The Medium

The data for The Medium on this platform, pairing the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by graphics load and preset selection. Across the measured resolutions, the frame rate scales predictably with the rendering resolution, but the magnitude of the performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, indicating where the system’s bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo delivers 165.1 FPS, but this falls to 49.5 FPS at 4K High, a reduction of over 70%. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the increasing pixel count and shader complexity at higher resolutions saturate the graphics processor’s capabilities.

The transition from 1440p to 4K further emphasizes this trend. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 64.6 FPS at 2560x1440 to 49.5 FPS at 3840x2160, a 23% reduction. Similarly, at Ultra settings, the drop is from 50.7 FPS to 40.1 FPS, a 21% decline. This consistent pattern across all presets confirms that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary limiting component at 4K. The CPU, while powerful, does not appear to be a constraining factor at these higher resolutions, as the frame rate differences between settings are more pronounced than those between resolutions. The data suggests that for 4K gaming, users will need to make significant compromises on visual fidelity to achieve playable frame rates, while 1080p and 1440p offer much more headroom.

CPU Role

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. Its benchmark scores show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889 and a single-core score of 4643. In the context of The Medium, a horror title that typically relies more on GPU rendering than CPU physics or AI, this processor provides ample computational headroom. The measured frame rates at 1080p Low (165.1 FPS) and 1440p Low (142.4 FPS) suggest that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach high frame rates, even when the graphics load is relatively light.

However, the CPU’s role becomes less critical as resolution increases. At 4K, the frame rates are consistently lower across all settings, indicating that the GPU’s rendering throughput is the limiting factor. The processor’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is marginal; it sits within 1.4% of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark scores. This indicates that while the 14600KF is a high-performing chip, its exact specifications are not the primary driver of the game’s performance in this configuration. The data shows that the CPU's high boost clock and core count are sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck at any resolution tested, but the GPU’s workload dominates the frame rate outcomes.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, is the decisive component in this system’s performance. With 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, the GPU is well-equipped for modern titles. Its raw compute capabilities include 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 56 RT cores, which are relevant for the game’s rendering demands. The benchmark results show that the GPU's performance scales inversely with resolution, which is expected. The average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 58.5, while at 4K Ultra it drops to 40.1, a 31% reduction.

The GPU’s memory capacity and bandwidth are sufficient for the game’s assets at all tested settings, but the processing power is what limits high-resolution performance. At 4K High, the 49.5 FPS average is below the 60 FPS target that many users consider optimal, while at 4K Medium, the 69.1 FPS average is more comfortable. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 84 against all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 42576, places it in a competitive position, though it trails the NVIDIA RTX A6000 by a negligible 0.2% and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE by 0.3%. This data suggests that the RTX 4070 SUPER is a strong performer for 1440p gaming, but its 4K capabilities require careful settings management.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Core i5-14600KF and RTX 4070 SUPER achieves a rank of 236 out of 1689 combos for The Medium. This places it in the top 14% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result given the game’s demanding nature. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, where the processor’s high single-thread performance complements the GPU’s substantial rendering power. The data indicates that this combo outperforms a majority of other systems, likely due to the synergy between the 14-core processor and the 12 GB graphics card.

When considering the performance relative to other combos, the rank suggests that users can expect a high-quality experience at 1440p, where the frame rates are consistently above 60 FPS for most presets. At 4K, the combo still ranks well, but the need to lower settings is apparent. The rank of 236 is a product of the GPU’s strong 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627 and the CPU’s robust Passmark multi-thread score of 38697. The combination’s performance is not limited by a single weak component; rather, it represents a well-matched pair that delivers solid results in this horror title, though it does not reach the top tier of performance reserved for more powerful configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset delivers 75.4 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed, while the Medium preset offers 104.7 FPS for a slight reduction in fidelity. The Ultra preset at 58.5 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for those who prefer a higher refresh rate. For 1440p, the High preset at 64.6 FPS is the best balance, providing good visual quality and a frame rate that is above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 89.1 FPS is also viable for users who prioritize performance, but the drop to Low (142.4 FPS) is significant and may not be necessary.

At 4K, the situation is more constrained. The Medium preset at 69.1 FPS is the only setting that achieves a comfortable frame rate above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for a smooth experience. The High preset at 49.5 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive, while the Ultra preset at 40.1 FPS is best avoided for action-heavy sequences. The Low preset at 109.4 FPS is possible, but it undermines the visual fidelity that the game’s horror atmosphere relies on. The data shows that for 4K, users should opt for Medium settings to maintain playability, while 1080p and 1440p allow for High settings without sacrificing performance. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU’s capabilities are best utilized at 1440p, where the High preset offers a solid balance of visuals and speed.