The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and AMD Radeon 760M combination delivers a playable experience in The Medium only at the lowest settings and resolution, with benchmark results showing the integrated GPU as the primary bottleneck. This mobile-focused pairing struggles to maintain smooth frame rates across most tested configurations, placing it near the bottom of the database for this title.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a thermal design power of 28 W. The processor includes 18 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. Memory support is DDR5, running dual-channel with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and the chip connects via PCIe Gen 5.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12804.5 and a single-core score of 1647.5. PassMark results show a multi-thread score of 21100 and a single-thread score of 3399. The processor ranks in the 79th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27507. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 (avg score 27535, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-12600K (avg score 27578, delta -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (avg score 27578, delta -0.3%). The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G trails slightly with a score of 27382, putting it 0.5% behind.

For The Medium, the CPU's role appears secondary to the graphics subsystem. The measured FPS values at 1920x1080 with Low settings hit 31 FPS average, which is the best result across all tested configurations. This indicates the processor has enough headroom to feed the integrated GPU at lower resolutions. However, the gap between the CPU's strong synthetic performance and the game's actual frame rates suggests that the Radeon 760M is the limiting factor. The CPU's 14 cores and 18 threads are more than adequate for a horror title like The Medium, which relies less on multi-threaded physics and more on rendering load. The data shows that even at 1080p, frame rates drop sharply as settings increase, pointing to GPU-bound scenarios rather than CPU limitations.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and AMD Radeon 760M ranks 2900 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. That places it in the bottom 0.4% of all systems tested for this game, a position that reflects the integrated GPU's limited capability rather than any deficiency in the processor. The combo sits just 11 spots above the worst-performing configuration in the database, which underscores how poorly suited this pairing is for demanding titles.

The Radeon 760M, an integrated graphics solution based on RDNA 3.0 architecture, ranks in the 35th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 6019. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6400 (avg score 6001, delta 0.3%), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M (avg score 6000, delta 0.3%), and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server (avg score 5996, delta 0.4%). The NVIDIA Quadro P2000 is 0.5% ahead with a score of 6049. These comparisons show the 760M performing on par with older discrete GPUs, but those rivals are still far more capable in real gaming workloads than an integrated solution sharing system memory.

The CPU's strong standing — 79th percentile — contrasts sharply with the combo's near-last rank. This disparity confirms that the bottleneck lies entirely with the GPU. Even the weakest discrete graphics cards in the database would likely outperform this integrated solution, and the data reflects that reality. For anyone considering this combo for The Medium, the ranking is a clear warning: expect sub-30 FPS in most scenarios.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Resolution scaling in The Medium follows a predictable pattern for this combo, with frame rates dropping as pixel count increases. At Low settings, the average FPS moves from 31 at 1920x1080 down to 26 at 2560x1440, then to 21 at 3840x2160. That represents a 16% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 32% drop from 1440p to 4K. At Medium settings, the averages are 19 FPS at 1080p, 16 FPS at 1440p, and 13 FPS at 4K — a 16% and 19% decline respectively.

The scaling pattern indicates a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions, since the processor's workload stays constant regardless of pixel count. Instead, the data shows consistent degradation with higher resolutions, which is typical of integrated graphics struggling to fill larger framebuffers. The Radeon 760M has 512 shading units and a boost clock of 2599 MHz, but its memory bandwidth is "System Shared" and "System Dependent," meaning it relies on the CPU's dual-channel DDR5. That shared memory arrangement limits performance at higher resolutions, where bandwidth demands increase significantly.

At High settings, the drop from 14 FPS at 1080p to 12 FPS at 1440p and 9 FPS at 4K shows a 14% and 25% decline. Ultra settings follow a similar path: 11 FPS at 1080p, 9 FPS at 1440p, and 7 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are smaller at higher settings because the absolute frame rates are already so low that the GPU is saturated even at 1080p. The limiting component is unambiguously the graphics solution — the CPU's synthetic scores suggest it could handle much higher frame rates if paired with a stronger GPU.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance across all tested settings. At 1920x1080, the best result is 31 FPS average with Low settings. Medium settings drop to 19 FPS average, with a minimum of 17 FPS and maximum of 22 FPS. High settings yield 14 FPS average, and Ultra settings produce 11 FPS average. None of these configurations reach the 30 FPS threshold except Low, and even that barely clears it.

At 2560x1440, Low settings deliver 26 FPS average, Medium produces 16 FPS average (min 14, max 19), High drops to 12 FPS, and Ultra falls to 9 FPS. The 1440p results show that only Low settings are remotely playable, and even then, the frame rate is below 30 FPS. For a game like The Medium, which relies on atmospheric tension and slow pacing, 26 FPS might be tolerable, but it is far from smooth.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unusable. Low settings average 21 FPS, Medium averages 13 FPS (min 11, max 15), High averages 9 FPS, and Ultra averages 7 FPS. These numbers make 4K gaming with this combo impractical for The Medium, regardless of settings. The minimum FPS values recorded at Medium settings across all resolutions — 17 FPS at 1080p, 14 FPS at 1440p, and 11 FPS at 4K — indicate that frame pacing could be inconsistent, potentially causing stutter during scene transitions.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: Low settings at 1080p is the only configuration that exceeds 30 FPS, and every other combination falls short. The gap between Low and Medium settings at 1080p — 31 FPS versus 19 FPS — is a 39% drop, suggesting that the Medium preset introduces significant rendering overhead that the integrated GPU cannot handle. Ultra settings at any resolution are effectively slideshows, with frame rates below 11 FPS.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run The Medium at 1080p with playable frame rates?*

A: Only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 31. Medium settings drop to 19 FPS average, High to 14 FPS, and Ultra to 11 FPS. For a stable experience, Low settings at 1080p is the maximum viable configuration.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H has an average benchmark score of 27507, which is 0.1% below the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 (27535) and 0.3% below the Intel Core i5-12600K (27578). It is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G (27382).

*Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in The Medium?*

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 79th percentile among all processors, while the AMD Radeon 760M ranks in the 35th percentile among GPUs. The frame rate drops consistently with higher resolutions, which indicates GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the best FPS result across all tested configurations?

A: The highest average FPS is 31, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next closest is 26 FPS at 2560x1440 with Low settings, followed by 21 FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings.

Q: How does the Radeon 760M compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The 760M has an average benchmark score of 6019, which is 0.3% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6400 (6001) and 0.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M (6000). It is 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server (5996) and 0.5% behind the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 (6049).

Q: At what resolution and settings does the combo provide the most consistent frame pacing?

A: The Medium settings show minimum and maximum FPS values across all resolutions, with 1080p ranging from 17 to 22 FPS, 1440p from 14 to 19 FPS, and 4K from 11 to 15 FPS. These ranges are relatively tight, but the Low settings results have no recorded min/max values, indicating they may be more variable.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable configuration for The Medium is Low settings at 1920x1080, which delivers an average of 31 FPS. This is the sole tested setup that reaches the standard playability threshold of 30 FPS. Every other combination falls below this mark, and the drop to Medium settings at 1080p — down to 19 FPS — is too severe to justify the visual upgrade. The 39% performance loss from Low to Medium suggests that the Medium preset enables effects that heavily tax the integrated GPU.

At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 26 FPS, which could be acceptable for players who prioritize resolution over fluidity, but the frame rate sits below 30 FPS and may feel sluggish during camera panning. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only manage 21 FPS, making 4K effectively unplayable for this title. Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution, as they produce frame rates between 7 and 11 FPS, which are well below playable thresholds.

For players with this hardware, the practical advice is straightforward: run The Medium at 1080p with Low settings and accept the visual compromises. The game's horror atmosphere relies more on lighting and sound than on high-resolution textures, so the Low preset may not diminish the experience as much as the frame rate numbers suggest. If lower resolutions are an option, 1280x720 could potentially yield higher frame rates, though no data exists for that configuration. The data clearly shows that this combo lacks the graphics horsepower for higher settings, and attempting to push beyond Low at 1080p will result in a poor experience.