The Medium

The Medium presents a uniquely heavy load on hardware due to its dual-reality rendering technique, which effectively renders two scenes simultaneously. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT produces a dataset that clearly illustrates the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions while also revealing the substantial headroom provided by the CPU. This analysis walks through the measured performance metrics, comparing them against the broader benchmark database to define this combo's capabilities in this specific horror title.

Resolution Scaling

The most immediate observation from the measured FPS data is the steep performance penalty incurred as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 56 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops that average to 47 FPS, a reduction of roughly 16%. The jump to 3840x2160 is far more punishing, with the average falling to 37 FPS, which represents a 34% decrease from the 1440p figure and a 34% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is a classic indicator that the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the primary bottleneck as pixel count rises.

The delta between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p, the spread from Low (89 FPS) to Ultra (32 FPS) is a massive 57 FPS, showing that the GPU is managing the workload but at a significant cost. At 4K, the spread narrows in absolute terms—from 59 FPS on Low to 21 FPS on Ultra—but the percentage drop is even steeper, with Ultra running at only 36% of the Low preset's performance. The data suggests that at 4K, the RX 5700 XT's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated, as the frame rate collapses regardless of the visual complexity.

Furthermore, the fact that 4K Low (59 FPS) nearly matches 1080p Medium (56 FPS) indicates that the GPU is not merely struggling with shader complexity but with the sheer fill-rate and memory pressure of the higher resolution. The 1080p Low result of 89 FPS versus 4K Low of 59 FPS shows that even on the lowest settings, the resolution increase alone costs 30 FPS. This points directly to the GPU's pixel throughput and memory subsystem as the limiting factors, rather than the CPU, which has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for The Medium, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT holds a combo rank of 2161 out of 2911 total combos. This places it in the 26th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly three-quarters of the configurations tested in this game outperform it. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's age and tier; the RX 5700 XT, while capable at 1080p, is outclassed by more modern and higher-end cards that populate the upper echelons of the benchmark list.

The CPU's individual performance metrics suggest it is not the cause of this low ranking. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 scores in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 64640. In contrast, the GPU sits in the 59th percentile against all GPUs. The GPU is the weaker link in this pairing, and the combo rank reflects that. The data shows a clear hierarchy: the CPU is a high-end component, while the GPU is a mid-range part from a previous generation, and the game's performance is tethered to the slower component.

When looking at the nearest rivals for the GPU, the RX 5700 XT's average benchmark score of 16361 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16351, deltaPct 0.1) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (16408, deltaPct -0.3). This indicates that in raw compute terms, the RX 5700 XT is on par with these professional and high-end workstation cards, yet in gaming, the architectural differences and driver optimizations will dictate real-world results. The similarity in scores, however, underscores that the combo's low rank in The Medium is not due to a defective or underperforming unit but rather the inherent performance ceiling of the RDNA 1.0 architecture in this specific title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture using the Navi 10 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The clock speeds are set at a base of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. These specifications define its raw capability, and the benchmark results in The Medium show that its 9.754 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for smooth 4K gameplay.

The measured FPS data shows a stark reality for this GPU. At 3840x2160, the only setting that approaches playability is Low, with an average of 59 FPS. Medium drops to 37 FPS, High to 26 FPS, and Ultra to a slideshow-like 21 FPS. This pattern indicates that the GPU's 64 ROPs and 160 TMUs are overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is also a likely point of contention, as The Medium's dual-world rendering can consume significant memory, potentially forcing the system to use slower memory paging.

At 1440p and 1080p, the GPU shows its strengths. The 1080p Low result of 89 FPS and the 1440p Low result of 75 FPS demonstrate that the card can deliver high frame rates when the pixel workload is reduced. The transition from 1080p to 1440p on Low settings costs 14 FPS, while the transition from 1440p to 4K on Low costs 16 FPS. This shows that the GPU's performance degrades consistently with resolution, but the absolute frame rates remain respectable at the lower resolutions. The GPU's performance percentile of 59 against all GPUs is reflected here: it is a solid 1080p performer and a marginal 1440p one, but it lacks the headroom for 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's behavior across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 89 FPS, which is the highest recorded figure in the entire dataset. The Medium preset delivers 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS, indicating decent frame pacing. High settings produce 40 FPS, while Ultra drops to 32 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is 16 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 8 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns in the higher tiers.

At 2560x1440, the performance curve is similar but shifted downward. Low settings average 75 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium averages 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and maximum of 54. High settings drop to 34 FPS, and Ultra falls to 27 FPS. The data shows that 1440p Medium is the boundary of smooth gameplay, as the 47 FPS average is acceptable but the 40 FPS minimum could be noticeable in demanding scenes. The 1440p High and Ultra presets, with averages of 34 and 27 FPS, respectively, are not ideal for a fluid experience.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unsuitable for serious play. Low settings are the only viable option, with an average of 59 FPS. Medium drops to 37 FPS, with a minimum of 31 and maximum of 43. High and Ultra are significantly lower, averaging 26 FPS and 21 FPS, respectively. The 4K data demonstrates that the RX 5700 XT is not a 4K-capable card for this game, as even the Medium preset cannot maintain a stable 30 FPS. The only reason the 4K Low preset achieves a playable frame rate is the drastic reduction in shader and texture complexity.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the most consistent choice, offering 89 FPS on Low and 56 FPS on Medium. 2560x1440 is also viable, with 75 FPS on Low and 47 FPS on Medium, but 3840x2160 should be avoided except on the Low preset, which averages 59 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings in The Medium?

A: The data indicates that Ultra settings are not recommended for smooth gameplay. At 1080p, Ultra averages 32 FPS; at 1440p, it averages 27 FPS; and at 4K, it averages 21 FPS. These frame rates are below the threshold for a fluid experience.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 bottlenecking the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT?

A: No, the benchmark data suggests the opposite. The CPU scores in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 59th percentile. The frame rates scale heavily with resolution and settings, indicating the GPU is the limiting component.

Q: How does the RX 5700 XT compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw compute?

A: In the GPU benchmark averages, the RX 5700 XT scores 16361. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, scores 16351, a delta of only 0.1%. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell scores 16408, a delta of -0.3%. This shows they are statistically equivalent in raw compute performance.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Medium settings at 1080p?

A: The measured data shows a significant jump. At 1920x1080, Low settings average 89 FPS, while Medium settings average 56 FPS. This is a 33 FPS difference, indicating that the Medium preset introduces a substantial additional workload.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM sufficient for The Medium?

A: The performance collapse at 4K, particularly the drop from 59 FPS on Low to 37 FPS on Medium, suggests that the 8 GB VRAM buffer may be a limiting factor. The game's dual-rendering technique likely demands high memory usage, and the card's 448.0 GB/s bandwidth cannot compensate at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the optimal balance of visual quality and performance for this combo is the Medium preset at 1920x1080. This configuration yields an average of 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS. The 48 FPS minimum is acceptable, though it may dip in intense scenes, but the overall experience is smooth. The High preset at 1080p, averaging 40 FPS, is a step down in fluidity and is only recommended for players who prioritize image quality over frame rate.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset is the best choice, averaging 47 FPS. This is borderline playable, but the 40 FPS minimum suggests some stutter may occur. The Low preset at 1440p, averaging 75 FPS, is the safer option for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, but it sacrifices significant visual fidelity. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as their averages of 34 and 27 FPS, respectively, fall below the standard for a smooth experience.

At 4K, the only playable option is the Low preset, which averages 59 FPS. This is playable but will look notably worse than the Medium or High settings. The Medium preset at 4K, averaging 37 FPS, is a compromise that may be acceptable for slower-paced sections of the game, but its 31 FPS minimum will be noticeable. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are effectively unplayable, with averages of 26 and 21 FPS. The data clearly points to 1080p Medium as the ideal settings for a balanced experience, with 1440p Low as the alternative for higher resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It features a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Its benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking against all CPUs indicates it is a high-end part, far more powerful than what the RX 5700 XT requires for this game.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role is to prepare and submit frames for the GPU to render. The measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo. At 1080p Low, the 89 FPS average is likely near the CPU's maximum frame delivery rate for this game engine, but at higher settings and resolutions, the GPU's performance drops well below this ceiling. The fact that the frame rate scales so dramatically with resolution and graphical settings is a clear sign that the GPU is the bottleneck.

This conclusion is supported by the combo rank of 2161 out of 2911, which is low. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the rank would likely be higher, as the CPU's performance is strong. Instead, the low rank is attributed to the GPU's inability to keep pace with the CPU's output. The CPU's 20 threads and high boost clock ensure that even the most complex scenes in The Medium, which involve rendering two perspectives, will not cause a processor-related stutter. The data suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 provides a stable platform, but the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the component that defines the overall gaming experience in this title.