The Medium

The Medium presents a demanding fixed-camera horror experience, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7600 produces a specific performance profile across resolutions and settings. The measured data indicates that this pairing is heavily constrained by the graphics card, with the CPU providing ample headroom. This analysis breaks down the scaling, component roles, and optimal configurations based solely on the provided benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The performance degradation from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is steep and consistent across all settings, clearly identifying the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At the Medium preset, the average frame rate drops from 57 FPS at 1080p to 48 FPS at 1440p, a 15.8% reduction, and then further down to 38 FPS at 4K, a 33.3% reduction from the 1440p figure. This trajectory shows that each step up in resolution imposes a significant load increase on the rendering pipeline.

The pattern is even more pronounced at the High settings. The transition from 1080p to 1440p sees the average fall from 41 FPS to 35 FPS, a 14.6% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K High yields a 27 FPS average, which is a 22.9% drop. This non-linear scaling indicates that the Radeon RX 7600 is running out of fillrate and memory bandwidth as pixel count grows, a classic symptom of a GPU-limited scenario.

At the Low preset, the frame rates are substantially higher, starting at 92 FPS at 1080p and falling to 77 FPS at 1440p (a 16.3% drop) and then to 61 FPS at 4K (a 20.8% drop from 1440p). While the absolute numbers are better, the percentage losses are still significant, reinforcing that the GPU is the limiting factor even when the workload is lightened. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect to see a plateau or much smaller differences at higher resolutions, but the data shows no such plateau.

The Ultra preset, which pushes the most pixels and effects, exhibits the lowest performance. The average frame rate at 1080p is 33 FPS, dropping to 27 FPS at 1440p and a barely playable 22 FPS at 4K. The scaling here suggests that the game’s most demanding visual features are exceptionally taxing on the RX 7600’s 8 GB memory buffer and 128-bit bus, causing the framerate to plummet as resolution increases. The performance curve across all settings points to a system where the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is waiting on the GPU to complete its work at every resolution.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a high-end desktop processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 3.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its benchmark scores are formidable, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and a single-core score of 2439. The PassMark single-thread score of 5068 and a multithread score of 68574 demonstrate its capability for both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads. The processor’s 96th percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicates it is in the top tier of available processors.

However, the measured frame rates in The Medium do not reflect any CPU limitation. The fact that performance scales so heavily with resolution and settings changes strongly suggests that the CPU has significant headroom. The game’s engine, which relies on fixed camera angles and streaming, does not appear to be demanding on the 24 threads available. The processor’s large L3 cache of 36 MB (shared) and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s should be more than sufficient to feed the GPU data for this title.

The benchmark data shows that this CPU is not the bottleneck in this pairing. If it were, we would see similar frame rates at 1080p and 4K when the GPU load is low, but the data shows a clear difference between the 92 FPS at 1080p Low and the 61 FPS at 4K Low. This indicates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is still the limiting factor. The CPU’s high performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253, is effectively wasted in this specific game scenario, as it never gets a chance to be the primary driver of frame rate due to the GPU’s constraints.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is a mid-range graphics card built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 33 chip. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 2655 MHz, and it has a game clock of 2250 MHz. The card’s benchmark scores are modest, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2310 and a PassMark G3D score of 16634. Its percentile ranking versus all GPUs is 57, placing it in the middle of the pack.

The measured FPS data directly reflects the RX 7600’s limitations. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is likely a significant constraint at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS falls to 22. The game’s high-resolution textures and effects can easily exceed the memory capacity, causing the card to stutter or reduce performance as it swaps data. The 128-bit memory bus, while offering 288.0 GB/s, is not enough to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions with demanding settings.

The card’s performance is most acceptable at 1080p, where it achieves a 57 FPS average at Medium settings and 92 FPS at Low. The data suggests that the RX 7600 is best suited for 1080p gaming in this title, as the frame rates at 1440p and 4K, except for Low settings, fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The card’s compute capabilities, such as its 21.75 TFLOPS FP32 performance, are not enough to overcome the memory bandwidth bottleneck in The Medium’s more demanding scenarios. The performance at 4K High (27 FPS) and 4K Ultra (22 FPS) confirms that this GPU is not designed for high-resolution gaming with this specific title’s engine.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7600 ranks 2007 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the lower third of all systems tested, which is a direct result of the GPU’s mid-range performance. The CPU is a high performer, but the system’s overall capability is dragged down by the graphics card. The rank suggests that most other tested combinations, likely those with more powerful GPUs, achieve better frame rates.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 15171 is very close to its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (which has an average score of 15199, a -0.2% delta) and the AMD Radeon 680M (15270, a -0.7% delta). This indicates that the RX 7600 is performing as expected for its class. The CPU, however, is in a different league, with an average benchmark score of 93785, which is nearly identical to the Intel Xeon 6520P (93786, a 0% delta) and slightly ahead of the AMD EPYC 4564P (95183, a -1.5% delta).

The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile ranking (96th) and the combo’s low overall rank (2007th) highlights the importance of balanced system configuration. The data shows that while the CPU has the power to drive more demanding GPUs, it is paired with a card that cannot fully utilize it in The Medium. The combo rank of 2007 is a clear indicator that users should look at the GPU as the primary upgrade path if they wish to improve performance in this game, as the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in any scenario.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, which delivers an average of 57 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience that is above the 30 FPS playable threshold and close to the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 1080p yields 41 FPS, which is playable but not as fluid, while the Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 33 FPS, which is near the lower limit of acceptability.

At 2560x1440, the only recommended setting is Low, which achieves an average of 77 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p produces 48 FPS, which is playable but may feel less smooth for some users, while High (35 FPS) and Ultra (27 FPS) are not recommended due to their low frame rates. For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K yields 38 FPS, which is below the ideal range, and High (27 FPS) and Ultra (22 FPS) are not recommended for a consistent experience.

The data suggests that the best balance of visual fidelity and performance is achieved by selecting the Medium preset at 1080p. While the Low preset offers higher frame rates (92 FPS at 1080p), the visual quality reduction is significant. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 1440p or 4K offers a smooth experience, but the game’s atmosphere and detail are likely diminished. The Medium preset at 1440p is a solid compromise for those who want higher resolution without dropping to the lowest settings, but the 48 FPS average might not be stable enough for all users.

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

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination.

3840x2160 (4K)

• High: 27 FPS average
• Low: 61 FPS average
• Medium: 38 FPS average (minimum 32 FPS, maximum 44 FPS)
• Ultra: 22 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• High: 35 FPS average
• Low: 77 FPS average
• Medium: 48 FPS average (minimum 41 FPS, maximum 56 FPS)
• Ultra: 27 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• High: 41 FPS average
• Low: 92 FPS average
• Medium: 57 FPS average (minimum 49 FPS, maximum 66 FPS)
• Ultra: 33 FPS average

This data confirms the system’s performance envelope. The best-case scenario is 1080p Low at 92 FPS, while the worst is 4K Ultra at 22 FPS. The Medium settings at all resolutions show the most consistent frame times, as indicated by the provided minimum and maximum values. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the range of 49 to 66 FPS is relatively tight, suggesting a stable experience. The same can be said for 1440p Medium (41-56 FPS) and 4K Medium (32-44 FPS). This stability is important for a horror game, where frame pacing can affect immersion.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for a consistent 60 FPS experience with this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 92 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 57 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS target, the Low preset at 1080p is the only guaranteed option, as the Medium preset falls slightly short of that target.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers an average of 61 FPS, which is playable. However, the Medium preset drops to 38 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets yield 27 FPS and 22 FPS, respectively. Therefore, 4K is only viable with the lowest settings.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average benchmark score of 93785. This is nearly identical to the Intel Xeon 6520P (93786, 0% delta) and slightly lower than the AMD EPYC 4564P (95183, -1.5% delta) and the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615, -1.9% delta).

Q: What is the GPU’s performance relative to its closest competitors?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15171. It is slightly behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, -0.2% delta) and the AMD Radeon 680M (15270, -0.7% delta), but ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 560X (15082, 0.6% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (15063, 0.7% delta).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The performance scaling strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Medium, the frame rate is 57 FPS, but at 4K Medium it drops to 38 FPS. This significant drop with increasing resolution is a classic sign of a GPU limitation, as the CPU has more than enough power (evidenced by its 44253 Cinebench R23 multi-core score) to handle the game’s logic.

Q: What is the frame rate range for the Medium preset at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average frame rate is 57 FPS, with a reported minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. This indicates a relatively stable performance window.