The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title built on Unreal Engine 4, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, focusing on how the system scales across resolutions and settings. The data reveals a configuration that is capable at 1080p and 1440p but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, with the graphics card emerging as the primary bottleneck in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a steep and predictable decline as resolution increases, indicating that the rendering load on the GPU is the dominant factor. At 1080p with Medium settings, the combo produces an average of 69 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same preset drops the average to 58 FPS, a reduction of 11 frames. The jump to 4K at Medium settings further reduces the average to 45 FPS, which is a 24-frame drop from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern—where each step up in resolution costs a significant number of frames—is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario.

The trend becomes even more pronounced at the highest quality settings. At Ultra, the system delivers 39 FPS at 1080p, 33 FPS at 1440p, and only 26 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is 13 frames, a 33% reduction in performance. In contrast, at Low settings, the 1080p result is 110 FPS, which drops to 92 FPS at 1440p and then to 73 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 4K at Low is 37 frames, which is a larger absolute drop than at Ultra. This suggests that even when the visual load is reduced, the sheer pixel count at 4K overwhelms the GPU.

The data indicates that the limiting component at higher resolutions is unequivocally the graphics card. The Radeon RX 6700 XT, with its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth, is being pushed to its limits. The transition from 1440p to 4K is particularly punishing; at High settings, the average frame rate falls from 41 FPS to 32 FPS, crossing below the 60 FPS threshold and approaching the 30 FPS line that is often considered the minimum for acceptable playability. The results show that 4K is not a viable target for this configuration in The Medium, as even the Low preset, which yields 73 FPS, does so with significant visual compromises. The system is far more comfortable at 1080p and 1440p, where the GPU has more headroom to maintain higher frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. Its role in The Medium is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic, a task it handles without becoming the primary constraint. The benchmark results show that at 1080p, the CPU is not holding back performance, as the frame rates scale consistently with resolution changes. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in frame rates as resolution decreases, but that is not the case here.

The processor's boost clock of 5.00 GHz provides strong single-thread performance, which is crucial for games that rely on a primary render thread. In Cinebench R23, the CPU scores 2085 points in the single-core test, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This high single-core capability ensures that the game's main thread is not a limiting factor. The multi-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 score of 14769, is also robust, though The Medium's workload appears to be more dependent on single-thread speed than on raw multi-thread throughput.

The CPU's position relative to its nearest rivals reinforces its capability. The data shows the Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, which is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098). This places it in the same performance tier as these processors. In the context of this game, the CPU's performance is sufficient to keep the GPU adequately fed at all tested resolutions. The bottleneck analysis points to the GPU, as the frame rate drops are directly correlated with the increase in pixel count, not with any CPU-related limitation. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth are adequate for the game's data streaming needs.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the clear determinant of performance in this configuration. With a boost clock of 2581 MHz and a game clock of 2424 MHz, the GPU's raw compute power is substantial, yet it is the 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus that is the key factor in its performance profile. The memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s is a critical resource for a game like The Medium, which uses high-resolution textures and complex lighting effects. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the limiting component at all resolutions, but its shortfall becomes more acute as the resolution increases.

The GPU's FP32 performance is rated at 13.21 TFLOPS, and its 40 ray accelerators provide hardware support for DirectX 12 Ultimate. However, the measured FPS data suggests that these capabilities are insufficient for 4K gaming in this title. At 4K Ultra, the GPU delivers only 26 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience. Even at 4K Medium, the average frame rate of 45 FPS is not ideal. The GPU's performance in the PassMark G3D benchmark is 19786, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 27425 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile (27435) and slightly behind the RTX 3090 (27565).

The data indicates a GPU that is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1440p High, it manages 41 FPS, and at 1080p High, it achieves 49 FPS. These are playable frame rates, though they are not consistently in the 60 FPS range. The GPU's VRAM capacity of 12 GB is sufficient for the game's textures at these resolutions, but the bandwidth and compute throughput are the limiting factors. The results show that the card's design, with a TDP of 230 W and a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, is optimized for mainstream gaming, not for 4K enthusiast settings. The GPU's nearest rival comparisons show that its performance is in a competitive bracket, but that bracket does not include high-refresh-rate 4K play.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 69 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in The Medium?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 32 FPS on High, 45 FPS on Medium, and 26 FPS on Ultra. These are below the 60 FPS threshold and approach the 30 FPS minimum for acceptable playability.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average score of 46062. This is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030), 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098), and 0.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 4364P (45970).

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces an average of 92 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 33 FPS. This is a difference of 59 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for higher visual fidelity.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. As resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, frame rates drop consistently, which is a sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's high single-core score supports this conclusion.

Q: What is the best resolution for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: None of the tested settings achieve a consistent 60 FPS average. The closest is 1080p Low at 110 FPS, but for higher quality, 1440p Low yields 92 FPS. At Medium settings, 1080p is the only resolution above 60 FPS, at 69 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Medium, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT ranks 1486 out of 2911 combos. This places it in the 51st percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of the configurations in the database. This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the hardware's individual performance characteristics. The CPU is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. The combination of a high-end CPU with a mid-to-high-end GPU results in a system that is solidly mainstream, but not at the top tier for this game.

The ranking suggests that there are many combinations that can achieve higher frame rates in The Medium, likely those with more powerful GPUs. The fact that the GPU is the bottleneck means that upgrading the graphics card would provide a more significant performance boost than upgrading the CPU. The combo's rank reflects a balanced pairing where the CPU is not the primary constraint, but the GPU's limitations cap the overall performance. This is a common scenario for systems built around the Radeon RX 6700 XT, which was designed for 1440p gaming rather than 4K. The rank of 1486 out of 2911 indicates that while the system is capable, it is not optimized for the highest settings at high resolutions in this particular title.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For a balanced experience that maintains visual quality while providing a playable frame rate, the Medium preset is the best choice at 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p Medium, the system averages 69 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 58 FPS, which is still acceptable for a horror game that does not require rapid reflexes.

For users who prioritize higher frame rates, the Low preset is the only option that consistently exceeds 90 FPS. At 1080p Low, the average is 110 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it is 92 FPS. However, this comes at a significant cost to visual fidelity. The High preset is a middle ground, but it yields average frame rates of 49 FPS at 1080p and 41 FPS at 1440p, which may feel less fluid. The Ultra preset is not recommended for this configuration, as it produces 39 FPS at 1080p and 33 FPS at 1440p, dipping below the 60 FPS threshold and approaching the 30 FPS minimum. For 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which achieves 73 FPS, but the visual quality is noticeably reduced.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best compromise between visual quality and performance. It provides a stable experience at 1080p and a playable one at 1440p, with minimum FPS of 58 and 49, respectively. Users should avoid Ultra settings, which push the GPU too hard, and reserve High settings for situations where a lower frame rate is acceptable. The Medium preset is the recommended starting point, with adjustments made down to Low if a higher frame rate is desired.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 32 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 73 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 45 | 39 | 52 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 26 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 41 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 92 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 58 | 49 | 66 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 33 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 49 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 110 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 69 | 58 | 79 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 39 | - | - |

The data shows a clear hierarchy of performance. At 1080p, the system is capable of high frame rates on lower presets, with the Low preset reaching 110 FPS. The Medium preset provides a solid 69 FPS, which is the highest average across all settings that still maintains a reasonable visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with 39 FPS, is the weakest performer, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor even at this resolution. At 1440p, the pattern continues, with the Low preset at 92 FPS being the only option above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 58 FPS is the next best, followed by High at 41 FPS and Ultra at 33 FPS. At 4K, all settings except Low produce sub-60 FPS averages, and Ultra falls to 26 FPS. The minimum and maximum FPS data for the Medium preset shows a consistent frame pacing, with a spread of 13-17 FPS across all resolutions, indicating a stable experience without major stutters.