Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Arc B390 combination delivers a playable experience in Inside, but the margin for error depends heavily on the resolution you choose. At 1080p, the system has headroom to spare; at 4K, it is strictly a low-settings affair. The recorded data provides a clear picture of how this pairing handles the game’s puzzle platforming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark database contains measured frame rates for this specific CPU and GPU pairing across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data shows a consistent pattern: lower resolutions and lower settings yield higher average FPS, but the scaling is not always linear.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are the most constrained. With the Low preset, the system records an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset drops to an average of 56 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. The High preset falls further to 35 FPS average, and the Ultra preset bottoms out at 34 FPS average. Notably, only the Medium preset has recorded min/max values; the other presets at this resolution only have average FPS data.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves markedly. The Low preset hits an average of 112 FPS. The Medium preset delivers 90 FPS average, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. The High preset records 56 FPS average, while the Ultra preset posts 53 FPS average. As with 4K, min/max values are only available for the Medium preset.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system is at its most comfortable. The Low preset reaches an average of 156 FPS. The Medium preset achieves 125 FPS average, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS. The High preset records 78 FPS average, and the Ultra preset posts 74 FPS average. Again, only the Medium preset has min/max data recorded.

Looking at the full dataset, the spread between Low and Ultra is significant at every resolution. At 4K, the gap is 36 FPS (from 70 down to 34). At 1440p, the gap is 59 FPS (from 112 down to 53). At 1080p, the gap is 82 FPS (from 156 down to 74). This indicates that the graphics settings have a substantial impact on the final frame rate, particularly at lower resolutions where the baseline is higher.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU as resolution changes. Inside is a puzzle platformer, not a demanding AAA title, so the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-thread performance keeps lower resolutions flowing.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X has a strong benchmark profile. Its single-thread score in 3dmark is 1280, and its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 2211. These are high scores, indicating the CPU can handle the game’s logic and physics without becoming a limiting factor. At 1080p, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor: the average FPS jumps from 74 at Ultra to 156 at Low, a 111% increase, which is a GPU-bound scaling pattern. The CPU is providing enough headroom for the GPU to be the primary constraint.

At 1440p, the CPU still has ample capacity. The average FPS at Low is 112, and at Ultra it is 53. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 53% drop, which is less severe than at 1080p but still shows the GPU struggling with the higher pixel count. The CPU’s role is stable; it is not causing frame drops, as evidenced by the Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 76, which is well above the playable threshold.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the overwhelming bottleneck. The average FPS at Ultra is 34, and even at Low it is only 70. The CPU’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration is not stressed by this game; the recorded data shows the same CPU benchmark scores regardless of resolution. The 4K results are almost entirely a function of the Intel Arc B390’s capabilities. The GPU’s 3dmark Steel Nomad score is 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a very low-end part that struggles with high pixel counts.

The resolution scaling data supports this interpretation. Moving from 1080p Low (156 FPS) to 1440p Low (112 FPS) is a 28% drop. Moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low (70 FPS) is a 38% drop. These percentage drops are larger than the corresponding resolution pixel-count increases, which confirms the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU’s performance is sufficient; the data does not show any frame-time anomalies or min FPS drops that would suggest CPU limitations.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold for this database is 60 FPS average. Based on the recorded data, the best settings per resolution are the most demanding presets that stay at or above this threshold.

At 3840x2160, the only preset that clears 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset falls short at 56 FPS, and High and Ultra are far below at 35 and 34 FPS respectively. Therefore, the best settings at 4K are Low, delivering 70 FPS average.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset hits 112 FPS and the Medium preset hits 90 FPS. Both clear the threshold. The High preset drops to 56 FPS, which is below the playable line. The best settings at 1440p are Medium, delivering 90 FPS average. This is a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, and the recorded min of 76 FPS shows that even dips stay well within playable territory.

At 1920x1080, all four presets clear 60 FPS. The Low preset records 156 FPS, Medium records 125 FPS, High records 78 FPS, and Ultra records 74 FPS. The best settings at 1080p are Ultra, delivering 74 FPS average. This is the most demanding preset the system can run while maintaining a playable frame rate. The margin is not huge, but it is above the threshold.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Inside? The verdict by resolution is clear: yes, but with caveats.

At 3840x2160, the system is playable only on Low settings, with an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. If you own a 4K display, you must use Low settings to get a smooth experience. The data indicates this is a marginal situation; there is no headroom for higher quality.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable on Low and Medium settings. The Medium preset delivers 90 FPS average, which is a strong result. The High preset is not playable at 56 FPS. This resolution offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, as Medium provides a significant improvement over Low while maintaining a large margin above the threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable on all four presets, including Ultra at 74 FPS average. This is the resolution where the system performs best. The Ultra preset is the clear choice for maximum visual fidelity, and the 74 FPS average ensures smooth gameplay. The Low preset’s 156 FPS shows the system can handle high-refresh-rate displays if you drop the settings.

Overall, the system is capable of running Inside at all three tested resolutions, but only at lower settings as resolution increases. The combination of a high-end CPU and a low-end GPU means the experience is always GPU-limited. The 1080p Ultra result is the standout, offering the best visual quality at a playable frame rate.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database provides nearest rival data for both the CPU and GPU. These are hardware components with similar average benchmark scores, meaning they would likely produce similar performance in this game.

For the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, the nearest rivals are all within a 0.4% margin of its average benchmark score. The Intel Core i9-14901E has an average score of 37911, which is 0.1% different. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 37904, also 0.1% different. The Intel Core 5 211E scores 37829, a 0.3% difference, and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 scores 37804, a 0.4% difference. Any of these CPUs would perform effectively identically to the Ryzen 7 9700X in Inside, meaning the CPU would not be a differentiator in frame rates.

For the Intel Arc B390, the nearest rivals are considerably slower, and the margins are larger. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX has an average score of 1463, which is 1.3% different from the B390’s 1482. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, a 1.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% difference, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, a 2.7% difference. These GPUs are all in the same low-performance tier. In Inside, they would produce frame rates very close to the B390, meaning the same resolution and settings limitations would apply. The GPU is the bottleneck, so swapping to any of these alternatives would not change the verdict.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Inside at 60 FPS on a 4K monitor?*

A: Yes, but only on the Low preset. The recorded average FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 70. All other presets at this resolution fall below 60 FPS: Medium at 56, High at 35, and Ultra at 34.

Q: What is the best quality setting at 1440p that maintains 60 FPS?

A: The Medium preset, which delivers an average of 90 FPS. The High preset drops to 56 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, so Medium is the highest quality option that stays above 60 FPS.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 1080p?

A: Yes. The recorded average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 74, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset reaches 156 FPS, but Ultra is the best visual option that remains playable.

*Q: Which component is the bottleneck in this system for Inside?*

A: The GPU is the bottleneck at all tested resolutions. The Intel Arc B390 is in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is in the 86th percentile. The frame rate scaling between resolutions and presets is consistent with GPU limitations.

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

A: The B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% difference), GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5%), GT 625 OEM (1446, 2.5%), and GT 710 (1443, 2.7%). These GPUs would produce similar frame rates in Inside.

Q: Does the CPU’s performance vary between resolutions?

A: No. The CPU benchmark scores are constant across all resolutions. The CPU is not the limiting factor; the recorded FPS differences between 1080p, 1440p, and 4K are entirely due to the GPU’s workload.