The Medium

The Medium, when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, presents a demanding workload that heavily favors lower settings and resolutions. The measured data indicates that this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve playable frame rates, while 4K gaming is only viable at the lowest settings. The hardware profile reveals a significant bottleneck at higher resolutions, making the GPU the primary limiting factor in this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, clearly identifying the GPU as the limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 42 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average FPS falls to 35, a reduction of 7 frames. At 4K, the average plummets to 28 FPS, which is a 33% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern is not unique to High settings; it is observed across the entire settings spectrum, indicating a fundamental resolution bottleneck.

The data for Medium settings provides the most complete picture, as it includes minimum and maximum frame rates. At 1080p Medium, the average is 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 67. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 49 FPS (min 42, max 57). At 4K Medium, the average falls to 39 FPS (min 33, max 45). The scaling between 1080p and 1440p is a 10 FPS drop, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is another 10 FPS. This shows that the cost of each resolution increase is significant, but the frame rate remains within playable territory at Medium settings until 4K.

The most telling evidence of the GPU bottleneck is the performance at Low settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves a robust 94 FPS average. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU well at this resolution. However, at 1440p Low, the average drops to 79 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 62 FPS. While these are still playable numbers, the 32 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K at Low settings highlights how quickly the GPU's workload increases with pixel count. The GPU is simply unable to maintain the high throughput it achieves at 1080p when tasked with rendering four times the pixels.

The scaling from Low to Ultra at any given resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the jump from Low (94 FPS) to Ultra (33 FPS) is a 61 FPS swing, demonstrating that the visual fidelity settings have a massive impact on the GPU's workload. The data suggests that for users prioritizing high refresh rates, 1080p is the only viable target, while 4K is reserved for those who prioritize visual quality over smooth gameplay, and even then, only at Low settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, built on Intel's 7 nm Meteor Lake architecture. Its benchmark scores are respectable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743. The data suggests that this CPU is not the primary constraint in The Medium, as the frame rates are more heavily influenced by resolution and graphics settings.

The CPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks places it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32697. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T, which has a nearly identical average score of 32707 (0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which is 0.1% faster. This indicates that the 155H is a solid mid-to-high-range mobile processor, but its performance is not exceptional enough to compensate for the GPU's limitations.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. The fact that the frame rate scales so dramatically with resolution suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 4K performance, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant. Instead, the data shows that the frame rate is heavily dependent on the GPU's rendering load.

The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth are likely sufficient for the game's logic and asset streaming. The PassMark multi-thread score of 24873 and single-thread score of 3468 indicate a capable processor for general gaming tasks. However, the frame rates at 1080p High (42 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (33 FPS) are not particularly high, suggesting that even at lower resolutions, the GPU is still the primary factor limiting performance, rather than the CPU holding things back.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience, 1080p with Low settings is the clear choice, yielding an average of 94 FPS. This is the only configuration in the dataset that approaches or exceeds the 60 FPS threshold that is often considered the minimum for a comfortable gaming experience.

For a balance between visual quality and performance at 1080p, Medium settings are the best option, providing an average of 59 FPS with a minimum of 50 FPS. This is a playable experience for most users, and the jump to High settings (42 FPS) is a significant 17 FPS loss that may not justify the visual improvements. The Ultra preset, at 33 FPS, is likely too demanding for a smooth experience at this resolution.

At 1440p, the choices are more constrained. Low settings are the only viable option for a smooth experience, with an average of 79 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p drop to an average of 49 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. High settings (35 FPS) and Ultra settings (28 FPS) are below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay and are not recommended.

For 4K gaming, the data shows this combo is severely limited. The only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS barrier is Low settings, which averages 62 FPS. This is a playable frame rate, but it requires sacrificing nearly all visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 4K averages 39 FPS, which is a playable but noticeably less smooth experience. High and Ultra settings at 4K, averaging 28 FPS and 22 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a playable experience, as they will feel stuttery and unresponsive.

The data strongly suggests that users should prioritize 1080p for the best experience. If a higher resolution is desired, sticking to Low settings is the only way to maintain a frame rate above 60 FPS. The "best experience per the measured rows" is arguably 1080p Medium, which offers a good balance of visual quality and performance with a 59 FPS average and a minimum of 50 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for The Medium, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 holds a rank of 1914 out of 2911 tested combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, which aligns with the measured frame rates that struggle at higher resolutions and settings.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance characteristics. The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331 and sits in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M, which is 0.3% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, also 0.3% faster. Interestingly, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is listed as a rival with a 1.2% higher average score, despite being a different class of card. This indicates that the RTX 5060's performance, as measured in this database, is closely grouped with a wide range of other GPUs.

The combo's rank of 1914 suggests that while the hardware is not at the bottom of the barrel, it is far from the top performers for this specific game. The CPU's strong relative performance, being in the 83rd percentile, is not enough to boost the combo overall. The game is clearly GPU-bound, and the RTX 5060's performance is the determining factor. The rank reflects that fact, showing that in the context of all tested systems, this combination is a mid-to-low tier performer for The Medium.

The data indicates that this combo is outclassed by many others in the database, likely those with more powerful desktop GPUs. The fact that the combo rank is significantly lower than the GPU's individual percentile (1914/2911 is roughly the 34th percentile) suggests that the game is particularly demanding and that many other GPU and CPU combinations can achieve better results in this title.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p is the best resolution, as it is the only one where the combo can achieve high frame rates. At 1080p Low, it averages 94 FPS, and at Medium, it averages 59 FPS, while higher resolutions result in significantly lower performance.

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

A: Yes, but only with significant compromises. The only 4K setting that achieves a playable frame rate is Low, which averages 62 FPS. The 4K Medium setting averages 39 FPS, which is borderline, while High and Ultra (28 FPS and 22 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H a bottleneck in this game?

A: No, the data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rates scale dramatically with resolution and settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's high benchmark scores and percentile ranking suggest it is not holding back the system in this title.

Q: What is the difference in performance between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the combo averages 42 FPS. At 4K High, the average drops to 28 FPS. This is a 14 FPS decrease, or a 33% performance reduction, when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to others tested for The Medium?

A: This combination holds a rank of 1914 out of 2911 tested combos. This places it in the lower-middle tier, indicating that while it can run the game, many other hardware configurations provide better performance in this specific title.

Q: Is the RTX 5060's performance similar to other GPUs in the database?

A: The data shows the RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331 and sits in the 72nd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550, which have nearly identical average scores, with deltas of -0.3% and -0.3% respectively.

Measured FPS Breakdown

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

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

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

| 3840x2160 | High | 28 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 62 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 39 | 33 | 45 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 22 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 35 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 79 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 49 | 42 | 57 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 28 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 42 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 94 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 59 | 50 | 67 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 33 | N/A | N/A |

The data reveals a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where the combo can consistently achieve high frame rates across multiple settings. The 4K results show that the GPU is severely overburdened at this resolution, with only the Low preset providing a playable experience. The Medium settings provide the most consistent frame pacing across all resolutions, as evidenced by the minimum and maximum FPS values, but its average frame rates are still too low for a high-refresh-rate display at resolutions above 1080p.