The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title built on Unreal Engine 4, exhibits a distinct performance profile when paired with the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT. The measured data reveals a configuration that scales predictably across resolutions and presets, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher settings. This analysis breaks down the frame rate behavior, compares the combo against the broader database, and examines the specific roles of the processor and graphics card in delivering the observed results.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern, though with some notable nuances depending on the chosen preset. At Medium settings, the average frame rate drops from 93 FPS at 1920x1080 to 79 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 14 FPS, and then falls further to 62 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 33% decrease in performance from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the rendering load scales significantly with pixel count.

The scaling behavior becomes more pronounced at the lower end of the settings spectrum. At Low settings, the combo delivers 149 FPS at 1080p, 126 FPS at 1440p, and 99 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K here is 50 FPS, or approximately 34%, which is proportionally similar to the Medium preset. This consistency suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU remains the limiting factor, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed the graphics card at these frame rates.

At High settings, the scaling steepens slightly. The average FPS goes from 67 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p, and finally to 44 at 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 23 FPS, which is a 34% decrease. However, the absolute frame rates are lower, meaning the percentage loss is slightly larger relative to the starting point. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with 53 FPS at 1080p dropping to 45 FPS at 1440p and 35 FPS at 4K, a 34% reduction overall.

The data indicates that the limiting component is the GPU across all tested configurations. The consistent percentage drops as resolution increases point to a rendering pipeline saturated by pixel throughput, not by CPU instruction issue. The i7-12700KF, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, is not the constraining factor here; the RX 9070 XT's fill rate and shader processing are what determine the final frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT achieves a rank of 857 out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places the configuration in the top 23% of all tested systems, a solid showing for a horror title that can be demanding on hardware due to its dual-reality rendering technique.

The combo rank reflects the aggregate performance across all measured resolutions and settings. Being in the 857th position means there are 856 other combinations that deliver higher average frame rates in this game. This is not a top-tier result, but it is well above the median, indicating that the pairing is well-balanced for this title. The GPU's percentile rank among all GPUs is 55, which aligns with the combo's overall position, reinforcing that the graphics card is the primary driver of performance in this game.

The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 85, which is higher than the GPU's 55. This discrepancy suggests that the processor is capable of supporting more demanding graphics hardware, but the RX 9070 XT is the limiting factor. The combo rank in-game is therefore more reflective of the GPU's capabilities than the CPU's, as the data shows the graphics card is the bottleneck.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, based on the Navi 48 chip and RDNA 4.0 architecture, is the primary determinant of frame rates in The Medium. The card features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. This memory configuration is more than sufficient for the game's textures and assets at 4K resolution, as evidenced by the playable frame rates at Medium settings.

The GPU's clock speeds are notably high, with a base clock of 1660 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2970 MHz. These frequencies allow the card to maintain consistent throughput in scenes with complex lighting and shadow effects, which are common in horror titles. The 4096 shading units and 128 ROPs provide the raw compute and pixel processing power needed to render the game's dual-world sequences, where two perspectives are rendered simultaneously.

The performance data shows that the RX 9070 XT is capable of delivering 149 FPS at 1080p Low, but this drops dramatically as settings increase. At 4K Ultra, the card manages only 35 FPS, indicating that the most demanding preset pushes the GPU to its limits. The card's 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is substantial, but the game's rendering techniques at Ultra settings require significant shader work, which is reflected in the lower frame rates. The GPU's 55th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests it is a mid-range performer in the absolute sense, but its real-world results in this game are competitive for the resolution and settings tested.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in The Medium?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 149 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF or the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent across all settings, and the GPU's percentile rank (55) is lower than the CPU's (85), showing the graphics card constrains the combo's overall rank.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average frame rate of 35 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, suggesting the Ultra preset is too demanding for this configuration at 4K.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 126 FPS average, while the Ultra preset delivers 45 FPS average. This is a difference of 81 FPS, or a 64% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K with any settings preset?

A: Yes, at 4K with Low settings, the combo achieves 99 FPS average. At 4K Medium, it drops to 62 FPS average, which is still above 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall below this threshold at 44 FPS and 35 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the combo's rank in The Medium compare to other tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 857th out of 3724 tested combinations. This places it in the top 23% of all systems tested, indicating a solid but not exceptional performance for this specific title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average frame rates for the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT combination in The Medium. Each row corresponds to a specific resolution and settings preset, with minimum and maximum frame rates provided where available.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 99 FPS average
• Medium: 62 FPS average, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS
• High: 44 FPS average
• Ultra: 35 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 126 FPS average
• Medium: 79 FPS average, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 45 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 149 FPS average
• Medium: 93 FPS average, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS
• High: 67 FPS average
• Ultra: 53 FPS average

The data shows a clear hierarchy, with the Low preset providing the highest frame rates at every resolution. The Medium preset offers a significant step up in visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. The High and Ultra presets are progressively more demanding, with the Ultra preset only achieving above 50 FPS at 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF, part of the Alder Lake-S generation, features 12 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This processor architecture is designed to handle high-thread-count workloads, and its performance in synthetic benchmarks confirms its capability. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28838 and the Geekbench multicore score of 14367 indicate strong multi-threaded performance, which is relevant for games that utilize multiple cores for physics, AI, and scene management.

In The Medium, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage the game's simulation threads. The data shows that the processor is not the bottleneck, as the frame rates scale consistently with GPU load. At 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lighter, the CPU must keep up with 149 FPS, which it does without issue. The Passmark multithread score of 34092 and the 3DMark max threads score of 9983 demonstrate that the processor has ample headroom for this task.

The CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests it is a high-performance part, and its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-13700T and the Intel Core i5-13600T, with delta percentages of -0.1% and 0.2% respectively. This places the i7-12700KF in the same performance tier as these processors, confirming that it is not a limiting factor in this game. The processor's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide flexibility, though the game's performance is more dependent on the GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 60 FPS experience, the data suggests specific choices for each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers 93 FPS average, which is well above 60 FPS and provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 67 FPS also achieves this target, offering improved graphics over Medium. The Ultra preset at 53 FPS falls below 60 FPS, making it less suitable for users who prioritize smoothness. For the highest frame rates, the Low preset at 149 FPS is available, but it compromises visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 79 FPS average, which is comfortably above 60 FPS and is the recommended choice for this resolution. The High preset at 56 FPS is close to the 60 FPS target but may experience occasional dips. The Low preset at 126 FPS provides a high-refresh-rate experience, while the Ultra preset at 45 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset delivers 62 FPS average, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the only preset at 4K that achieves this target, making it the recommended choice for users with 4K displays. The Low preset at 99 FPS provides a higher margin, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. The High and Ultra presets, at 44 FPS and 35 FPS respectively, are not suitable for a smooth experience.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, offering a balance between visual quality and frame rate. Users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity can opt for the Low preset, while those with 1080p displays may consider the High preset as an alternative. The Ultra preset is best avoided unless the user is willing to accept frame rates below 60 FPS.