The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in The Medium, a horror title that leans heavily on both CPU and GPU resources. The data shows a pairing that excels at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K with higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes it against rival components, and offers practical settings guidance based strictly on the benchmark data.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W. The CPU features a substantial cache hierarchy, including 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is limited to DDR5 via a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 42216, while the single-core score is 5960. These results place the processor in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, indicating it is a high-end part. The average benchmark score of 64640 positions it in a competitive tier. Compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows the Core Ultra 7 265 is essentially neck-and-neck with the AMD EPYC 4464P, which scores 64823 (a delta of -0.3%). It is also very close to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which scores 64438 (a delta of 0.3%). The AMD EPYC 7343 scores 64202 (a delta of 0.7%), and the AMD EPYC 9124 scores 65104 (a delta of -0.7%). This indicates that the CPU is a balanced performer, with no single rival offering a significant advantage.

For The Medium, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The high core count and strong single-thread performance are beneficial here. The benchmark results suggest that the CPU is not a bottleneck in most scenarios, as frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings changes. At lower settings, where the GPU has less work to do, the CPU's strong single-core performance helps push frame rates higher. The boost clock of 5.30 GHz is a key factor in these scenarios. The 65 W TDP is relatively modest for a 20-core part, suggesting efficient power management. The data indicates this CPU is more than capable of handling the demands of The Medium, providing a stable foundation for the GPU to render frames. The PassMark multi-thread score of 49682 and single-thread score of 4689 further corroborate its balanced nature, ensuring that neither heavily threaded nor lightly threaded workloads will cause the processor to lag.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using the AD104 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output pipelines. The GPU includes 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores, supporting DirectX 12 Ultimate. It is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The base clock is 1920 MHz, with a boost clock of 2475 MHz. The card has a TDP of 200 W and requires a 550 W power supply.

Synthetic benchmarks show the RTX 4070 performing well. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3854, and its Geekbench Vulkan score is 174152. The GPU's PassMark G3D score is 26927, with a compute score of 14720. These results place the card in the 81st percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4, with a score of 37628 (a delta of 0.1%), and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, with a score of 37507 (a delta of 0.4%). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135 (a delta of -1.3%), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37157 (a delta of 1.3%). The RTX 4070 is the clear leader in this group, with a score that is slightly ahead of its closest competitors.

In The Medium, the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions and settings. The 12 GB of VRAM is a critical asset, particularly at 4K where texture memory demands are high. The boost clock of 2475 MHz ensures the GPU can process the complex rendering tasks required by the horror game's fixed camera angles and layered environments. The data shows that performance scales directly with the GPU's workload. At 1080p Low, the GPU is underutilized, allowing for an average of 150 FPS. As settings are increased to Ultra, the average drops to 53 FPS, showing that the GPU is the limiting factor. The same pattern is visible at 1440p (126 FPS at Low vs. 45 FPS at Ultra) and 4K (99 FPS at Low vs. 35 FPS at Ultra). This confirms that the RTX 4070 is well-matched to the CPU for this game, but its performance ceiling is reached at 4K resolutions with high graphical fidelity. The memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s is sufficient for the game's data transfer needs, as evidenced by the consistent frame times at Medium settings where min and max FPS data is available.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, in overall CPU benchmark scores?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD EPYC 4464P's score of 64823. This is a negligible difference, indicating that the two processors perform at a virtually identical level.

*Q: What is the best performance the RTX 4070 achieves in The Medium at 1080p?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded for the RTX 4070 at 1920x1080 is 150 FPS, which is achieved with the Low settings preset. The minimum and maximum FPS were not recorded for this setting.

*Q: Is the RTX 4070 capable of running The Medium at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 44 FPS on High, 62 FPS on Medium, and 35 FPS on Ultra. Only the Low preset achieves an average above 60 FPS, at 99 FPS. Therefore, playable frame rates are only possible at 4K when using Low or Medium settings.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the RTX 4070 provide the most stable frame delivery, based on min and max FPS data?

A: The only settings with recorded minimum and maximum frame rates are Medium. At 1920x1080, the average is 93 FPS with a range of 79 to 108 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average is 79 FPS with a range of 67 to 91 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average is 62 FPS with a range of 53 to 71 FPS. The 1080p Medium setting shows the least variance relative to its average.

Q: What is the performance delta between the RTX 4070 and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37648, which is 0.4% higher than the Radeon RX Vega 56's score of 37507. This indicates the RTX 4070 is slightly faster in general compute and graphics tasks.

*Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for The Medium?*

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 614th out of 2911 tested combos in this game. This places it in the top 21% of all tested hardware pairings.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the benchmark results are as follows. With High settings, the average FPS is 67. Dropping to Low settings significantly improves performance to an average of 150 FPS. The Medium preset yields an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS. The Ultra preset brings the average down to 53 FPS. This shows a steep performance curve, with Low being more than double the frame rate of Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the results follow a similar pattern but with lower overall numbers. High settings produce an average of 56 FPS. Low settings again offer a substantial boost, averaging 126 FPS. The Medium preset averages 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS. Ultra settings average 45 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is still large, but the absolute numbers are lower than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed to its limits. High settings average just 44 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Low settings provide a playable average of 99 FPS. The Medium preset averages 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 71 FPS. This is the only 4K setting with min/max data, showing that the frame rate can dip below 60 FPS. Ultra settings average only 35 FPS, making it the most demanding configuration tested.

The data reveals that the RTX 4070 is most comfortable at 1080p, where it can handle even Ultra settings at an average of 53 FPS. At 1440p, High and Ultra settings are borderline, but Medium is a solid choice. At 4K, the card is only suitable for Low or Medium settings, with Medium providing a playable average but with noticeable frame dips.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination has a rank of 614 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places the pairing in the top 21% of all systems tested, indicating a strong overall performance level. This rank is a holistic measure, considering the CPU and GPU's ability to work together across all settings and resolutions.

This ranking is notable because it places this combo ahead of many others that might feature more expensive components. The strong synthetic benchmark scores of both the CPU, which is in the 93rd percentile, and the GPU, which is in the 81st percentile, contribute to this high placement. The data suggests that this is a well-balanced pairing, where neither component is severely bottlenecking the other. The CPU's robust multi-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216, ensures it can keep up with the GPU's rendering demands.

The rank of 614 indicates that while this is a capable system, there are many other tested configurations that perform better. These would likely include higher-tier GPUs or CPUs. However, the combo's high percentile ranking for its individual components suggests that it is a sensible pairing for a high-refresh-rate 1080p or 1440p gaming setup. In the context of The Medium, a game that can be demanding at higher resolutions, this combo strikes a balance between CPU and GPU capability. The performance is not top-tier, but it is far from the bottom, making it a reliable mid-to-high-end option.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution.

For 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best choice for a balanced experience. It provides an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS. This ensures smooth gameplay with no noticeable stutters, as the minimum frame rate is well above the 60 FPS threshold. While Low offers a higher average of 150 FPS, the visual compromise is significant. High settings at 67 FPS are playable, but the lower minimum frame rate of the Medium preset makes it a safer bet for consistent performance. Ultra at 53 FPS is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset again emerges as the recommended option. It delivers an average of 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS. The minimum frame rate is still above 60 FPS, ensuring a mostly smooth experience. Low settings at 126 FPS are excellent for competitive play, but for a horror game where atmosphere matters, the visual uplift of Medium is worthwhile. High settings at 56 FPS are borderline, and the lack of min/max data makes it a riskier choice. Ultra at 45 FPS is too low for comfortable play.

At 3840x2160, the choices are more constrained. The Medium preset is the only option that offers a near-playable experience, with an average of 62 FPS. However, the minimum frame rate of 53 FPS indicates that the game will dip below 60 FPS at times, which can be noticeable. Low settings provide a much higher average of 99 FPS, but the visual quality is heavily reduced. For a 4K experience, Medium settings are the only viable option if you want a balance of visual fidelity and performance. High and Ultra settings, at 44 and 35 FPS respectively, are not playable.

In summary, the Medium settings preset is the sweet spot for this hardware combination across all resolutions. It offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate stability, with the minimum FPS data confirming its reliability. For users prioritizing high frame rates over visuals, the Low preset is a strong alternative, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. However, for a game like The Medium, which relies on its visual presentation to build tension, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point.