The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B390 delivers a strictly entry-level experience in The Medium, landing at rank 2581 out of 2911 tested combos. This places the configuration in the bottom 11% of all systems, and the measured frame rates confirm a severe GPU bottleneck that no amount of CPU headroom can overcome. The data indicates this combo is only viable at the lowest settings and resolutions, and even then, it barely approaches playability thresholds.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is the definitive performance limiter in this configuration. Its benchmark profile is extraordinarily weak, sitting at the 9th percentile among all GPUs with an average 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of just 1482. The nearest rivals in the database are legacy parts: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5% ahead), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443, 2.7% ahead). This positions the Arc B390 in the same performance tier as a decade-old entry-level mobile GPU, which explains the catastrophic frame rates seen in the measured results.

The GPU's architecture uses Xe3-LPG on a 3 nm Intel process with 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines. It features 12 ray tracing cores, but the raw compute throughput is the real story: FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS, which is far too low for a demanding horror title like The Medium. The clocks tell a further tale of constraint — a 300 MHz base clock and a 2500 MHz boost clock, producing a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. In practice, these specifications translate into single-digit and low-teen frame rates at higher settings.

Critically, the memory subsystem is "System Shared," meaning the GPU has no dedicated VRAM of its own. Memory bandwidth is "System Dependent," and the bus width is likewise shared. This is a fundamental architectural handicap for a game like The Medium, which relies on asset streaming and large texture loads. The lack of dedicated video memory forces the GPU to compete with the CPU for system memory bandwidth, and the benchmark results show the consequence: at 3840x2160 Ultra, the average frame rate collapses to 12 FPS. The GPU's TDP is a mere 80 W, and it operates as an integrated graphics product (IGP) with no power connectors, which underscores that this is not designed for discrete-level gaming performance.

The measured data reveals a stark scaling pattern. At 1920x1080, dropping from Medium (32 FPS average) to Low (51 FPS average) yields a 19 FPS improvement, a 59% gain. However, even at the lowest setting, the frame rate is only 51 FPS, and this is the absolute ceiling for this combo. The GPU's 3DMark score of 1482 places it just 1.3% behind the GT 520MX, and in The Medium, that level of compute is insufficient for any settings beyond Low at 1080p. The GPU is the hard ceiling; the CPU is never the limiting factor in any measured scenario.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined system ranks 2581 out of 2911 in The Medium, a position that firmly places it in the bottom tier of all tested configurations. This rank is not a reflection of the CPU, which is exceptionally powerful, but rather a direct consequence of the GPU's extreme weakness. The combo sits 330 spots above the very bottom of the database, meaning roughly 88.7% of all tested systems outperform it. This is a decisive verdict: the system is unsuitable for the game at any playable quality level except the absolute minimum.

To contextualize the rank, consider that the CPU alone scores at the 96th percentile among all processors, yet the combo's overall position is in the bottom 11%. This massive disparity between CPU capability and system performance is a textbook example of a bottleneck. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1482, with a 9th percentile ranking among GPUs, places it in direct competition with parts that are over a decade old. The nearest GPU rival, the GT 520MX, is a 1.3% performance difference, which is within the margin of error. Thus, the combo rank of 2581 is almost entirely determined by the GPU's tier.

The rank data shows that this system is closer to the bottom of the database than to the middle. With 2911 total combos, the median would be around rank 1456; this system's rank of 2581 is over 1100 positions below that midpoint. In practical terms, this means the system will deliver an experience that is qualitatively different from what most users expect from a modern gaming PC. The data does not support any claim of playability at 1440p or 4K, nor at High or Ultra settings at any resolution. The only scenario where the frame rate exceeds 30 FPS is at 1920x1080 Low (51 FPS) and 2560x1440 Low (43 FPS), with 3840x2160 Low trailing at 34 FPS.

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 that is entirely wasted in this pairing. It features 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It is built on a 3 nm TSMC process with 17,800 million transistors and a die size of 243 mm². The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, delivering 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The CPU's TDP is 125 W, and it supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU is a powerhouse. It achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and a single-core score of 2439. Passmark results show a multi-thread score of 68574 and a single-thread score of 5068. The CPU's average benchmark score is 93785, placing it at the 96th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are server-grade parts: the Intel Xeon 6520P (93786, 0% delta), the AMD EPYC 4564P (95183, -1.5%), the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615, -1.9%), and the AMD EPYC 4565P (95764, -2.1%). This is a CPU capable of handling any modern workload with ease.

However, in The Medium, the CPU's capabilities are irrelevant to the outcome. The measured frame rates are so low that the CPU is never tasked with more than a fraction of its capacity. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the system averages 12 FPS — this is a GPU-bound scenario where the CPU is likely waiting for the GPU to finish each frame. The CPU's 36 MB of L3 cache and 24 threads are far more than the game requires at these performance levels. The data shows that the CPU's Passmark physics score of 4064 and integer math score of 175986 are not being utilized to any meaningful degree because the GPU cannot produce frames fast enough.

The memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s is also a non-factor, as the GPU's shared memory architecture may actually compete with the CPU for this bandwidth, but the game's performance is so low that this contention is not the primary issue. The CPU's boost clock of 5.50 GHz is excellent for single-threaded tasks, and the single-core Cinebench R20 score of 3453 confirms strong per-core performance. Yet, none of this translates to higher frame rates. The verdict is clear: the CPU is a top-4% processor that is being held back by a bottom-9% GPU, resulting in a system that performs like a low-end office PC in this game.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of the system's limits across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the best-case scenario is the Low preset, which yields an average of 51 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 32 FPS (min 27, max 37), High drops to 23 FPS, and Ultra falls to 18 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 33 FPS loss, or a 65% reduction in performance. Even at 1080p, the system cannot maintain 60 FPS at any setting, and the Ultra preset at 18 FPS is essentially unplayable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades further. The Low preset averages 43 FPS, which is still above the 30 FPS playability threshold but below 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 27 FPS (min 23, max 31), which is marginal. The High preset drops to 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 15 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 28 FPS, a 65% reduction. The data shows that 1440p is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is below what most users would consider smooth.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. The Low preset averages 34 FPS, which is playable but not comfortable. The Medium preset averages 21 FPS (min 18, max 24), which is a slideshow. The High preset drops to 15 FPS, and the Ultra preset collapses to 12 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is 22 FPS, a 65% reduction. None of the 4K presets, except Low, are viable for actual gameplay. The min FPS values for Medium presets show that even the average is not sustainable — at 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 27, and at 1440p Medium, it is 23, indicating significant frame time spikes.

Comparing across resolutions at the same settings reveals the resolution scaling. At Low settings, the system goes from 51 FPS at 1080p to 43 FPS at 1440p to 34 FPS at 4K. This represents a 33% drop from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, the averages are 32 FPS (1080p), 27 FPS (1440p), and 21 FPS (4K). At High settings, the averages are 23 FPS, 19 FPS, and 15 FPS. At Ultra settings, the averages are 18 FPS, 15 FPS, and 12 FPS. The consistent pattern is that each resolution step up costs approximately 20-25% of the frame rate, which is a direct result of the GPU's limited fill rate and lack of dedicated memory.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings to play The Medium with this combo?*

A: The only configuration that maintains an average above 40 FPS is 1920x1080 Low, which delivers 51 FPS. The next best option is 2560x1440 Low at 43 FPS. All other settings and resolutions result in averages below 34 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus the reason for the low frame rates?

A: No. The CPU scores at the 96th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 93785, while the GPU sits at the 9th percentile with a score of 1482. The frame rates are entirely GPU-limited.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it 1.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). It is in the same performance tier as these legacy parts.

*Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS in The Medium at any settings?*

A: No. The highest measured average is 51 FPS at 1920x1080 Low. All other tested configurations produce averages of 43 FPS or lower, with many falling below 30 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2581 out of 2911 total combos, placing it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations for The Medium.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 51 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 18 FPS. This is a 33 FPS difference, representing a 65% performance reduction from Low to Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the only reasonable recommendation is to use the Low preset at 1920x1080, which yields an average of 51 FPS. This is the single configuration that approaches smooth gameplay, though it still falls short of the 60 FPS target. The 2560x1440 Low preset at 43 FPS is the only other option that stays above 40 FPS, but the lower resolution is preferable for frame rate stability. At 1080p, the Medium preset drops to an average of 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 FPS, which is borderline playable but will suffer from noticeable hitching in demanding scenes.

The High and Ultra presets are not recommended at any resolution. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 18 FPS, and at 1440p Ultra, it is 15 FPS — both are well below playability thresholds. The data shows that the GPU's performance scales poorly with quality settings; the 65% reduction from Low to Ultra at every resolution indicates that the rasterization and shading demands of higher presets overwhelm the Arc B390's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. The Medium preset at 1440p (27 FPS) and 4K (21 FPS) are also below the 30 FPS minimum for comfortable play.

For users who must play at 4K, the Low preset at 34 FPS is the only option, but it will require significant compromise on visual fidelity. The GPU's shared memory architecture likely contributes to the poor scaling, as texture loading at higher presets competes with system memory bandwidth. The verdict from the data is unambiguous: this combo is a 1080p Low-settings machine for The Medium, and any attempt to raise quality will result in sub-30 FPS performance. The 1920x1080 Low preset is the definitive best experience, offering the highest average frame rate and the most consistent frame pacing among all measured configurations.