The Medium

The Medium presents an interesting stress profile for the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is clearly capable of high refresh rates at lower resolutions, yet shows a significant performance ceiling when pushed to 4K with maximum settings. The data indicates that this pairing behaves differently depending on the target resolution, suggesting a shift in bottleneck behavior that is worth examining closely.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario emerging at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo produces 70.4 FPS on average, while at 1440p that figure falls to 54.7 FPS, and at 4K it drops further to 48 FPS. This represents a roughly 32% decrease from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings. The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at Medium settings, where the frame rate falls from 120.5 FPS at 1080p to 98.6 FPS at 1440p, and then to 80.4 FPS at 4K — a 33% drop across the full resolution range.

However, the most telling data comes from the Low settings tier. Here, the RTX 4080 SUPER manages 186.7 FPS at 1080p, 162.1 FPS at 1440p, and 123.6 FPS at 4K. The fact that 4K Low still produces over 123 FPS indicates that the GPU has massive headroom when graphical load is reduced. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings shows only a 34% performance loss, which is far less than what would be expected if the GPU were the sole limiting factor at all settings levels. This suggests that at lower settings, the CPU becomes more relevant, and the i7-14700K's strong single-thread performance helps maintain high frame rates even at 4K.

The data implies that The Medium is not purely GPU-bound. At Ultra settings, the 4K frame rate of 48 FPS is barely above the 1440p figure of 54.7 FPS, showing a mere 12% decrease. This unusual pattern indicates that the game's Ultra preset introduces settings that are disproportionately heavy on the GPU, likely related to ray tracing or other advanced effects, causing the GPU to become the bottleneck earlier than expected. The RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 736.3 GB/s bandwidth are clearly sufficient, yet the 4K Ultra result of 48 FPS suggests the game demands more than even this high-end card can deliver at those settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K brings 20 cores and 28 threads to the table, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This processor sits in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, with benchmark scores showing strong multi-threaded performance (44,534 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) and excellent single-thread capability (6,287 in Cinebench R23 single-core). For a game like The Medium, which is a horror title with fixed camera angles and relatively static scenes, the CPU's role is primarily to maintain consistent frame pacing and handle the game's logic and streaming.

The measured results show that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at any resolution. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 186.7 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that would stress most CPUs. The fact that the i7-14700K can sustain this level indicates that its single-thread performance is more than adequate for the game's engine. The processor's 5.60 GHz boost clock is likely the key factor here, as The Medium appears to be sensitive to single-thread performance rather than raw core count.

However, the data also shows that the CPU's influence diminishes as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 48 FPS, which is clearly GPU-limited. The 20 cores and 28 threads of the i7-14700K are far more than The Medium requires, as the game was released in 2021 and does not demonstrate massive multi-threaded scaling. The processor's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-14700KF, which scores essentially identically (0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, which is only 0.5% faster in average benchmark scores. This suggests that the i7-14700K's performance is well-matched to the RTX 4080 SUPER for this title, neither holding it back nor being wasted.

FAQ

Q: Why does the frame rate only drop by 12% from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: The 4K Ultra result of 48 FPS versus 54.7 FPS at 1440p Ultra indicates that the game's Ultra preset at 4K is heavily GPU-bound. The RTX 4080 SUPER hits a performance ceiling that is only slightly lower at 4K, suggesting that the Ultra settings include effects that are disproportionately expensive at higher resolutions, likely related to the game's fixed-camera horror presentation and its use of detailed textures.

Q: Is the CPU holding back performance at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 186.7 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. The Intel Core i7-14700K's 5.60 GHz boost clock and strong single-thread performance (6,287 in Cinebench R23 single-core) are sufficient to keep up with the GPU at this level. The data does not show the CPU becoming a limiting factor at any measured setting.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER's average benchmark score is 53,610, which puts it 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M. It is 2.1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 7700S and 2.9% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. These small deltas suggest that the RTX 4080 SUPER is positioned at the top of its performance tier in this database.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo if targeting 60 FPS?

A: At High settings, the system achieves 58.7 FPS at 4K, which is just below 60 FPS. At 1440p High, it reaches 70.9 FPS, and at 1080p High, 88 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS experience, 4K High is borderline, while 1440p High offers comfortable headroom.

Q: Why is the 4K Low frame rate (123.6 FPS) still very high?

A: The Low preset at 4K reduces the GPU load significantly, allowing the RTX 4080 SUPER to render frames much faster. The 16 GB of VRAM and 736.3 GB/s memory bandwidth are more than sufficient for lower-quality textures, and the GPU's 2550 MHz boost clock can run at higher utilization when rendering less complex scenes.

Q: Does the i7-14700K's 33 MB of L3 cache matter for this game?

A: The 33 MB shared L3 cache is a significant amount, and the processor's 80 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per-core caches help with memory latency. For a linear horror game like The Medium, the cache hierarchy contributes to consistent frame times, though the game's performance is more clearly tied to GPU capabilities at higher settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination ranks 60th out of 1,689 tested combos for The Medium. This places it in the top 3.6% of all configurations tested, which is a strong showing given the game's specific requirements. The rank reflects that this pairing is well-above average, but it also indicates that there are 59 other combos that achieve higher frame rates in this title.

The ranking is interesting when considering the individual components. The i7-14700K sits in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, and the RTX 4080 SUPER is in the 88th percentile among all GPUs. The fact that the combo ranks at 60 out of 1,689 suggests that the GPU's percentile is the limiting factor for the overall ranking. Other combos likely feature GPUs that are in higher percentiles, such as the RTX 5070 Ti, which is only 2.9% slower in average benchmark score but may have different characteristics in this specific game.

The data implies that this combo is optimized for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p, where it achieves 70.9 FPS at High settings and 98.6 FPS at Medium. At 4K, the combo is still capable, but the 48 FPS at Ultra settings is below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer. The rank of 60 suggests that for a user prioritizing 4K Ultra performance, there may be better-suited configurations, but for a balance of resolutions and settings, this combo is highly competitive.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo produces its highest frame rates. Low settings yield 186.7 FPS on average, while Medium settings drop to 120.5 FPS. High settings produce 88 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the frame rate down to 70.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 62% performance reduction, which is substantial but still leaves the system well above 60 FPS at all settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease predictably. Low settings average 162.1 FPS, Medium settings average 98.6 FPS, High settings average 70.9 FPS, and Ultra settings average 54.7 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 13-18% depending on settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel count. At 1440p Ultra, the frame rate falls below 60 FPS, indicating that this is the first resolution where the GPU becomes a limiting factor for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the performance continues to decline. Low settings still manage 123.6 FPS, which is impressive, but Medium settings drop to 80.4 FPS. High settings average 58.7 FPS, just shy of 60 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 48 FPS. The 4K results show a clear pattern: the RTX 4080 SUPER can handle 4K gaming, but Ultra settings are too demanding for a locked 60 FPS experience. The gap between 4K Medium (80.4 FPS) and 4K High (58.7 FPS) is 27%, indicating that the High preset includes a significant performance cost.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and frame rate. At 1080p, all settings produce playable frame rates, with Ultra at 70.4 FPS being the best visual quality option that still maintains a smooth experience. Players with high refresh rate monitors can take advantage of Medium settings at 120.5 FPS or Low at 186.7 FPS for maximum smoothness.

For 1440p, High settings at 70.9 FPS offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. Ultra settings at 54.7 FPS are borderline, and players may notice stutter in fast-moving scenes. Medium at 98.6 FPS provides a substantial performance buffer while still looking good. The data suggests that 1440p High is the sweet spot for this combo, delivering a solid 70+ FPS experience.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. High settings at 58.7 FPS are close to 60 FPS but not locked, which could result in noticeable frame pacing issues. Medium settings at 80.4 FPS offer a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and would be the recommended choice for 4K gaming. Ultra at 48 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as it falls well below the 60 FPS target. The 4K Low setting at 123.6 FPS is technically playable but sacrifices too much visual quality for most users.

For the best overall experience, the data points to 1440p High as the ideal configuration. It provides 70.9 FPS average, which is above 60 FPS, and the High preset preserves the game's atmosphere and detail. If 4K is a priority, Medium settings at 80.4 FPS are the most sensible choice, as they stay comfortably above 60 FPS while maintaining a respectable level of visual quality.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary driver of performance in The Medium at higher resolutions. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit memory bus delivering 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth, the card has ample resources for the game's detailed environments. The 10240 shading units and 80 RT cores provide substantial compute capability, as evidenced by the passmark G3D score of 34,245 and the 52.22 TFLOPS FP32 performance.

The GPU's role becomes apparent when examining the frame rate scaling across settings. At 4K, the difference between Low (123.6 FPS) and Ultra (48 FPS) is a 61% reduction, which is entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The High setting at 58.7 FPS shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER is right at the edge of delivering 4K 60 FPS, but the Ultra preset's additional effects push it below that threshold.

The RTX 4080 SUPER's 2550 MHz boost clock and 45,900 million transistors on a 5 nm process allow it to handle the game's fixed-camera horror presentation efficiently. The card's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, scores only 0.2% lower in average benchmark scores, indicating that these GPUs are closely matched. At 4K Ultra, the 48 FPS result suggests that the game's Ultra settings include features that are particularly demanding on the GPU's ray tracing capabilities, even though The Medium is not primarily an RT-heavy title. The 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end card, but the game's 4K Ultra requirements appear to exceed what this generation of hardware can comfortably deliver.