’s performance is the dominant factor in the measured FPS across all tested settings. For instance, at 3840x2160, the average frame rate drops from 93 FPS on Low to 33 FPS on Ultra, a 64% decrease. This dramatic scaling indicates that the RX 9070’s compute and memory bandwidth are saturated by the game’s higher-quality presets.

Comparing the GPU to its nearest rivals reveals its position: it is 0.6% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, 0.8% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 6800S, 1.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile, and 1.2% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER. These deltas are small, suggesting the RX 9070 sits in a tight performance cluster with these older or mobile parts. The GPU’s 220 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a mainstream power draw card, but the benchmark results show it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings in this specific title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-13400F and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 1075th out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the top 29% of all tested configurations. The rank is a composite measure, reflecting how well this CPU-GPU combination performs across the game’s various preset and resolution combinations.

This ranking is notable because it places the combo below what one might expect from a modern GPU like the RX 9070, suggesting that the CPU is holding back performance in some scenarios, or that the game’s engine is not scaling well with the hardware. The 1075th rank out of 3,724 means there are 1,074 combos that perform better, which includes systems with more powerful CPUs or GPUs. Given that the GPU is in the 69th percentile and the CPU is in the 77th percentile, the combo rank of 1075 indicates that the pairing is not perfectly balanced for this game. The data suggests that while the CPU is a solid performer, it may be the limiting factor in achieving higher frame rates at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions. The rank reflects the overall average across all measured settings, where the GPU’s weakness at 4K Ultra drags down the combo’s standing.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers an average of 141 FPS on Low, 88 FPS on Medium (with a min of 75 FPS and max of 101 FPS), 63 FPS on High, and 50 FPS on Ultra. This shows a clear linear progression, where each step up in quality costs roughly 20-25% performance. The 1080p results are all playable, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a stable 50 FPS average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop to 119 FPS on Low, 74 FPS on Medium (min 63, max 85), 53 FPS on High, and 42 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent reduction: Low drops by 15.6%, Medium by 15.9%, High by 15.9%, and Ultra by 16.0%. This uniform percentage drop across all presets is a strong indicator that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution, as the relative cost of each setting remains constant.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more demanding. The averages are 93 FPS on Low, 58 FPS on Medium (min 50, max 67), 42 FPS on High, and 33 FPS on Ultra. The drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper: Low falls by 21.8%, Medium by 21.6%, High by 20.8%, and Ultra by 21.4%. This further confirms the GPU limitation. The 4K results are marginal for smooth gameplay, with only the Low preset providing a comfortable 93 FPS average. The Medium preset at 58 FPS is borderline, while High and Ultra fall below 45 FPS, which is not ideal for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and smooth camera movement.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 16% across all settings. From 1440p to 4K, the drop increases to approximately 21%. This non-linear behavior is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of fillrate and bandwidth as pixel count rises.

The fact that the percentage drop is nearly identical for each preset (e.g., Low drops 15.6% from 1080p to 1440p, while Ultra drops 16.0%) indicates that the workload is purely pixel-bound. If the CPU were a limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller percentage drop at higher resolutions, as the GPU becomes less utilized. Instead, the consistent scaling shows that the RX 9070 is the bottleneck in all scenarios. For example, at 1080p Low, the combo hits 141 FPS, which is high but not exceptional. If the CPU were the limit, we would see this number plateau regardless of resolution. However, at 4K Low, the FPS drops to 93, proving the GPU is doing the heavy lifting.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra grows with resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 91 FPS (141 vs 50). At 1440p, it is 77 FPS (119 vs 42). At 4K, it is 60 FPS (93 vs 33). This shrinking absolute difference suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so saturated that even reducing settings has a smaller absolute impact, though the relative impact remains consistent. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario where the card’s memory bandwidth and compute units are fully engaged.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60 FPS in The Medium?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 74 FPS, while the High preset averages 53 FPS. To maintain a consistent 60+ FPS, the 1440p Medium preset is the highest setting that achieves this, with a min FPS of 63.

Q: Does the combo struggle at 4K resolution?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset achieves a high average of 93 FPS. The Medium preset averages 58 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 42 and 33 FPS respectively, indicating a significant performance limitation at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F is essentially tied with its nearest rivals. It has a 0% delta versus the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, is 0.3% slower than both the Intel Core 5 120 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, and is 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H.

Q: Which is the limiting component in this system for The Medium?

A: The GPU is the limiting component. The consistent percentage FPS drops from 1080p to 4K across all settings (approximately 16% to 1440p and 21% to 4K) indicate that the AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the bottleneck, not the CPU.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 141 FPS, while Ultra achieves 50 FPS, resulting in a 91 FPS difference. This shows a significant performance cost for the highest quality settings.

Q: Is the CPU’s single-thread performance sufficient for this game?

A: The CPU’s single-core score of 960 in 3DMark and 3,191 in Cinebench R23 are respectable. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 141 FPS, indicating the CPU can handle high frame rates without being a primary constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the target resolution. For players with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset offers a strong balance, averaging 63 FPS. This is a 28% improvement over Ultra (50 FPS) while still providing a visually rich experience. For those prioritizing smoothness, the Medium preset at 88 FPS is the best choice, ensuring no noticeable frame drops.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation, averaging 74 FPS with a min of 63 FPS. This is the only preset at this resolution that stays above 60 FPS consistently. The High preset at 53 FPS is playable but may exhibit occasional stutter during fast camera transitions. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option for smooth gameplay at 93 FPS. The Medium preset at 58 FPS is borderline and might be acceptable for players who prefer visual fidelity over a locked 60 FPS, but the data suggests that the Low preset provides the most stable experience.

In summary, the data supports using the Medium preset for most scenarios, as it provides a significant FPS boost over High and Ultra while maintaining acceptable visual quality. The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution due to its sub-60 FPS averages across all tested resolutions. The combo performs best when settings are tuned down, making it a capable but not high-end system for this specific game.