The Medium

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers a highly capable, though not flawless, experience in The Medium. The data indicates that this combination is firmly in the upper echelon of tested hardware, with the CPU’s substantial core count and the GPU’s modern architecture providing the necessary headroom for this horror title. The benchmark results show that the primary challenge for this combo is managing the game’s demanding visual effects at higher resolutions, where the GPU becomes the clear focal point of performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and can boost up to 5.60 GHz, which provides a strong foundation for both gaming and background tasks. In the context of The Medium, a game that relies heavily on its fixed-camera perspectives and complex scene rendering, the CPU’s role is to ensure that the game logic, physics, and draw calls are processed without introducing a bottleneck. The processor’s large 33 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L2 cache are beneficial for maintaining high frame rates, especially in scenes with many interactive elements.

While the game’s performance is heavily dictated by the GPU, the i7-14700KF’s robust multi-threading capabilities prevent it from being the limiting factor in most scenarios. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU load is reduced, the system achieves an average of 149 FPS. This high frame rate at a CPU-bound setting suggests that the processor is more than capable of feeding the GPU with data, even at low resolutions. The CPU’s performance is further contextualized by its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, which place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates that the processor has the raw computational power to handle the game’s most complex logical operations without significant frame time spikes.

However, the data also suggests that the CPU is not the primary driver of performance in this title. When comparing the frame rates across resolutions, the scaling pattern points towards the GPU being the constraining factor at higher settings. The i7-14700KF’s high single-thread performance is sufficient to handle the game’s rendering pipeline, but the sheer volume of pixels and visual effects at 4K will always task the GPU first. In this sense, the CPU provides a stable and powerful platform, ensuring that the GPU can operate at its full potential without being starved for data.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal balance between visual fidelity and smooth gameplay for this combo is found at the Medium preset. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset yields an average of 93 FPS, which is a significant improvement over the High preset’s 67 FPS and the Ultra preset’s 53 FPS. The Medium preset maintains a high level of visual quality while providing a frame rate that is well above the threshold for a smooth experience. The data shows that this setting also provides a consistent frame pacing, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS, indicating minimal stutter.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset is again the recommended choice. The average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 79 FPS, which is a substantial drop from the 1080p result but still offers a playable and responsive experience. The High preset at this resolution drops to an average of 56 FPS, which may be acceptable for some, but the Medium preset’s higher frame rate and better minimum FPS (67 FPS) make it the safer option for maintaining a consistent feel. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 45 FPS, is not recommended for fast-paced gameplay.

At 4K (3840x2160), the Medium preset is the only viable option for a consistently smooth experience, delivering an average of 62 FPS. The High preset falls to 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to an untenable 35 FPS. While the Low preset can achieve 99 FPS at 4K, it does so at a significant cost to visual quality, which detracts from the game’s atmospheric horror elements. Therefore, the Medium preset offers the best compromise, providing a stable 60 FPS experience at 4K while retaining a substantial portion of the game’s graphical features. The data suggests that this preset is the intended sweet spot for this hardware configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear pattern of GPU limitation. At 1080p with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 93 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the average drops to 79 FPS, a reduction of approximately 15%. At 4K, the average falls to 62 FPS, a further 21% reduction from the 1440p result. This progressive decline in performance as resolution increases is a classic indicator that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, which directly impacts the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth.

The data for the Low preset shows a similar, though less steep, scaling. At 1080p Low, the system hits 149 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 126 FPS, and at 4K Low, it still manages a very playable 99 FPS. This pattern suggests that even when the graphical effects are minimized, the GPU is still the primary bottleneck, as the difference between 1080p and 4K is about 34% for this preset. The fact that the CPU-bound 1080p Low result is so high means that the CPU is not the issue, and the GPU’s performance dictates the upper limits of the frame rate.

This behavior points to the RX 9070 XT being the limiting component in this pairing. The CPU’s performance headroom is evident, as it can push the game to nearly 150 FPS at 1080p Low, but the GPU cannot maintain that pace when the resolution increases. The performance curve also indicates that the game is heavily reliant on pixel shading and memory bandwidth, which are the GPU’s core functions. The 16 GB of VRAM and 644.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth on the RX 9070 XT are sufficient for the game’s assets, but the raw compute power required to render at higher resolutions is what causes the frame rate to drop.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT combination is ranked 857th out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places the combo in the top 23% of all configurations tested, which is a strong showing given the large number of potential hardware pairings. The rank indicates that this system is well-suited for the game, outperforming the majority of other setups, but it is not at the absolute top tier of performance.

The CPU’s individual standing, being in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, suggests that the processor is not a weak link in this combo. Its performance is significantly higher than the average CPU, which helps the overall ranking. However, the GPU’s percentile ranking is much lower, at 55th. This disparity suggests that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the GPU is only average in the grand scheme of all GPUs. This means that the combo’s ranking is likely pulled down by the GPU’s more modest performance relative to other high-end graphics cards.

This combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-range GPU creates a system that is well-balanced for gaming at 1440p and entry-level 4K. The high CPU performance ensures that the system will not become obsolete quickly, while the GPU provides adequate performance for current titles. The combo’s rank of 857 out of 3724 reflects its overall capability, but it also highlights that there is significant headroom for improvement if a more powerful GPU were to be paired with the i7-14700KF.

FAQ

Q: What is the best setting to use at 4K resolution for a smooth experience?

A: The Medium preset is the best choice, as it is the only preset that provides a near-60 FPS average (62 FPS) at 3840x2160. Higher presets drop below 45 FPS, while the Low preset, though faster, sacrifices too much visual quality.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU more likely to limit performance in this game?

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The system achieves 149 FPS at 1080p Low, suggesting the CPU is not a bottleneck. As resolution increases, the frame rate drops significantly, which is a direct result of the GPU’s rendering workload.

Q: How does the system perform at 1440p with High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 56 FPS. This is playable but not ideal. For a more consistent frame rate, the Medium preset is recommended, which averages 79 FPS.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in the game?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 149 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset. This indicates the upper performance limit of the combination.

Q: Does the CPU’s multi-core performance matter for this game?

A: While the game benefits from a capable CPU, the high frame rates at 1080p Low show that the i7-14700KF’s single-core performance is sufficient. Its multi-core strength, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 score of 44167, ensures stable performance even with background tasks running.

Q: How does the combo’s overall ranking compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 857th out of 3724 tested combos, placing it in the top 23%. This is a strong result, indicating the system is well-matched for the game’s requirements, though not at the very top of the performance charts.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system shows a wide range of performance across presets. With Low settings, the average FPS is 149, which is the highest recorded for this combo. The Medium preset delivers an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 107. The High preset averages 67 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 53 FPS. This scaling shows that the game is highly sensitive to graphical settings at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. The Low preset still provides a very high average of 126 FPS. The Medium preset averages 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 and a maximum of 90, which is a smooth experience. The High preset drops to an average of 56 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 45 FPS. The step from Medium to High is a 29% reduction in frame rate, highlighting the cost of the higher-quality effects.

At 3840x2160, the performance demands are at their highest. The Low preset manages an average of 99 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 71, making it the only preset that consistently hits near 60 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages only 35 FPS. The difference between Medium and Ultra at this resolution is a 44% performance drop, making Ultra impractical for this hardware.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and features the Navi 48 chip. It has 4096 shading units, 256 texture mapping units, and 128 render output units, which provide the raw compute power for rendering. The GPU operates with a boost clock of 2970 MHz and a game clock of 2400 MHz, and it is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. This configuration is well-suited for The Medium’s detailed environments and lighting effects.

The GPU’s performance in this game is directly tied to its ability to process the high-resolution textures and complex shaders. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the GPU is overwhelmed, delivering only 35 FPS. This is a result of the GPU reaching its limits in terms of pixel fill rate and shader throughput. The 380.2 GPixel/s pixel rate and 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are substantial, but the game’s visual demands at Ultra settings exceed what this GPU can sustain at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 26795, place it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. This indicates that while it is a capable card, it is not at the top tier of performance. The nearest rivals in the benchmark database, such as the AMD Radeon HD 7770M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, have similar average scores, but the RX 9070 XT’s modern architecture and larger memory pool give it an advantage in newer games like The Medium. The GPU’s performance is the primary determinant of the combo’s overall ranking, as the CPU provides ample headroom that the GPU cannot fully utilize at higher settings.