The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title, presents a unique stress profile that differs significantly from typical first-person action games. The measured performance data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination reveals a system where the GPU is the dominant factor, but the CPU’s architectural choices still influence the experience at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results, showing a consistent pattern of performance that is heavily modulated by the graphical settings and resolution.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, and it can boost up to 4.90 GHz. This configuration, with its moderate core count and high boost clocks, is well-suited for a game like The Medium, which relies on sustained single-thread performance for its core logic and camera transitions. The benchmark data shows that this CPU scores 25,891 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,655 in single-core, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. This suggests a strong ability to feed the GPU, even a high-end one like the RTX 5090.

The game's performance at 1080p, where the CPU load is relatively higher, shows an interesting pattern. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 185, which is 10 FPS higher than the 1440p Low score of 174 and 42 FPS higher than the 4K Low score of 143. While the GPU is clearly the primary bottleneck, the fact that the 1080p Low score is not significantly higher than the 1080p Medium score (135 FPS) suggests that the CPU is starting to impose a limit at this resolution. The 50 FPS gap between 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra (77 FPS) is large, but the incremental gains from lower settings indicate that the CPU is not a major barrier to high frame rates; the GPU is.

The Core Ultra 5 225's 20 MB of shared L3 cache is ample for the game’s data sets, and its dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth provides sufficient throughput for the game's streaming assets. Comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, it sits very close to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with a 0% deltaPct in average benchmark score. While the Ryzen 5 5600F has a different core layout (6 cores, 12 threads), the data shows they offer similar overall processing power. In The Medium, the Core Ultra 5 225's performance is sufficient to ensure that the GPU is not starved of data, but at 1080p with low settings, the frame rate ceiling appears to be influenced by the CPU's single-thread capabilities, which are strong but not limitless.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration, and its immense power is the primary driver of the measured frame rates. With a massive 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, it offers a staggering 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. This is crucial for The Medium, which features a dual-reality mechanic that renders two distinct worlds simultaneously on screen. The GPU’s memory capacity is more than enough for any texture load the game can present at any resolution or setting, and the bandwidth ensures that this data is fed to the processing cores without delay.

The RTX 5090's compute capabilities are equally impressive. With 21,760 shading units and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, it achieves a texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s. This raw processing power explains the high frame rates observed. At 4K Medium, the GPU manages an average of 90 FPS, and at 4K Low, it reaches 143 FPS. The benchmark scores for the GPU, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 18,355 and a Passmark G3D score of 39,650, place it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, confirming its top-tier status. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, which is a substantial load, the card maintains a playable 51 FPS average.

The RTX 5090’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database, such as the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (0.3% deltaPct), are far less capable in modern gaming workloads, despite having similar average benchmark scores. This highlights that the RTX 5090's architecture, with its dedicated RT and Tensor cores (170 and 680 respectively), is specifically optimized for the kind of rasterization and compute tasks found in a game like The Medium. The GPU is the clear performance leader in this pairing, and its capabilities are the reason why the system can achieve high frame rates even at 4K, a feat that would be impossible with a less powerful card.

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

The resolution scaling of the frame rates provides a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies. Moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K, there is a consistent and dramatic drop in performance across all settings. For instance, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 97 at 1080p to 82 at 1440p and then to 64 at 4K. This is a 34% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, on Ultra settings, the FPS drops from 77 at 1080p to 65 at 1440p and 51 at 4K, a 34% drop. This pattern is classic evidence of a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling is not linear, but the relative consistency in the percentage drop across different settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) reinforces the notion that the GPU is the limiting component. As the resolution increases, the pixel count grows, requiring more work from the GPU's pixel and texture units. The CPU, with its strong single-thread performance, is able to keep up with the game's logic at all resolutions, but it cannot compensate for the increased GPU load. The 1080p to 4K drop on Low settings is 42 FPS (from 185 to 143), which is a 23% reduction. This smaller percentage drop at lower settings suggests that at 1080p Low, the CPU is starting to become a more significant factor, but the GPU is still the primary limiter.

The data indicates that the RTX 5090 is a huge performance headroom for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1440p Ultra, the system still achieves 65 FPS, which is a high-fidelity experience. The jump to 4K, however, brings even the most powerful settings to their knees, with the gap between 1440p and 4K being the most pronounced. For example, on Medium settings, the FPS drops from 114 at 1440p to 90 at 4K, a 21% reduction. This shows that while the RTX 5090 is exceptionally powerful, The Medium's high-resolution rendering is demanding enough to fully saturate its capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 achieves a rank of 45 out of 2,911 tested combos in The Medium. This is a top 1.5% ranking, placing it among the very best systems tested for this game. The high rank is almost entirely attributable to the RTX 5090, as the CPU, while capable, is not the top performer in its class. The data suggests that this combo is at the top end of what is possible, and any improvement in ranking would likely require an even more powerful CPU to reduce the slight bottleneck seen at lower resolutions.

The rank of 45 is impressive, but it is not the number one spot. This implies that there are other combos that achieve higher frame rates. Given the GPU's dominance, the difference in ranking is likely due to the CPU. A more powerful CPU, with higher single-thread performance, could potentially push the 1080p Low score higher, which would improve the overall average and thus the rank. However, the 4K and 1440p results, which are the most taxing on the GPU, are likely very similar across all top-tier GPUs. The combo's rank reflects the GPU's power, but it also highlights that the CPU is not the absolute best match for it, even though it is a very good one.

The percentile ranking for the CPU (85th) and GPU (92nd) individually are high, but the combo rank is even higher, showing that the two components work well together. The data shows that the system is not held back by a weak link. The RTX 5090 is a top 8% GPU, and the Core Ultra 5 225 is a top 15% CPU. When combined, they form a system that is in the top 1.5% of all tested configurations. This synergy is the key takeaway, as the performance is not simply an average of the two parts, but rather a result of their effective collaboration.

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

Based purely on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's preferred resolution and refresh rate. For a 4K display, the Medium preset provides a very good experience, with an average of 90 FPS and a minimum of 76 FPS. This is a smooth and responsive frame rate for a horror game. The High preset at 4K drops to 64 FPS, which is still playable but less fluid, while Ultra drops to 51 FPS, which may be too low for some users. At 4K, Low is not recommended, as the visual quality loss is significant for a 53 FPS gain over Medium, but it is the only way to achieve a 143 FPS average if the player has a high-refresh-rate 4K display.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is again a strong choice, offering an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS. This is ideal for a 120Hz or 144Hz monitor. The High preset at 82 FPS is also acceptable, but it does not fully utilize a high-refresh-rate display. The Ultra preset at 65 FPS is the best visual quality option for those who prefer fidelity over frame rate, but it is not the best for competitive play. The Low preset at 174 FPS is only for maximizing frame rate on a 165Hz or higher monitor, at the cost of visual fidelity.

For 1080p, the situation is more nuanced. The Medium preset at 135 FPS is an excellent balance, but the High preset at 97 FPS is also very good. The Ultra preset at 77 FPS is the most visually impressive, but the data shows that the GPU has plenty of headroom. Given the GPU's power, a user could easily use the Ultra preset at 1080p to get a high-fidelity experience. The Low preset at 185 FPS is the maximum frame rate achievable, but it is likely unnecessary. In summary, the Medium preset is the "sweet spot" for a balanced experience across all resolutions, providing a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining high frame rates.

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

The following is the complete set of measured average FPS data for this combo, with the minimum and maximum FPS where available.

4K (3840x2160):

• Ultra: 51 FPS average.
• High: 64 FPS average.
• Medium: 90 FPS average, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS.
• Low: 143 FPS average.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Ultra: 65 FPS average.
• High: 82 FPS average.
• Medium: 114 FPS average, with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS.
• Low: 174 FPS average.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Ultra: 77 FPS average.
• High: 97 FPS average.
• Medium: 135 FPS average, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS.
• Low: 185 FPS average.

These numbers show a clear hierarchy: performance scales inversely with both resolution and graphical fidelity. The RTX 5090 is so powerful that even at 4K Medium, it delivers a frame rate that is higher than what many systems can achieve at 1080p. The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings is substantial at every resolution, underscoring the GPU's capability to handle massive increases in workload. The presence of minimum and maximum FPS data for the Medium preset at all resolutions indicates a stable frame time distribution, which is crucial for a smooth horror experience.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 sufficient to run The Medium without bottlenecking the RTX 5090?*

A: Yes, the data shows it is sufficient. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 185 FPS, which is high, but the CPU's influence is visible at this resolution. At higher resolutions like 4K, the GPU is the clear bottleneck, with the CPU providing enough performance to maintain high frame rates.

*Q: How much faster is the RTX 5090 in The Medium at 4K compared to 1080p?*

A: The RTX 5090 is significantly faster at 1080p. For example, on High settings, it achieves 97 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 64 FPS at 4K. This is a 34% reduction in performance, showing the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution increases.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use for a 1440p monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate?

A: The Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 114 FPS, which is close to the 120Hz target, and has a minimum of 97 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. The High preset at 82 FPS would not fully utilize the monitor's refresh rate.

Q: Does the game benefit more from the CPU's high boost clock or the GPU's massive memory bandwidth?

A: The data indicates the GPU's memory bandwidth is the primary driver of performance. The game’s dual-reality mechanic requires huge amounts of data, and the 1.79 TB/s bandwidth of the RTX 5090 is what allows for high frame rates at high resolutions. The CPU's 4.90 GHz boost clock is important for maintaining a high frame rate ceiling at lower resolutions.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested systems in this game?

A: This combo ranks 45th out of 2,911 tested configurations. This places it in the top 1.5% of all systems, demonstrating that it is one of the highest-performing combinations for The Medium.

Q: Is the 32 GB of VRAM on the RTX 5090 necessary for this game?

A: The benchmark data shows it is more than sufficient. The game runs at playable frame rates at 4K Ultra, which is the most demanding scenario. There is no data suggesting the game requires more than 32 GB, but the large memory pool ensures there are no texture streaming or capacity-related performance issues.