The Medium

The Medium is a game that stresses both the CPU and GPU heavily, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER produces a unique performance profile. The data reveals a system that is capable of 1080p and 1440p gaming but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, particularly at higher presets. Analysis of the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings shows a clear pattern of GPU limitation at high resolutions, while the CPU’s 14 cores and 14 threads provide a solid foundation that prevents the system from becoming bottlenecked at lower resolutions. This combination ranks 1648 out of 2911 tested combos for this title, placing it in the lower half of the database and indicating that while it can run the game, it does so with significant compromises at the highest visual settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 101 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 85 FPS, and at 4K, the average falls to 67 FPS. This represents a 16% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 21% reduction from 1440p to 4K at the Low preset. The pattern is similar across all settings presets, but the absolute frame rates at 4K are particularly telling. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 42, and at 4K High it drops to 30 FPS. The 4K Ultra preset manages only 24 FPS on average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

The scaling behavior indicates that the limiting component changes as resolution increases. At 1080p, the gap between Low (101 FPS) and Ultra (36 FPS) is a massive 65 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is doing most of the work and its performance varies greatly with settings. However, this gap narrows proportionally at higher resolutions. At 4K, the difference between Low (67 FPS) and Ultra (24 FPS) is 43 FPS. The fact that even Low settings at 4K cannot exceed 67 FPS points to the GPU being the primary bottleneck at this resolution. The RTX 2070 SUPER, with its 8 GB of VRAM and 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, is simply overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K. The data strongly suggests that for this combination, 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is not ideal for all users.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its benchmark results show a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085. In the context of this game, the CPU’s role appears to be providing a stable baseline that does not impede the GPU at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system produces 101 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it produces 63 FPS. These numbers indicate that the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU with data, as the frame rate is not collapsing when the resolution is lowered, which would be a sign of a CPU bottleneck.

However, the CPU’s performance relative to its rivals is noteworthy. In the average benchmark score, the Core Ultra 5 235 scores 46062, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098). The delta percentages are all within 0.2% of these rivals, meaning that in general compute tasks, this CPU is effectively tied with them. For The Medium specifically, this means the CPU is not a differentiator. The game’s engine appears to be more sensitive to GPU throughput than CPU thread count, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rates scale almost exclusively with the GPU’s workload. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory are adequate for this title, but the data does not suggest that additional cores or higher clocks would yield significantly better FPS in this scenario.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the clear performance limiter in this combination for most of the measured settings. With a boost clock of 1770 MHz, 2560 shading units, and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it delivers a Passmark G3D score of 18169 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1651. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 20282 places it just below the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (20480) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534), with delta percentages of -1% and -1.2% respectively. This means the RTX 2070 SUPER is performing as expected for its class, but it is a generation behind the current standard.

The game’s performance at 4K is the clearest indicator of the GPU’s limitations. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 42, with minimum and maximum of 35 and 48 FPS. This tight range suggests the GPU is consistently hitting its compute ceiling. At 4K High, the average drops to 30 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 24 FPS. These are all below the 60 FPS target that most users consider smooth. The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is also a concern at 4K, as The Medium is a texture-heavy horror title that can easily exceed this limit at higher presets, potentially causing stuttering or texture pop-in. The data shows that the RTX 2070 SUPER is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can produce respectable frame rates, but it is not a 4K-capable card for this game at high settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combination can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 101 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only preset and resolution combination that exceeds the 100 FPS mark.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The data shows that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, where the average FPS is 67. At Medium settings, the average drops to 42 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 30 FPS and 24 FPS respectively. These latter numbers are below the typical playable threshold of 30 FPS for many users.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in general GPU benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20282. This is 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (20480), 1.2% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534), and 1.5% lower than the Intel Arc A750 (20582). It is effectively on par with these competitors.

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this hardware for a balance of quality and speed?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides an average of 53 FPS, with minimum and maximum of 45 and 61 FPS. This is a more stable and playable experience than 4K, while offering higher visual fidelity than 1080p.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 101 FPS, showing the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The lowest average FPS is 24 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is also the only preset where the average FPS falls below 30.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is organized by resolution and settings preset. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 101 FPS, Medium settings produce 63 FPS (with a range of 54 to 72 FPS), High settings produce 45 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 36 FPS. At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low 85 FPS, Medium 53 FPS (with a range of 45 to 61 FPS), High 38 FPS, and Ultra 30 FPS. At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low 67 FPS, Medium 42 FPS (with a range of 35 to 48 FPS), High 30 FPS, and Ultra 24 FPS.

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: for every resolution, the Low preset provides roughly double the frame rate of the Ultra preset. For example, at 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra represents a 64% reduction in average FPS. At 1440p, the reduction is 65%, and at 4K, it is 64%. This consistency indicates that the game’s settings have a similar relative impact on performance regardless of resolution. The minimum and maximum FPS values are only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution, and they show a spread of about 13 to 16 FPS around the average. This suggests that the Medium preset has some frame time variance, but it is not extreme enough to be considered unplayable.

Settings Recommendations

The data suggests that the Medium preset is the most balanced option for this hardware at both 1080p and 1440p. At 1920x1080, Medium yields 63 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, and it does so with a minimum of 54 FPS, ensuring that frame drops do not become too disruptive. At 2560x1440, Medium yields 53 FPS, which is still playable for a horror game, and the minimum of 45 FPS is acceptable. The High preset at 1440p drops to 38 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold, and the Ultra preset at 1080p (36 FPS) is similarly not recommended for a consistent experience.

For 4K, the choice is more constrained. The Low preset at 3840x2160 produces 67 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that provides a genuinely smooth experience. The Medium preset at 4K (42 FPS) is borderline, but the minimum of 35 FPS could be noticeable in tense scenes. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are effectively unplayable for most users, with averages of 30 FPS and 24 FPS. Therefore, the recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1440p as the primary choice, as it offers a good balance of visual quality and performance. If the user prioritizes frame rate over fidelity, Low settings at 1080p offers the highest possible speed. For 4K, Low settings are the only viable option to maintain a playable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for The Medium, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER holds a rank of 1648 out of 2911 total combos. This places it in the 57th percentile, meaning it outperforms 57% of all tested combinations but is outperformed by 43% of them. This rank is a direct reflection of the GPU’s mid-range standing in the current hardware landscape. The CPU’s strong general benchmark scores, which place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, do not boost the combo’s rank because the game is so heavily reliant on GPU performance.

The rank of 1648 suggests that this is a mid-pack performer for The Medium. It will handle the game at 1080p and 1440p with reasonable settings, but it will not excel at 4K. The GPU’s position in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, combined with its benchmark scores that are nearly identical to the RTX 3070 Mobile and Intel Arc A750, means that users can expect performance similar to those parts. The data shows that this combo is not a high-end option for this game, but it is also not a low-end one. It sits firmly in the middle of the pack, capable of delivering a decent experience for users who are willing to adjust settings to match the hardware’s capabilities. The large number of combos ranked above it (1263) indicates that many systems will run this game better, while the 1263 combos below it will perform worse.