The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title from 2021, presents a unique stress profile that differs significantly from typical action games. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600, using the benchmark data to understand how this combination handles the game’s dual-reality rendering demands.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific configuration at rank 1136 out of 1689 tested combinations for The Medium. This places the combo in the lower third of all tested systems, indicating that while it can run the game, it does not deliver top-tier performance. The ranking is a direct consequence of the component balance; the CPU is a high-end part, but the GPU’s capabilities limit the overall result in this particular title.

To contextualize the CPU’s role, the Intel Core i7-14700K holds a percentile ranking of 96 against all CPUs, demonstrating that its processing power is not the bottleneck. Its average benchmark score is 70074, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-14700KF at 70104, showing a negligible 0% performance difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X scores 70420, placing it 0.5% ahead, while the AMD EPYC 9115 trails at 69887, a 0.3% deficit. These figures indicate the CPU is performing at the expected high level.

Conversely, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 holds a percentile ranking of 63 against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20258. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, scores 20146, placing the RX 7600 just 0.6% ahead. The data suggests the GPU is the constraining factor in this pairing for The Medium. The combo’s low rank, relative to the CPU’s high percentile, confirms that the graphics card is holding the system back from achieving higher frame rates in this specific game.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 33 chip. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a critical factor for The Medium, a game known for rendering two simultaneous worlds. The 8 GB capacity is sufficient for the game’s assets, but the 128-bit bus can limit performance at higher resolutions where data throughput demands increase.

Clock speeds are substantial for this GPU class. The base clock is 1720 MHz, with a game clock of 2250 MHz and a boost clock of 2655 MHz. The memory operates at 2250 MHz, translating to 18 Gbps effective. These clocks allow the card to reach a pixel rate of 169.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 339.8 GTexel/s, with an FP32 throughput of 21.75 TFLOPS. In practice, these specifications define the card’s raw capability.

The benchmark results show that the GPU’s performance scales predictably with workload. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 2310, while its Passmark G3D score is 16634. These synthetic tests confirm the card’s mid-range positioning. For The Medium, the GPU’s role becomes apparent in the frame rate differences across settings. At 1080p Low, the card achieves 93.9 FPS, but this drops to 31.1 FPS at Ultra, highlighting the significant performance cost of the game’s high-end visual effects on this specific GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the limiting component shifts as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary constraint, but the CPU’s strength ensures that frame rates remain playable at lower settings. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop from 93.9 FPS to 31.1 FPS. This steep decline indicates that the GPU’s compute units are saturated by the increased graphical load, particularly the game’s signature split-screen effect.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease further, with Low settings producing 80.2 FPS and Ultra dropping to 29.2 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings is 13.7 FPS, while at Ultra, the difference is only 1.9 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher settings suggests that the GPU is already near its limit at 1440p Ultra, and the additional resolution has a diminished relative impact because the graphical settings are the dominant load.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is severely taxed. The Medium at 4K Low yields 62.4 FPS, but this is an outlier; Medium settings drop to 37.3 FPS, High to 24.3 FPS, and Ultra to 19.8 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: the RX 7600 is not suited for 4K gaming in this title. The frame rate at 4K Low is still respectable, but any increase in visual fidelity pushes the card below the 30 FPS threshold for playability. This pattern confirms that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance does not degrade with resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following breakdown details the average frame rates recorded for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080: At Low settings, the combo achieves 93.9 FPS, providing a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings reduce this to 56.6 FPS, a 37.3 FPS drop, showing the cost of basic visual enhancements. High settings yield 43.9 FPS, which is still playable but begins to show strain. Ultra settings produce 31.1 FPS, which is marginally above the playability threshold but not ideal for a horror game requiring precise timing.

2560x1440: The performance at 1440p follows a similar pattern but at lower absolute values. Low settings deliver 80.2 FPS, a solid result for this resolution. Medium settings drop to 51.0 FPS, which is acceptable for a slower-paced horror title. High settings produce 37.7 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target but remains playable. Ultra settings fall to 29.2 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS threshold, making it difficult to recommend for a consistent experience.

3840x2160: At 4K, the GPU’s limitations are clearly exposed. Low settings are the only preset that achieves a playable frame rate at 62.4 FPS. Medium settings drop to 37.3 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. High settings produce 24.3 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 19.8 FPS, both of which are too low for a playable experience. The data indicates that 4K is only viable with the lowest graphical preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Medium?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the most viable, with all settings except Ultra achieving above 43.9 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium settings remain above 51.0 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Medium?

A: The benchmark results show that only Low settings at 3840x2160 produce a playable frame rate of 62.4 FPS. Medium settings drop to 37.3 FPS, while High and Ultra fall to 24.3 and 19.8 FPS, respectively, which are not recommended.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a bottleneck for the RX 7600 in this game?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 96th percentile overall, and its average benchmark score of 70074 is nearly identical to its closest rival, the i7-14700KF, which scores 70104. The GPU’s 63rd percentile ranking indicates it is the limiting factor.

Q: How does the RX 7600 compare to its closest rival, the RX 7600 XT?

A: The RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 20258, which is 0.6% higher than the RX 7600 XT’s score of 20146. This indicates they perform nearly identically in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 93.9 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 31.1 FPS. This represents a 62.8 FPS difference, showing the significant GPU load increase from high-end effects.

Q: Does the frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p suggest a CPU or GPU limit?

A: The drop indicates a GPU limit. The frame rate decrease from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, and at 4K, the performance falls below playable levels, confirming the graphics card is the primary constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is achieved at 1920x1080 with High settings, producing 43.9 FPS. This preset balances visual fidelity with performance, providing a playable frame rate that is suitable for the game’s atmospheric pacing. While Low settings offer a much higher 93.9 FPS, the visual downgrade may detract from the horror experience.

For users with 1440p monitors, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the highest quality option that maintains a playable frame rate of 51.0 FPS. High settings at this resolution drop to 37.7 FPS, which is still playable but may exhibit more noticeable frame pacing issues. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it consistently falls below 31.1 FPS, which compromises the game’s responsiveness.

At 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which yields 62.4 FPS. This setting sacrifices most visual details but allows the game to run smoothly. Given the game’s reliance on atmosphere and lighting, users with 4K displays may prefer to lower the resolution to 1440p to enable Medium or High settings, which will provide a more visually immersive experience compared to 4K Low. The data suggests that prioritizing resolution over settings is not beneficial for this GPU.