The Medium

The Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti combination delivers a highly capable experience in The Medium, with benchmark data showing that performance scales predictably with both resolution and graphical presets. The measured results place this specific hardware pairing at rank 160 out of 1689 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top percentile of systems. The data indicates a configuration that can handle the game’s fixed-camera horror presentation with high frame rates, though the heavier presets at 4K will test its limits.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. While The Medium is not typically a title that stresses many threads, the CPU’s single-thread performance is strong, as evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and its Cinebench R23 single-core result of 5505 points. The processor’s multi-core capabilities are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39000 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 17731, but these are unlikely to be the primary drivers of frame rates in this specific title.

The benchmark data for this CPU places it at the 93rd percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 47282. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core i7-13700K is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-13700KF, which posts an average score of 47334, a negligible delta of -0.1%. It also shows a slight edge over the AMD EPYC 4364P, which scores 47131, and the Intel Core i9-12900F, which scores 47081, with deltas of 0.3% and 0.4% respectively. The gap to the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is similarly small, with that chip scoring 47527 and a delta of -0.5%. These figures suggest that the processor is not a bottleneck in this configuration; its performance headroom is ample for the game’s demands, which relies more on the GPU for rendering the dual-reality scenes.

In practical terms, the high boost clock of 5.40 GHz helps ensure that the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently, preventing frame drops in scenes with complex scripting or AI. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache also aids in maintaining smooth data flow. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 10717 and the max-thread score of 12412 indicate that even when the game does utilize multiple threads, the chip has sufficient capacity. However, the benchmark results show that the CPU’s single-thread performance, with a PassMark single-thread score of 4333, is more than adequate for this title, meaning the measured FPS figures are primarily reflective of GPU capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the clear workhorse in this pairing. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a base clock of 2310 MHz and a boost clock of 2610 MHz. Its 7680 shading units and 60 RT cores are well-suited for the game’s use of volumetric lighting and fixed-camera angles, which can be demanding on fill rate. The GPU’s pixel rate is 208.8 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 626.4 GTexel/s, which directly impacts how quickly the game can render its detailed environments.

The RTX 4070 Ti sits at the 85th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 44900. Its nearest rivals show it is competitive with mobile and workstation parts; it trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile by a small margin, which scores 45152, a delta of -0.6%. It also lags behind the Intel Arc A730M, which scores 45592, though that delta is -1.5%. Conversely, it outperforms the AMD Radeon Pro 580, which scores 44195, by 1.6%, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, which scores 45642, by -1.6%. These comparisons indicate that while the 4070 Ti is not the absolute fastest GPU on the market, its performance is consistent and strong for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and entry-level 4K.

In The Medium, the GPU’s 12 GB of VRAM is a critical factor. The game’s high-resolution textures and dual-world rendering can consume significant memory, and the data shows that the GPU handles this without issue, as frame rates remain playable across most settings. The boost clock of 2610 MHz ensures that the GPU can push high frame rates at lower resolutions, while the memory bandwidth becomes more important as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the system achieves an average of 81 FPS. Moving to 1440p at High settings, the frame rate drops to 64 FPS, a reduction of approximately 21%. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS falls to 52.8, a further drop of about 17.5% from the 1440p figure. This scaling indicates that the system is becoming more GPU-bound as resolution increases, which is expected given the fixed CPU performance.

The pattern is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. At 1080p, the average is 61.6 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 51.2 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 43.7 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is roughly 29%, showing that the GPU is the limiting factor at this quality level. Conversely, at the Low preset, the system shows impressive headroom: 177.5 FPS at 1080p, 145.9 FPS at 1440p, and 117.7 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low performance is particularly telling, as it demonstrates that the CPU and GPU combination can still deliver high frame rates when the graphical load is reduced, confirming that the bottleneck shifts to the GPU only when settings are increased.

This scaling suggests that for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, 1080p or 1440p with lower settings is ideal, while 4K is reserved for High or Medium presets to maintain smoothness. The data shows that the system is well-balanced, with no single component causing a severe bottleneck at any tested configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for achieving over 60 FPS at High settings?

A: At 1440p with High settings, the system averages 64 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K with High settings, the average drops to 52.8 FPS, so 1440p is the highest resolution that maintains 60+ FPS at this preset.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 177.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 61.6 FPS. This represents a significant performance gap of approximately 65% between the two extremes.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 70, which is smooth. At 4K with High settings, it drops to 52.8 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced scenes. The Ultra preset at 4K yields 43.7 FPS, which may feel less fluid.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game’s performance?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 177.5 FPS, showing the CPU is not a bottleneck. As resolution and settings increase, frame rates drop, which is characteristic of GPU-limited performance.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Core i7-13700KF?

A: The Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282, which is nearly identical to the Core i7-13700KF’s score of 47334, a delta of only -0.1%. In practical terms, there is no meaningful performance difference between the two.

Q: What is the impact of the GPU’s 12 GB of VRAM on the game?

A: The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the tested presets. The fact that the system can run 4K Ultra at 43.7 FPS without dipping below playable levels suggests that memory capacity is not causing a hard limit, though the lower frame rates at Ultra are more attributable to the GPU’s compute power.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data is derived directly from measured benchmarks for this specific hardware configuration.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average 177.5 FPS.
• Medium: Average 112.3 FPS.
• High: Average 81 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 61.6 FPS.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average 145.9 FPS.
• Medium: Average 89.7 FPS.
• High: Average 64 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 51.2 FPS.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average 117.7 FPS.
• Medium: Average 70 FPS.
• High: Average 52.8 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 43.7 FPS.

The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions. The Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 100 FPS at all resolutions, including 4K. The Medium preset offers a good balance, with 112.3 FPS at 1080p, 89.7 FPS at 1440p, and 70 FPS at 4K. The High preset is the most demanding setting that still provides a playable experience at 1440p, with 64 FPS, but falls below the 60 FPS mark at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most taxing, with only 61.6 FPS at 1080p and 43.7 FPS at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal preset depends on the user’s target resolution and frame rate preference. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 81 FPS offers a strong balance of visual quality and smoothness, while the Ultra preset at 61.6 FPS is still playable but with diminishing returns in visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 112.3 FPS is the best choice for high-refresh-rate monitors, providing a fluid experience without sacrificing too much graphical detail.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it delivers 64 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 89.7 FPS is also excellent, offering even higher frame rates for competitive play. The Ultra preset at 51.2 FPS is below the ideal threshold, so it is best avoided unless the user prioritizes maximum visual quality over performance.

For 4K, the Medium preset is the best overall experience, providing 70 FPS, which is smooth and playable. The High preset at 52.8 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced sections of the game, but it may feel less responsive in action sequences. The Low preset at 117.7 FPS is viable for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 43.7 FPS is not recommended for 4K, as the frame rate is too low for a comfortable experience.

In summary, the data suggests that this system is best utilized at 1440p with High settings for a balanced experience, or at 1080p with High or Medium settings for higher frame rates. The 4K Medium preset is the only 4K option that consistently stays above 60 FPS, making it the default choice for 4K displays.