The Medium

The Intel Core i5-14600KF 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. In The Medium, this CPU configuration provides a robust foundation, but the benchmark data reveals that the game's performance ceiling is dictated by the graphics card rather than the processor. The CPU's high boost clock and substantial core count ensure that frame pacing remains stable, yet the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings shows a pattern typical of a GPU-bound title, where the i5-14600KF's compute headroom is not the limiting factor. The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support contribute to efficient data handling, but the game's reliance on GPU rendering means that the CPU's potential is only partially utilized in this specific workload.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience in The Medium, the data points decisively toward the Low preset at 1080p, which delivers an average of 116.3 FPS. This is the only measured configuration that comfortably exceeds the 100 FPS threshold, providing a fluid and responsive experience that is ideal for a horror title where smooth camera movement is critical. The Medium preset at 1080p yields a still-playable 74.8 FPS, but the jump to High drops to 49.3 FPS, which may introduce noticeable stutter during fast-paced sequences. At 1440p, the Low preset remains the strongest choice at 95.7 FPS, while Medium falls to 59.3 FPS, which is acceptable for slower exploration but not optimal for action moments. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it produces an average of only 41.1 FPS at 1080p and 28 FPS at 4K, making it unsuitable for a smooth gameplay experience. The data shows a clear trade-off: sacrificing visual fidelity for the Low preset yields a performance increase of over 55% compared to Medium at 1080p, making it the most practical choice for consistent frame delivery.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 116.3 at 1080p to 95.7 at 1440p (a 17.7% reduction) and then to 76.4 at 4K (a further 20.2% reduction from 1440p). This pattern indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the primary bottleneck, as the frame rate declines are proportional to the pixel count increase, with the CPU maintaining its ability to feed frames. The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings; at High, the average FPS falls from 49.3 at 1080p to 44.4 at 1440p (a 9.9% drop) and then to 35.7 at 4K (a 19.6% drop from 1440p). The Ultra preset shows the steepest relative decline, with 41.1 FPS at 1080p dropping to 35.3 at 1440p and 28 at 4K. This data strongly suggests that the RX 6750 XT's 12 GB of VRAM and 192-bit memory bus are sufficient for the game's demands, but the GPU's raw shading power, rated at 13.31 TFLOPS, is the limiting component at 4K resolutions, particularly with higher graphical presets.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this CPU and GPU combo in The Medium?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 116.3, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT in this game?

A: No, the performance data indicates a GPU-bound scenario. The FPS drops from 116.3 at 1080p Low to 76.4 at 4K Low, showing that the frame rate scales with resolution, which is a characteristic of the graphics card being the limiting factor rather than the CPU.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to the Low preset at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 35.3 FPS, while the Low preset at the same resolution delivers 95.7 FPS. This represents a 60.4 FPS difference, or a performance advantage of over 270% for Low.

Q: What is the performance drop from 1080p to 4K at the Medium preset?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average is 74.8 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 46.4 FPS. This is a 28.4 FPS reduction, or a 38% decrease in performance.

Q: Given the measured data, what is the most demanding setting combination tested?

A: The most demanding configuration is 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra preset, which yields the lowest average FPS of 28.0.

Q: Does the combo rank high among tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 826 out of 1689 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of results but not in the top tier. The data shows it is a mid-pack performer for this specific title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the dominant component in this pairing for The Medium. With a boost clock of 2600 MHz and a game clock of 2495 MHz, the GPU's RDNA 2.0 architecture, based on the Navi 22 chip, provides the rendering horsepower that directly determines the measured FPS. The 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth is ample for the game's textures, as evidenced by the smooth scaling from Low to Medium settings. The GPU's 2560 shading units and 40 ray tracing cores are engaged heavily during gameplay, and the benchmark results show that the card's 13.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The data shows that when the settings are lowered from High to Low at 1080p, the FPS more than doubles from 49.3 to 116.3, which indicates that the GPU's fill rate and shader throughput are being relieved of the load, allowing the CPU to push frames faster. The GPU's 79th percentile ranking against all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 20700, confirms that it is a capable mid-range performer, but its position relative to rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (which scores higher by 1.3% on average) suggests that it has a performance ceiling that is reached at the Ultra preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average FPS figures for The Medium is as follows:

• 1920x1080: Low 116.3 FPS, Medium 74.8 FPS, High 49.3 FPS, Ultra 41.1 FPS.
• 2560x1440: Low 95.7 FPS, Medium 59.3 FPS, High 44.4 FPS, Ultra 35.3 FPS.
• 3840x2160: Low 76.4 FPS, Medium 46.4 FPS, High 35.7 FPS, Ultra 28.0 FPS.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: the Low preset is the only setting that maintains a playable frame rate across all resolutions, with 76.4 FPS even at 4K. The Medium preset provides a playable 59.3 FPS at 1440p but dips below 50 FPS at 4K. The High preset is only viable at 1080p with 49.3 FPS, while the Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution, as it fails to reach 45 FPS even at 1080p. The scaling between resolutions is linear, with a 1080p to 1440p drop of approximately 18-20% for Low and Medium, and a further 20-25% drop from 1440p to 4K. This consistent reduction across all settings underscores that the RX 6750 XT's performance is the sole variable affecting frame output, with the i5-14600KF providing a stable platform that does not introduce additional variability.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 826 out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the 49th percentile of all tested systems. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the CPU's strong performance, as the i5-14600KF scores in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 49367, putting it 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. However, the GPU's lower relative standing, at the 79th percentile against all GPUs, drags the overall combo down. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor; its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, scores 1.3% higher on average, which would likely push this combo higher in the rankings if paired with this CPU. The rank of 826 indicates that there are 825 other combinations that deliver higher average FPS in this game, which is a direct consequence of the RX 6750 XT's performance ceiling, as evidenced by the 28 FPS result at 4K Ultra. The CPU's potential is not fully realized in this pairing, as the GPU cannot keep up with the i5-14600KF's ability to process game logic and draw calls.