The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a playable experience in The Medium only when settings are managed carefully. The data shows a profound sensitivity to graphics presets, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and quality levels. This combination ranks in the 29th percentile of tested configurations, indicating that while it is not at the bottom, it is outclassed by a majority of the 1689 tested combos.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combination in The Medium?*

A: This combo ranks 1195 out of 1689 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the performance spectrum for this title.

Q: Which graphics preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: The Low preset is the only one that delivers consistently high frame rates across all resolutions, with an average of 92.3 FPS at 1080p and 61.9 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset offers a more balanced experience at 1080p with 59.9 FPS but becomes less stable at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K a high-performing CPU in general benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the CPU sits in the 97th percentile versus all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79102. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, scores 79240, a negligible 0.2% difference.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its direct competitors?

A: The GPU holds a 63rd percentile ranking versus all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 19774 is only 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN and 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, indicating performance parity with that generation of cards.

Q: What is the best resolution to use for a smooth experience?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 92.3 FPS on average. At 2560x1440 with Low settings, it still reaches 75.1 FPS. The 4K resolution with Low settings is also viable, hitting 61.9 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU's high core count translate to high frame rates in this game?

A: No. Despite the CPU's 20 cores and strong benchmark scores, the game's performance is heavily dictated by the GPU. The frame rates drop significantly when resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the defining component in this configuration. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, it provides a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The data shows this is insufficient for high-fidelity rendering at higher resolutions in The Medium. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate plummets from 61.9 FPS on Low to just 25.1 FPS on High and 19.2 FPS on Ultra. This dramatic collapse indicates that the GPU's shading units, 2176 in total, are overwhelmed by the pixel workload at 4K.

The GPU's clock speeds, base 1470 MHz and boost 1650 MHz, are standard for its class. The 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores are present, but their benefit is not reflected in the measured frame rates at lower settings. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011 places its raw performance in context. The data suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p where its 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 performance can maintain playable frame rates. At 1440p Ultra, the average FPS falls to 30.2, which is on the edge of playability. The GPU's 63rd percentile ranking versus all GPUs confirms it is a mid-range part that struggles with the most demanding presets of this horror title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a powerhouse that is largely underutilized in this specific workload. Its 20 cores and 20 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, produce outstanding results in synthetic benchmarks. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 50009 and a 97th percentile ranking versus all CPUs demonstrate immense processing capability. However, The Medium does not scale with this level of CPU performance.

The evidence for a GPU bottleneck is clear in the resolution scaling. When the resolution drops from 4K to 1080p at the same settings, the frame rate increases substantially. For example, at High settings, FPS rises from 25.1 at 4K to 42.4 at 1080p. If the CPU were the limiting factor, these numbers would remain relatively flat. The CPU's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and L3 cache of 30 MB are more than sufficient for the game's logic and asset streaming. The data indicates that the CPU is not the constraint; it is waiting on the GPU to render frames. The 265K is effectively preparing frames faster than the RTX 2060 SUPER can process them, making the GPU the sole arbiter of performance in this pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER achieves a rank of 1195 out of 1689 tested combos. This places it in the 29th percentile, meaning about 71% of tested systems perform better. This low ranking is not due to a weak processor. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-14900KF and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, have near-identical average scores, with deltas of -0.2%. The ranking is dragged down by the GPU's performance ceiling.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 19774 is only 0.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, which is a much older card. This shows that while the RTX 2060 SUPER is competent, it is not a high-end performer. In the context of this database, the combo is positioned among systems that can run the game, but not with high visual fidelity. The data suggests that the high-end CPU is being held back, as the combo’s rank is more indicative of the GPU's 63rd percentile standing than the CPU's 97th percentile standing. This is a clear case of an unbalanced pairing for this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data dictates a clear strategy for this hardware. For a smooth and responsive experience, the Low preset is the only reliable choice across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, Low yields an average of 92.3 FPS, which is excellent. At 2560x1440, it still provides a very good 75.1 FPS. Even at 3840x2160, the Low preset manages an average of 61.9 FPS, which is playable.

If visual quality is a priority, the Medium preset is the highest viable option, but only at 1080p. The data shows 59.9 FPS at this resolution, which is acceptable. Moving to 1440p on Medium drops the average to 48 FPS, which is a noticeable compromise. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for this GPU. At 1080p, High produces 42.4 FPS, which may be tolerable for some, but Ultra falls to 31.8 FPS. The data is clear: to ensure a stable frame rate, users should prioritize the Low setting, or accept the trade-offs of Medium at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The raw data provides a comprehensive view of the performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are: Low 92.3 FPS, Medium 59.9 FPS, High 42.4 FPS, and Ultra 31.8 FPS. This shows a clear linear degradation as settings increase.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are: Low 75.1 FPS, Medium 48 FPS, High 35 FPS, and Ultra 30.2 FPS. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, with the High preset losing over 17% of its frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are: Low 61.9 FPS, Medium 36.9 FPS, High 25.1 FPS, and Ultra 19.2 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is unplayable, and even High is a slideshow. The data shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is simply out of its depth at this resolution with high-quality settings. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 25 FPS, highlighting the massive cost of the Medium preset's added effects.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K provides definitive proof of the GPU bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 92.3 at 1080p to 75.1 at 1440p, a 18.6% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the FPS drops further to 61.9, another 17.6% decrease. This scaling is almost directly proportional to the increase in pixel count.

At Medium settings, the scaling is even more aggressive. The FPS goes from 59.9 at 1080p to 48 at 1440p, then to 36.9 at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 23.1% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and fill rate are being saturated. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for the higher resolutions. The data shows that as the resolution increases, the performance penalty grows, which is characteristic of a system where the GPU is the sole limiting factor. The CPU's powerful 20-core architecture cannot compensate for the GPU's inability to process pixels faster. This combo is best served by staying at 1080p or 1440p with modest settings.