The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination delivers a playable, though not uniformly smooth, experience in The Medium, with performance heavily dictated by resolution and settings. The data indicates a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom at 1080p. This pairing ranks in the 56th percentile of all tested combos, reflecting a mid-tier standing that struggles with the game's most demanding presets at 4K.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which are substantial frequencies for handling game logic and frame pacing. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus provide a solid foundation for feeding the GPU with data.

In the context of The Medium, a horror title that relies on fixed-camera angles and dual-reality rendering, the CPU's role is to manage the game's simulation and draw calls. The benchmark results show that this processor is far from a limiting factor in this specific game. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 101 FPS, which is more than double the 45 FPS seen at High settings. This massive jump when lowering graphical fidelity strongly suggests that the GPU, not the CPU, is the constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively static across different graphics presets.

The Core Ultra 5 245's single-thread performance is robust, as indicated by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4394. This is relevant because The Medium's engine likely relies on a few primary threads for rendering and game logic. The processor's multi-core capabilities are also strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924, but these are underutilized in this title. The data shows that the CPU's performance percentile is 90, meaning it outperforms 90% of all CPUs in general benchmarks. However, in this game's specific workloads, the GPU's limitations prevent the CPU from reaching its full potential.

The processor's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, with the Core Ultra 5 245 trailing them by 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively. It also sits just 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K. These marginal differences in synthetic benchmarks are unlikely to manifest as tangible differences in The Medium's frame rates, given that the GPU is the dominant factor. The CPU's 14 threads are more than sufficient for this title, and the measured FPS data confirms that the processor's clock speeds and core count are not the reason for any performance shortfalls at higher resolutions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the defining component in this pairing, and its specifications directly explain the performance envelope observed. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and it is built on the Turing architecture with 2560 shading units. These specifications place the card in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, which is a mid-range standing. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor for The Medium, a game that renders two versions of the world simultaneously, placing significant pressure on memory.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU's performance degrades predictably as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p Low, the system averages 101 FPS, which is excellent. However, at 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 36 FPS. This 65% reduction in frame rate from Low to Ultra at the same resolution is a direct consequence of the GPU being overwhelmed by the graphical workload. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM is likely a limiting factor at Ultra settings, where texture detail and memory allocation are at their highest. The GPU's average benchmark score is 20282, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (1% lower) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (1.2% lower). This indicates that the card is positioned slightly above entry-level Turing and Ampere mobile parts but far below current desktop flagship offerings.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is another critical specification. At 4K resolution, the system averages only 30 FPS at High settings, which suggests that the GPU is not only VRAM-limited but also bandwidth-limited. The 256-bit bus and GDDR6 memory are not sufficient to sustain high frame rates at 4K with demanding settings. The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 2070 SUPER is a capable 1080p card, but it becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution scales upward. The GPU's performance is the sole reason for the lower frame rates in this game, as the CPU has ample headroom to deliver higher FPS if the graphics card could keep up.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings to play The Medium with this combo for a smooth experience?*

A: Based on the measured FPS data, the most balanced option is 1080p with Medium settings, which yields an average of 63 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS. This provides a comfortable frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold. For a more fluid experience, 1080p Low offers an average of 101 FPS, while 1440p Low averages 85 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but only at the cost of visual fidelity. At 4K with Low settings, the system averages 67 FPS, which is playable. However, at 4K Medium, the average drops to 42 FPS, and at 4K High and Ultra, it falls to 30 FPS and 24 FPS respectively. The data indicates that 4K gaming is only viable with Low settings.

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

A: The GPU is overwhelmingly the limiting factor. The evidence is clear when comparing frame rates across settings at the same resolution. For example, at 1080p, the frame rate drops from 101 FPS at Low to 36 FPS at Ultra. If the CPU were the bottleneck, this variance would not be so pronounced. The CPU's high benchmark scores, such as its 90th percentile ranking, support this conclusion.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20282. Its closest competitor, the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, has a score of 20480, which is 1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, which is 1.2% higher. The Intel Arc B570 and Arc A750 are 1.3% and 1.5% higher, respectively. These are all very close margins, indicating the GPU sits in a tight performance cluster.

Q: What is the maximum frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded in the data is 101 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that breaks the 100 FPS barrier. At 1440p Low, the average is 85 FPS, and at 4K Low, it is 67 FPS.

Q: Does the 8 GB of VRAM on the GPU cause issues at higher settings?

A: The data strongly suggests that VRAM capacity is a factor. At 1080p Ultra, the average frame rate is 36 FPS, a steep drop from the 63 FPS at Medium. This pattern of significant FPS loss when moving to Ultra settings is consistent with the GPU running out of memory, forcing the system to rely on slower fallback methods. The 8 GB capacity is insufficient for the game's highest texture and detail settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is ranked 1648 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places the pairing in the middle of the pack, specifically at the 56.6th percentile. This ranking reflects the GPU's mid-tier status, as the CPU is a high-end part that is being held back by the graphics card. The rank indicates that a majority of tested systems perform better, likely due to the inclusion of more powerful GPUs.

The GPU's individual percentile of 65 is higher than the combo's overall rank, which further emphasizes that the CPU is not the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the combo rank would be much closer to the CPU's 90th percentile. Instead, the combo rank is dragged down by the GPU's performance. The data shows that this pairing is not competitive with systems using higher-end graphics cards, but it outperforms a significant portion of the tested database. The rank of 1648 means that there are 1263 tested combos that perform worse, which is a substantial number. This suggests that while the RTX 2070 SUPER is not a top-tier card, it is still capable of delivering playable frame rates in this game at moderate settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 101 at 1080p to 85 at 1440p, and then to 67 at 4K. This is a 16% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 21% drop from 1440p to 4K. This relatively moderate decline suggests that at Low settings, the GPU is not heavily strained, and the performance scaling is closer to linear as pixel count increases.

However, at High settings, the scaling is more severe. The average FPS is 45 at 1080p, 38 at 1440p, and 30 at 4K. This represents a 16% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 21% drop from 1440p to 4K. The percentage drops are similar to Low settings, but the absolute frame rates are much lower. This indicates that the GPU is working closer to its limits at High settings, and the additional pixel load at higher resolutions has a proportionally larger impact on performance.

The Medium and Ultra settings show the most extreme scaling. At Medium, the frame rate goes from 63 FPS at 1080p to 53 FPS at 1440p and 42 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, it goes from 36 FPS at 1080p to 30 FPS at 1440p and 24 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is nearly unplayable, and the data shows that the GPU is completely overwhelmed at this configuration. The consistent pattern of frame rate drops as resolution increases confirms that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the primary limiting component. The CPU's performance remains constant across these resolutions, so the FPS variance is solely attributable to the GPU's rendering workload.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination, as measured in the data. Minimum and maximum FPS are included where available.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :---------- | :------ | :------ |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | High | 30 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Low | 67 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Medium | 42 | 35 | 48 |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Ultra | 24 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 38 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 85 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 53 | 45 | 61 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 30 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 45 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 101 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 63 | 54 | 72 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 36 | N/A | N/A |

The data reveals that the only configuration to exceed 100 FPS is 1080p Low. For a consistently smooth experience, 1080p Medium is the optimal choice, as it maintains an average of 63 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS. At 1440p, Low settings are the only option that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 85 FPS. The 4K resolution is only playable at Low settings, with 67 FPS. All other configurations at 4K fall below 45 FPS, with Ultra settings dropping to an unplayable 24 FPS. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings show that the game can stutter, with a 54 FPS minimum at 1080p and a 35 FPS minimum at 4K. This indicates that the GPU's frame pacing is not always consistent, even at settings that achieve a high average frame rate.