The Medium

The Medium is a horror title that relies on a dual-reality rendering technique, which places a heavy load on both the processor and the graphics card. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER, using measured FPS data to determine where the bottleneck lies and how the combo handles the game's demands across different resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its large L3 cache of 33 MB shared across the cores helps feed data to the GPU, which is critical in a game like The Medium that streams high-resolution textures for its two simultaneous worlds. The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 94th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 70163. This positions it as a high-end part capable of handling complex game logic and physics without becoming the primary constraint.

In The Medium, the CPU's role is significant because the game renders two perspectives at once during key story moments. This dual-scene rendering increases draw calls and object updates, which directly taxes the processor. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 101 FPS, indicating that the CPU can push high frame rates when the GPU is not overburdened. However, the CPU's power is not fully utilized in this pairing; the RTX 2070 SUPER is the limiting factor. The i7-14700KF’s single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6235, ensures that even the most demanding game threads have enough headroom. Compared to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score of 69996, which is 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has a score of 70879, which is 1% higher. These deltaPct values show the i7-14700KF is firmly in the same performance class, meaning it is not the source of any significant frame rate variation in this test.

The processor’s 20 cores and 28 threads are more than sufficient for The Medium, which is not known for heavy multi-threading. The data suggests the CPU is providing a stable foundation, as frame rates do not collapse even when the GPU struggles at higher resolutions. The key takeaway is that the i7-14700KF is a capable partner, but its full potential is masked by the GPU's limitations in this specific configuration.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and it features 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. The GPU's benchmark performance places it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20282. This is a mid-range position, and the card's 8 GB VRAM is a potential concern for a game like The Medium that uses high-resolution textures.

The GPU is the clear bottleneck in this combo. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 101 FPS, but this drops to 63 FPS at Medium settings and 45 FPS at High settings. This scaling shows that the RTX 2070 SUPER is being pushed harder as graphical fidelity increases. The GPU's VRAM capacity is also a factor; at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 24, which is unplayable, and even at High settings at 4K, it only manages 30 FPS. The card's 8 GB frame buffer is likely insufficient for the highest texture loads at 4K, causing performance to plummet. The GPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Arc A750 with an average score of 20582, which is 1.5% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile with a score of 20534, which is 1.2% higher. These small deltas indicate the RTX 2070 SUPER is competitive with these cards, but none of them are top-tier performers for modern titles.

The GPU's compute capabilities, such as a Passmark G3D score of 18169, are adequate for 1080p gaming but struggle at higher resolutions. The data shows that the GPU’s performance scaling is consistent with its hardware specifications; it is a solid 1080p card that can handle 1440p with adjustments, but it is not suitable for 4K gaming in demanding titles like The Medium.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which confirms the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p with Medium settings, the system averages 63 FPS, with minimum and maximum values of 54 and 72 FPS respectively. Moving to 1440p with the same settings, the average drops to 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61. At 4K with Medium settings, the average falls further to 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48. This shows a drop of 10 FPS from 1080p to 1440p and another 11 FPS from 1440p to 4K, indicating a steep decline as pixel count increases.

The pattern is similar across other settings. With High settings, the average FPS goes from 45 at 1080p to 38 at 1440p and 30 at 4K. With Low settings, the average goes from 101 at 1080p to 85 at 1440p and 67 at 4K. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly 33% across all settings, which is a significant reduction. This behavior is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU is capable of delivering the necessary data but the GPU cannot render the additional pixels fast enough. The i7-14700KF’s performance does not change with resolution, so the FPS variance is entirely attributable to the RTX 2070 SUPER. The data suggests that for a smooth experience, users should target 1080p or 1440p, as 4K is only playable at Low settings, where it achieves 67 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for The Medium, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 2162 out of 3724 combinations. This places it in the bottom half of all tested systems, which is surprising given the CPU's high performance. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU, which is a mid-range card from a previous generation. The CPU’s 94th percentile ranking does not help much when the GPU is in the 65th percentile, as the overall system performance is capped by the weakest link.

The rank of 2162 out of 3724 indicates that the combo is below average for The Medium. Many other tested combos feature more modern GPUs that can handle the game's demands better. The data shows that the i7-14700KF is overkill for the RTX 2070 SUPER in this context, as the GPU holds back the system's potential. If the CPU were paired with a stronger GPU, the combo would likely rank much higher. However, as it stands, this configuration is not ideal for achieving high frame rates in The Medium at higher settings. The combo's performance is consistent with its individual components' rankings, but the GPU's age and VRAM limitations are the primary reasons for its lower standing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is achieved at 1080p with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 63 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and the minimum FPS of 54 ensures that there are no severe stutters. At 1080p with High settings, the average drops to 45 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that requires quick reactions. The Medium is a slower-paced horror game, so 45 FPS is acceptable, but Medium settings provide a better balance of visual quality and performance.

For 1440p, the recommended setting is also Medium, which yields an average of 53 FPS. This is slightly below 60 FPS but still playable, with a minimum of 45 FPS. Low settings at 1440p achieve 85 FPS, which is very smooth, but the visual downgrade may not be worth it. At 4K, the only viable option is Low settings, which provides an average of 67 FPS. Medium settings at 4K only reach 42 FPS, which is too low for a comfortable experience. High and Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as they result in 30 FPS and 24 FPS respectively, which are unplayable. The data indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM is a limitation at 4K, so users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for the best results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 101, making it a very smooth experience. Medium settings reduce the average to 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 and a maximum of 72. High settings drop the average to 45 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to 36 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 64% reduction in average FPS, which is significant. The data shows that the GPU is the main constraint, as the CPU can handle the load without issue.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades further. Low settings average 85 FPS, which is still high. Medium settings average 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61. High settings average 38 FPS, and Ultra settings average 30 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 65%, showing that the GPU struggles with higher preset levels. At 3840x2160, the performance is limited. Low settings average 67 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48. High settings average 30 FPS, and Ultra settings average 24 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is also 64%, indicating that the GPU is consistently the limiting factor across all resolutions. The data clearly shows that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience, users should play at 1080p with Medium settings or lower.