Inside

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a decisive performance outcome for Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer. Measured benchmark data shows this combination produces exceptionally high frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, with the lowest average result still sitting far above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data indicates a system that is not merely capable but vastly overqualified for the game’s demands, making every tested configuration playable with substantial headroom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination produces its highest raw frame rates. The Low preset averages 316.9 FPS, while Medium reaches 292.9 FPS. High settings yield 218 FPS, and the demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 209.2 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 34% reduction in average frame rate, but even the most demanding setting stays well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains remarkably strong. Low settings average 283.9 FPS, and Medium follows closely at 253.7 FPS. High settings drop to 157.9 FPS, while Ultra holds at 153.6 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 45.9%, showing a wider spread than at 1080p as resolution scaling begins to exert more influence. Still, every preset clears 60 FPS by more than double.

At 3840x2160, the 4K results show the largest relative impact from settings changes. Low averages 199.4 FPS, and Medium trails at 157.3 FPS. High settles at 97.3 FPS, while Ultra produces 93.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 53.3%, the largest percentage gap across all resolutions. Despite this, the Ultra preset at 4K remains 55% above the 60 FPS playability line, confirming the system’s dominance in this title.

No minimum or maximum frame rate data is available in the measured results, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS figures. The absence of min/max values means frame time consistency cannot be assessed from this data, but the high averages suggest a smooth experience given the game’s relatively simple visual demands.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals a pattern where the GPU becomes progressively more involved as pixel count rises, while the CPU maintains a consistent baseline. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra is 107.7 FPS, which reflects the CPU’s ability to feed frames quickly at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed. At 2560x1440, that same Low-to-Ultra gap expands to 130.3 FPS, indicating the GPU’s workload is scaling with resolution demands.

The 3840x2160 results show the clearest GPU dominance. The Low-to-Ultra spread here is 106.3 FPS, and the absolute frame rates drop to roughly half of the 1080p values. This pattern indicates that at 4K, the RTX 3080’s rendering capabilities become the primary constraint, whereas at 1080p, the i5-12400’s six cores and twelve threads are sufficient to keep frame rates extremely high without becoming a bottleneck.

The i5-12400’s benchmark scores support its role as a capable partner. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 15989, with a single-core score of 2257. These figures place the CPU in the 72nd percentile against all processors, indicating solid mid-range performance that does not limit a high-end GPU in a light title like Inside. The RTX 3080, scoring in the 68th percentile for GPUs, provides the rendering horsepower that drives the resolution scaling observed in the data.

The fact that Ultra settings at 4K still exceed 90 FPS suggests neither component is being pushed to its limit. The game’s puzzle platformer nature likely involves limited geometric complexity and particle effects, allowing the i5-12400’s single-thread performance and the RTX 3080’s 29.77 TFLOPS FP32 throughput to operate with considerable overhead. The CPU’s single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3dmark single-thread score of 910, proves sufficient for the game’s logic and physics simulation.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 60 FPS on Ultra settings at 4K?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 93.1, which is 55% above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: The peak measured average is 316.9 FPS, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, which is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18811) and 0.9% above the Intel Core i3-14100F (18519). It trails the Intel Core i7-1355U by 0.3% (18730).

Q: Is the RTX 3080’s performance notably different from its closest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 3080’s average benchmark score is 23172. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA P106-100, scores 23249, a difference of only 0.3%. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23273, also 0.4% higher.

Q: What is the slowest preset and resolution combination in the measured data?

A: The lowest average FPS is 93.1, occurring at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This remains well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in any tested configuration?

A: No. Every measured combination of resolution and settings produces an average FPS above 60, with the lowest result being 93.1 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest CPU rivals to the Intel Core i5-12400, based on average benchmark scores, offer nearly identical processing performance. The AMD EPYC 7643 scores 18697, a 0.1% difference from the i5-12400’s 18683. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, 0.3% higher. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 leads this group at 18811, 0.7% above the i5-12400. On the lower end, the Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% below. For a game like Inside, any of these CPUs would deliver comparable frame rates, as the title does not heavily tax multi-threaded performance.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080’s nearest rivals show minimal score differences. The NVIDIA P106-100 averages 23249, just 0.3% above the RTX 3080’s 23172. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 scores 23250, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M reaches 23273, a 0.4% advantage. The AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276, 0.4% higher. These differences are negligible, meaning any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical FPS results in Inside at the tested settings.

It is important to note that the nearest rival lists are based on synthetic benchmark averages, not game-specific results. The actual in-game performance of these alternatives could vary, but the close score proximity suggests comparable rendering capabilities for a puzzle platformer with modest graphical requirements.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 209.2 FPS. This is the highest quality option available and clears the threshold by nearly 150 FPS, leaving substantial headroom for any potential frame drops.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings again provide the best visual quality while staying well above 60 FPS. The measured average is 153.6 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS requirement. This makes Ultra the clear choice for 1440p gaming.

At 3840x2160, Ultra settings remain viable with an average of 93.1 FPS. While this is the lowest average in the dataset, it still exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by 55%. For players who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, the High preset at 97.3 FPS offers a slightly higher average, but Ultra is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS.

In all three resolutions, the data shows that the most demanding preset — Ultra — meets the 60 FPS playability criterion. There is no need to compromise on settings for this game, as even the highest quality configuration at 4K leaves a comfortable margin above the playable threshold.

The Verdict

The verdict is unambiguous: this PC can run Inside at 60 FPS or higher in every tested configuration. At 3840x2160, all four presets — Low (199.4 FPS), Medium (157.3 FPS), High (97.3 FPS), and Ultra (93.1 FPS) — are playable. The best settings at 4K are Ultra, with an average of 93.1 FPS.

At 2560x1440, all presets are similarly playable, with Ultra achieving 153.6 FPS. Low averages 283.9 FPS, Medium 253.7 FPS, and High 157.9 FPS. The best settings at 1440p are Ultra, which offers the highest visual quality while still delivering more than double the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system is overwhelmingly powerful for this game. Low averages 316.9 FPS, Medium 292.9 FPS, High 218 FPS, and Ultra 209.2 FPS. The best settings at 1080p are Ultra, with a 209.2 FPS average that leaves massive performance headroom.

The data indicates that the i5-12400 and RTX 3080 combination never approaches the 60 FPS limit, even under the most demanding conditions. This is a case where the hardware is significantly overprovisioned for the game’s requirements, offering a flawless high-refresh-rate experience at any resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

Among all tested combinations in the benchmark database, this specific pairing ranks 1026th out of 3716 combos. This places it in the top 27.6% of all tested systems. The rank reflects the combination’s overall performance across multiple benchmarks, not just Inside-specific results.

Given the game’s modest graphical demands, the rank in this title would likely be higher than the overall rank, as the system’s strengths — strong single-thread CPU performance and high GPU throughput — align well with a puzzle platformer’s needs. The 72nd percentile CPU ranking and 68th percentile GPU ranking suggest a balanced mid-to-high-end system that excels in this type of game.

The rank of 1026 out of 3716 indicates that while many systems perform better overall, the i5-12400 and RTX 3080 combination is well above average. For a game like Inside, which does not require advanced hardware, this rank confirms that the system is more than sufficient and would likely outperform a significant portion of the higher-ranked combos in this specific title, given the enormous FPS margins demonstrated in the measured data.