The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that stresses the GPU far more than the CPU, and the combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience. The data shows that this pairing is firmly GPU-limited in most scenarios, with the CPU providing ample headroom. The most balanced experience is found at 1080p with Medium settings, where the system achieves a smooth 59.3 FPS, while 4K gaming requires significant settings reductions to remain fluid.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance drop as resolution increases, confirming that the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 40.4 FPS at 1920x1080 to 34.8 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of approximately 14%. Pushing further to 3840x2160 yields 28.5 FPS, which represents a 29% drop from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU's pixel throughput is the limiting factor, as the CPU is not being taxed by the increased resolution.

The scaling behavior becomes even more pronounced at Ultra settings. The transition from 1080p to 1440p sees the average FPS drop from 34.9 to 28.5, and at 4K it falls to 24.0 FPS. This 31% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings underscores that the RX 6600 XT's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the highest fidelity at higher resolutions. Conversely, at Low settings, the system shows better scaling: 92.2 FPS at 1080p, 78.9 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result being nearly double the 1080p Ultra result clearly demonstrates that settings adjustments have a more significant impact than resolution changes on this hardware.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its benchmark results are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and a single-core score of 4642, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The processor's average benchmark score of 49166 puts it 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and 1% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, while trailing the Intel Core i5-14600KF by 0.4%.

In The Medium, this CPU is never the limiting factor. The game's performance scaling with resolution changes points entirely to GPU load, as the CPU maintains consistent performance across all tested configurations. The i5-14600K's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 4270, ensures that the game's logic and draw call processing are handled without stutter. Even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU is least taxed and the CPU might become relevant, the system achieves 92.2 FPS, indicating no CPU bottleneck at this frame rate. The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample memory bandwidth for the game's asset streaming demands.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is the decisive component in this pairing, and its specifications explain the observed performance ceiling. Built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, the GPU features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units. Its boost clock of 2589 MHz and game clock of 2359 MHz drive a peak FP32 throughput of 10.60 TFLOPS. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivers 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves adequate for 1080p but becomes strained at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 71st percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 27985. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, scores 27956, a difference of only 0.1%, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 scores 28238, putting it 0.9% ahead. This competitive positioning explains why the RX 6600 XT struggles to maintain high frame rates at 1440p and 4K in a demanding game like The Medium. The GPU's 32 ray tracing cores are present but do not help in this title, as the performance data shows no ray tracing benefit at any settings level.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers a wide range of performance depending on settings. Low settings produce an average of 92.2 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while Medium settings yield 59.3 FPS, which is acceptable for a horror title where atmosphere matters more than competitive frame rates. High settings drop to 40.4 FPS, and Ultra settings fall further to 34.9 FPS. The jump from Medium to High represents a 32% performance loss, indicating a significant graphics quality increase that the GPU cannot fully absorb.

At 2560x1440, the performance envelope narrows. Low settings average 78.9 FPS, which remains playable, but Medium settings drop to 47.6 FPS. High settings produce 34.8 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 28.5 FPS. The 1440p results show that users must choose between visual fidelity and smoothness, as Medium is the highest setting that maintains a playable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the RX 6600 XT is clearly out of its depth. Low settings average 59 FPS, which is surprising and indicates that the game scales well when texture quality and effects are reduced. Medium settings drop to 38.7 FPS, High falls to 28.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 24 FPS. The 4K Low result is notable because it demonstrates that the 8 GB VRAM is sufficient at lower settings, but the GPU's compute power cannot handle the pixel count at higher settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ranks 1140 out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the bottom third of all configurations. This ranking reflects the GPU's limitations rather than the CPU's capabilities, as the i5-14600K is a top-tier processor that would pair well with a more powerful graphics card. The ranking suggests that nearly 550 other tested combos deliver better performance in this game, likely featuring GPUs with more VRAM and higher memory bandwidth.

The disparity between the CPU's 93rd percentile ranking and the combo's 549th position out of 1689 (approximately 67th percentile) highlights the imbalance in this pairing. The GPU's 71st percentile ranking is the constraining factor, and the data indicates that a user upgrading only the GPU would see substantial improvements. The combo's performance is consistent with what the GPU's average benchmark score of 27985 would predict, showing no unusual synergy or bottleneck beyond what the component specifications suggest.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience balances frame rate and visual quality. At 1920x1080, Medium settings provide 59.3 FPS, which is the best combination of smoothness and fidelity, as the game is a slow-paced horror title that does not require high frame rates. Low settings at 92.2 FPS are unnecessary for this genre, and High settings at 40.4 FPS may introduce noticeable judder during camera pans.

At 2560x1440, Low settings at 78.9 FPS are the only clearly playable option, as Medium at 47.6 FPS is borderline and High at 34.8 FPS falls below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Users with 1440p monitors should accept reduced visual quality to maintain fluidity. At 3840x2160, Low settings at 59 FPS are surprisingly viable and represent the only reasonable option for 4K display owners, as all other settings produce frame rates below 39 FPS. For most users, the recommended configuration is 1920x1080 with Medium settings, which offers a stable experience without sacrificing too much of the game's visual atmosphere.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the most balanced resolution, with Medium settings delivering 59.3 FPS and Low settings achieving 92.2 FPS. Higher resolutions require significant settings reductions to maintain playable frame rates.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produce an average of 59 FPS. Medium settings drop to 38.7 FPS, High to 28.5 FPS, and Ultra to 24 FPS, making those presets unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600K or the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT the bottleneck?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU is in the 93rd percentile of all processors, while the GPU is in the 71st percentile. The FPS scaling with resolution changes confirms that the GPU's pixel throughput limits performance.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1140 out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the bottom third. This low ranking is due to the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a top-tier performer.

Q: What settings provide the smoothest experience at 2560x1440?

A: Low settings produce 78.9 FPS, which is the only clearly playable option at this resolution. Medium settings yield 47.6 FPS, while High and Ultra drop to 34.8 and 28.5 FPS respectively.

Q: How much faster is the GPU compared to its nearest rival?

A: The RX 6600 XT has an average benchmark score of 27985, which is 0.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti's 27956 score. It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 by 0.9%, which scores 28238.