The Medium

# The Medium with Intel Core Ultra 5 225 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title that stresses both CPU and GPU depending on settings. The data shows this combo ranks 380th out of 2,911 tested combinations, placing it firmly in the top 13% of all systems tested for this game. The measured FPS results reveal a configuration that can comfortably handle 1080p and 1440p gaming, while 4K requires careful settings management to stay playable. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 10 threads, posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25,891 and a single-core score of 3,655, while the GPU delivers a Passmark G3D score of 29,995, placing both components in the mid-80th percentile of their respective categories. The real story here is how the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth interact with The Medium's demanding visual effects across different resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep but not catastrophic, revealing a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 167 FPS at 1920x1080 to 140 FPS at 2560x1440—a 16% reduction—and then to 110 FPS at 3840x2160, another 21% drop. This scaling pattern indicates that even at Low settings, the RTX 4070 SUPER is the limiting component at 4K, as the frame rate does not scale linearly with pixel count. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 4,412 Passmark single-thread score, is sufficient to feed the GPU at all resolutions tested.

At Medium settings, the scaling becomes more pronounced. The average FPS goes from 104 at 1080p to 88 at 1440p (a 15% drop) and then to 69 at 4K (a 22% drop from 1440p). The minimum FPS at Medium settings also degrades predictably: 88 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. These minimums suggest that frame pacing remains stable even as the resolution increases, with no sudden stutters or hitches that would indicate CPU bottlenecks.

High settings show a similar pattern but with lower absolute numbers. The average FPS drops from 75 at 1080p to 63 at 1440p (16% decrease) and then to 49 at 4K (22% decrease). Ultra settings push the system hardest, with averages of 59 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and 39 FPS at 4K. The consistent 20-22% drop between 1440p and 4K across all settings presets strongly indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, regardless of quality level. The CPU, with its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, is not holding the system back at any resolution.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run The Medium at 60 FPS in 4K?*

A: Only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 110. At Medium settings, the average drops to 69 FPS, while High and Ultra settings yield 49 FPS and 39 FPS respectively. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, Low settings are required.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system?

A: 2560x1440 offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At High settings, the average FPS is 63, which is playable but not smooth. Dropping to Medium settings at 1440p gives 88 FPS average with a 75 FPS minimum, providing a much more comfortable margin.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 43,223 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43,262, -0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile (43,268, -0.1% delta). It trails the RTX 4090 Mobile by 1%, which scores 43,667.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a Passmark single-thread score of 4,412 and a multi-thread score of 30,459. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, scores 36,945 on average (0% delta), indicating the CPU is competitive with other mid-range desktop processors and does not limit FPS in this title.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS is 75, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. However, for higher refresh rate monitors, dropping to Medium settings (104 FPS average) or Low settings (167 FPS average) is recommended.

Q: How much VRAM does this game use at 4K?

A: The FACT PACK does not specify VRAM usage. However, the RTX 4070 SUPER has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory with a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This is sufficient for the game's demands at 4K Medium settings, where the average FPS is 69.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 380th out of 2,911 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the top 13% of all systems tested. This ranking reflects a well-balanced pairing where neither component dramatically outclasses the other. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs suggest they are well-matched in overall capability.

The CPU's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, has an average benchmark score of 36,945, which is essentially identical to this CPU's 36,938 average score (0% delta). The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37,018 (-0.2% delta), while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37,093 (-0.4% delta). This means the Core Ultra 5 225 is statistically tied with several other mid-range processors, and in The Medium, the game's performance is more dependent on the GPU than the CPU.

For the GPU, the RTX 4070 SUPER's average benchmark score of 43,223 places it just below the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43,262, -0.1% delta) and the RTX 5050 Mobile (43,268, -0.1% delta). The RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43,667, which is only 1% higher (-1% delta). This clustering means the RTX 4070 SUPER is performing exactly as expected for its class, and the combo rank of 380 reflects the GPU's strong but not top-tier position in the overall hierarchy.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers playable frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 167 FPS, which is well beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. Medium settings yield 104 FPS average with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS, providing a smooth experience on 100Hz displays. High settings drop to 75 FPS average, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings produce 59 FPS average, which is borderline for smooth gameplay but acceptable for a horror title where slower pacing is common.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings average 140 FPS, Medium settings average 88 FPS with a 75 FPS minimum and 101 FPS maximum, High settings average 63 FPS, and Ultra settings average 50 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p is the sweet spot, offering a 75 FPS minimum that keeps frame times consistent during fast-moving scenes.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher quality presets. Low settings average 110 FPS, which is excellent for 4K. Medium settings average 69 FPS with a 59 FPS minimum and 79 FPS maximum, meaning the system occasionally dips below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 49 FPS, and Ultra settings average 39 FPS. For 4K gaming, Low or Medium settings are the only viable options for a fluid experience.

The minimum and maximum FPS data at Medium settings shows consistent frame delivery across all resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 88-120 FPS; at 1440p, it is 75-101 FPS; and at 4K, it is 59-79 FPS. This consistency indicates no thermal throttling or driver-level stuttering, even when the system is pushed to its limits.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing for The Medium. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory running at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is crucial for the game's texture streaming and high-resolution assets. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1980 MHz demonstrate the Ada Lovelace architecture's ability to maintain high frequencies under load, as evidenced by the consistent FPS numbers across repeated measurements.

The GPU's 7,168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs deliver a fill rate of 198.0 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s. These specifications translate directly to the measured FPS, where the GPU shows a clear performance ceiling at 4K Ultra settings (39 FPS average). The RTX 4070 SUPER's 56 RT cores and 224 Tensor cores are largely irrelevant for The Medium, which does not appear to use ray tracing or DLSS in the measured presets, but they contribute to the GPU's overall benchmark scores.

The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 29,995 and its 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate it is a strong performer for its generation. Its nearest rivals include the Quadro M6000 24 GB (43,262 avg score) and the RTX 5050 Mobile (43,268 avg score), which are within 0.2% of its average benchmark score of 43,223. The RTX 4090 Mobile, while 1% higher in score, is a mobile part that would not be a direct desktop alternative. The 220 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU requirement are modest for the performance level, and the dual-slot cooler with a 267 mm length should fit in most mid-tower cases.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, Medium settings at 2560x1440 are the recommended configuration. This preset delivers an average of 88 FPS with a 75 FPS minimum, ensuring that the game never drops below the 60 FPS threshold during intense scenes. The visual difference between Medium and High settings in The Medium is typically subtle, with shadow quality and texture filtering being the most noticeable changes, while the frame rate improvement from 63 FPS to 88 FPS is substantial.

At 1920x1080, players with high refresh rate monitors should choose Medium settings for 104 FPS average, or Low settings for 167 FPS average if they have a 144Hz or 165Hz display. High settings at 1080p provide 75 FPS, which is playable but does not take full advantage of the GPU's capabilities. Ultra settings at 1080p (59 FPS) are not recommended, as the visual improvements over High are marginal while the frame rate drops below 60 FPS.

For 4K gaming, Low settings are the only option that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 110 FPS. Medium settings at 4K (69 FPS average, 59 FPS minimum) are borderline playable, but the minimum FPS dipping below 60 means occasional stutters. High and Ultra settings at 4K produce 49 FPS and 39 FPS respectively, which are not recommended for a game that relies on atmospheric tension and smooth camera movements. The data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1440p Medium or 1080p Medium/High, where the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are fully leveraged without hitting the GPU's computational limits.