The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title, and the Intel Core i5-14600K with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER handles it with authority, landing in the top 5% of tested configurations. This pairing delivers a smooth experience at 1440p and is even capable of playable 4K, though the data shows that visual fidelity settings require more careful management at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER achieves a combo rank of 73 out of 1689 tested combinations. This places the pairing in the 95.7th percentile of all tested configurations, signifying elite-level performance for this specific game. The ranking confirms that this is a top-tier setup, but the measured frame rates reveal that even top-tier hardware must make concessions in the most demanding scenarios.

The processor’s individual standing reinforces this. The i5-14600K sits in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49166. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which scores 49062 (a 0.2% difference), and the Intel Core i5-14600KF, which scores 49367 (a -0.4% difference). These deltas are negligible, indicating that the i5-14600K is performance-equivalent to those chips in general compute, but its pairing with the RTX 4080 SUPER yields a top-tier gaming result.

On the graphics side, the RTX 4080 SUPER holds an 88th percentile ranking against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53610. It sits just ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (53489, a 0.2% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (53414, a 0.4% delta). The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration; the GPU’s raw compute power is the primary driver of the high combo rank, even though the GPU itself is not the absolute fastest on the market.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings preset depends entirely on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 84.9 FPS, which is excellent for a horror title where smooth motion is critical. However, the data shows that the Ultra preset at 1080p yields 68 FPS, a significant drop that may not be worth the marginal graphical improvement. For the best balance of visual quality and performance at 1080p, High is the clear recommendation.

At 1440p, the High preset produces an average of 70.3 FPS, which is still comfortably playable. The Medium preset at this resolution jumps to 102.5 FPS, offering a substantial performance boost for those who prioritize frame rate. For a "best experience" that maintains high visual fidelity, High is viable, but Medium provides a much larger safety margin for demanding scenes.

At 4K, the situation changes drastically. The High preset averages only 59 FPS, which is on the edge of playability for a game that can have sudden performance spikes. The Medium preset at 4K provides 75.9 FPS, making it the superior choice for a consistent experience. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 46 FPS, which is not recommended for smooth gameplay. Therefore, for 4K, the Medium preset is the best option, offering a playable frame rate without sacrificing too much visual detail.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 84.9 at 1080p to 70.3 at 1440p (a 17.2% decrease) and then to 59 at 4K (a 30.5% decrease from 1440p). This scaling pattern is characteristic of a system where the graphics card is the limiting factor; as the pixel count increases, the GPU’s workload grows proportionally, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up.

The trend is even more pronounced at lower settings. At Low settings, the average FPS is 177.2 at 1080p, 161.1 at 1440p, and 127.7 at 4K. The relatively smaller percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p (9.1%) compared to the drop from 1440p to 4K (20.7%) suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the system might be hitting a ceiling that is not purely GPU-related. However, the consistent decline towards 4K confirms that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the component determining the final frame rate.

The data indicates that the i5-14600K is not a bottleneck at any of these resolutions. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4642, ensures it can feed the GPU adequately. The performance scaling is smooth and predictable, which is a hallmark of a balanced system where the GPU is the primary constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across all settings and resolutions.

• 1920x1080: The Low preset achieves an average of 177.2 FPS, making it the highest frame rate recorded. The Medium preset follows at 121.5 FPS, and High at 84.9 FPS. The Ultra preset yields 68 FPS, which is still playable but shows a steep cost for maximum fidelity.

• 2560x1440: The Low preset averages 161.1 FPS, a minor drop from 1080p. The Medium preset delivers 102.5 FPS, which is an excellent result for this resolution. The High preset averages 70.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 57.1 FPS.

• 3840x2160: The Low preset is the only setting that breaks into triple-digit territory, with an average of 127.7 FPS. The Medium preset provides a solid 75.9 FPS. The High preset just misses the 60 FPS target with 59 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the least playable option at 46 FPS.

These numbers show a wide performance envelope. The gap between Low and Ultra at any given resolution is substantial; at 1080p, it is over 100 FPS. This indicates that the game’s visual settings have a massive impact on the GPU load, and users have significant control over the performance/quality trade-off.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the star of this show. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for the textures and assets in The Medium at 4K resolution. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the game does not appear to be memory-constrained, as the frame rate drops are consistent with compute limitations rather than memory swapping.

The GPU’s clock speeds are also relevant. With a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz, the card maintains high frequencies under load. The 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores provide the raw compute power needed for the game’s fixed-camera angles and complex lighting effects. The benchmark results for this GPU show a Passmark G3D score of 34245, which is a strong indicator of its DirectX 11 and 12 performance, the APIs most relevant to this title.

The GPU’s performance is further contextualized by its rivals. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 2.9% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. While these deltas are small in synthetic benchmarks, the measured FPS in The Medium shows the RTX 4080 SUPER is a capable 4K card, provided the settings are managed appropriately. The card’s 320 W TDP and triple-slot design indicate it is a high-power, high-performance part that is not constrained by thermals in most chassis.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K plays a supporting role, but it is a crucial one. With 14 cores and 20 threads, it offers substantial multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881. Its boost clock of 5.30 GHz provides exceptional single-thread performance, which is often more important for gaming. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce latency when accessing frequently used game data.

In this game, the CPU’s role is to ensure the GPU is never starved of data. The benchmark results indicate that this is the case. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is smooth and consistent, showing no sudden drops that would suggest a CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions. The i5-14600K’s performance is essentially tied with its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (0.2% slower) and the Intel Core i5-14600KF (0.4% faster), confirming that the CPU is not the differentiating factor in this combo's high ranking.

The processor’s 125 W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a flexible choice, but the data shows that its primary job is to facilitate the GPU’s work. The combination of the 14600K's high clock speeds and the 4080 SUPER's massive compute power results in a system that is balanced and effective, with the GPU as the clear performance leader.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming with this combo?

A: For 4K, the Medium preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 75.9 FPS. The High preset averages 59 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target, while the Ultra preset drops to 46 FPS, making it less suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this combo perform at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the combo is very strong. The High preset averages 70.3 FPS, and the Medium preset achieves 102.5 FPS, providing a wide range of options for different performance and quality preferences.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in The Medium?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drops consistently as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the graphics card is handling the increased pixel workload. The CPU's performance is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its closest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 53610, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT's score of 53489 and 2.9% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti's score of 52086.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 177.2, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 73rd out of 1689 tested combinations, placing it in the top 5% of all configurations tested for The Medium.