The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title built on Unreal Engine 4, presents a unique stress profile that diverges from typical first-person benchmarks. Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, this configuration demonstrates a pronounced sensitivity to resolution and preset selection. The measured data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's substantial headroom becomes apparent only at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all settings and resolutions, contextualizes the combo's rank among 3,724 tested configurations, and provides specific guidance on how to best utilize this hardware for an optimal experience in The Medium.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: frame rates scale inversely with resolution, but the magnitude of the drop varies significantly based on the preset. This variance is the key to understanding where the bottleneck lies. At the "Low" preset, the transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 results in a 53 FPS drop (206 to 153), a 25.7% reduction. This relatively modest decline suggests that at 1080p Low, the system is not fully saturated by the GPU, allowing the CPU, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, to drive higher frame rates. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload scales, but the RTX 5090 D's immense 1.79 TB/s memory bandwidth and 32 GB of GDDR7 memory keep the performance curve relatively flat.

In contrast, the "Ultra" preset shows a much steeper scaling curve. Moving from 1080p Ultra (82 FPS) to 4K Ultra (54 FPS) is a 28 FPS drop, or a 34.1% reduction in performance. This steeper decline indicates that at Ultra settings, the GPU is the primary limiting component even at 1080p. The increased shading complexity, texture detail, and post-processing effects at Ultra place a heavy demand on the GPU's 21,760 shading units and 680 texture mapping units. The 4K Ultra result of 54 FPS is the lowest measured on this page, confirming that the combination of 4K resolution and Ultra settings is the most demanding scenario for this hardware.

The "High" and "Medium" presets fall between these two extremes. At High settings, the drop from 1080p (103 FPS) to 4K (68 FPS) is a 34% reduction, nearly identical to the Ultra preset's scaling. However, at Medium settings, the drop from 144 FPS to 95 FPS is also a 34% reduction. This consistency between High and Medium suggests that the GPU's compute and memory resources are being utilized in a similar fashion, with the primary difference being the absolute performance level. The 4K Medium result of 95 FPS, with a minimum of 81 FPS, shows that the RTX 5090 D has sufficient headroom to maintain playable frame rates even with a 512-bit memory interface pushing data for 4K textures.

The most telling observation is the relationship between the 1080p and 1440p results. At 1440p Medium (122 FPS) and 4K Medium (95 FPS), the system maintains a performance level that is 84.7% and 66% of the 1080p Medium (144 FPS) result, respectively. This scaling indicates a well-balanced system where the GPU's raw compute power (104.8 TFLOPS FP32) is the main driver of performance, with the CPU providing sufficient support to avoid becoming a limiting factor until much lower resolutions. The data strongly suggests that for this title, the RTX 5090 D is the dominant component in determining frame rates across all tested configurations.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 3,724 tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves a rank of 14 for The Medium. This top 0.4% placement indicates that this configuration is among the most performant systems tested for this specific title. The rank reflects the combined capability of the CPU and GPU, and the data indicates that the RTX 5090 D's dominance in synthetic benchmarks, where it holds a 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs, translates effectively to real-world performance in this game.

The CPU's own benchmark percentile is 94th among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 70,879. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is virtually tied with the Intel Xeon 6511P, which has an average score of 71,051 (a delta of -0.2%), and is just ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700KF, which scores 70,163 (a delta of 1%). This close grouping in CPU benchmarks suggests that the processor's contribution to the game's performance is consistent with other high-end desktop parts, and the top-14 combo rank is therefore largely a signal of the GPU's capabilities.

The RTX 5090 D's average benchmark score is 77,712, placing it in the 92nd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (score 78,940, delta -1.6%) and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (score 79,605, delta -2.4%). The fact that the RTX 5090 D is slightly behind these rivals in raw synthetic score, yet the combo still ranks 14th in this game, highlights the importance of game-specific optimization and driver support. The GPU's architecture, Blackwell 2.0, is clearly well-suited to the rendering techniques used in The Medium, allowing it to outperform its synthetic benchmark standing. The data confirms that this combo is an elite-tier performer for this title, with the GPU acting as the primary driver of that success.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 206 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" settings preset.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D's performance in this game compare to its synthetic benchmark ranking?

A: The RTX 5090 D holds a 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs based on its average benchmark score of 77,712. However, this combo ranks 14th out of 3,724 tested combos for The Medium, indicating that the GPU's real-world performance in this specific title is superior to its general ranking.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting component at 4K. This is evidenced by the significant frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K, particularly at higher presets. For example, at Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 82 FPS at 1080p to 54 FPS at 4K.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for the 1440p Medium setting?

A: The measured minimum FPS for the 2560x1440 resolution with Medium settings is 103 FPS, with a maximum of 140 FPS and an average of 122 FPS.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 265K have a high core count, and how does that affect this game?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has 20 cores and 20 threads. The high core count provides substantial processing headroom, which helps prevent CPU bottlenecks at lower resolutions. This is evident in the high frame rates at 1080p, such as 206 FPS on Low settings.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 5090 D have, and is it a factor in this game?

A: The RTX 5090 D features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory. This is a very large capacity that far exceeds the requirements of The Medium, ensuring that VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor at any of the tested resolutions or settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the complete set of measured frame rates for this combination of hardware in The Medium. The results are organized by resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 206 FPS
• Medium: Average 144 FPS, Minimum 123 FPS, Maximum 166 FPS
• High: Average 103 FPS
• Ultra: Average 82 FPS

At 1080p, the system demonstrates its maximum performance ceiling. The jump from Low to Medium is a 62 FPS difference, while the progression from Medium to High and High to Ultra incurs drops of 41 FPS and 21 FPS, respectively. The 206 FPS average on Low is the highest result on this page, and it indicates that the CPU, with its 3.90 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost clocks, is capable of feeding the GPU at very high rates.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 195 FPS
• Medium: Average 122 FPS, Minimum 103 FPS, Maximum 140 FPS
• High: Average 87 FPS
• Ultra: Average 69 FPS

Moving to 1440p, all settings see a performance decline. The Low preset drops 11 FPS to 195 FPS, while the Medium preset drops 22 FPS to 122 FPS. The High and Ultra presets show more significant drops of 16 FPS and 13 FPS, respectively, bringing them to 87 FPS and 69 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 103 FPS indicates that this is a very playable configuration for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 153 FPS
• Medium: Average 95 FPS, Minimum 81 FPS, Maximum 110 FPS
• High: Average 68 FPS
• Ultra: Average 54 FPS

At 4K, the GPU is pushed to its limits. The Low preset still manages an average of 153 FPS, showcasing the raw power of the RTX 5090 D. However, the Ultra preset falls to 54 FPS, which is the lowest average recorded. The Medium preset offers the best balance at this resolution, with an average of 95 FPS and a minimum of 81 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a 21.5% drop for Medium (122 to 95 FPS) and a 21.7% drop for Ultra (69 to 54 FPS), indicating consistent GPU-bound behavior.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the undisputed performance driver in this configuration. Its data sheet reveals a GPU of immense capability: 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. These specifications are the primary reason for the high frame rates observed across all presets. The GPU's compute capabilities are substantial, with a FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s, which directly translate to the ability to process the complex visuals of The Medium efficiently.

Memory bandwidth is a critical factor for this game, especially at 4K. The RTX 5090 D is equipped with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a total bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. This immense bandwidth ensures that the GPU can quickly access the large textures and assets required for high-resolution rendering. This is evident in the 4K Medium result of 95 FPS, where the memory subsystem is not a bottleneck. The 32 GB capacity is also far more than sufficient for this title, eliminating any concerns about VRAM limitations at any tested setting.

The GPU's performance in The Medium is consistent with its high percentile ranking. It holds a 92nd percentile position among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77,712. In terms of nearest rivals, the data shows it performs slightly below the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (delta -1.6%) and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (delta -2.4%) in synthetic tests. However, the actual game performance, as evidenced by the combo's 14th-place rank out of 3,724 configurations, suggests that its Blackwell 2.0 architecture and driver optimization provide a specific advantage in this title. The data strongly suggests that for The Medium, the RTX 5090 D's architecture, with its high clock speeds and massive memory pipeline, is the key component determining the experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the "Medium" preset offers the most compelling balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 144 FPS with a minimum of 123 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. At 1440p, the Medium preset achieves 122 FPS average and a minimum of 103 FPS, providing a smooth and responsive experience with minimal visual compromise. Even at the demanding 4K resolution, the Medium preset maintains an average of 95 FPS and a minimum of 81 FPS, ensuring that gameplay remains fluid without the need for any upscaling or frame generation technologies.

The "Low" preset is recommended for users who prioritize maximum frame rates above all else. At 1080p, it achieves 206 FPS, and even at 4K it maintains a strong 153 FPS average. This preset is suitable for competitive play or for users with very high refresh rate monitors who want to maximize the system's output. However, the visual downgrade is significant, and the data does not suggest it is necessary for a smooth experience given the performance of the Medium preset.

The "High" and "Ultra" presets are less recommended. While the High preset provides playable frame rates (103 FPS at 1080p, 87 FPS at 1440p, and 68 FPS at 4K), the performance gain over Medium is negligible, and the visual improvement is often imperceptible in this type of game. The Ultra preset, while offering the maximum visual quality, results in a 4K average of 54 FPS, which may be too low for some users who prefer a locked 60 FPS experience. Given that the Medium preset provides a minimum of 81 FPS at 4K, it is the clear choice for a stable and visually rich experience. The data indicates that the Medium preset provides the best overall experience, leveraging the GPU's power to deliver high frame rates without pushing the system to its limits.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K serves as a capable and powerful foundation for this system, though its role in this game is secondary to the GPU. The CPU features 20 cores and 20 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This high core count and fast clock speed provide ample processing power to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. The CPU's strong performance is reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,850 and a single-core score of 2,020, as well as a Geekbench multi-core score of 23,085.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role is to ensure that it is not a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D. The data suggests that it succeeds in this role. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 206 FPS, which indicates that the CPU can deliver data to the GPU at a very high rate. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache is also beneficial for game performance, as it allows for faster access to frequently used data. The 125W TDP and the fact that it is a 3nm process from TSMC with 17,800 million transistors indicate a highly efficient and advanced processor.

The CPU's benchmark percentile of 94th among all CPUs, with an average score of 70,879, places it in the top tier of desktop processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-14700KF (score 70,163, delta 1%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (score 69,996, delta 1.3%), are all within a narrow performance band. This suggests that while the CPU is very powerful, it is not uniquely dominant in a way that would skew the game's performance. Instead, its high core count and boost clock provide a stable platform that allows the GPU to perform to its full potential. The data confirms that this CPU, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, is more than sufficient for this title, ensuring that the RTX 5090 D remains the primary determinant of frame rates.