The Medium

# The Medium with Intel Core i7-12700KF + Intel Arc B370

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a severely GPU-limited experience in The Medium, with measured frame rates ranging from 11 FPS at 4K Ultra to 46 FPS at 1080p Low. The Arc B370, an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a 3 nm process node, sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs benchmarked on this database, and the combo ranks 2681 out of 2911 tested combinations in this game. The CPU, a 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake-S part with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, is far more capable than what the GPU can feed, as evidenced by the widening FPS gap between Low and Ultra settings across all resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best measured frame rate for this combo in The Medium?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 46 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At the same resolution, High settings yield 21 FPS, Medium produces 29 FPS, and Ultra drops to 16 FPS. At 2560x1440 Low, the average is 39 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Low, it falls to 30 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in The Medium?

A: The combo ranks 2681 out of 2911 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations tested for this game. The GPU’s 5th percentile standing among all GPUs largely explains this poor positioning.

Q: What are the Arc B370’s closest GPU rivals according to benchmark scores?

A: The nearest rivals by average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, delta 1.4%). The Arc B370 scores 1184, essentially tied with these older parts.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-12700KF have any performance headroom in this game?

A: Yes. The CPU benchmarks at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838 and single-core score of 4071. The measured FPS drops dramatically from Low to Ultra settings at every resolution, which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor rather than the CPU.

Q: How does the i7-12700KF compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The nearest rivals by average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-13700T (avg score 35403, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i5-13600T (avg score 35305, delta 0.2%), Intel Core 5 213PE (avg score 35428, delta -0.2%), and Intel Core i7-12700K (avg score 35287, delta 0.2%). The i7-12700KF averages 35365, placing it within 0.2% of all four rivals.

Q: Is there any resolution where this combo achieves playable frame rates?

A: Only at 1080p Low does the combo exceed 30 FPS, with an average of 46 FPS. At 1440p Low, the average is 39 FPS, while 4K Low drops to 30 FPS. All Medium, High, and Ultra settings across every resolution fall below 30 FPS, with the lowest being 11 FPS at 4K Ultra.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor built on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 3 nm process node. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, 20 raster output units, and 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 2400 MHz, with a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. Its FP32 compute throughput is 6.144 TFLOPS, while FP16 reaches 12.29 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio. The memory configuration is system shared, meaning the VRAM size, bus width, and bandwidth are all system dependent rather than fixed specifications.

This GPU’s performance profile is remarkably low for a modern title like The Medium. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B370 scores 1184, which places it at the 5th percentile among all GPUs in this database. Its nearest rivals are all legacy parts from the early 2010s — the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, and AMD FirePro M2000 — and the delta percentages are all within ±1.4%. This indicates that the Arc B370 delivers performance comparable to integrated and entry-level discrete GPUs from over a decade ago.

In The Medium specifically, the GPU’s limitations are stark. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 46 FPS, which is the only setting and resolution combination that surpasses 40 FPS. Dropping to 1080p Medium reduces the average to 29 FPS, a 37% decrease from Low. At 1080p High, the average is 21 FPS, and at Ultra it falls to 16 FPS. The pattern repeats at higher resolutions: 1440p Low yields 39 FPS, Medium 24 FPS, High 17 FPS, and Ultra 14 FPS. At 4K, the numbers are 30 FPS (Low), 19 FPS (Medium), 14 FPS (High), and 11 FPS (Ultra). These figures show that the GPU struggles to maintain playable frame rates even at the lowest settings, and the gap between Low and Ultra settings grows as resolution increases.

The system shared memory architecture means that the GPU has no dedicated VRAM pool, instead relying on system memory. This is typical of integrated graphics solutions and contributes to the performance ceiling observed. The 25 W TDP, combined with the IGP slot width and lack of power connectors, confirms that this is a low-power integrated solution rather than a discrete graphics card.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2681 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places the configuration in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU’s 5th percentile standing among all GPUs. The CPU, by contrast, sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, so the pairing represents a significant mismatch in capability.

The rank of 2681 out of 2911 means that 2680 other combinations delivered higher average frame rates in this game. Given the measured FPS data, this is unsurprising. The best case scenario — 1080p Low at 46 FPS — is only marginally playable by modern standards, and every other configuration falls below 40 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 11 FPS is effectively a slideshow.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the 3DMark benchmark — the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, and AMD FirePro M2000 — are all parts from the 2010-2012 era. The fact that the Arc B370 is competitive with these older GPUs explains the low combo rank. The CPU’s rivals, meanwhile, are all modern 12th and 13th generation Intel parts with nearly identical average benchmark scores, confirming that the processor is not the bottleneck.

The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is severely imbalanced for gaming. While the i7-12700KF can handle the most demanding CPU workloads, the Arc B370 cannot translate that processing power into frame rates. This is a textbook case of GPU-limited performance, where the graphics solution determines the gaming experience regardless of CPU capability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in The Medium covers three resolutions and four settings levels each. At 1920x1080, the Low setting produces an average of 46 FPS, the highest recorded for this combo. Medium drops to 29 FPS (min 24, max 33), High yields 21 FPS, and Ultra falls to 16 FPS. The transition from Low to Medium represents a 17 FPS loss, while the jump from Medium to High costs 8 FPS, and High to Ultra costs another 5 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the pattern continues but with lower absolute numbers. Low averages 39 FPS, Medium averages 24 FPS (min 21, max 28), High averages 17 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low costs 7 FPS, while at Ultra the cost is only 2 FPS — the GPU is already so constrained that resolution increases have diminishing absolute impacts.

At 3840x2160, the results are the lowest across the board. Low averages 30 FPS, Medium averages 19 FPS (min 16, max 22), High averages 14 FPS, and Ultra averages 11 FPS. The 4K Low result of 30 FPS is the only 4K configuration that reaches the 30 FPS threshold, and even that is marginal. The 4K Ultra result of 11 FPS is the worst measured performance for this combo.

Across all resolutions, the Low settings provide the only playable experiences. At 1080p Low, the 46 FPS average is respectable, but the 39 FPS at 1440p Low and 30 FPS at 4K Low show how quickly performance degrades as pixel count increases. The Medium settings, which provide a moderate visual improvement, cut frame rates by roughly 35-40% compared to Low at every resolution. High and Ultra settings push the GPU beyond its capabilities, with all results below 22 FPS.

The min and max FPS data for Medium settings shows reasonable frame time consistency: at 1080p, the range is 24 to 33 FPS; at 1440p, it is 21 to 28 FPS; and at 4K, it is 16 to 22 FPS. These ranges suggest that the GPU maintains relatively stable performance without severe stutters, but the absolute levels are too low for a smooth experience.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear picture of GPU-limited performance. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 46 at 1080p, to 39 at 1440p, to 30 at 4K. This represents a 15% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 23% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 35%.

At Medium settings, the progression is 29 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The drops are 17% and 21% respectively, with a total reduction of 34% from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the numbers are 21 FPS, 17 FPS, and 14 FPS, representing 19% and 18% drops, for a total of 33%. At Ultra settings, the progression is 16 FPS, 14 FPS, and 11 FPS, with drops of 13% and 21%, totaling a 31% reduction.

These scaling percentages are relatively modest compared to what would be expected in a CPU-limited scenario. When a CPU is the bottleneck, frame rates typically stay nearly flat across resolutions because the GPU has headroom to render at higher resolutions without affecting the CPU-bound frame rate. Here, the frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases, which indicates the GPU is working at or near its maximum capacity at every resolution.

The absolute FPS differences between resolutions are small — typically 3 to 7 FPS per step — because the GPU is already delivering very low frame rates. A more powerful GPU would show larger absolute differences between resolutions, as the GPU would be able to render at higher frame rates before hitting its limits. The fact that the Arc B370 produces single-digit to low-teen FPS at 4K Ultra suggests that the GPU is overwhelmed by the pixel count and cannot maintain even minimal performance.

The scaling pattern also shows that the GPU’s memory architecture, which relies on system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth, is likely a contributing factor. As resolution increases, the memory bandwidth demands grow, and the shared memory configuration cannot keep pace. This is consistent with the observed FPS drops that exceed what would be expected from pure pixel count increases.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a TDP of 125 W. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it uses Intel Socket 1700 with PCIe Gen 4 (20 CPU lanes). The launch MSRP was $384, and the multiplier is unlocked for overclocking.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-12700KF performs strongly. It scores 28838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4071 in single-core, 12111 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 1709 in single-core, and 2906 in Cinebench R15 multi-core with 410 in single-core. Geekbench results show 14367 multi-core and 2255 single-core. PassMark results include 34092 multi-thread, 3984 single-thread, 113521 integer math, 87449 floating point math, 441960 data compression, 23181 data encryption, and 28650 extended instructions. The 3DMark results show 9983 max threads, 9282 for 16 threads, 7211 for 8 threads, 4011 for 4 threads, 2065 for 2 threads, and 1043 for single thread.

The CPU’s average benchmark score is 35365, placing it at the 85th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13700T (avg 35403, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i5-13600T (avg 35305, delta 0.2%), Intel Core 5 213PE (avg 35428, delta -0.2%), and Intel Core i7-12700K (avg 35287, delta 0.2%). All four rivals are within 0.2% of the i7-12700KF’s average score, indicating that the CPU is a well-rounded performer in its class.

In The Medium, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics, and game logic. Given that the i7-12700KF ranks at the 85th percentile and delivers 28838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, it has ample processing power for a 2021 horror title. The measured FPS data, however, shows that the GPU is the primary limiter. The consistent FPS drops from Low to Ultra settings at every resolution — for example, from 46 FPS at 1080p Low to 16 FPS at 1080p Ultra — indicate that the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates even when the CPU has headroom.

The CPU’s 20 threads are more than sufficient for The Medium, which is not known for extreme CPU demands. The single-core performance, exemplified by the 4071 Cinebench R23 single-core score, is also strong enough to handle the game’s main thread. The fact that the combo ranks 2681 out of 2911 combos is therefore not a reflection of CPU weakness but rather of the GPU’s severe limitations.

The data suggests that pairing the i7-12700KF with a more capable discrete GPU would yield dramatically higher frame rates in The Medium. The CPU’s 85th percentile standing and strong multi-core and single-core scores provide a solid foundation, but the Arc B370’s 5th percentile GPU standing caps the gaming experience. This is an imbalanced configuration where the CPU is overqualified for the GPU’s performance level, and the measured FPS results reflect that mismatch.