The Medium

The Medium presents a demanding fixed-camera horror experience, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 shows a clear performance hierarchy that is heavily dictated by graphical settings. The data indicates that this mobile CPU and desktop GPU pairing delivers playable frame rates at 1440p and 1080p, but struggles to maintain smooth performance at 4K on higher presets. The benchmark results reveal a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU's capabilities are sufficient to feed the graphics card at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to provide a clear picture of what gamers can expect from this specific hardware configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for The Medium shows a predictable and significant performance drop as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that drop is highly dependent on the chosen graphics preset. At the Low preset, the system achieves an average of 137 FPS at 1920x1080, which drops to 116 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 91 FPS at 3840x2160. This scaling shows a performance reduction of approximately 15% from 1080p to 1440p, and a 34% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The relatively modest absolute drop at 4K (from 116 to 91 FPS) suggests that at Low settings, the workload is balanced enough that the GPU can still maintain high frame rates, though the resolution increase still takes its toll.

Moving to the Medium preset, the scaling becomes more pronounced. The system delivers an average of 86 FPS at 1080p, which falls to 72 FPS at 1440p, and then drops sharply to 57 FPS at 4K. This represents a 16% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a more substantial 21% decrease from 1440p to 4K. The 4K result, with a minimum FPS of 48, indicates that the system is beginning to feel the pressure of the higher resolution, pushing it closer to the edge of what might be considered a consistently smooth experience.

The High preset shows the most dramatic scaling issues. At 1080p, the average FPS is 61, which drops to 52 at 1440p (a 15% reduction), and then plummets to 41 at 4K (a 21% reduction from 1440p). The gap between the 1440p and 4K results here is concerning, as the system moves from a playable state to one that is likely to feel stuttery and less responsive. This indicates that the High preset's increased visual fidelity demands a significant amount of GPU resources that the RTX 4080 cannot fully provide at 4K.

The Ultra preset yields the lowest performance across all resolutions, as expected. The system averages 49 FPS at 1080p, 41 FPS at 1440p, and a demanding 32 FPS at 4K. The performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is a 35% drop, showing that the Ultra preset is the most punishing on the GPU. The 4K result of 32 FPS is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, making this setting combination impractical for a good experience. This scaling pattern strongly suggests that the RTX 4080 is the limiting component; at 4K, the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are saturated by the game's high-resolution textures and effects, causing the frame rate to collapse regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is clearly the dominant component in this pairing, and its performance characteristics explain the FPS scaling observed. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This large memory pool is likely sufficient for The Medium's assets at all tested resolutions, meaning VRAM capacity is not the primary cause of the FPS drops. Instead, the GPU's raw compute power, with a boost clock of 2505 MHz and an FP32 throughput of 48.74 TFLOPS, is the deciding factor. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU's processing capability is overwhelmed by the High and Ultra presets, leading to the sub-60 FPS results.

The GPU's role as a bottleneck is most evident when comparing the performance at Low settings versus Ultra. At 1080p Low, the system hits 137 FPS, which demonstrates that the CPU and GPU can work together efficiently to produce high frame rates. However, when the Ultra preset is enabled, the frame rate drops to 49 FPS at the same resolution. This 64% reduction in performance is almost entirely attributable to the increased GPU workload from the higher graphical fidelity, not a change in CPU demand. The RTX 4080, while powerful, is not strong enough to brute-force The Medium's Ultra settings at high resolutions, and the game seems to be particularly sensitive to the effects and lighting that these presets enable.

Benchmark results for the GPU itself place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54247. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, has an average score of 54209, a delta of only 0.1%, indicating that the two cards are virtually identical in overall performance. This places the 4080 in a performance tier where it can handle most games at high settings, but the measured data for The Medium shows that its limits are reached at 4K with the most demanding presets. The GPU's memory clock of 1400 MHz (22.4 Gbps effective) and its 9728 shading units are all working in concert, but the frame time data confirms that the rendering load is the limiting factor.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of the benchmark database, this specific configuration of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 achieves a comboRankInGame of 872 out of 2911 tested combinations. This places it in the top 30% of all tested systems, which is a solid result but not a top-tier one. The ranking suggests that while this combo is capable of good performance, there are many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs that yield higher frame rates in The Medium. The rank implies that the system is well-balanced enough to perform admirably, but it is not at the absolute high-end of performance for this title.

To better understand this rank, it is helpful to look at the individual component performances. The CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, has an average benchmark score of 34083 and sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (0.3% faster), the AMD EPYC 4244P (0.4% slower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (0.4% slower). This indicates that the CPU is a strong performer, and its multi-threaded capabilities (16 cores, 22 threads) are likely more than sufficient for the demands of The Medium. The GPU, as mentioned, also ranks high, but the combination's overall rank of 872 suggests that the pairing is not perfectly optimized for this specific game engine, or that other combos with more powerful GPUs simply achieve higher FPS.

The combo's rank of 872 is a useful metric for comparing it against other systems. It shows that the RTX 4080, while a high-end card, is not the fastest available, and when paired with this mobile CPU, it doesn't reach the top echelons of the benchmark rankings. The data implies that users with more powerful desktop-class GPUs or newer generations will see higher scores, but this combo still represents a high-performance option for gaming. The rank reflects the measured FPS data, which shows that the system is strong at 1080p and 1440p but falls behind at 4K, which is likely where many top-ranking combos excel.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset achieves an average of 86 FPS with a minimum of 73 FPS, ensuring a smooth and consistent experience. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset still provides a very playable average of 72 FPS, with the minimum FPS of 61 staying above the critical 60 FPS threshold. This makes 1440p Medium the recommended sweet spot for a high-quality experience without sacrificing fluidity. While 4K Medium is technically playable at 57 FPS, the minimum of 48 FPS introduces noticeable dips that may be distracting in a horror game.

For gamers who prioritize higher visual fidelity, the High preset is a viable option at 1080p. The average FPS of 61 is serviceable, but it is close to the 60 FPS line, and there is no minimum FPS data to confirm it won't dip below. At 1440p, the High preset's 52 FPS average is less desirable, as it falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in a less immersive experience. The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution in this game, as even at 1080p, it only manages a 49 FPS average, and the performance drops to unplayable levels at 4K. The Low preset, while achieving high frame rates (137 FPS at 1080p), should be avoided as it sacrifices too much visual quality for a game that relies heavily on atmosphere and detail.

The data strongly suggests that the Medium preset is the optimal choice for this system. It provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining high frame rates at both 1080p and 1440p. For the best overall experience, running the game at 2560x1440 with the Medium preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 72 FPS, which is well within the range for smooth gameplay. For those with a 1080p monitor, the Medium preset at 86 FPS offers a fantastic balance, leaving headroom for any potential framerate drops. The High preset can be used at 1080p if a stable 60 FPS is acceptable, but the Medium preset offers more consistent performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following breakdown provides a detailed look at the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination. All data points are drawn directly from the provided fact pack, and the frame rates are the primary indicators of performance.

1920x1080:

• Low: The average FPS is 137. This is the highest performance in the entire dataset, showing that the system can easily handle the game at this resolution and preset.
• Medium: The average FPS is 86, with a minimum of 73 and a maximum of 99. This is a strong result, offering excellent smoothness and a good visual upgrade over Low.
• High: The average FPS is 61. This is a playable frame rate, but it is directly at the 60 FPS threshold, which could be a concern for some users.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 49. This preset delivers a poor experience at 1080p, as the frame rate is below the 60 FPS target.

2560x1440:

• Low: The average FPS is 116. This remains a very high frame rate, demonstrating the system's capability at this resolution with minimal graphical demands.
• Medium: The average FPS is 72, with a minimum of 61 and a maximum of 83. This is another excellent result, maintaining an average well above 60 FPS.
• High: The average FPS is 52. This is a noticeable step down and falls into a range where gameplay may feel less fluid.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 41. This preset is not recommended at 1440p, as the frame rate is too low for a smooth experience.

3840x2160:

• Low: The average FPS is 91. This is impressive for 4K, showing that the game can be played at high frame rates if visual settings are lowered.
• Medium: The average FPS is 57, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. This is on the edge of playability; the average is above 55, but the minimum dips are noticeable.
• High: The average FPS is 41. This is a poor result, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive at 4K.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 32. This is an unplayable frame rate for a game that requires precise timing and immersion.

The data shows a clear progression: performance is excellent at 1080p and 1440p for most presets, but the 4K resolution is only viable with the Low and Medium settings. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K is a 65% reduction in frame rate, which highlights the extreme cost of the Ultra preset's visual features.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a smooth experience?

A: The data shows that the Medium preset at 2560x1440 provides the best balance, achieving an average of 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS. This ensures a consistently smooth experience. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is also excellent, with an average of 86 FPS.

Q: Can this system run the game at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 3840x2160, the Low preset achieves an average of 91 FPS, and the Medium preset achieves 57 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are not playable at 4K, with average frame rates of 41 FPS and 32 FPS, respectively.

Q: Why is the frame rate so much lower on the Ultra preset compared to Low?

A: The Ultra preset imposes a significantly higher workload on the GPU. For example, at 1080p, the average FPS drops from 137 on Low to 49 on Ultra, a 64% reduction. This indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the limiting factor, as the increased graphical effects and rendering quality saturate its processing power.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H has an average benchmark score of 34083. Its closest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, is only 0.3% faster. The AMD EPYC 4244P and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 are both 0.4% slower. This shows the CPU performance is very competitive.

Q: Is the GPU a strong performer in general?

A: Yes. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs and has an average benchmark score of 54247. It is virtually tied with the RTX 4080 SUPER, which has a score of 54209, a delta of only 0.1%.

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this specific combo?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 achieves a comboRankInGame of 872 out of 2911 tested combos. This places it in the top 30% of all systems tested for this game.