The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that stresses both the processor and the graphics solution, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon 8060S produces a playable, but sometimes fragile, experience. This pairing sits in the 1648th position out of 2911 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. The data indicates that this is a configuration where the graphics processor is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides a solid foundation for lower-resolution performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern as resolution increases, with the most dramatic shifts occurring between 1080p and 4K. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 45 FPS at 1920x1080 to 38 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 30 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 33% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, which is a significant but not unusual scaling curve for a game with heavy rendering demands. The progression is linear, suggesting that the GPU is being tasked with progressively more pixel work, and its capabilities are being stretched to the limit at 4K.

The Low preset tells a more interesting story about the system's headroom. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 101, which drops to 85 at 2560x1440, and then to 67 at 3840x2160. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K here is approximately 34%, which is nearly identical to the High preset scaling. However, the absolute numbers are much higher, indicating that when the graphical load is reduced, the GPU has enough resources to maintain a fluid experience even at 4K. This suggests that the underlying hardware is capable, but the High preset at 4K pushes the GPU past its comfortable operating point.

Looking at the Medium preset, which has the most complete data with min and max FPS values, the scaling is similarly consistent. The average FPS at 1080p is 63, at 1440p it is 53, and at 4K it is 42. The min FPS values are particularly telling: 53 at 1080p, 45 at 1440p, and 35 at 4K. These minimums show that even when the frame rate dips, it remains above 30 FPS at all resolutions, which is a critical threshold for playability. The gap between min and max FPS also widens slightly at higher resolutions, from a 19 FPS spread at 1080p to a 13 FPS spread at 4K, indicating more variance in frame times as the GPU works harder.

The Ultra preset shows the steepest scaling curve, with average FPS dropping from 36 at 1080p to 30 at 1440p and then to 24 at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 4K, but the absolute values are all below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer. The data strongly indicates that Ultra settings are too demanding for this combo at any resolution, and the 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is the worst-case scenario in the entire dataset. The scaling pattern across all presets confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck; if the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain more constant as resolution increases, but the consistent drops point directly at the rendering hardware.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 24873 and a single-thread score of 3468. These numbers place the CPU in the 83rd percentile against all tested CPUs, which indicates it is a capable performer for a mobile part. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i5-14600T, which scores 32707 in the average benchmark, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which scores 32662, with the Ultra 7 155H essentially matching both within a 0.1% delta.

For a game like The Medium, which is a horror title with a fixed-camera style and frequent scene transitions, the CPU's role is to manage the game logic, physics, and the streaming of assets. The 16 cores and 22 threads provide ample parallelism for these tasks, and the high boost clock of 4.80 GHz ensures that single-threaded performance is not a bottleneck. The data from the measured FPS supports this assessment: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 101 FPS, which is a strong result that suggests the CPU is feeding the GPU effectively. If the CPU were weak, we would expect to see lower FPS at 1080p, where the GPU has less work to do per frame, but the 101 FPS result indicates otherwise.

The CPU's cache configuration, with 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3, is generous for a mobile processor. This large cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, which can reduce latency in game logic and improve frame pacing. The memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, provided by dual-channel DDR5, is also sufficient for the game's needs, especially since the GPU uses system shared memory. However, the fact that the GPU shares this memory bandwidth with the CPU could become a limiting factor in some scenarios, particularly at higher resolutions where the GPU needs to access more texture data.

The CPU's benchmark scores relative to its rivals are notable. It essentially matches the Intel Core i5-14600T and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 in average score, with deltas of 0% and 0.1% respectively. It is also within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H. This tight grouping suggests that the Ultra 7 155H is performing right in line with its expected class, and the measured game FPS reflects this: the system is not being held back by an underperforming CPU, but it is also not gaining any advantage from an unusually strong chip. The CPU is doing its job, but the game's performance is clearly dictated by the graphics solution.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S is an integrated graphics processor based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process with a die size of 308 mm². It features 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, with 40 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz, delivering a peak FP32 performance of 14.85 TFLOPS. Its benchmark scores include a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2162, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 84626, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 80483, placing it in the 87th percentile against all GPUs.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database are surprising. It sits within 0.1% of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, and it is actually 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 in the average benchmark score, though this is likely due to the specific benchmark suite. More relevantly, it is 1.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X and 2.8% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. These comparisons suggest that the 8060S is a very strong integrated solution, punching well above its weight class compared to discrete GPUs from previous generations. However, the measured game performance tells a more nuanced story.

The GPU uses System Shared memory, which means its VRAM size, bus width, and bandwidth are all system-dependent. This is a critical factor for The Medium, a game that is known for its high-resolution textures and dual-reality rendering. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 24, which is below the 30 FPS threshold for playability. This is likely due to the shared memory architecture, where the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The fact that the 8060S has a TDP of 55 W also indicates that it is power-limited, which constrains its sustained performance under heavy load.

The GPU's performance in the measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of diminishing returns as settings increase. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 63, which is a solid result for an integrated GPU. But at 4K High, it drops to 30 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 24 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution is substantial: at 1080p, the difference is 65 FPS (101 vs 36), and at 4K, it is 43 FPS (67 vs 24). This indicates that the GPU's shading units and ROPs are the limiting factor, as increasing the quality settings directly impacts the fill rate and pixel processing demands. The 14.85 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is respectable, but it is not enough to handle the game's most demanding settings at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Radeon 8060S ranks 1648th out of 2911 tested combos for The Medium. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all tested configurations, meaning that roughly 57% of combinations tested perform better in this specific game. This is a moderate ranking, and it reflects the fact that the GPU, while impressive for an integrated part, is still outclassed by many discrete graphics solutions. The CPU's strong benchmark position (83rd percentile) is somewhat offset by the GPU's lower position (87th percentile) when considering the game's specific demands.

The ranking is particularly informative when compared to the GPU's nearest rivals. The Radeon 8060S is essentially tied with the Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB in average benchmark score, but the RX 6750 GRE is a discrete card with dedicated VRAM, which likely gives it an advantage in a memory-intensive game like The Medium. The fact that this integrated combo ranks in the lower half of the database suggests that the shared memory architecture is a real handicap, even though the raw compute performance is competitive. The combo rank also indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor; if it were, we would expect the ranking to be closer to the CPU's 83rd percentile position.

The combo's ranking of 1648 out of 2911 is a useful reference point for builders. It means that this configuration is capable of running The Medium, but it requires careful settings management to achieve a consistent experience. The data shows that the combo performs best at 1080p with Medium or Low settings, where it can maintain frame rates in the 63-101 FPS range. At 1440p, the Medium preset is viable at 53 FPS, but High and Ultra settings push it below 40 FPS. At 4K, only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 67 FPS, while Medium drops to 42 FPS and High drops to 30 FPS. This ranking suggests that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with some headroom for 1440p if the user is willing to compromise on quality settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS dataset for this combo provides a detailed picture of its performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 101 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 63 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS, showing a stable frame rate with only a 19 FPS variance. The High preset averages 45 FPS, which is playable but not smooth, and the Ultra preset averages 36 FPS, which is borderline for a horror game where smooth motion is important for immersion.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 85 FPS, which is still quite playable. The Medium preset averages 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS, showing a tighter 16 FPS spread than at 1080p. The High preset averages 38 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stutter during fast camera movements. The Ultra preset averages 30 FPS, which is exactly at the threshold of playability, but the lack of min/max data suggests it may dip lower in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 67 FPS, which is surprisingly strong for an integrated GPU at 4K. The Medium preset averages 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS, showing a 13 FPS spread that indicates some frame time inconsistency. The High preset averages 30 FPS, which is marginal, and the Ultra preset averages 24 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming is only viable with the Low preset, and even then, the frame rate is not locked to 60 FPS.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: the Low preset provides the best frame rates, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The Medium preset is the only one that provides min/max FPS data at all resolutions, and the minimums are always above 30 FPS, which is a positive sign for stability. The High and Ultra presets lack min/max data, which may indicate that the frame rates are too unstable to report meaningful ranges. The overall picture is that this combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with Medium settings, where it can provide a balanced experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and the user's preference for frame rate versus visual quality. For a 1080p display, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation, as it provides an average of 63 FPS with a minimum of 53 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for most of the time and never dips below 50 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness, and the 19 FPS variance between min and max indicates acceptable frame pacing. The Low preset at 101 FPS is ideal for users who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual quality hit may not be worth the extra 38 FPS for a slower-paced horror game.

For a 1440p display, the Medium preset remains the best option, with an average of 53 FPS and a minimum of 45 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS target, but it is still playable, and the 45 FPS minimum ensures that the game does not become a slideshow during intense moments. The Low preset at 85 FPS is also viable for users who want a smoother experience and are willing to sacrifice visual detail. The High preset at 38 FPS is not recommended, as it is too close to the 30 FPS threshold and will likely result in noticeable stuttering. The Ultra preset at 30 FPS is at the edge of playability and should be avoided.

For a 4K display, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 67 FPS. This is surprising for an integrated GPU, but the data confirms that the 8060S can handle 4K when the graphical load is reduced. The Medium preset at 42 FPS is playable but may feel sluggish, and the minimum of 35 FPS is dangerously close to the 30 FPS threshold. The High preset at 30 FPS is not recommended, and the Ultra preset at 24 FPS is unplayable. Users with 4K displays should strongly consider running the game at 1440p with Medium settings instead, as the 53 FPS average would provide a much better experience than 67 FPS at 4K Low with significantly reduced visual quality.

The data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions. It provides the most consistent performance, with min FPS values that never drop below 35 FPS, and it offers a reasonable balance of visual effects that the Radeon 8060S can handle. For users who are sensitive to frame rate dips, the Low preset is a safer choice, but the Medium preset represents the best compromise between the two extremes. The High and Ultra presets should be reserved for static scenes or screenshots, as they do not provide a consistently playable experience at any resolution.