The Medium

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination delivers a specific performance profile in The Medium, characterized by a strong CPU foundation paired with a mid-range GPU that becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The data shows a 20-core, 28-thread processor with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, placing it in the 94th percentile against all tested CPUs. This processing power is substantial, with Cinebench R23 multi-core scores reaching 44,167 and single-core at 6,235, indicating that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this horror title. The GPU, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with 1,792 shading units, operates with a game clock of 2400 MHz and a boost clock of 2990 MHz, but its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is a critical detail for The Medium, which is known for its dual-reality rendering that can be memory-intensive.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Core i7-14700KF provides ample headroom for The Medium’s CPU demands. With 20 cores and 28 threads, the processor can handle the game’s background streaming and logic without breaking a sweat. The benchmark results confirm this: the processor’s PassMark multithread score of 52,425 and Geekbench multi-core score of 21,462 show significant parallel processing capability. In the context of this game, the CPU’s performance is far above what is required, as evidenced by the fact that frame rates scale almost exclusively with resolution and GPU settings rather than showing any CPU-bound stutter or inconsistency. The boost clock of 5.60 GHz is particularly relevant for single-threaded tasks, and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,235 suggests that even the game’s main thread, which often handles physics and AI, is well-served. The processor’s 33 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with data locality, reducing latency in scenarios where the game needs to rapidly access asset data.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700KF holds a slight edge. Against the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, it is 0.2% faster in average benchmark score, while it is 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0.9% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. However, it trails the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1%. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, especially in a title like The Medium where the GPU typically becomes the bottleneck. The data suggests that the CPU’s role here is to provide a stable, high-frequency platform that never dips below the GPU’s output. For instance, at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 101 FPS, a figure that would be impossible if the CPU were struggling to feed the GPU. The CPU’s 125 W TDP and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory mean it is a flexible choice, though the benchmark data does not differentiate between memory types.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the determining factor in this combination’s performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is the most likely point of contention in The Medium, which uses a fixed camera angle and often renders two worlds simultaneously. The GPU’s 128-bit memory bus and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are modest by modern standards, and the benchmark results show a clear pattern: as resolution increases, frame rates drop significantly, suggesting that the GPU is struggling to manage memory bandwidth and capacity. The GPU’s boost clock of 2990 MHz is high, but the shading unit count of 1,792 is relatively low, resulting in an FP32 performance of 21.43 TFLOPS. This places the GPU in the 59th percentile against all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16,014. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, scores 0.7% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is 1% slower.

In The Medium, the GPU’s limitations become apparent at 4K. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 30, which is playable but not smooth. Dropping to Ultra settings at the same resolution yields an average of 24 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is likely a limiting factor here, as the game’s high-resolution textures and dual-reality rendering can exceed this capacity, leading to stuttering or reduced frame rates. The data shows that at Low settings, the 4K average jumps to 67 FPS, indicating that the GPU is capable of high output when memory pressure is reduced. The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 112 TMUs also play a role in pixel and texture throughput, with a pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s, which are sufficient for 1080p but stretched at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF a bottleneck for the AMD Radeon RX 9060 in The Medium?

A: No. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as 44,167 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,235 in single-core, are far higher than what the game requires. The frame rates scale with GPU settings and resolution, indicating the GPU is the primary limiter.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a playable frame rate?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the combo achieves 63 FPS, while at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, it drops to 53 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, 1080p is the safer choice, as 1440p requires Low settings to hit 85 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score that is 0.7% higher than the RX 9060. In practical terms, this means the two GPUs are nearly identical in raw performance, though the Radeon’s 8 GB VRAM may be a disadvantage in memory-heavy scenes.

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

A: At 4K, the combo only achieves 30 FPS on High settings and 24 FPS on Ultra, which are below the generally accepted 60 FPS target. At Low settings, it reaches 67 FPS, but this requires significant graphical compromises.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking compared to all tested CPUs?

A: The Core i7-14700KF is in the 94th percentile, meaning it outperforms 94% of CPUs in the benchmark database. This places it in the high-end tier for processing power.

Q: Does the GPU’s memory bandwidth affect performance in this game?

A: Yes. The 288.0 GB/s bandwidth on a 128-bit bus is a likely factor in the performance drop from 1080p to 4K, as the game’s dual-reality rendering increases memory access pressure at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1,648 out of 2,911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all combinations, meaning it is slightly below the median in terms of overall performance. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU’s mid-range status, as the CPU’s high percentile (94th) is offset by the GPU’s lower percentile (59th). When considering the combo rank, it is important to note that this is a pairing of a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU, which likely results in a balanced system for most games but is not optimized for maximum frame rates in The Medium. The combo’s rank of 1,648 suggests that there are 1,647 combinations that perform better, many of which likely pair the same CPU with a more powerful GPU. The data indicates that the RX 9060 is the limiting factor, as upgrading the GPU would yield a significantly higher rank, while upgrading the CPU would provide diminishing returns given the current GPU’s performance ceiling.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 101 FPS on Low settings, 63 FPS on Medium, 45 FPS on High, and 36 FPS on Ultra. The Medium settings show a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS, indicating some variance but generally stable performance. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 85 on Low, 53 on Medium, 38 on High, and 30 on Ultra. The Medium settings at this resolution have a min of 45 FPS and a max of 61 FPS. At 3840x2160, the averages are 67 FPS on Low, 42 FPS on Medium, 30 FPS on High, and 24 FPS on Ultra. The Medium settings at 4K have a min of 35 FPS and a max of 48 FPS. These numbers show a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution reduces the average FPS by roughly 20-30%, while each step up in settings reduces it by a similar margin. The gap between Low and Ultra is significant, with Ultra being roughly 65% slower than Low at 1080p, 65% slower at 1440p, and 64% slower at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s preference for visual fidelity versus frame rate. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, the 1080p Low preset is the only reliable option, achieving 101 FPS. However, this sacrifices visual quality significantly. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a better balance, with 63 FPS average and a minimum of 53 FPS, which is playable for most users. At 1440p, the Medium preset yields 53 FPS, which is acceptable but may feel slightly less smooth, while the Low preset hits 85 FPS. For users with high refresh rate monitors, 1080p Medium is the recommended choice, as it provides a good visual experience while maintaining a frame rate that is above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, the only playable option is Low, which achieves 67 FPS, but this resolution is generally not recommended for this combo given the GPU’s memory constraints. The Ultra preset is not advisable at any resolution, as it drops below 36 FPS even at 1080p, which is likely to cause noticeable stuttering in a horror game where smooth camera movement is important. The High preset is a middle ground, but its 45 FPS at 1080p and 30 FPS at 4K suggest it is best avoided unless the user accepts a lower frame rate for higher quality shadows and textures.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and expected pattern of frame rate reduction as resolution increases. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 16% on Low settings (101 to 85), 16% on Medium (63 to 53), 16% on High (45 to 38), and 17% on Ultra (36 to 30). From 1440p to 4K, the drops become more severe: 21% on Low (85 to 67), 21% on Medium (53 to 42), 21% on High (38 to 30), and 20% on Ultra (30 to 24). The consistent percentage drops across all settings suggest that the scaling is primarily due to the GPU’s rendering load, not a sudden bottleneck in another component. However, the absolute numbers reveal the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the 101 FPS indicates the CPU can feed the GPU adequately, but the GPU’s performance ceiling is reached as resolution increases. The fact that the GPU’s memory bandwidth (288.0 GB/s) and bus width (128-bit) are relatively low for a modern card suggests that the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The CPU’s high single-thread performance (6,235 in Cinebench R23) means it is not holding back the system, even at 1080p where CPU load is typically higher. Therefore, the resolution scaling behavior indicates that the RX 9060 is the limiting factor, and users seeking better 1440p or 4K performance would need to consider a GPU with more memory bandwidth and capacity.