The Medium

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 represent a flagship pairing that delivers a definitive high-refresh-rate experience in The Medium. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data, contextualizes the CPU and GPU roles, and provides actionable settings recommendations based strictly on the benchmark results.

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

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory via a dual-channel bus and connects to the system through a PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 CPU lanes. It also includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, though the discrete RTX 4090 renders all game frames.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU scores 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,262.5 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 21,697 and single-core score of 2,655. PassMark results show a multi-thread score of 58,674 and a single-thread score of 4,697.

For The Medium, the CPU's role is to maintain a consistent frame pipeline, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less burdened. At 1920x1080, the measured frame rates reach up to 196 FPS on Low settings, indicating the CPU can feed the RTX 4090 effectively. The 6.00 GHz boost clock and 32 threads ensure that even the most demanding frame-generation scenarios do not bottleneck the GPU. The processor's performance places it in the 95th percentile vs all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79,097. Compared to its nearest rivals, it is 1.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, while being 0.3% behind the Intel Core i9-14900KF and 0.6% behind the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The 1.2% gap to the AMD EPYC 7413 shows this is a top-tier consumer part, though the high frame rates at 1080p suggest the game's engine scales well with strong single-thread performance.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, housing 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die. It operates with a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. The 24 GB of GDDR6X memory runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) across a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU includes 16,384 shading units, 512 TMUs, and 176 ROPs, along with 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores. Its compute capabilities reach 82.58 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, and it has a 450 W TDP with a triple-slot cooler.

In the context of The Medium, the GPU's massive VRAM pool and bandwidth are critical for handling high-resolution textures and the game's fixed-camera perspectives. The measured frame rates show a clear scaling pattern: at 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 140 on Low to 50 on Ultra, illustrating the GPU's dominance in these scenarios. The RTX 4090's 24 GB VRAM ensures no memory-related stutters even at 4K Ultra, as the data shows a minimum FPS of 74 on Medium at 4K, which is a playable floor.

The GPU sits in the 88th percentile vs all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0% delta), AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (0.3% ahead), AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (2.5% behind), and AMD Radeon PRO V710 (2.9% ahead). The RTX 4090's performance in PassMark G3D is 38,194, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 9,223. This hardware is end-of-life, but its benchmark results confirm it remains one of the fastest consumer GPUs available, directly translating to the high FPS figures in the measured data.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 196 FPS, which is the highest measured across all resolutions and settings in this data set.

Q: How does the RTX 4090's performance compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M?

A: The RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60,347, while the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896, making the RTX 4090 2.5% behind that rival in synthetic benchmarks. However, the RTX 4090's real-world gaming performance in The Medium is high, with 63 FPS at 4K High.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo in the measured data?

A: The only measured minimum FPS values are on Medium settings: 74 FPS at 3840x2160, 95 FPS at 2560x1440, and 112 FPS at 1920x1080. No minimum FPS is listed for Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K a good match for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: Yes, the data supports a strong pairing. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 196 FPS, and at 4K High it maintains 63 FPS. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking and the GPU's 88th percentile ranking ensure neither component is a clear bottleneck, though the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the CPU and GPU in this combo?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has a launch MSRP of $589, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has a launch MSRP of 1,599 USD.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 72nd out of 3,724 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the top ~2% of all configurations in the database.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i9-14900K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination is measured at rank 72 out of 3,724 combos in The Medium. This places the configuration well within the top percentile of all tested systems, confirming its high-end status. The rank reflects the synergy between the 24-core CPU and the 24 GB GPU, which together deliver exceptional frame rates across all tested resolutions.

To contextualize this rank, consider the performance deltas at each resolution. At 3840x2160, the combo achieves 50 FPS on Ultra, 63 FPS on High, 87 FPS on Medium, and 140 FPS on Low. At 2560x1440, the averages are 63 FPS (Ultra), 80 FPS (High), 111 FPS (Medium), and 178 FPS (Low). At 1920x1080, the averages rise to 75 FPS (Ultra), 95 FPS (High), 132 FPS (Medium), and 196 FPS (Low). These numbers demonstrate that the combo is not just about raw peak FPS but also about maintaining playable frame rates at 4K Ultra, where it still hits 50 FPS.

The rank of 72 is impressive given the database contains 3,724 combinations, including many with multiple GPUs or workstation parts. The fact that this consumer pairing ranks this high suggests it is an optimal choice for The Medium specifically, likely due to the game's moderate CPU demands and the RTX 4090's brute-force GPU power. The nearest CPU rivals (14900KF, Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus) and GPU rivals (Arc Pro A60, Radeon Pro Vega 48) do not shift this ranking, as the measured FPS data is what determines the combo's position.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings presets vary by resolution, but a clear pattern emerges for the best balance of visual quality and frame rate.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Medium preset is the sweet spot. It delivers an average of 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS, providing a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate displays. The High preset drops to 63 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for dips. Ultra at 50 FPS is borderline for a horror game where smoothness matters, and Low at 140 FPS sacrifices too much visual fidelity for a 4K screen. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 74 ensures no significant stuttering.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Medium preset again stands out with an average of 111 FPS, a minimum of 95 FPS, and a maximum of 128 FPS. This is ideal for 144 Hz monitors. The High preset at 80 FPS is acceptable for 60 Hz displays but leaves performance on the table. Ultra at 63 FPS is playable but not optimal for competitive or smooth horror gameplay. Low at 178 FPS is excessive for most 1440p monitors and the visual hit is not worth the extra frames.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Medium preset provides 132 FPS average with a minimum of 112 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS, which is excellent for 144 Hz panels. The High preset at 95 FPS is fine for 60 Hz, and Ultra at 75 FPS is also viable. Low at 196 FPS is only useful for extreme refresh rates (240 Hz+). For most users, Medium at 1080p offers the best compromise between quality and speed, as the minimum FPS of 112 confirms consistent performance.

In summary, the Medium preset is the recommended choice across all resolutions in this data set. It is the only preset with measured minimum and maximum FPS values, indicating the benchmark captured stable frame times. The data shows that Medium at 4K (87 FPS) is significantly better than High at 4K (63 FPS), making it the clear recommendation for a 4K display.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core i9-14900K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 in The Medium is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Ultra: Average 50 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.
• High: Average 63 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.
• Medium: Average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS.
• Low: Average 140 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Ultra: Average 63 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.
• High: Average 80 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.
• Medium: Average 111 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 128 FPS.
• Low: Average 178 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Ultra: Average 75 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.
• High: Average 95 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.
• Medium: Average 132 FPS, with a minimum of 112 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS.
• Low: Average 196 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS is listed.

The data reveals a consistent performance scaling. Moving from 4K to 1440p increases average FPS by roughly 25-30% across all settings (e.g., Ultra from 50 to 63 FPS, Medium from 87 to 111 FPS). Moving from 1440p to 1080p adds another 15-20% (e.g., Low from 178 to 196 FPS). The Medium preset's minimum FPS values are 74 at 4K, 95 at 1440p, and 112 at 1080p, showing that the combo never drops below 74 FPS even at 4K with this preset. The maximum FPS values on Medium are 101, 128, and 152 respectively, indicating good frame pacing.

The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial: at 4K, Low (140 FPS) is 180% faster than Ultra (50 FPS). At 1440p, Low (178 FPS) is 182% faster than Ultra (63 FPS). At 1080p, Low (196 FPS) is 161% faster than Ultra (75 FPS). These deltas highlight the GPU-bound nature of the game at higher settings, where the RTX 4090's rendering load increases significantly with each preset tier. The measured numbers confirm that this combo excels at high-refresh-rate gaming on Medium settings, while still providing a playable 4K experience on Ultra at 50 FPS.