The Medium

The Medium presents a unique challenge for hardware, relying on fixed camera angles and dual-reality rendering that can shift the load between CPU and GPU unpredictably. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, using only the provided benchmark data to interpret how this combination handles the game’s demands across resolutions and settings.

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, and it shares a 20 MB L3 cache. The processor’s benchmark scores indicate a strong showing for gaming workloads: it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 and a single-core score of 3055, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 11268 and single-core score of 2058. Its average benchmark score of 32279 places it at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, which suggests it is well above the median for processing power.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU’s role is less about raw frame generation and more about maintaining a stable baseline to feed the GPU. The game’s fixed camera angles reduce the need for complex scene-wide physics calculations, but the dual-reality mechanic—where two worlds are rendered simultaneously—can increase draw calls and CPU overhead. The i5-14400F’s 16 threads provide ample headroom for these tasks, and its single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 3055 Cinebench R23 score, ensures that the main game logic thread doesn’t become a bottleneck. Relative to its nearest rivals, the i5-14400F is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, showing a 0.1% lead in average benchmark score, and it sits 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12800H. This parity means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the i5-14400F should not meaningfully diverge from these alternatives. However, the measured FPS data across all settings shows that the limiting factor is rarely the CPU. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo hits 108 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 39 FPS—a massive swing that points to GPU limitations rather than CPU constraints. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and dual-channel memory support (DDR4/DDR5) are sufficient for this workload, but the data indicates that the processor is never the primary constraint in this pairing.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. Its memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1830 MHz, with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and its memory runs at an effective 17 Gbps. The RTX 4060’s benchmark scores show a mixed picture: it achieves a Passmark G3D score of 19545 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 95057, but its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is only 2302. The GPU sits at the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals are notably older or weaker parts—the AMD Radeon HD 7790 is 0.2% ahead, and the AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% behind—which underscores that the RTX 4060 is positioned as a mainstream card, not a high-end performer.

In The Medium, the GPU’s role is dominant. The 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor at higher resolutions and settings, as the game’s detailed textures and dual-reality rendering can quickly consume memory. The measured FPS data supports this: at 4K Ultra, the combo averages just 25 FPS, while dropping to 4K Low yields 72 FPS—a 47 FPS difference that is almost entirely attributable to GPU load. The RTX 4060’s 128-bit memory bus and 272 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the pixel throughput demands exceed what the card can comfortably deliver, especially at higher presets. The boost clock of 2460 MHz helps in lighter scenes, but the data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck across all resolutions above Low settings. At 1440p High, the combo manages 41 FPS, and at 1080p High, it reaches 49 FPS—both figures indicating that the RTX 4060 is struggling to maintain smooth framerates once the preset increases. The GPU’s 115 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU are modest, but the performance ceiling is clear: this card is best suited for 1080p gaming or 1440p at reduced settings in this title.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions, which helps isolate the limiting component. At Low settings, the combo achieves 108 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 4K, which is relatively mild and suggests that at Low settings, the CPU and GPU are both contributing, with the GPU becoming more stressed at higher pixel counts but not yet overwhelmed. At Medium settings, the scores are 68 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K—a 34% drop from 1080p to 4K. This consistent percentage drop indicates that the GPU is scaling almost linearly with resolution, which is typical for a card that is not memory-bandwidth limited at these settings.

However, at High settings, the scaling becomes steeper: 49 FPS at 1080p, 41 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K—a 35% drop from 1080p to 4K. At Ultra settings, the drop is even more pronounced: 39 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K—a 36% drop from 1080p to 4K. The increasing percentage drop as settings rise suggests that the GPU’s shading units and memory bandwidth are becoming the primary limiting factors. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are likely causing texture thrashing at higher resolutions, particularly at 4K Ultra where the average FPS falls to 25. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting component: if it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the consistent and growing FPS drops as resolution increases point squarely to the GPU. The i5-14400F’s strong single-thread performance (3055 Cinebench R23) and multi-core capabilities (21645 Cinebench R23) mean it can keep up with the GPU’s demands at all tested settings, but the RTX 4060 simply lacks the raw throughput to maintain high framerates at 4K or at Ultra presets. This scaling analysis indicates that for this combo, the GPU is the bottleneck in every scenario, and the CPU has headroom to spare.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across all 12 configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings average 108 FPS, Medium averages 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 and maximum of 78, High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra averages 39 FPS. The 1080p results show a clear degradation as settings increase, with a 69 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. This is a significant spread, indicating that the RTX 4060 is very sensitive to preset changes at this resolution. At Medium, the framerate is playable, but at High and Ultra, the experience drops below 50 FPS, which may be noticeable in a horror game where smooth motion is important for immersion.

At 2560x1440, the combo achieves 91 FPS at Low, 57 FPS at Medium (with a minimum of 49 and maximum of 66), 41 FPS at High, and 32 FPS at Ultra. The 1440p results show a 59 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, which is slightly smaller than at 1080p but still substantial. At Medium, the 57 FPS average is acceptable, but High and Ultra dip below 45 FPS, making them less desirable for a game that relies on atmospheric tension. At 3840x2160, the performance is more constrained: Low averages 72 FPS, Medium averages 45 FPS (with a minimum of 38 and maximum of 52), High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. The 4K results show a 47 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, indicating that even at Low, the GPU is near its limits. At Medium, the 45 FPS average is borderline playable, but High and Ultra fall below 32 FPS, which is likely too low for a satisfying experience. Across all resolutions, the Medium setting provides the only configuration with both a recorded minimum and maximum FPS, which offers insight into frame pacing: at 1080p Medium, the range is 58-78 FPS, at 1440p Medium it’s 49-66 FPS, and at 4K Medium it’s 38-52 FPS. These ranges suggest consistent frame delivery without major stutters, but the averages are the primary indicator of playability.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-14400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1999th out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This places the combo in the 46th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms just under half of the systems benchmarked. This ranking is modest, reflecting the GPU’s mid-range positioning. The RTX 4060’s nearest rivals—the AMD Radeon HD 7790, AMD Radeon 780M, AMD Radeon Pro 560, and AMD Radeon Pro 460—are all substantially older or lower-tier parts, yet they have similar average benchmark scores. This suggests that the RTX 4060’s performance is not exceptional, and in the context of a demanding game like The Medium, it lands in the middle of the pack. The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that the processor is a strong component, but the combo’s overall rank is dragged down by the GPU.

The rank of 1999 out of 3724 means that a significant number of tested combos deliver better performance in this game. This is expected given the RTX 4060’s 61st percentile GPU ranking. The data implies that to achieve higher framerates in The Medium, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the i5-14400F has ample headroom. The combo’s rank is not a verdict on the hardware’s quality—it’s a measure of how this specific pairing handles this specific game’s workload. In less demanding titles, the combo would likely rank higher, but for The Medium’s dual-reality rendering and high-resolution textures, the RTX 4060 is a limiting factor. The ranking also highlights that many other configurations with similar or better GPUs will outperform this combo, making it a mid-tier option for this game.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 49 FPS at all settings. At 1440p, the average FPS drops below 45 FPS at High and Ultra, and at 4K, it falls below 32 FPS at High and Ultra. For a playable experience, 1080p is the recommended resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, scores 17666, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, which is 0.3% lower. This indicates the RTX 4060 is closely matched with these older or integrated parts.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this combo?

A: The measured FPS data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 108 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 39 FPS—a 69 FPS difference that is attributable to GPU load. The CPU’s strong benchmark scores, such as a 21645 Cinebench R23 multi-core score, show it has headroom, but the RTX 4060 cannot maintain high framerates at higher settings.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p Medium, and what are the minimum and maximum values?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. This is the only 1440p configuration with recorded min/max values, indicating stable frame delivery.

Q: How does the CPU’s rank compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279 and ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, scores 32233, which is 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i9-11900 scores 32226, also 0.2% lower, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS scores 32354, which is 0.2% higher.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank in The Medium?

A: The combo ranks 1999th out of 3724 tested combinations. This places it in the 46th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly half of all tested systems in this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the desired framerate and resolution. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best balance, delivering 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS. This provides a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, and the min/max range of 58-78 FPS indicates minimal frame drops. The High preset at 1080p, which averages 49 FPS, is playable but may feel less fluid in a game that benefits from consistent motion. The Low preset at 1080p offers 108 FPS, but the visual quality would be significantly reduced, which detracts from the horror atmosphere. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset again is the recommended choice, averaging 57 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS. This is just below the 60 FPS ideal but remains playable, and the min/max range of 49-66 FPS shows acceptable consistency. The High preset at 1440p, averaging 41 FPS, is too low for a smooth experience, and the Low preset, at 91 FPS, sacrifices too much visual fidelity. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, which is borderline playable but may be acceptable for a slower-paced horror game. The Low preset at 4K, averaging 72 FPS, is smoother but again compromises visuals. The High and Ultra presets at 4K, averaging 32 and 25 FPS respectively, are not recommended due to their low framerates.

Overall, the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions. It provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, with average framerates of 68 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K. The data shows that the RTX 4060 cannot handle High or Ultra presets without dropping below 50 FPS at any resolution, making Medium the only preset that consistently delivers a playable experience. For users who prioritize framerate over visuals, the Low preset at 1080p (108 FPS) or 1440p (91 FPS) offers a highly fluid experience, but the reduced texture quality and lighting effects would diminish the game’s intended atmosphere. The Medium preset is the recommended default, as it offers the best experience per the measured rows, balancing visual fidelity with performance for this specific hardware combination.