The Medium

The Medium presents a unique visual and atmospheric challenge, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT produces a distinct performance profile. The data indicates this pairing is a capable, though not top-tier, performer for this specific horror title. With a combo rank of 846 out of 2911 tested configurations, the system sits comfortably in the upper third of all tested combos, suggesting a solid foundation for gameplay. The benchmark results reveal a system that is heavily influenced by graphical settings and resolution, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher fidelity presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The overall standing of this combo in The Medium is respectable, but not dominant. Placing 846th out of 2,911 tested combinations places it in the 71st percentile of all systems tested. This indicates that while the hardware is more than capable of running the game, a significant number of other configurations deliver higher frame rates. The ranking suggests a balance that leans heavily on the graphics card, as the CPU's strong synthetic scores do not translate into a top-tier gaming rank for this title.

The GPU, an AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, holds an 85th percentile ranking against all GPUs in the benchmark database. Its nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, are the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile, which it leads by 1.5%, and the Intel Arc A550M, which trails it by 2.5%. This places the RX 6800 XT in a competitive mid-to-high range for overall graphics compute. However, in the specific context of The Medium, this performance is tempered by the game's demanding visual effects, particularly at higher settings.

The CPU, an Intel Core Ultra 5 245, is a 90th percentile performer against all CPUs. It is nearly identical in average score to its closest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which it trails by a negligible 0.4%, and the Intel Core i5-14600K, which it leads by 0.8%. This indicates that the CPU is a very strong component, and its performance is not the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios. The data implies that the combo's rank is primarily determined by the GPU's ability to process the game's graphics workload.

The combination of a top-decile CPU with a high-tier GPU results in a system that is balanced, but the game's specific engine seems to favor the GPU. The 846th rank confirms the fact that while the CPU is excellent, the GPU, despite being strong, is not among the absolute elite for this title. The benchmark results suggest that for users seeking higher frame rates, the graphics card is the component to upgrade first, as the CPU has ample headroom to support a more powerful GPU.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Medium?*

A: The data shows 2560x1440 on Medium settings is a strong target, delivering an average of 73 FPS. For a smoother experience, 1920x1080 on Medium yields an average of 87 FPS, while the High preset at 1080p provides 62 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the system struggles with higher presets. The High preset averages only 41 FPS, and Ultra drops to 33 FPS. The Medium preset is more playable at 57 FPS, but the Low preset is the only one to exceed 60 FPS, hitting an average of 92 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 90th percentile and is within 0.8% of its nearest rivals. In contrast, the GPU's rank is lower, and the frame rates drop significantly as resolution and settings increase, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

Q: How does the RX 6800 XT compare to its direct rivals in this game?

A: The data does not provide in-game comparisons for this specific title. However, based on average benchmark scores, the RX 6800 XT is 1.5% faster than the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile and 3% slower than both the Intel Arc A550M and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 139 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 49 FPS. This represents a 90 FPS drop, or roughly a 65% reduction in frame rate, for the maximum visual fidelity.

Q: Can this system achieve a stable 60 FPS experience?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 on High settings, the combo averages 62 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the best option for a 60+ FPS experience, averaging 73 FPS. For a locked 60 FPS at 4K, only the Low preset, with an average of 92 FPS, provides sufficient headroom.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals the heavy toll that pixel count takes on the GPU. The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, the frame rate drops significantly at every settings preset. This is a strong indicator that the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the component under the most stress.

For example, on the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 62 FPS at 1080p to 52 FPS at 1440p, a 16% drop. Moving up to 4K, the frame rate falls further to 41 FPS, which is a 34% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 34% reduction from the 1080p figure. This steep decline highlights the GPU's struggle to manage the increased pixel fill rate required at higher resolutions.

The Low preset shows a similar trend but with higher absolute numbers. The system averages 139 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 117 FPS at 1440p (a 16% decrease) and then to 92 FPS at 4K (a 21% decrease from 1440p). While the frame rates remain playable, the relative performance loss is still significant. This suggests that even at the lowest settings, the GPU's processing power is heavily taxed at 4K.

The pattern strongly implies that the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, is not the bottleneck in this scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see less variation in frame rates across resolutions, as the CPU's workload (draw calls, physics, game logic) remains relatively constant. Instead, the consistent and pronounced frame rate drops with each resolution increase point directly to the GPU as the primary constraint for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a detailed look at the system's performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates a wide range of capabilities. On the Low preset, it achieves a very high average of 139 FPS, indicating a smooth and responsive experience. The Medium preset offers a solid 87 FPS average, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. The High preset still delivers a playable 62 FPS average. However, the Ultra preset brings the system down to a 49 FPS average, which is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance impact of the higher pixel count is clear. The Low preset remains smooth at 117 FPS. The Medium preset is the standout performer here, providing a very playable 73 FPS average, with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. The High preset drops to 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 42 FPS. These numbers suggest that 1440p is best enjoyed with Medium settings for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the system is pushed to its limits. The Low preset is the only one that delivers a consistently high frame rate, averaging 92 FPS. The Medium preset is borderline, with a 57 FPS average and a minimum of 49 FPS, indicating potential stutters in demanding scenes. The High preset drops to 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset is nearly unplayable at 33 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant compromises in visual quality to achieve smooth performance.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the decisive factor in The Medium's performance. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it has a substantial memory bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s. This capacity and bandwidth are crucial for a game like this, which likely uses high-resolution textures and complex shaders. The data suggests that the GPU's compute power is the primary driver of frame rates, as evidenced by the significant performance drops at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU's clock speeds are also a key factor. With a base clock of 1825 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz, it has the potential for high throughput. The measured results show that this potential is realized, but it is capped by the demands of the game. The 20.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is a strong figure, but it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with Ultra settings, where it averages just 33 FPS.

The GPU's benchmark standing, with an 85th percentile ranking, confirms its position as a high-end component. Its performance is closely matched by rivals such as the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile and the Intel Arc A550M, with deltas of 1.5% and -2.5%, respectively. This indicates that the RX 6800 XT is not a class leader but rather sits in a competitive tier where its performance in a specific game like The Medium will determine its usefulness. The data implies that the GPU is the component to monitor, as its limitations directly define the playable settings and resolutions for this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 plays a supporting, yet essential, role in this configuration. With 14 cores and 14 threads, it is a substantial multi-threaded processor. Its boost clock of 5.10 GHz ensures that it can handle single-threaded tasks, such as game logic and physics calculations, without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU's 90th percentile ranking against all other CPUs reinforces this, showing it is more than capable of feeding the GPU with data.

The CPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks is impressive, but its impact on gaming is indirect. The data shows that the frame rates in The Medium are primarily dictated by the GPU's workload. This is supported by the fact that the CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G and the Intel Core i5-14600K, have nearly identical average scores, with deltas of -0.4% and 0.8%, respectively. This parity in CPU performance suggests that swapping to a different, similarly-performing CPU would have a negligible effect on the game's frame rate.

The CPU's large 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory help ensure smooth data flow to the GPU. However, the benchmark results indicate that the CPU has enough headroom to support a more powerful graphics card than the RX 6800 XT. The fact that frame rates drop primarily with resolution and settings changes, rather than with scene complexity, implies that the CPU is not being saturated. In this specific game, the Core Ultra 5 245 provides a stable foundation, but it is the GPU that determines the final performance outcome.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and preference for visual fidelity versus frame rate. For players with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 62 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. For those who prioritize a higher frame rate, the Medium preset at 87 FPS offers a significant boost in smoothness with a moderate reduction in graphical detail.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the clear winner. It delivers an average of 73 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while maintaining a reasonable level of visual detail. The High preset at 52 FPS is playable but may show stutters in more intense scenes. The Ultra preset at 42 FPS is not recommended for a consistently enjoyable experience.

For 3840x2160 displays, the choices are more constrained. The Low preset is the only option that provides a consistently high frame rate, averaging 92 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 57 FPS and a minimum of 49 FPS, is a risky choice as it may dip below playable levels. The High and Ultra presets are not viable for a smooth experience, with averages of 41 FPS and 33 FPS, respectively. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo requires prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity, making the Low preset the most practical choice for a smooth experience.