The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title, and the measured frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H paired with the AMD Radeon 8060S show a configuration that is highly sensitive to both resolution and graphics settings. The data indicates a system capable of smooth play at lower resolutions and settings, but which struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with higher quality presets. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics to help determine the optimal way to experience the game on this hardware.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings presets, clearly identifying the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 101 FPS at 1920x1080 to 85 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 16 FPS, and then further down to 67 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 34% performance loss from 1080p to 4K, which is a significant hit but still leaves the game playable.

The scaling becomes more punishing as the graphical load increases. With Medium settings, the average frame rate drops from 63 FPS at 1080p to 53 FPS at 1440p, and then to 42 FPS at 4K. At High settings, the pattern continues with 45 FPS at 1080p dropping to 38 FPS at 1440p and finally 30 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic decline, starting at 36 FPS at 1080p, falling to 30 FPS at 1440p, and bottoming out at 24 FPS at 4K.

This scaling pattern indicates that the AMD Radeon 8060S is the limiting component at 1440p and 4K. The consistent drop in performance with each step up in resolution suggests that the GPU's rendering capabilities, including its pixel fill rate of 185.6 GPixel/s, are being saturated. The 4K results are particularly telling; even at Low settings the card only manages 67 FPS, and at Ultra it falls to 24 FPS, which is not a smooth experience. The performance gap between 1080p and 1440p is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K, reinforcing that the GPU is struggling with the 4K pixel count.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29093. This positions it competitively, as it is nearly identical in performance to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, with a delta of -0.1%, and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT by 0.5%.

For a game like The Medium, which is a horror title with a fixed-camera perspective, the CPU's role is typically less demanding than in open-world or strategy games. The data supports this, as the frame rates are more heavily influenced by resolution and GPU settings than by CPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely not the limiting factor, as the 101 FPS average suggests there is headroom for the GPU to work. The processor's strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1700, is sufficient for the game's logic and scene management.

The CPU's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for feeding the GPU. The Passmark multi-thread score of 22422 shows robust multi-core capability, which can help with background tasks and any game engine threads that scale across cores. However, the frame rate drops at higher resolutions are not indicative of a CPU bottleneck; they are a direct result of the GPU's inability to keep pace with the increased rendering load. The CPU is a capable partner, but it is not the component that determines the playability ceiling in this title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S is the dominant factor in this configuration's performance in The Medium. This integrated GPU, based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture and built on a 4 nm process, has a boost clock of 2900 MHz and features 2560 shading units. It uses System Shared memory, meaning its VRAM size, type, and bandwidth are all system-dependent. Its benchmark scores are strong, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 55757.

The GPU's performance is comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a delta of only 0.1% in its average benchmark score. It also outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 by 2.8% according to the aggregate benchmark data. This indicates that the 8060S is a high-performance part, but its shared memory architecture and the game's VRAM demands likely contribute to the performance cliff at 4K.

In The Medium, the GPU's rendering capabilities are pushed hard by the game's visual effects. The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, as evidenced by the significant frame rate drops when increasing resolution. The GPU's FP32 performance of 14.85 TFLOPS is substantial, but it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with higher presets. The 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is a clear indicator that this setting is not viable for a smooth experience. The GPU's performance is best utilized at 1080p, where it can deliver high frame rates on lower settings, and at 1440p with Medium settings, where it can maintain a playable 53 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frames per second data provides a comprehensive look at how the system performs across different settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 101 FPS, making it the only setting that achieves a truly high refresh rate experience. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS, providing a good balance for smooth gameplay. The High preset drops to 45 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 36 FPS, which is on the edge of playability.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset still delivers a very playable 85 FPS average. The Medium preset at 1440p produces 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS, which is a solid result for a higher resolution. The High preset at 1440p drops to 38 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 30 FPS, both of which are below the ideal threshold for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more limited. The Low preset manages an average of 67 FPS, which is respectable for 4K. The Medium preset at 4K delivers 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS, making it a borderline playable option. The High preset drops to 30 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 24 FPS, both of which are not recommended for a playable experience. The data clearly shows that the system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for the Low settings preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the most consistent resolution, offering high frame rates across all settings. 2560x1440 is also viable, especially with the Medium preset which delivers an average of 53 FPS. 4K is only playable with the Low preset, which averages 67 FPS.

Q: Can I achieve 60 FPS at 1440p in The Medium?

A: Yes, but only with the Low settings preset, which averages 85 FPS at 2560x1440. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 53 FPS, which is close but not quite 60 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets fall well short of that target.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon 8060S compare to other GPUs?

A: Its average benchmark score of 55757 places it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. It is nearly identical in performance to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a delta of 0.1%, and is 2.8% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 in the aggregate benchmark data.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H has a strong average benchmark score of 29093 and is in the 81st percentile. The frame rate drops are primarily due to the GPU's workload increasing with resolution, not the CPU struggling to keep up.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 101 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages only 36 FPS. This is a performance reduction of 65 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding on the GPU.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 4K?

A: No. The measured average frame rate for 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset is 24 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a playable experience in a game like The Medium.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings for this configuration depend on the user's preference for resolution versus visual fidelity. For players targeting smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay, the 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 101 FPS. This provides a very responsive experience, which is beneficial for the game's tense atmosphere. If a higher resolution is desired, the 2560x1440 Low preset is also excellent, averaging 85 FPS.

For players who want a balance between visual quality and performance, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. At 1920x1080, it delivers a solid 63 FPS, and at 2560x1440, it maintains a playable 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS. This preset likely provides a good compromise, offering improved textures and effects over Low while still keeping the frame rate in a playable range. The Medium preset at 4K is also an option, averaging 42 FPS, but it may have noticeable frame drops.

The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for this hardware, as they consistently produce average frame rates below 45 FPS at all resolutions. At 1080p, High yields 45 FPS and Ultra yields 36 FPS, which are not ideal for a horror game that relies on smooth motion for immersion. At 1440p and 4K, these presets fall below 38 FPS, making them unsuitable for a comfortable experience. The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for most users, with the Low preset serving as a high-performance alternative.