The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title released in early 2021, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings show a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher visual quality levels, with the CPU’s substantial multi-threading capabilities providing a comfortable headroom that only becomes evident at lower settings and resolutions. The data indicates a pairing that excels at delivering high refresh rate experiences at 1440p and solid 4K performance, though the game’s demanding Ultra preset will tax even this flagship GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 clearly demonstrates the GPU as the primary limiting component for this configuration. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 195 at 1080p to 128 at 1440p, a reduction of 67 FPS (34.4%), and then further to 70 at 4K, which is 125 FPS (64.1%) lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline as pixel count increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 4080’s rendering throughput, not the CPU, dictates the final output.

The scaling pattern holds true for the Low preset, where the 1080p average of 288 FPS falls to 195 at 1440p and then to 107 at 4K. The absolute FPS drop from 1080p to 4K here is 181 FPS, which is larger than the 125 FPS drop seen at High settings. This larger drop at Low settings suggests that while the GPU is still the main bottleneck, the CPU is beginning to contribute more of the workload at 1080p, where the lower graphical demand allows the processor to push higher frame rates. The gap between 1440p and 4K remains consistent, indicating that the GPU’s pixel processing power is the decisive factor in both scenarios.

At Medium settings, the only preset with minimum and maximum FPS data, the average frame rate scales from 229 at 1080p to 149 at 1440p and 82 at 4K. The minimum FPS values of 194 at 1080p, 127 at 1440p, and 70 at 4K show a similar proportional decline, reinforcing that the performance ceiling is tied to the GPU’s ability to fill pixels at each resolution. The data suggests that for users targeting a locked 60 FPS experience, the 4K Medium preset is viable, while those with high-refresh-rate monitors will find the 1440p High settings to be the sweet spot, as the 128 FPS average provides ample headroom above standard 144Hz displays.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K brings substantial processing power to this pairing, with 12 cores and 20 threads operating at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its benchmark results place it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and a single-core score of 1850.5. For The Medium, a game that relies heavily on the GPU for its rendering, this level of CPU performance is more than sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck in most scenarios.

The 1080p Low settings result of 288 FPS is the clearest indicator of the CPU’s capability. At this resolution and preset, the graphical load is low enough that the processor must work harder to feed the GPU, and the i7-12700K delivers. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4013 and Geekbench single-core score of 2308 suggest strong per-core performance, which is critical for games that may not fully utilize all 20 threads. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2065 and 4-thread score of 4011 further illustrate that even with limited thread usage, the CPU can maintain high throughput.

However, the data shows that the CPU’s role is largely to provide a high ceiling rather than to be the primary driver of performance. The difference between the 1080p Low average of 288 FPS and the 1080p Ultra average of 152 FPS highlights that the GPU is still the limiting factor even at the lowest settings. The CPU’s multi-core strength, evidenced by the Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 12229 and PassMark multi-thread score of 34404, ensures that it will not hold back the RTX 4080 in this title, but it also means that the processor’s headroom is not fully utilized unless the user deliberately lowers graphical settings to extreme levels.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Medium, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 achieves a rank of 7 out of 3724 combos. This places it in the top 0.2% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is one of the most potent setups for this particular game. The rank reflects the combined capability of the CPU and GPU to deliver high frame rates across the measured resolution and settings matrix.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 54247 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, is only 0.1% ahead in average score. This tiny delta suggests that the standard RTX 4080 is nearly identical in performance to its SUPER counterpart, and the rank of 7 reflects the GPU’s raw power. The CPU’s rank of 84th percentile and its average benchmark score of 35287, which is only 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-13600T and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-12700KF, further solidify the combo’s position.

The high rank is particularly notable given the game’s release date of January 2021, which predates both the CPU and GPU by several months. The data indicates that this modern hardware combination is able to brute-force its way through the game’s engine, delivering performance that only a handful of other tested systems can match. The fact that the combo ranks 7th out of 3724 suggests that there are only six other configurations that produce higher average frame rates across the test suite, making this an elite-level pairing for The Medium.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a wide spread of performance depending on the preset. The Low preset produces the highest average FPS at 288, followed by Medium at 229 (with a range of 194 to 263 FPS), High at 195, and Ultra at 152. The 136 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is substantial, indicating that the Ultra preset’s additional graphical effects have a significant impact on the GPU’s workload even at this lower resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS figures are 195 for Low, 149 for Medium (with a range of 127 to 172 FPS), 128 for High, and 100 for Ultra. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all presets, with the Low preset experiencing a 93 FPS decrease and the Ultra preset a 52 FPS decrease. The Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 127 at 1440p still comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, making it a viable option for high-refresh-rate gaming.

At 3840x2160, the averages fall to 107 for Low, 82 for Medium (with a range of 70 to 94 FPS), 70 for High, and 55 for Ultra. The Ultra preset’s average of 55 FPS dips below the 60 FPS threshold, which may be noticeable to some users. The High preset’s 70 FPS average provides a smoother experience, while the Low preset’s 107 FPS is ideal for those prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. The Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 70 ensures that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays well above playable levels.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications explain the frame rate patterns observed. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock of 2205 MHz and boost clock of 2505 MHz, combined with 9728 shading units and 112 ROPs, give it immense raw pixel-pushing capability. The pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s are figures that directly support the high fill rates required for 4K gaming.

The GPU’s memory configuration is particularly relevant for The Medium, which is known for its detailed environments. The 16 GB VRAM capacity ensures that the game’s textures and assets can be held in memory without swapping, even at 4K resolution with high-quality settings. The bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s is sufficient to feed the GPU’s cores, as evidenced by the consistent performance scaling across resolutions.

The RTX 4080’s benchmark results, including a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6567 and a PassMark G3D score of 34457, place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is only 0.1% faster in average score, confirming that the standard 4080 is essentially at parity with its successor. The data shows that for The Medium, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, with its capabilities directly dictating the average FPS at each resolution and settings combination.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 4K, the High preset’s average of 70 FPS is the best balance between visual quality and performance, as it stays above 60 FPS while offering a significant visual upgrade over the Medium preset’s 82 FPS average. The Ultra preset’s 55 FPS average is too low for consistent smoothness, while the Medium preset’s 82 FPS is viable but leaves visual quality on the table.

For 1440p users, the High preset’s 128 FPS average is the clear recommendation, as it provides a buttery-smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors while maintaining excellent visual fidelity. The Ultra preset’s 100 FPS average is also viable for those who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, but the 28 FPS difference between High and Ultra suggests that the extra graphical effects come at a notable cost. The Medium preset’s 149 FPS average is an option for competitive play, but the visual quality reduction may not be worth the additional 21 FPS over High.

At 1080p, all presets are playable, with even the Ultra preset delivering a 152 FPS average. The High preset’s 195 FPS average is the sweet spot for most users, offering a substantial improvement over Medium’s 229 FPS in terms of visual quality while still providing more than enough frame rate for any display. The Low preset’s 288 FPS average is excessive for most monitors and results in a significant visual downgrade, making it unnecessary unless the user has a display capable of 240Hz or higher. Overall, the High preset at 1440p is the most balanced configuration, while High at 4K is the best choice for those prioritizing resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in The Medium?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 288, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 55, which falls below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for The Medium?

A: This combination of Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 7th out of 3724 tested combos.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 127, with a maximum of 172 and an average of 149.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 107 FPS, which is 52 FPS higher than the Ultra preset’s average of 55 FPS.

Q: Does the GPU or CPU limit performance more in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU maintains sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking.