The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title from 2021, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with resolution. This analysis examines the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, based on measured frame rate data. The combination ranks 209th out of 2,911 tested combos, placing it in the top 7% of configurations. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom for high frame rates at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected pattern: as resolution increases, average frame rates drop. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 81 FPS. Moving to 1440p reduces this to 68 FPS, a decrease of 16%. At 4K, the average falls to 53 FPS, which is a 35% drop from the 1440p result and a 34.6% drop from 1080p. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load on the graphics card increases with pixel count.

The transition from 1080p to 1440p is relatively modest, suggesting the RTX 5070 Ti has enough headroom to absorb the extra pixels without a dramatic performance penalty. However, the jump to 4K is more punishing, indicating that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being pushed much harder. The 4K High result of 53 FPS is playable but not ideal for a smooth experience, while the 4K Ultra setting drops to 42 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution further illustrates the GPU's role. At 1080p, the difference between Low (180 FPS) and Ultra (64 FPS) is 116 FPS, a 64.4% reduction. At 1440p, the spread is 98 FPS (152 to 54), and at 4K it is 77 FPS (119 to 42). This tightening of the performance gap at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor; the CPU is capable of feeding it enough data, but the graphics card simply cannot render the more complex scenes fast enough at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the dominant component in this configuration for The Medium. Its 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for the game's high-resolution textures and fixed-camera scenes that often feature detailed environments. The data suggests that the GPU's memory subsystem is not a bottleneck at 1080p or 1440p, where frame rates are high, but it becomes more relevant at 4K where the demand for texture data increases.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2295 MHz and a boost of 2452 MHz, allow it to maintain high utilization across all settings. The benchmark results support this, as the card's PassMark G3D score of 32,974 places it in the 86th percentile among all GPUs. This high percentile is reflected in the game's performance, where the card is able to deliver over 100 FPS at 1080p on Low and Medium settings.

However, the GPU's performance in The Medium is not exceptional relative to its overall benchmark standing. While it ranks in the 86th percentile globally, its nearest rivals in the average benchmark score include the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (with a deltaPct of -2) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (with a deltaPct of 3.1). This suggests that while the RTX 5070 Ti is a strong performer, its advantage over previous-generation high-end cards is not overwhelming in this specific title. The 4K Ultra result of 42 FPS indicates that even a top-tier GPU struggles with the game's maximum settings at the highest resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti achieves a rank of 209 out of 2,911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the 92.8th percentile of all configurations, indicating that it is a high-performing system for this game. The rank is a composite measure that considers both CPU and GPU performance, and the high placement suggests that the two components work well together for this title.

The CPU itself has a percentile rank of 93 against all CPUs, and the GPU has a percentile rank of 86 against all GPUs. The combo's rank of 209 is slightly better than what might be expected from the individual percentiles, suggesting that the pairing is well-balanced for The Medium's specific workload. The data shows that the system is not held back by a weak link; both the CPU and GPU are capable of contributing to the high frame rates observed at lower resolutions.

When compared to other combos, this configuration is clearly in the upper echelon. The rank of 209 out of 2,911 means that only 208 other tested combinations perform better, which includes systems with more powerful GPUs like the RTX 5090 or potentially overclocked variants. For a stock configuration, this is a strong result, and the data indicates that users can expect a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p with most settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 180 FPS on Low, 113 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 96 and maximum of 130), 81 FPS on High, and 64 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that the RTX 5070 Ti is more than capable of driving high refresh rate monitors at 1080p, even with the game's highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected reduction. The Low preset averages 152 FPS, Medium averages 95 FPS (with a minimum of 81 and maximum of 109), High averages 68 FPS, and Ultra averages 54 FPS. The 1440p Medium result is particularly notable, as it provides a smooth experience above 90 FPS, making it a sweet spot for users with 1440p 144Hz displays.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. The Low preset averages 119 FPS, which is still very playable, but Medium drops to 74 FPS (with a minimum of 63 and maximum of 86), High falls to 53 FPS, and Ultra is only 42 FPS. The 4K Medium setting is the highest quality option that maintains an average above 60 FPS, while High and Ultra require a tolerance for lower frame rates or the use of upscaling technologies.

The 1080p Medium result of 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS shows excellent frame pacing, with the minimum staying well above 60 FPS. The 1440p Medium result of 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS is also consistent. The 4K Medium result of 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS is the only 4K setting where the minimum remains above 60 FPS, suggesting that this is the most stable high-resolution option.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 plays a supporting role in The Medium, providing enough processing power to avoid bottlenecking the GPU. The CPU features 20 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This high boost clock is particularly important for gaming, as it ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is often the limiting factor in many titles.

The CPU's benchmark scores support its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 42,216 in multi-core and 5,960 in single-core. The single-core score is critical for The Medium, which likely relies on a few main threads for game logic and rendering commands. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,689 further confirms its strength in this area. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache also helps to reduce latency when accessing frequently used data.

The data indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution or setting tested. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 180 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that would stress most CPUs. The fact that the RTX 5070 Ti is still able to reach this number suggests that the Ultra 7 265 is feeding it data efficiently. The CPU's percentile rank of 93 against all CPUs places it in the top 7% of processors, and its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, has an average score that is only 0.3% higher, indicating that the Ultra 7 265 is a top-tier performer.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p Medium offers an average of 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS, providing a strong balance of visual quality and smoothness. 4K Medium is also viable at 74 FPS average, but 1440p is more forgiving.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Low, the average is 119 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 74 FPS. However, 4K High drops to 53 FPS and 4K Ultra to 42 FPS, which may be too low for some users.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Ti compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 49,957. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, has a score of 50,001, which is 0.1% higher. The Intel Arc A550M is 0.4% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is 2% lower.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 a strong CPU for gaming?

A: Yes. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5,960 and multi-core score of 42,216 indicate excellent performance. It ranks in the 93rd percentile against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 93% of tested processors.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, High settings average 81 FPS, while Ultra settings average 64 FPS. This is a decrease of 17 FPS, or about 21%, for the visual upgrade that Ultra provides.

Q: Does the system maintain smooth frame times at higher settings?

A: The measured data shows that at 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS is 81, and at 4K Medium, the minimum is 63. These minimums are well above 60 FPS, indicating stable performance. No minimum data is available for High and Ultra presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and refresh rate preferences. For 1080p displays, the High preset at 81 FPS average is a solid choice, but the Medium preset at 113 FPS average provides a much smoother experience and is recommended for users with 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 64 FPS is playable but offers diminishing returns over High.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 95 FPS with a minimum of 81 FPS, which ensures smooth gameplay on most 1440p monitors. The High preset at 68 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, but the drop to 68 FPS may be noticeable on high refresh rate displays. The Ultra preset at 54 FPS is not recommended for fast-paced sections.

For 4K, the Medium preset is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, at 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS. This is the best choice for a playable 4K experience. The Low preset at 119 FPS is an option for those who want maximum smoothness, but it sacrifices significant visual quality. The High and Ultra presets at 53 and 42 FPS respectively are generally not recommended, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold that most users consider the minimum for a comfortable experience.

In summary, the data suggests that the "Medium" preset is the sweet spot for this hardware combination across all resolutions, offering the best trade-off between visual quality and performance. Users with 1080p or 1440p displays can also consider the High preset, but the measured frame rates indicate that Medium provides a more consistently smooth experience.