The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that stresses both GPU and CPU depending on the resolution and quality preset chosen. For the combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, the measured data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the processor’s capabilities become more relevant. The benchmark results show a clear hierarchy: the RTX 5090 D delivers its highest frame rates at 1080p Low with an average of 168 FPS, but this drops to 54 FPS at 4K Ultra, indicating that the GPU is the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. The data set provides a comprehensive view of how this specific pairing performs across three resolutions and four quality settings, offering concrete numbers for gamers and analysts alike.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, pointing directly to the GPU as the limiting component at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 168 at 1920x1080 to 146 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 22 FPS or roughly 13%. This relatively modest drop indicates that even at Low settings, the RTX 5090 D is still heavily engaged, and the CPU is not the primary constraint. At Medium settings, the scaling is more pronounced: the average FPS goes from 140 at 1080p to 122 at 1440p and finally to 95 at 4K. This represents a 32% decrease from 1080p to 4K, showing that the increased pixel count is directly taxing the GPU’s shading units and memory bandwidth.

High settings exhibit a similar pattern, with averages of 103 FPS at 1080p, 87 FPS at 1440p, and 68 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is 35 FPS, or 34%, which is consistent with the Medium setting’s scaling. Ultra settings show the largest absolute decline: from 82 FPS at 1080p to 69 FPS at 1440p and then to 54 FPS at 4K. This is a 34% reduction from 1080p to 4K, mirroring the other presets. The consistency of this scaling across all four settings—roughly a one-third reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K—strongly suggests that the RTX 5090 D’s rendering throughput, rather than the CPU’s processing power, is the determining factor at higher resolutions.

The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (168 FPS) and Ultra (82 FPS) is 86 FPS, while at 4K the difference is 92 FPS (146 FPS vs 54 FPS). This indicates that the GPU is not only resolution-bound but also setting-bound, with Ultra presets demanding more from the GPU’s compute and memory subsystems. The RTX 5090 D’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus with 1.79 TB/s bandwidth is sufficient for these workloads, but the raw pixel throughput at 4K Ultra is what limits performance to 54 FPS. For a game like The Medium, which features fixed camera angles and pre-rendered environments, the GPU’s ability to handle high-resolution textures and effects is paramount, and the measured numbers confirm that the RTX 5090 D is the dominant factor in this pairing’s performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K plays a supporting role in The Medium, with its 12 cores and 20 threads providing ample processing power for the game’s logic and physics. The CPU’s base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz are high enough to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at most settings, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling discussed above. At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 168 is the highest in the entire data set, which suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU sufficiently even at lower resolutions where CPU load is typically more pronounced. However, the data also shows that the CPU’s performance ceiling is not the limiting factor, as the frame rates drop more sharply with resolution increases than with setting changes at a fixed resolution.

Benchmark scores for the i7-12700K reinforce its capability: it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19,784 and a single-core score of 1,850.5, placing it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs. These scores indicate strong multi-threaded performance, which is relevant for The Medium’s background loading and streaming, but the game’s frame rate is more dependent on the GPU. The nearest rivals for the CPU, such as the Intel Core i5-13600T with an average score of 35,305 (a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i7-12700KF at 35,365 (0.2% difference), show that the i7-12700K is positioned near the top of its performance class, but these differences are negligible for gaming. The CPU’s 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory further ensure that it does not become a bottleneck, but the measured FPS data shows no scenario where the CPU is the primary constraint.

The fact that at 4K Ultra the average FPS is 54, while at 1080p Low it is 168, demonstrates that the CPU’s role is consistent across resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates at 1080p and 4K, but the data shows a clear decline with resolution. This is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The i7-12700K’s 3DMark scores—9,276 for 16 threads and 9,979 for max threads—further support its ability to handle multi-threaded workloads, but The Medium does not appear to be a CPU-intensive title in this configuration. Instead, the CPU provides a stable foundation, allowing the RTX 5090 D to operate near its full potential, as seen in the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo, and at which settings?

A: The highest average frame rate is 168 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the fastest result in the entire measured data set, showing that the CPU-GPU pairing can deliver very high performance when graphical demands are reduced.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra, and is it playable?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 54 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS threshold that many gamers consider ideal for smooth play, but it remains above 30 FPS, making it technically playable for slower-paced horror titles like The Medium. The data shows that for a more consistent experience, High settings at 4K (68 FPS) would be a better choice.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo, and under what conditions?

A: The only minimum FPS values provided are for Medium settings. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 81 FPS with a maximum of 110 FPS, while at 2560x1440, the minimum is 103 FPS with a maximum of 140 FPS, and at 1920x1080, the minimum is 119 FPS with a maximum of 161 FPS. These figures suggest that the combo maintains stable frame rates without significant drops at Medium settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 35th out of 2,911 tested combinations in The Medium, placing it in the top 1.2% of all systems. This high ranking indicates that the i7-12700K and RTX 5090 D combination is among the best performers for this specific game, though it is not the absolute top.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU have a larger impact on performance in The Medium?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the dominant factor. Frame rates drop by roughly 34% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, while changes from Low to Ultra at a fixed resolution produce similar or smaller differences. This pattern is characteristic of GPU-bound performance, meaning the RTX 5090 D’s capabilities are what determine the frame rate.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings is 158, while at Ultra settings it is 69. This represents a 56% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra, showing that the quality preset has a substantial impact on performance, though not as large as the resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves a rank of 35 out of 2,911 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the top 1.2% of all systems. This is an exceptional result, reflecting the strength of both components. The RTX 5090 D is in the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77,712, and its nearest rivals—such as the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (1.1% lower score) and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (1.6% higher score)—are generally laptop or workstation parts, not direct desktop competitors. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 44,065 further underscores its high-end positioning.

The CPU, while not as dominant as the GPU, still ranks in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35,287. Its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i5-13600T and Intel Core i7-12700KF, are within 0.4% of its score, indicating that the i7-12700K is at the upper edge of its performance tier. The fact that this combo ranks 35th overall suggests that there are only 34 other tested combinations that perform better in The Medium, likely involving even newer or more specialized hardware. For a game released in early 2021, this pairing is more than sufficient to deliver high frame rates at most settings, with the only exception being 4K Ultra where the average FPS falls to 54.

The ranking also implies that the combo is well-balanced for this title. If the CPU were too weak, the rank would be lower, as the GPU would be held back. Conversely, if the GPU were insufficient, the rank would reflect that. The data shows that the i7-12700K provides enough processing power to keep the RTX 5090 D fed, allowing the GPU to achieve its full potential. The rank of 35 out of 2,911 is a strong indicator that for most gamers, this combo will deliver an excellent experience in The Medium, with high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p and playable performance at 4K with adjusted settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo covers three resolutions and four settings, providing a complete picture of performance. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 168 FPS at Low, 140 FPS at Medium, 103 FPS at High, and 82 FPS at Ultra. The Medium setting at this resolution has a minimum of 119 FPS and a maximum of 161 FPS, indicating stable performance with no significant drops. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 86 FPS, showing that the quality preset has a major impact on frame rate, but even at Ultra, the average of 82 FPS is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates are 158 FPS at Low, 122 FPS at Medium, 87 FPS at High, and 69 FPS at Ultra. The Medium setting at 1440p has a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 140 FPS, again showing consistent performance. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is relatively small at Low settings (168 to 158 FPS, a 6% reduction), but more significant at High settings (103 to 87 FPS, a 16% reduction). At Ultra, the drop is from 82 to 69 FPS, a 16% reduction as well. This indicates that the GPU is still the primary factor at 1440p, but the CPU’s role becomes slightly more apparent as resolution increases.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 146 FPS at Low, 95 FPS at Medium, 68 FPS at High, and 54 FPS at Ultra. The Medium setting at 4K has a minimum of 81 FPS and a maximum of 110 FPS, which is a wider range than at lower resolutions, suggesting more variability under load. The drop from 1440p to 4K is substantial: at Low, it goes from 158 to 146 FPS (8% reduction), at Medium from 122 to 95 FPS (22% reduction), at High from 87 to 68 FPS (22% reduction), and at Ultra from 69 to 54 FPS (22% reduction). This consistent 22% reduction at Medium, High, and Ultra highlights the GPU’s resolution scaling, while the smaller reduction at Low suggests that the CPU is more involved when the GPU is less stressed.

The data also shows that the RTX 5090 D’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory is not a limitation in any scenario, as even at 4K Ultra the game runs without reported issues. The minimum FPS values at Medium settings are all above 80 FPS, which is a strong result for a horror game that may have occasional loading hitches. Overall, the measured FPS breakdown demonstrates that this combo can handle The Medium at high frame rates across most configurations, with the only compromise being at 4K Ultra where the average drops below 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the best experience for this combo in The Medium depends on the user’s display resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver an average of 82 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual quality. Since the frame rate is well above playable levels, there is no need to reduce settings at 1080p, and Ultra is recommended for the most immersive experience. The High setting at 1080p offers 103 FPS, but the visual difference from Ultra may be noticeable, so Ultra is the better choice unless the user prioritizes maximum frame rates for a high-refresh-rate display.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings yield an average of 69 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS and provides excellent visual fidelity. This is the recommended setting for 1440p, as it balances performance and quality well. The High setting at 1440p offers 87 FPS, which could be preferable for users with 144Hz displays, but the 18 FPS gain over Ultra may not justify the loss in graphical detail. Medium settings at 1440p provide 122 FPS, but this is a significant downgrade in quality for a horror game where atmosphere is key. Therefore, Ultra is the recommended preset for 1440p, with High as a viable alternative for higher refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more nuanced. Ultra settings produce an average of 54 FPS, which is below 60 FPS and may result in noticeable stuttering in a game that relies on tension and pacing. High settings at 4K deliver 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. This is the recommended setting for 4K, as it provides a smooth experience without sacrificing too much detail. Medium settings at 4K offer 95 FPS, but the drop from High to Medium involves a noticeable reduction in texture quality and effects, which is not ideal for a game like The Medium. Low settings at 4K provide 146 FPS, but this is unnecessary for a horror game and would significantly compromise the visual experience.

In summary, the measured data suggests that Ultra settings are optimal for 1080p and 1440p, while High settings are the best choice for 4K. The Medium setting at 4K is a fallback for users who want higher frame rates, but the visual compromise is substantial. For users with a 60Hz display, High at 4K provides the best experience, while those with 120Hz or higher displays at 1440p can comfortably use Ultra. The RTX 5090 D’s performance in The Medium is strong across the board, and the data shows that this combo can achieve high frame rates with minimal compromises at most settings.