The Medium

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390 occupies the 2,581st position out of 2,911 tested combinations in The Medium. This places the combo in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, a ranking that reflects the significant performance ceiling imposed by the integrated graphics solution. The data shows a configuration where a high-end CPU is paired with a GPU that ranks in the 9th percentile of all tested graphics cards, creating a substantial bottleneck that shapes every benchmark result in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2,581 out of 2,911 tested configurations places this system firmly in the lower quartile of performance for The Medium. This is a horror title that demands substantial graphics resources, and the benchmark results indicate that the Arc B390 cannot deliver the frame rates expected from a modern gaming experience at most settings. The rank is not surprising given the GPU's standing among all tested graphics cards, where it sits in the 9th percentile with an average benchmark score of 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12.

Looking at the CPU's overall benchmark standing provides context for why the bottleneck is so pronounced. The Core i5-14600K ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 48,618, placing it among the top 10% of processors tested. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H at 48,698 (0.2% faster), the AMD EPYC 4345P at 48,470 (0.3% slower), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX at 48,287 (0.7% slower), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 at 48,995 (0.8% slower). This CPU is clearly not the limiting factor in this configuration.

The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the primary constraint. Across all resolutions and settings, the system never achieves an average frame rate above 51 FPS, and that only occurs at 1080p with Low settings. The gap between CPU capability and GPU performance creates a system where the processor is essentially waiting for the graphics unit at every frame. This is a fundamental imbalance that the benchmark data consistently reflects across all twelve measured configurations.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Panther Lake chip using the Xe3-LPG architecture on a 3 nm process. It features 1,536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 2,500 MHz, with pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 7.680 TFLOPS, and FP16 performance reaches 15.36 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio.

The memory configuration is system shared, meaning the GPU uses the same memory pool as the CPU. Memory bandwidth is listed as system dependent, which introduces variability in performance based on the host system's memory subsystem. The TDP is 80 W, and the GPU is classified as an IGP with no power connectors or dedicated display outputs, as it is designed for portable device integration.

In the context of The Medium, the GPU's VRAM situation is critical. With system shared memory and no dedicated VRAM allocation, the card must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. This is particularly problematic for a horror game that likely requires substantial texture data to be loaded and streamed. The benchmark results show that even at 1080p Low settings, the system only achieves 51 FPS, which suggests the GPU is struggling with the game's rendering demands at a fundamental level.

The GPU's benchmark performance relative to its nearest rivals confirms its low standing. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1,463, 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M at 1,460, 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1,446, and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 at 1,443. These are all legacy or entry-level discrete GPUs from years past, underscoring how limited the Arc B390 is for modern gaming workloads.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset delivers the best experience in The Medium. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves an average of 51 FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset that approaches playable frame rates. The Medium preset at 1080p drops to 32 FPS average, with minimum and maximum values of 27 and 37 FPS respectively. The High preset at 1080p yields 23 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 18 FPS.

Given the benchmark results, the Low preset at 1080p is the only viable option for acceptable performance. The 51 FPS average is still below the ideal 60 FPS threshold, but it represents the best possible experience this combination can deliver. The data indicates that any increase in visual quality comes at a steep cost, with the Medium preset representing a 37% reduction in average frame rate compared to Low at the same resolution.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more challenging. The Low preset achieves 43 FPS average, which is playable but noticeably worse than the 1080p result. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 27 FPS average, and the High preset falls to 19 FPS. At 4K, the Low preset manages 34 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 21 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets fall to 15 and 12 FPS respectively.

The data suggests that players should use the Low preset at 1080p for the most playable experience. Users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate may consider the Medium preset at 1080p, which provides a 32 FPS average with a minimum of 27 FPS, but this comes with a substantial performance penalty. The benchmark results do not support using High or Ultra settings at any resolution, as these presets consistently produce average frame rates below 24 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this CPU and GPU combination in The Medium?

A: The Low preset at 1080p provides the highest measured average frame rate of 51 FPS. This is the only configuration in the dataset that exceeds 50 FPS, making it the recommended choice for playable performance.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems in The Medium?

A: This combination ranks 2,581st out of 2,911 tested configurations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems. The rank reflects the GPU's limited capabilities rather than CPU performance.

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

A: The Low preset achieves 51 FPS average, while the Ultra preset achieves 18 FPS average at 1080p. This represents a 64.7% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the CPU limit performance in this game?

A: The data indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Core i5-14600K ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 48,618, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile, creating a significant GPU bottleneck.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile of all tested GPUs with an average benchmark score of 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rivals include legacy GPUs such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710.

Q: What memory configuration does the GPU use?

A: The Arc B390 uses system shared memory with a system dependent bandwidth. This means there is no dedicated VRAM, and the GPU shares memory resources with the CPU, which can impact performance in memory-intensive games.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data reveals a consistent pattern of frame rate degradation as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 51 at 1080p to 43 at 1440p, representing a 15.7% reduction. Moving from 1440p to 4K at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 43 to 34, a 20.9% reduction. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 17 FPS, or 33.3%.

At Medium settings, the resolution scaling is more severe in percentage terms. The average FPS at 1080p is 32, dropping to 27 at 1440p (15.6% reduction) and then to 21 at 4K (22.2% reduction from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings is 11 FPS, or 34.4%. The minimum and maximum values at Medium settings also scale predictably, with 1080p ranging from 27 to 37 FPS, 1440p ranging from 23 to 31 FPS, and 4K ranging from 18 to 24 FPS.

The High settings show a similar pattern, with average FPS dropping from 23 at 1080p to 19 at 1440p (17.4% reduction) and then to 15 at 4K (21.1% reduction from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 8 FPS, or 34.8%. The Ultra settings exhibit the smallest absolute drops but the largest percentage changes, with average FPS falling from 18 at 1080p to 15 at 1440p (16.7% reduction) and then to 12 at 4K (20% reduction from 1440p), totaling a 33.3% drop from 1080p to 4K.

The consistent pattern of approximately 15-16% drops from 1080p to 1440p and 20-22% drops from 1440p to 4K across all settings presets indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller frame rate differences between resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant. The fact that frame rates scale inversely with resolution in a predictable manner points to the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth as the primary constraints.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture with a 10 nm process node. It features a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and has a TDP of 125 W. It is built for the Intel Socket 1700 platform and includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, though the system uses the discrete Arc B390 for display output.

The CPU's benchmark performance demonstrates its high-end positioning. In Cinebench R23, it scores 24,491 in multi-core and 2,064 in single-core tests. Geekbench scores reach 16,673 in multi-core and 2,491 in single-core. The PassMark multithread score is 38,682, and the single-thread score is 4,270. These figures place the CPU in the 90th percentile of all processors tested, with an average benchmark score of 48,618.

In The Medium, the CPU's role is largely to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The benchmark data suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck, as the frame rates are consistently low across all settings and resolutions. The CPU's substantial computing resources, including its 14 cores and 20 threads, are underutilized because the GPU cannot process frames quickly enough to keep the CPU busy.

The nearest rival CPUs to the i5-14600K include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H with an average score of 48,698 (0.2% higher), the AMD EPYC 4345P at 48,470 (0.3% lower), the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX at 48,287 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 at 48,995 (0.8% higher). These comparisons show that the i5-14600K performs at a level consistent with high-end server and desktop processors, reinforcing that the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 51 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p delivers an average of 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 and maximum of 37 FPS. The High preset at 1080p achieves 23 FPS average, and the Ultra preset drops to 18 FPS average.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 43 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p delivers an average of 27 FPS with a minimum of 23 and maximum of 31 FPS. The High preset at 1440p achieves 19 FPS average, and the Ultra preset drops to 15 FPS average. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 1440p are consistent across presets, ranging from 8 FPS at Low settings to 4 FPS at High and Ultra settings.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves an average of 34 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K delivers an average of 21 FPS with a minimum of 18 and maximum of 24 FPS. The High preset at 4K achieves 15 FPS average, and the Ultra preset drops to 12 FPS average. The 4K results show the most severe performance degradation, with even the Low preset falling below 35 FPS.

The data reveals that the Medium preset is the only one with complete minimum and maximum values recorded across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the range is 27 to 37 FPS; at 1440p Medium, the range is 23 to 31 FPS; and at 4K Medium, the range is 18 to 24 FPS. These ranges indicate frame time consistency at the Medium preset, with the spread between minimum and maximum remaining at 10 FPS at 1080p, 8 FPS at 1440p, and 6 FPS at 4K.

The overall pattern across all twelve measured configurations shows a clear hierarchy: Low settings always provide the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, then High, then Ultra. At every resolution, the Low preset roughly doubles the frame rate of the High preset. For example, at 1080p, Low achieves 51 FPS while High achieves 23 FPS, a ratio of 2.22. At 1440p, Low achieves 43 FPS while High achieves 19 FPS, a ratio of 2.26. At 4K, Low achieves 34 FPS while High achieves 15 FPS, a ratio of 2.27. This consistent ratio suggests that the GPU's rendering workload scales predictably with quality settings, and the performance ceiling is firmly established by the Arc B390's limited capabilities.