The Medium

The Medium presents a particularly interesting challenge for the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT pairing. This combination of a six-core, six-thread CPU from 2018 with a flagship-tier GPU from 2022 creates a significant performance imbalance. The benchmark data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its processor, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom. This analysis will dissect the measured frame rates, the role each component plays, and what the data implies for the overall gaming experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 57 FPS. This is the lowest average at 1080p, showing how demanding the Ultra preset is on this specific configuration.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its closest rival in terms of CPU benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, has a score of 2259, which is a delta of -0.2%, meaning the i5-9400 is nearly identical in performance.

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded for this combo in The Medium?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 87 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration that comes close to high-refresh-rate territory.

Q: Is the RX 7900 XT's performance in this game matched by its closest rivals on the GPU benchmark list?

A: The benchmark data shows that the RX 7900 XT's average score of 13745 is very close to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 660M, which scores 13812. This represents a deltaPct of only -0.5%, indicating similar synthetic benchmark performance.

Q: What kind of frame rate can one expect at 4K with Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the system delivers an average of 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. This is the only 4K setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-9400's single-core performance compare to its multi-core performance in synthetic tests?

A: In Cinebench R23, the i5-9400 scores 935 points in the single-core test and 6629 points in the multi-core test. The multi-core score is significantly higher, but the single-core score is crucial for gaming.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and can boost up to 4.10 GHz. The data shows that this CPU has a percentile rank of 47 among all tested CPUs, placing it in the middle of the pack. Its synthetic benchmarks, such as a Geekbench single-core score of 1389 and a multi-core score of 5141, provide a baseline for its processing capabilities.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. The 6-thread configuration is a limiting factor for modern, heavily-threaded titles. The data points to this being a primary bottleneck. At 1080p, where the GPU is less taxed, the average FPS for High settings (64) and Ultra settings (57) are surprisingly close. This suggests that the CPU is unable to feed the GPU with enough data to push frame rates higher. The gap between Low (87 FPS) and Medium (72 FPS) is 15 FPS, but the gap between Medium and High is only 8 FPS, and between High and Ultra is a mere 7 FPS. This compression of frame rates at higher settings is a classic sign of a CPU bottleneck, as the GPU's workload increases but the overall FPS is capped by the processor's limitations.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals reinforces this. The i5-9400’s average benchmark score of 2254 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, -0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, -0.4% delta). This indicates that its processing power is in the same tier as these other mid-range chips. For a game like The Medium, which is known for its fixed camera angles and detailed environments, the CPU's ability to manage the game's streaming and logic is paramount. The data suggests that while the CPU can deliver playable frame rates, it is holding back the potential of the high-end GPU, particularly at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a powerhouse from the Radeon RX 7000 series, built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture. It features 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a substantial 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is listed at 2394 MHz. With 5376 shading units and 84 ray accelerators, it is designed for high-fidelity 4K gaming. Its launch MSRP is 899 USD. The GPU's Passmark G3D score is a massive 29009, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 5623, indicating immense raw graphical power.

However, the measured FPS data tells a different story when paired with the i5-9400. The GPU's potential is clearly not being fully utilized at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (87 FPS) and Ultra (57 FPS) is 30 FPS. While this is a significant drop, the absolute numbers are not as high as one would expect from an RX 7900 XT, again pointing to the CPU as the limiting factor. The GPU is waiting for the CPU to provide instructions.

The VRAM capacity and bandwidth become more relevant at higher resolutions. At 4K, the GPU's strengths should shine, and indeed, the data shows a wider spread between settings. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 76 (Low) to 38 (Ultra). This suggests that at 4K, the load shifts back to the GPU. The 20 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for The Medium's textures and assets at 4K, preventing any potential stuttering or texture pop-in. The GPU's percentile rank of 55 among all GPUs is surprisingly low for such a powerful card, but this is a synthetic, standalone metric. In-game, the data indicates that its performance is heavily dependent on the platform it's paired with.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a clear picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows:

• Low: 87 FPS
• Medium: 72 FPS (min 62, max 83)
• High: 64 FPS
• Ultra: 57 FPS

The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, but the incremental penalties become smaller as settings increase. The jump from Low to Medium costs 15 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra only costs 7 FPS. This, again, is indicative of a CPU bottleneck, as the GPU's increasing workload has diminishing returns on the final frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are:

• Low: 82 FPS
• Medium: 68 FPS (min 58, max 79)
• High: 60 FPS
• Ultra: 48 FPS

At 1440p, the FPS drops are more consistent, with a 14 FPS difference between Low and Medium, and a 12 FPS difference between High and Ultra. The gap between Medium and High is 8 FPS. This shows the system becoming more balanced as the GPU takes on more work. The 60 FPS average on High is a solid target, while Ultra dips below the 50 FPS mark.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are:

• Low: 76 FPS
• Medium: 63 FPS (min 54, max 73)
• High: 48 FPS
• Ultra: 38 FPS

This is where the RX 7900 XT's power becomes the dominant factor. The FPS now scales more predictably with the settings preset. The jump from Low to Medium costs 13 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 10 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is now the primary bottleneck, and its performance is dictating the frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 1455 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the top 39% of all systems tested, which is a respectable position given the age and mid-range classification of the CPU.

This ranking is more proof of the GPU's raw power than the CPU's capability. The RX 7900 XT is capable of very high frame rates, but the i5-9400 is holding it back from reaching the top tiers. A combo with a more modern, higher-thread-count CPU would likely rank much higher, as it would be able to fully feed the GPU. The rank of 1455 suggests that while this system can run the game well, it is not an optimal pairing. The CPU is the weak link in the chain, preventing the system from achieving the kind of performance that the GPU alone could deliver. The data implies that the overall experience is "good," but not "great" when compared to other configurations in the database.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and performance expectations.

For a 60 FPS target at 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 64 FPS. While the Ultra preset is playable at 57 FPS, the marginal visual improvement does not justify the 7 FPS loss. For a higher frame rate experience, the Medium preset at 72 FPS offers a good balance, but the High preset is recommended for a more visually rich experience while maintaining a good frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the sweet spot, hitting an average of exactly 60 FPS. This provides the best visual quality while maintaining a smooth frame rate. The Ultra preset at 48 FPS may be acceptable for some, but it represents a significant 20% performance drop from High. The Medium preset at 68 FPS is a great alternative if a higher frame rate is preferred over maximum visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the only one that consistently provides an average above 60 FPS, hitting 63 FPS. This makes it the clear recommendation for 4K gaming. The Low preset at 76 FPS is an option for those seeking higher performance, but the visual compromise is substantial. The High preset at 48 FPS and Ultra at 38 FPS are not recommended for a smooth experience, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold. For 4K, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a fascinating trend in how the frame rate scales with resolution. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS for the Ultra preset drops from 57 to 48, a decrease of 15.8%. However, moving from 1440p to 4K, the Ultra preset drops from 48 to 38 FPS, a further decrease of 20.8%. This shows that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as resolution increases.

The Low preset shows a different scaling pattern. From 1080p (87 FPS) to 1440p (82 FPS), there is only a 5.7% drop. From 1440p to 4K (76 FPS), the drop is only 7.3%. This much gentler scaling at Low settings reinforces the theory that the CPU is the limiting factor at lower resolutions. With Low settings, the GPU is not being fully utilized, so increasing the resolution only slightly increases the GPU's workload, and the CPU remains the bottleneck. The frame rate is capped by the CPU, so the GPU can handle the extra pixels without impacting the FPS significantly.

This scaling behavior is a clear indicator of the system's balance. At low resolutions and settings, the i5-9400 is the limiting component. At higher resolutions and settings, the RX 7900 XT becomes the limiting component. This means that the system is well-suited for 1440p and 4K gaming, where the GPU can stretch its legs, but it leaves performance on the table at 1080p. The data suggests that this system is better optimized for higher-resolution gaming, where the CPU bottleneck is less pronounced.