The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that stresses both CPU and GPU, and the combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT produces a specific performance profile. The data shows this pairing ranks 1086 out of 1689 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. Performance is heavily dependent on settings, with a wide gap between the playable Low preset and the demanding Ultra preset. This analysis breaks down exactly what the measured FPS numbers mean for your experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the data shows the most playable results across all settings. Low settings achieve 92.7 FPS, Medium hits 61.6 FPS, and High reaches 41.9 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low settings (81 FPS) and Medium (49.7 FPS) remain viable, while 3840x2160 is mostly too demanding except for the Low preset at 65.4 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it produces an average of 65.4 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 39 FPS, High falls to 26.6 FPS, and Ultra is essentially unplayable at 22.3 FPS. For a consistent experience at 3840x2160, stick to the Low preset.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14400F compare to its closest rivals?

A: The CPU sits at the 88th percentile among all processors. Its average benchmark score of 32508 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-12800H (32513, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (32446, 0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (32584, -0.2% delta). Performance is effectively tied with these chips.

Q: What is the GPU's standing relative to other graphics cards?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT holds the 63rd percentile among all GPUs. Its average score of 20146 is within a small margin of the AMD Radeon RX 460 (20088, 0.3% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (20258, -0.6% delta). It is also close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER (19774, 1.9% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534, -1.9% delta).

Q: What is the difference between High and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: High settings deliver 41.9 FPS, while Ultra drops to 35.5 FPS. That is a difference of 6.4 FPS on average. The jump from Medium (61.6 FPS) to High (41.9 FPS) is much steeper, costing nearly 20 FPS for the visual upgrade.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary constraint at higher settings. The RX 7600 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 128-bit bus, but the benchmark results show a steep performance cliff as settings increase. The i5-14400F, with 10 cores and 16 threads, is a capable pairing that does not appear to bottleneck the GPU based on the measured FPS scaling.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, and it draws 65 W TDP. For The Medium, this CPU provides ample processing power for game logic and physics, but the measured FPS data shows that the game's performance is more heavily influenced by graphics settings than by CPU load.

The CPU's single-thread performance is solid, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3093 and Geekbench single-core score of 2333. Multi-threaded performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and a Passmark multithread score of 25783. These numbers suggest the i5-14400F can handle the dual-reality rendering mechanics of The Medium without becoming a bottleneck.

However, the FPS scaling across resolutions tells a different story. At 1920x1080, dropping from High (41.9 FPS) to Low (92.7 FPS) more than doubles performance. This massive jump indicates that the graphics card is the limiting factor, not the CPU. The i5-14400F's role is to feed the GPU efficiently, and its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support ensure smooth data flow. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking among all processors confirms it is a strong performer, but the game's demands are primarily GPU-bound.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT ranks 1086 out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the lower half of the database, which is surprising given the individual component rankings. The CPU is in the 88th percentile, and the GPU is in the 63rd percentile, but their combined performance in this game falls short of expectations.

The rank suggests that the RX 7600 XT, despite its 16 GB of VRAM, does not excel in The Medium's specific rendering workload. The GPU's average benchmark score of 20146 is close to the much older RX 460 (20088), which indicates that raw compute power is not scaling to in-game FPS as expected. This is a common occurrence in horror titles with complex lighting and shadow effects, where architectural efficiency matters more than raw specs.

For context, the combo rank of 1086 out of 1689 means that roughly 64% of tested systems perform better in this game. This is a significant gap, and the measured FPS data confirms that the RX 7600 XT struggles to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings. The CPU is not the issue; the i5-14400F is a modern, capable processor. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU's ability to render The Medium's scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as settings increase. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 92.7 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. Medium drops to 61.6 FPS, still playable but noticeably less fluid. High settings reduce the average to 41.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 35.5 FPS. These numbers show that the sweet spot for 1080p is Medium, offering a good balance between visual quality and frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the same trend continues with lower overall numbers. Low settings produce 81 FPS, which is excellent for a higher resolution. Medium still manages 49.7 FPS, providing a decent experience. However, High drops to 38.7 FPS, and Ultra falls to 26.1 FPS, making these presets less enjoyable for fast-paced gameplay. The step from Medium to High at this resolution costs 11 FPS, which is substantial.

At 3840x2160, the RX 7600 XT struggles significantly. Low settings are the only viable option at 65.4 FPS. Medium drops to 39 FPS, High to 26.6 FPS, and Ultra to 22.3 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only possible with the lowest settings, and even then, the frame rate is not ideal for a horror game where smooth motion is essential. The data shows a clear recommendation: use Low settings for 4K, Medium for 1440p, and Medium or High for 1080p.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 33 chip. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2755 MHz, with a game clock of 2470 MHz. These specs are respectable, but the measured FPS in The Medium suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute power are not fully utilized.

The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 17132 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2348 indicate mid-range performance. Its 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs are typical for this class, but the game's results show that the RX 7600 XT is outpaced by its closest rivals in the database. The average benchmark score of 20146 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 460 (20088), which is an older card with much less VRAM.

The 16 GB of VRAM is a notable feature, but The Medium does not appear to be VRAM-limited at these settings based on the FPS data. Instead, the GPU's raw processing power seems to be the limiting factor. The RT cores (32) are present but not heavily utilized in this title, as the game does not feature extensive ray tracing. The GPU's 63rd percentile ranking reflects its overall standing, but in this specific game, it performs worse than expected relative to its specs.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combo, the data points to a clear hierarchy of settings based on resolution. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the optimal choice, delivering 61.6 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience without the significant visual downgrade of Low settings. High settings at 41.9 FPS are playable but may feel less fluid during intense scenes, while Ultra at 35.5 FPS is not recommended.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset again offers the best balance at 49.7 FPS. Low settings are also viable at 81 FPS if you prioritize frame rate over visuals. High settings at 38.7 FPS are borderline, and Ultra at 26.1 FPS is too low for a comfortable experience. The data suggests staying at Medium for 1440p gaming.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only sensible option at 65.4 FPS. Medium at 39 FPS is playable but not ideal, and both High (26.6 FPS) and Ultra (22.3 FPS) are too slow for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and timing. If you are targeting 4K, you must accept the Low preset or consider a more powerful GPU.

In summary, the ideal settings are: Medium at 1080p and 1440p, and Low at 4K. These choices maximize the playable frame rates while maintaining a reasonable visual quality. The Ultra preset is consistently too demanding for this GPU, and High is only acceptable at 1080p. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being a stretch even at the lowest settings.