The Medium

The Medium presents a demanding fixed-camera horror experience, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 reveals a configuration that is consistently bound by its graphics subsystem. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings tell a clear story of a GPU struggling under load, while the CPU’s robust multi-threaded and single-threaded scores indicate it is not the primary constraint. This analysis will dissect the measured performance, contextualize it against rival components, and offer guidance on how to best configure the game for this specific hardware combination.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which are substantial figures for gaming workloads. The processor’s benchmark results are notably strong, with a Passmark multithread score of 37,816 and a single-thread score of 4,516, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. In Cinebench R23, it achieves a multicore score of 14,769 and a single-core score of 2,085. These numbers indicate a processor with ample headroom for handling game logic, physics, and asset streaming, even in a title like The Medium which relies on fixed camera angles and intricate scene loading.

However, the FPS data suggests that the CPU’s potential is largely untapped in this pairing. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 84, which is the highest recorded for this combo. When settings are raised to Ultra at the same resolution, the average drops to 30 FPS. This dramatic scaling with graphical fidelity, rather than resolution, points directly at the GPU as the limiting factor. The CPU’s performance is sufficient to feed the Radeon RX 6600 frames, but the GPU cannot render them fast enough at higher presets. The processor’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX, have average benchmark scores within 0.1% of the Ultra 5 235, confirming that this chip is in a performance tier where it should not bottleneck a mid-range graphics card in a title from 2021.

The data implies that for this specific game, the CPU’s 14 cores and 14 threads are more than adequate. The lack of hyper-threading might seem like a potential weakness, but the Cinebench R15 multicore score of 1,488 and Passmark integer math score of 87,948 suggest that the physical cores are efficient and powerful. The Medium is not a title known for extreme CPU multi-threading demands; instead, it leans heavily on GPU compute for its rendering and fixed-camera effects. Therefore, the Core Ultra 5 235 is effectively a silent partner in this benchmark, providing a stable foundation while the GPU determines the final frame rate. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth further ensure that data delivery to the CPU cores is not a bottleneck.

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

Analyzing the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience for this combination hinges on balancing visual quality with playable frame rates. At 1920x1080, the Medium settings yield an average of 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 60. This is the only preset that provides a consistently smooth and responsive experience at the most common resolution. The Low preset at 1080p produces 84 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate displays, but it sacrifices significant visual fidelity in a game that relies heavily on atmosphere and detailed environments. The High preset at 1080p drops to 37 FPS, which is below the smooth threshold, and Ultra falls to 30 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a horror game where precise timing can be critical.

For those targeting 2560x1440, the data shows that only the Low preset, with an average of 71 FPS, is viable for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 44 FPS, which might be acceptable for some players who prioritize visuals over frame rate, but it is noticeably less fluid. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, at 32 and 25 FPS respectively, are not recommended due to the significant performance hit. At 3840x2160, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, making it the only playable option at 4K. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, and High and Ultra are below 30 FPS, rendering them largely unsuitable for a smooth experience.

The benchmark results indicate that the "best experience" is a trade-off. At 1080p, Medium is the sweet spot, offering 52 FPS with a reasonable balance of detail. The data shows that this is the highest preset that maintains an average above 50 FPS at 1080p. For 1440p and 4K, players must drop to Low to achieve playable frame rates, which undermines the visual strengths of the game. The recommendation is to prioritize frame rate stability; therefore, the Medium preset at 1080p is the clear choice for this combo, as it avoids the low FPS dips seen in High and Ultra while retaining more graphical features than Low.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions provides a textbook example of GPU-bound performance. At Low settings, the average FPS at 1080p is 84, at 1440p it is 71, and at 4K it is 55. This represents a roughly 15% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 22% drop from 1440p to 4K. This scaling is relatively modest, indicating that even at lower graphical settings, the GPU is still the primary constraint, but the workload is not increasing exponentially. In contrast, at High settings, the average FPS is 37 at 1080p, 32 at 1440p, and 25 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 13.5%, and from 1440p to 4K is 21.9%, which is a similar percentage decline.

However, the absolute numbers reveal the GPU’s limitation. At 1080p High, the GPU produces 37 FPS, but the CPU is capable of much more. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively constant across resolutions at a given setting, as the CPU workload is resolution-independent. Instead, we see a clear decline in FPS as resolution increases, which is the signature of a GPU that is saturated. The difference between Low and High settings at any given resolution is also telling. At 1080p, Low yields 84 FPS while High yields 37 FPS, a 2.3x difference. This massive gap is entirely attributable to the GPU’s pixel and texture processing limits, not the CPU.

This pattern suggests that the Radeon RX 6600's 8 GB of VRAM and 224.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth are being pushed to their limits. The game’s fixed camera angles may require high-resolution textures that are loaded into VRAM, and at 4K, the demand for memory bandwidth increases. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component across all tested configurations. The CPU’s performance headroom is evident, but it is never utilized because the GPU cannot deliver frames fast enough. For a user looking to improve performance, the data strongly implies that upgrading the graphics card would yield the most significant benefit, while the Core Ultra 5 235 would remain a capable partner.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 is ranked 2260 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the lower 22% of all configurations, which is a clear indication that this pairing is not well-suited for high-fidelity gaming in this specific title. The rank reflects the GPU’s mid-range standing; the RX 6600 is in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, which is a solid score for general use, but the game’s demands are high. The combo rank is a composite measure, and the data suggests that the GPU’s performance is dragging the overall ranking down.

The nearest rivals for the GPU provide context. The NVIDIA Quadro K6000 has an average benchmark score of 19,030, which is nearly identical to the RX 6600's 19,036, with a delta of 0%. This indicates that in raw compute terms, the RX 6600 is comparable to a professional workstation card from a previous generation. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile is also close, with a score of 19,049 and a delta of -0.1%, suggesting that the desktop RX 6600 is on par with a mobile RTX 4050. These comparisons highlight that the RX 6600 is a capable entry-level to mid-range card, but it is not a high-end performer. The CPU’s rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 7303 and EPYC 4364P, have average scores within 0.2% of the Ultra 5 235, confirming that the CPU is not the weak link.

Given the combo rank of 2260, it is evident that this system is more suited for 1080p gaming at lower settings rather than high-resolution or high-fidelity gaming. The data implies that many other CPU-GPU pairings will deliver significantly better performance in The Medium. The rank is a stark reminder that while the CPU is a high-percentile performer, the overall experience is dictated by the GPU, and the RX 6600's 63rd percentile standing is insufficient for this game’s more demanding presets. Users with this combo should expect to compromise on settings to achieve playable frame rates.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 2491 MHz, with a game clock of 2044 MHz. These specifications are typical for a mid-range card of its generation, but The Medium’s visual effects appear to be particularly demanding on memory and compute. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor; at 4K resolution, the GPU’s memory is likely being fully utilized, which can lead to frame rate drops if the game needs to swap assets. The data shows that at 4K Medium, the average FPS is 35 with a minimum of 29 and a maximum of 40, suggesting that the GPU is hitting its limits.

The GPU’s compute capabilities, measured at 8.928 TFLOPS FP32, are decent, but the game’s fixed-camera angles often involve complex lighting and shadow calculations that stress the GPU. The 28 ray accelerators on the chip provide some ray tracing capabilities, but the game’s implementation may not be optimized for this card, as the Ultra preset, which likely includes advanced effects, yields only 20 FPS at 4K. The GPU’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro K6000, has a similar average benchmark score, but the RX 6600 is a much newer card with newer features. The fact that the RX 6600's performance is so close to a 2013 workstation card in synthetic benchmarks suggests that its raw power is limited.

The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the card produces 84 FPS, which is a good result, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 30 FPS. This 64% performance reduction from Low to Ultra is a direct result of the GPU’s inability to handle the increased shader and texture workloads. The 14 Gbps effective memory speed and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are not sufficient for high-resolution textures and effects. The card’s 64 ROPs and 112 TMUs are also limiting factors for pixel fill rate and texture filtering. In summary, the RX 6600 provides a playable experience only at lower settings, and its VRAM and bandwidth constraints are clearly visible in the benchmark data for this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and setting for this CPU-GPU combo in The Medium?

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 with Medium settings is the best balance, yielding an average of 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 FPS. This is the only configuration that maintains an average above 50 FPS without sacrificing too much visual quality.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 or the AMD Radeon RX 6600 the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results clearly show that the GPU is the limiting component. FPS drops significantly as resolution and settings increase, while the CPU’s performance metrics are high, indicating it has ample headroom.

Q: Can this combo run The Medium at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produce an average of 55 FPS. Medium settings at 4K drop to 35 FPS, and High and Ultra are below 30 FPS, making them not recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RX 6600 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 6600 has an average benchmark score of 19,036. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro K6000, scores 19,030, which is a 0% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile scores 19,049, a -0.1% difference, showing they are nearly identical in raw compute.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested configurations in The Medium?

A: This specific combo is ranked 2260 out of 2911 tested combos, placing it in the lower 22% of all systems. This indicates that it is not a high-performing pairing for this game.

Q: Does the CPU’s 14-core, 14-thread configuration help in this game?

A: The CPU’s high benchmark scores, such as a 37,816 Passmark multithread score and 4,516 single-thread score, suggest it handles the game’s logic efficiently, but the FPS data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, so the CPU’s potential is not fully realized.

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

The following table lists the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset, based on the provided data.

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: 84 FPS
• Medium: 52 FPS (min 44, max 60)
• High: 37 FPS
• Ultra: 30 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: 71 FPS
• Medium: 44 FPS (min 37, max 51)
• High: 32 FPS
• Ultra: 25 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: 55 FPS
• Medium: 35 FPS (min 29, max 40)
• High: 25 FPS
• Ultra: 20 FPS

The data shows a consistent trend: the RX 6600 provides playable frame rates only at Low settings across all resolutions, with Medium being viable only at 1080p. Higher settings and resolutions result in sub-optimal performance, confirming the GPU-bound nature of this configuration.