The Medium

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces some of the lowest frame rates recorded for The Medium in this database, ranking 2681st out of 2911 tested combos. This places the pairing in the bottom 8% of all configurations, which is a clear signal that this is not a combination built for smooth horror gaming at demanding settings. The data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics solution, with the CPU offering far more headroom than the GPU can ever hope to use in this title. For anyone considering this pairing, the benchmark results indicate that playable performance exists only at the lowest settings and resolutions, and even then, the experience will be marginal.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2681 out of 2911 tested combinations places this system in the 7.9th percentile of all recorded results for The Medium. This is a very poor showing, and it means that roughly 92% of all tested hardware pairings deliver higher average frame rates in this game. The data indicates a fundamental imbalance: the CPU is capable of far more than the GPU can deliver, and the overall result is bottlenecked almost entirely by the graphics adapter.

The Intel Core i5-14400F itself is a strong processor, sitting in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs tested across the database. Its average benchmark score of 32279 places it just ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233, 0.1% faster), the Intel Core i9-11900 (32226, 0.2% faster), and the Intel Core i7-12800H (32121, 0.5% faster), while trailing the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (32354, -0.2%). In raw compute terms, this CPU is a solid mid-range performer. However, that strength is irrelevant when the GPU produces scores that place it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of just 1184.

The disparity between CPU and GPU capability is the defining characteristic of this combo. The CPU’s performance is effectively wasted in The Medium, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor at every resolution and settings level tested. The rank reflects this: it is not a measure of the CPU’s capability, but of the combined system’s inability to translate that capability into playable frame rates in this specific title.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the primary constraint in this configuration. Its benchmark results are dismal, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals in the database are all legacy or low-end parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4%). This places the Arc B370 in performance territory that is several generations old, and the data shows it is simply not equipped for modern gaming at high settings.

The GPU’s memory configuration is "System Shared" with a bus width of "System Shared" and bandwidth listed as "System Dependent". This means the GPU has no dedicated VRAM of its own and relies on system memory, which is a severe disadvantage in a game like The Medium that demands consistent memory bandwidth for its fixed-camera scenes and streaming assets. The base clock is 300 MHz, boosting to 2400 MHz, which sounds respectable on paper, but the lack of dedicated memory cripples actual throughput. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 ROPs, with pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, which is low for any modern discrete GPU, and this is an integrated graphics solution (IGP) with a TDP of 25 W.

In practice, the GPU’s limits are exposed immediately. At 1080p Ultra, the combo produces an average of 16 FPS, which is unplayable. Dropping to High at 1080p yields 21 FPS, still below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows that the GPU simply cannot handle the rendering load of The Medium’s environments, which feature complex lighting and heavy post-processing effects. The 10 ray tracing cores are present, but with only 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, enabling any ray-traced features would be futile. The GPU is the bottleneck in every single measured scenario, and its performance is so low that the CPU’s potential is entirely untapped.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep and predictable drop as resolution increases, which confirms that the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 46 FPS, which is the best result in the entire dataset. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops the average to 39 FPS, a 15.2% reduction. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls to 30 FPS, another 23.1% reduction from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario: as pixel count rises, the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become increasingly inadequate.

The medium settings show a similar trend. At 1080p Medium, the average is 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 FPS and a maximum of 33 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 24 FPS (minimum 21, maximum 28), a 17.2% reduction. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 19 FPS (minimum 16, maximum 22), another 20.8% reduction. The minimum frame rates also scale down proportionally, indicating that the GPU is consistently maxed out rather than hitting occasional stalls.

High settings are even more punishing. At 1080p High, the average is 21 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 17 FPS, a 19% reduction. At 4K High, the average is just 14 FPS, a 17.6% reduction from 1440p. Ultra settings are the worst, with 16 FPS at 1080p, 14 FPS at 1440p, and 11 FPS at 4K. The difference between Low and Ultra at the same resolution is substantial: at 1080p, Low gives 46 FPS while Ultra gives 16 FPS, a 65.2% drop. This indicates that the game’s higher presets introduce rendering loads that the GPU cannot handle, while even the lowest preset is barely playable.

The resolution scaling data suggests that the CPU is not a factor in these results. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates to remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload (game logic, draw calls) does not increase with resolution. Instead, we see consistent drops, which is the signature of a GPU that is overwhelmed. The Intel Core i5-14400F, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, is more than capable of driving this game’s CPU workload, but the Arc B370 cannot keep up with even modest pixel counts.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 46, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the dataset that approaches a playable frame rate.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F the reason for the low frame rates?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 32279, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.5% of its score. The GPU, however, ranks in the 5th percentile, making it the clear bottleneck in every measured scenario.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4%). All of these are within a 1.4% margin, indicating very similar performance levels.

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

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce an average of 46 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 16 FPS. This is a 65.2% reduction in performance, showing that the Ultra preset imposes a rendering load the GPU cannot handle.

Q: Does the combo maintain playable frame rates at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 30 on Low settings. Medium yields 19 FPS, High yields 14 FPS, and Ultra yields 11 FPS. None of these are playable for a horror game that requires responsive controls.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 24, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS. These figures show a tight frame time distribution, but the overall performance is still below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the only viable settings for this combo are at 1080p with the Low preset, which delivers an average of 46 FPS. This is the sole configuration that reaches a frame rate high enough to be considered playable, though it is still below the 60 FPS target that most players prefer. All other settings and resolutions yield averages below 40 FPS, with most falling into the 11–30 FPS range, which is inadequate for a game that relies on atmosphere and timing.

At 1440p Low, the average drops to 39 FPS, which is a noticeable step down and not recommended. At 4K Low, the average is 30 FPS, which is borderline but still likely to feel sluggish in tense moments. The Medium settings at any resolution are worse: 29 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. High and Ultra presets are entirely unplayable, with the best High result being 21 FPS at 1080p and the best Ultra result being 16 FPS at 1080p.

The data suggests that players should stick to 1080p Low if they want the closest thing to a smooth experience. Even then, the 46 FPS average is not ideal, and there will likely be drops below 40 FPS in demanding scenes, though the game does not report minimum FPS for the Low preset. Given that the GPU’s performance is so low, there is no headroom for enabling additional features like ray tracing or higher texture quality. The 25 W TDP and integrated nature of the GPU mean that it is thermally and power-constrained, so overclocking is not a realistic option to gain performance.

The medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 29 FPS and a minimum of 24 FPS, is the only other option that stays above 20 FPS consistently. However, the jump from Low to Medium reduces performance by 37%, which is a steep price for marginal visual improvements. For a horror game where frame pacing matters, the Low preset is the only sensible choice. The measured data shows no scenario where higher settings provide a playable experience, so the recommendation is clear: use 1080p Low and accept the visual compromises to get a playable frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The cache hierarchy consists of 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a capable mid-range desktop CPU, and its benchmark scores reflect that. In Cinebench R23, it scores 21645 in multi-core and 3055 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 11268 multi-core and 2058 single-core. The PassMark multi-thread score is 25470, and the single-thread score is 3701. These numbers place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32279.

In The Medium, however, the CPU’s role is minimal because the GPU is so severely underpowered. The game’s CPU workload, which involves managing the game’s fixed-camera scenes, AI, and streaming, is easily handled by the 10 cores and 16 threads. The boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures strong single-thread performance, which is important for the game’s main thread. The 20 MB of L3 cache provides ample capacity for the game’s data, and the dual-channel memory support (though bandwidth is not specified) is sufficient for the CPU’s needs.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 46 FPS, while at 4K Ultra, it drops to 11 FPS. This 76% reduction in performance is entirely attributable to the GPU’s inability to handle higher resolutions and settings. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see similar frame rates across all resolutions, but we do not. The CPU’s nearest rivals—the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, Intel Core i9-11900, AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS, and Intel Core i7-12800H—all have within 0.5% of the same average benchmark score, and none of them would change the outcome in this game because the GPU is so far behind.

The CPU’s 83rd percentile rank confirms its general capability, but it is wasted in this pairing. The Arc B370’s 5th percentile rank means that the system is effectively a low-end GPU with a high-end CPU attached. For The Medium, the CPU has more than enough headroom, and players would see no improvement from a faster processor. The bottleneck is so severe that even a much weaker CPU would produce identical frame rates. This is a classic case of a mismatched pairing, where the data clearly shows that the GPU is the sole factor determining performance in this game. The i5-14400F is a fine processor, but in this combo, its capabilities are irrelevant to the outcome.