Inside

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a decisive performance profile for Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer. Measured data shows this combination is not merely capable of running the game; it obliterates the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution and preset tested. At 1920x1080, the lowest average frame rate recorded across all settings is 139 FPS, while even the most demanding 4K Ultra preset holds an average of 63 FPS. This analysis breaks down the exact frame rates, the division of labor between CPU and GPU, and the optimal settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent pattern of high performance, with the only sub-100 FPS averages occurring at 4K resolution with the most demanding presets. At 1920x1080, the results are exceptionally high across the board. The Low preset produces an average of 292 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo. Moving to Medium yields an average of 234 FPS, with a minimum of 199 FPS and a maximum of 269 FPS. The High preset drops to a still-massive 146 FPS average, and the Ultra preset delivers 139 FPS, maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales predictably but remains extremely strong. The Low preset achieves an average of 210 FPS, while the Medium preset records 168 FPS average, with a minimum of 143 FPS and a maximum of 193 FPS. The High preset produces 105 FPS average, and Ultra still holds firm at 100 FPS. None of these figures approach the playability limit, indicating that the GPU is not heavily taxed at this resolution.

The 4K (3840x2160) results show where the system begins to feel some pressure, though it still never drops below the playable threshold. The Low preset delivers an average of 132 FPS, and Medium follows with 106 FPS average, with a minimum of 90 FPS and a maximum of 121 FPS. The High preset averages 66 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 63 FPS, with no minimum or maximum data provided for these two configurations. Even at these lower averages, the system maintains a playable experience, though the margin shrinks significantly compared to lower resolutions. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: from 1080p to 1440p, average FPS drops by roughly 28-30% across presets, and from 1440p to 4K, the drop is another 37-40%, which aligns with the increased pixel count.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Inside at 4K with Ultra settings?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 63 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This is the most demanding configuration tested, and it still clears the bar.

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

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 292, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset. This indicates the game is heavily GPU-bound at lower resolutions, or the CPU is not a limiting factor at all.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate drops below 60 FPS?

A: No. Across all four resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), the minimum average FPS recorded is 63 FPS at 4K Ultra. No measured data shows a drop below 60 FPS even in the minimum FPS figures for Medium presets.

Q: How does the 1080p performance compare to 4K performance?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 139, while at 4K Ultra, it is 63 FPS. This represents a 54.7% reduction in average frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same preset.

Q: Is the Low preset significantly faster than the Ultra preset?

A: Yes, the performance gap is large. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 292 FPS versus 139 FPS for Ultra, making Low 110% faster. At 2560x1440, Low averages 210 FPS versus 100 FPS for Ultra, which is 110% faster. At 3840x2160, Low averages 132 FPS versus 63 FPS for Ultra, a 109.5% difference.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only minimum FPS values provided are for the Medium preset at each resolution. The lowest of these is 90 FPS at 3840x2160. For other presets, minimum FPS data is null, but the averages indicate that even the lowest unrecorded minimums would likely stay above the playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data suggests that for Inside, the GPU is the primary driver of performance scaling, while the CPU provides ample headroom. This is evident from the frame rate progression as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the GPU can render frames at a very high rate, but as resolution increases to 2560x1440 and then 3840x2160, the workload on the GPU increases, causing average FPS to drop significantly. The Core i3-12100F, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, does not appear to bottleneck the system at any tested configuration, as the frame rates scale consistently with pixel count rather than showing a plateau indicative of a CPU limit.

The scaling between presets also highlights the GPU's role. At a fixed resolution, changing from Low to Ultra increases the graphical workload, which directly impacts the GPU. For instance, at 2560x1440, moving from Low (210 FPS) to Ultra (100 FPS) reduces performance by 52.4%, a drop that is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's rendering load. The CPU's role is likely more significant at lower resolutions and lower presets, where the frame rate is highest (e.g., 292 FPS at 1080p Low), but the data shows no signs of the CPU limiting performance, as even the highest frame rates are achieved without issue.

The difference between resolutions further clarifies the GPU's dominance. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 28-30% across all presets, and from 1440p to 4K, it is roughly 37-40%. These percentages are consistent with the increase in pixel count, which is a GPU-bound metric. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rate would not degrade as much when resolution increases, as the CPU workload would remain relatively constant. Therefore, benchmark results indicate that users can expect the GPU to be the determining factor for FPS in Inside, with the CPU offering no practical constraint for this title.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Inside, and it does so with exceptional headroom. According to the verdictByResolution data, the combo achieves playable settings at all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) across all three resolutions tested. At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average FPS of 139. At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best setting, delivering a 100 FPS average. Even at 3840x2160, the system can run Ultra settings at an average of 63 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows no configuration where the system fails to meet the 60 FPS playability standard, making this an unequivocal recommendation for smooth gameplay at any resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

For players seeking the highest visual quality while maintaining at least 60 FPS, the data provides clear guidance. At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which yields an average of 139 FPS. This is the highest visual setting available, and the system still has more than double the required frame rate. At 2560x1440, Ultra remains the best choice, with an average FPS of 100, providing a substantial cushion above the threshold. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset is still viable, but the margin is tighter, with an average FPS of 63. While this is above 60 FPS, it leaves less room for fluctuation, so players with 4K displays should feel confident using Ultra, but the data suggests that High (66 FPS) and Medium (106 FPS) are also excellent options if they prefer additional headroom. For maximum performance at any resolution, the Low preset offers the highest frame rates, but given the ample performance at higher settings, there is no practical need to sacrifice visual quality.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Inside, this pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 2378 out of 3716 total combos. This places it in the 64th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it performs admirably for this specific game, there are many other combinations that deliver higher frame rates. The CPU itself sits in the 68th percentile when compared to all other CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 13494. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, has a nearly identical average score of 13492 (0% delta), while the Intel Core i5-9500 is 0.3% faster at 13452. The GPU’s percentile is slightly lower at 65, with an average benchmark score of 19765. Its closest competitor, the NVIDIA Tesla K40m, is 0.6% faster, and the AMD FirePro D300 is 0.7% slower. These rankings suggest that this combo is a solid mid-tier performer, and its high frame rates in Inside are evidence of the game's low system requirements rather than the hardware being top-tier. The data confirms that the combo is more than sufficient for this title, even if it does not top the charts among all tested configurations.