Inside

The Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer that is far less demanding than modern AAA titles. Benchmark data shows this pairing is not merely playable but overwhelmingly powerful, producing frame rates that are multiples of the 60 FPS threshold. The measured FPS across all resolutions and presets indicate a system that will never struggle with this title, making it an ideal match for high-refresh-rate monitors or for users who prioritize maximum graphical fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The performance data reveals a clear pattern: the RX 9060 GPU is the dominant factor in this game, with the i3-12100F CPU providing more than enough headroom. The lowest average frame rate recorded is 66 FPS at 4K Ultra, while the highest is a staggering 309 FPS at 1080p Low. This spread of results highlights the GPU's scaling efficiency across different workloads.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates are all well above the playability threshold of 60 FPS. The Low preset delivers an average of 140 FPS, which is a 2.0x increase over the High preset's 70 FPS. The Medium preset offers a middle ground with 112 FPS average, and its minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 128 FPS show a tight, stable frame-time distribution. The most demanding setting, Ultra, still manages a solid 66 FPS average, indicating that the game's maximum visual quality is attainable at 4K without any performance concessions.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance headroom expands significantly. The Low preset doubles the 4K Low result, hitting exactly 222 FPS. The Medium preset sees an average of 178 FPS, with a minimum of 151 FPS and a maximum of 204 FPS, indicating a very high refresh rate experience. High settings at this resolution produce an average of 111 FPS, which is exactly half the Low preset's score. The Ultra preset also remains highly playable, with an average of 106 FPS, which is 76% higher than the 4K Ultra result.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the frame rates become extraordinary, showcasing the CPU's ability to keep up with the GPU's raw output. The Low preset achieves an average of 309 FPS, which is the highest score recorded in the entire dataset. The Medium preset follows with a 247 FPS average and a minimum of 210 FPS, ensuring no drops below 200 FPS. The High preset is still extremely high at 155 FPS, but it is interesting to note that this is a 45% decrease compared to the Low preset. The Ultra preset, while still excellent at 147 FPS, is only 5% lower than the High preset, suggesting a diminishing return in performance cost at the top end of the settings.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Inside at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes. The benchmark data is unequivocal. At 3840x2160, all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) deliver average frame rates above 60 FPS. The lowest average is 66 FPS at Ultra settings, while the highest is 140 FPS at Low settings.

Q: What is the maximum performance level at 1080p with this hardware?

A: The highest recorded average frame rate is 309 FPS, achieved at the Low preset in 1920x1080 resolution. Even at the most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p, the system still maintains a high average of 147 FPS.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 4K?

A: Yes, it is. The data shows an average of 66 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, making it a fully playable and smooth experience, though it offers the least performance headroom of any settings combination.

Q: How does the performance scale between 1440p and 1080p?

A: The scaling is consistent. For example, the High preset average jumps from 111 FPS at 2560x1440 to 155 FPS at 1920x1080, a 40% improvement. The Ultra preset shows a similar trend, going from 106 FPS to 147 FPS, which is a 39% increase.

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

A: No. According to the data, every single resolution and preset combination in the measured FPS list has an average frame rate of at least 66 FPS. The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 95 FPS at 2160p Medium, so there are no dips into the sub-60 territory.

Q: What is the most demanding setting that still maintains a high frame rate?

A: The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding, with an average of 66 FPS. The High preset at 4K is also borderline, with 70 FPS. All other combinations are significantly higher, with the most common averages being above 100 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results suggest that the GPU is the primary performance bottleneck for Inside, especially at lower resolutions. When comparing the 140 FPS at 4K Low to the 222 FPS at 1440p Low, the 59% increase in frame rate is a direct result of the GPU having to process fewer pixels. This pattern is consistent across all settings, indicating that the RX 9060's rendering output is the limiting factor.

However, the CPU's role becomes more noticeable at 1080p, where the frame rates are extremely high. The i3-12100F's single-thread performance, which is in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, is sufficient to handle the game's logic and physics even at 300+ FPS. The data shows that the 1080p Low preset (309 FPS) is 39% higher than the 1440p Low (222 FPS), which is a larger jump than the 1080p High (155 FPS) versus 1440p High (111 FPS) which is also 39%. This linear scaling with resolution suggests that the GPU is still the primary driver of the performance difference, and the CPU is not creating a bottleneck.

As the settings increase, the gap between resolutions widens. For instance, the 1080p Ultra (147 FPS) is 39% higher than the 1440p Ultra (106 FPS). This pattern holds across all settings, meaning the GPU's workload is scaling directly with pixel count, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. The GPU is the dominant component at all resolutions, but the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures that there is no stutter or frame drops that could be caused by a low-end processor.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the i3-12100F and RX 9060 is ranked 2129th out of 3716 tested combos in this game's benchmark database. This places it in the top 43% of all systems tested, which is a solid position given that the list likely includes many high-end desktop configurations with stronger CPUs.

The ranking is more about the GPU than the CPU. The RX 9060 sits at the 59th percentile of all GPUs, while the i3-12100F is at the 68th percentile. The fact that the combination ranks in the middle of the pack suggests that the GPU is not a top-tier performer, but it is still well above average. The data shows that this system would be a comfortable match for a 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming, as it sits in a comfortable mid-range tier.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU, as defined by their average benchmark scores, offer a good reference point for what other hardware would behave similarly. The i3-12100F's closest rival is the Intel Core 3 N355, with a delta of 0% in average score. This means that a system with a Core 3 N355 would likely perform nearly identically to the i3-12100F in this game, assuming the same GPU. The Intel Core i5-9500 is also a close match, with a delta of 0.3% faster, and the Intel Core 5 120UL is 0.7% slower. These processors would all provide the same CPU bottleneck, which is effectively none.

On the GPU side, the RX 9060's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which has a deltaPct of -0.7%, meaning the 9060 is 0.7% slower on average. The AMD Radeon R9 370X (1% faster) and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 (1% faster) are also direct competitors. A system with an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 7700 would produce very similar frame rates in this game, as they all have the same raw compute performance. The Radeon Pro W5500 is also a 2.1% faster, showing that the performance range among these alternatives is extremely tight.

The Verdict

The verdict is clear: this PC can run Inside with ease. The data provides a definitive yes for every resolution in the test. At 3840x2160, the system is playable at High, Low, Medium, and Ultra settings, with the best settings being Ultra, which yields an average of 66 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same preset is also playable, but the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 106 FPS. At 1920x1080, the best settings are also Ultra, with an impressive average of 147 FPS.

The system clears the 60 FPS threshold at every possible setting combination, making this a non-issue. For a game like Inside, which is a puzzle platformer that does not require twitch reflexes, even the lowest recorded frame rate is more than enough. The data indicates that this PC can handle the game at maximum visual quality at any resolution, leaving substantial headroom for a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Best Settings per Resolution

For a target of 60 FPS or higher, the most demanding preset that maintains this average is the Ultra at all resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra settings produce an average of 66 FPS. This is the best visual appearance that the game can offer at this resolution while still being playable. While the FPS is above the target, it is the lowest average in the dataset, so a player may prefer to use High settings for a more consistent frame rate, but the data shows Ultra is viable.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra settings are the optimal choice, with an average of 106 FPS. This is a 60% improvement over the 4K Ultra performance, offering a great balance of visual fidelity and a high frame rate, making it the sweet spot for the system. This is the highest resolution to achieve a triple-digit average.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra settings are also the best choice, yielding a massive 147 FPS average. This is a 39% increase over the 1440p Ultra score, showing that the system is not even breaking a sweat at this resolution. This is the best setting for competitive play or for extreme smoothness, as the frame is more than double the threshold.