The Medium

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B570 occupies the 2321st position out of 2911 tested combinations in The Medium, placing it in the lower half of the database. This ranking reflects a system that can run the horror title, but one that demands careful settings management to achieve playable frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions. The data shows a configuration where the CPU provides ample headroom, yet the GPU becomes the primary constraint as graphical loads intensify.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 2321 out of 2911 puts it in the 21st percentile of all tested system pairings for this game. This is a modest standing, indicating that while the hardware is capable of running The Medium, it does not deliver top-tier performance. The ranking suggests that many other combinations, likely featuring higher-end graphics cards, will produce smoother experiences. Benchmarks results indicate that this specific pairing is more aligned with 1080p and 1440p play, rather than being a high-refresh-rate or 4K powerhouse.

Examining the individual components provides context for this overall ranking. The Intel Core i7-12700KF sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a high-performing processor. Its average benchmark score of 35365 is nearly identical to its closest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-13700T (35403, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-13600T (35305, +0.2% delta). This near-tie indicates that the CPU’s processing power is not a differentiator in this ranking; it is more than sufficient for the game’s demands. In contrast, the Intel Arc B570 GPU is in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 20556. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, scores 20534 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582 (-0.1% delta). This positions the B570 as a mid-range graphics solution, which is the limiting factor in the combo’s overall game ranking.

The discrepancy between the high CPU percentile and the moderate GPU percentile explains the system’s final placement. The data suggests that the processor is not a bottleneck, but the graphics card’s capabilities cap the potential frame rates. Therefore, the combo rank is essentially dictated by the GPU’s performance tier.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and can boost up to 5.00 GHz. This high boost clock, combined with a 25 MB shared L3 cache, provides strong single-threaded performance that is beneficial for game logic and physics. In synthetic tests, the CPU achieves a Geekbench single-core score of 2255 and a multi-core score of 14367. Cinebench R23 results further highlight its capability, with a single-core score of 4071 and a multi-core score of 28838.

For The Medium, a game that relies on fixed camera angles and pre-rendered scenes, the CPU’s role is less about raw multi-threaded throughput and more about maintaining consistent frame pacing. The processor’s 20 threads ensure that background tasks and the game’s rendering threads have enough resources. However, the measured FPS data shows that the system’s performance scales more with GPU settings than with CPU load. At 1080p Low, the average frame rate is 78 FPS, which is the highest recorded. This suggests that the CPU can easily feed the GPU at lower resolutions, and the frame rate is not being held back by processor limitations.

The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 85th percentile, and its nearest rivals are all within a 0.2% margin. For instance, the Intel Core i7-12700K scores an average of 35287, which is a 0.2% delta from this chip. This confirms that the 12700KF’s performance is representative of a high-end desktop processor from its generation, and it will not be the source of any performance issues in this game.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage) and fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a consistent 2500 MHz base and boost clock. With 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, the card delivers a theoretical FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS. It also includes 18 ray tracing cores, though The Medium’s use of ray tracing is not detailed in the data.

This GPU is clearly the bottleneck in this system. Its average benchmark score of 20556 places it in the 65th percentile, and it is nearly identical in performance to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750. The data shows that as resolution and settings increase, frame rates drop significantly, which is a direct consequence of the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute capabilities. The 10 GB VRAM buffer is adequate for the game, but the 160-bit bus width limits how quickly data can be moved, which is critical at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s performance is best demonstrated by the measured FPS. At 1080p Low, it achieves 78 FPS, but this falls to 35 FPS at High settings and 28 FPS at Ultra. This steep decline with increasing graphical fidelity indicates that the card struggles with the game’s heavier shader and texture workloads. The Arc B570’s DirectX 12 benchmark score of 72 (Passmark) suggests it is capable of handling modern APIs, but its raw power is insufficient for demanding titles at high presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo performs across different resolutions and settings. The game was tested at three resolutions (3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080) and four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). The results show a consistent pattern: performance scales inversely with resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. Low settings yield an average of 78 FPS, which is smooth and playable. Medium settings reduce this to 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 56 FPS, still a playable experience. High settings drop the average to 35 FPS, while Ultra settings fall to 28 FPS. This resolution is the only one where the Low preset achieves a frame rate above 60 FPS, making it the most viable option for high refresh rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings produce an average of 66 FPS, which is still smooth but shows a 15% decrease from 1080p. Medium settings average 41 FPS (min 35, max 47), which is borderline for a smooth experience. High settings drop to 29 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 23 FPS. The data indicates that 1440p is only suitable for Low or Medium settings if a consistent frame rate above 40 FPS is desired.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly out of its depth. Low settings average 52 FPS, which is surprising but still below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 32 FPS (min 27, max 37), High settings drop to 23 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 18 FPS. These frame rates are largely unplayable for a game that requires immersion, as they are below the standard for smooth motion. The GPU’s limitations are most evident here, as the 380 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for 4K textures.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in The Medium?*

A: No. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all processors, and its benchmark scores are nearly identical to rivals like the Intel Core i7-13700T. The frame rate data shows that performance drops significantly with higher GPU settings, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: According to the data, 1920x1080 is the most suitable resolution. It is the only resolution where the Low preset achieves an average of 78 FPS, and even Medium settings provide a 49 FPS average, which is more playable than any result at 1440p or 4K.

*Q: Can this system run The Medium at 4K?*

A: Technically, yes, but the playability is poor. At 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate is 52 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 32 FPS on Medium and 18 FPS on Ultra. These results are below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B570’s average benchmark score is 20556, which is within 0.5% of its closest rivals. It is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750. This indicates they are effectively equal in performance.

Q: What is the impact of switching from Low to Medium settings at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate drops from 78 FPS on Low to 49 FPS on Medium, a decrease of 37%. The minimum frame rate on Medium is 41 FPS, which could cause noticeable stutter in a horror game where smoothness is important.

Q: Does the CPU’s 20-thread count matter for this game?

A: The data suggests it has a minimal impact on the final frame rate, as the GPU is the bottleneck. However, the processor’s high single-thread score of 2255 (Geekbench) ensures that the game’s main logic thread is handled efficiently, preventing CPU-related stutters.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s resolution and frame rate priorities. For a consistently smooth experience, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the only configuration that delivers an average above 60 FPS (78 FPS). This is the recommended choice for players with 60Hz or higher refresh rate monitors who want to avoid any frame drops.

If a higher visual fidelity is desired, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides a playable 49 FPS average, with a minimum of 41 FPS. This is a balanced choice, offering better graphics while maintaining a frame rate that is mostly smooth, though it may dip in intense scenes. This is the best compromise between image quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only viable option, yielding 66 FPS. While this is playable, the visual quality is reduced. The Medium preset at 1440p (41 FPS) is borderline and may cause discomfort due to frame pacing issues. For 4K, the data shows that even the Low preset (52 FPS) struggles, and the Medium preset is too slow at 32 FPS. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid 4K with this combo unless the user is willing to accept a sub-60 FPS experience on Low settings.

In summary, the data supports using 1080p with Low or Medium settings as the primary configuration. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it yields frame rates below 30 FPS even at 1080p, which is not suitable for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and timing. The best experience per the measured rows is achieved by prioritizing frame rate over graphical fidelity.