Inside

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 produces exceptionally high frame rates in Inside, a game that is not graphically demanding by modern standards. The benchmark data, measured at three resolutions and four quality presets, shows that this combination never drops below 134 FPS on average, even at the most demanding settings tested. The data indicates a system that provides a significant performance surplus, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate displays at all tested resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this configuration is consistent and high across the board. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the average frame rates range from 239.1 FPS at Ultra settings to 320 FPS at Low settings. The Medium preset delivers 294.9 FPS, while the High preset averages 243.3 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a performance drop of approximately 25%, but the absolute numbers remain far above any playability threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the results show a predictable decline compared to 1080p, but the performance remains extremely strong. The Ultra preset averages 212.3 FPS, High averages 218.5 FPS, Medium averages 260.6 FPS, and Low averages 285.3 FPS. The difference between the High and Ultra presets at this resolution is minimal, with a delta of only about 6 FPS, suggesting that the visual upgrade to Ultra comes at a negligible cost to performance.

At 3840x2160, the system still delivers very high frame rates. The Ultra preset averages 134 FPS, which is the lowest average recorded in the entire dataset. High settings produce an average of 139.8 FPS, which is curiously higher than Ultra by about 5.8 FPS. Medium settings average 221.4 FPS, and Low settings reach an average of 242.9 FPS. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K is substantial, with the Low preset being roughly 81% faster than Ultra, indicating that the Ultra preset carries a significant rendering load even for this title.

The data shows no min or max FPS values, meaning the analysis relies solely on average frame rates. The absence of these values suggests that frame time variance was not captured, but the high averages imply a smooth experience. The lowest recorded average, 134 FPS at 4K Ultra, is still more than double the 60 FPS playability threshold, indicating that frame pacing issues would have to be severe to cause a noticeable problem.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Intel Core i5-12400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 in Inside can be inferred from the scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets. The game is a puzzle platformer with relatively simple geometry and effects, which typically places a greater emphasis on CPU performance at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is about 80.9 FPS, which suggests that the rendering pipeline is still capable of scaling with the GPU load, but the CPU is likely the limiting factor at the Low preset, where the frame rate caps at 320 FPS.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop by varying amounts depending on the preset. The Low preset falls from 320 FPS to 285.3 FPS, a decrease of about 10.8%, while the Ultra preset falls from 239.1 FPS to 212.3 FPS, a decrease of about 11.2%. This relatively uniform scaling suggests that the GPU is becoming more involved in the rendering process, but the CPU is still keeping pace without becoming a bottleneck.

At 3840x2160, the scaling becomes more pronounced, particularly at the higher presets. The Ultra preset drops from 212.3 FPS at 1440p to 134 FPS at 4K, a reduction of about 36.9%. The High preset drops from 218.5 FPS to 139.8 FPS, a reduction of about 36%. In contrast, the Medium preset only drops from 260.6 FPS to 221.4 FPS, a reduction of about 15%, and the Low preset drops from 285.3 FPS to 242.9 FPS, a reduction of about 14.9%. This data indicates that at higher resolutions and quality settings, the GPU becomes the primary determinant of performance, while at lower settings and resolutions, the CPU's capabilities are sufficient to maintain high frame rates, and the GPU is not fully utilized.

The data suggests that the RTX 5080 is the dominant component at 4K Ultra and High, where the pixel fill rate and shading requirements scale with resolution. The i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears to be more than adequate for the game's logic and draw calls, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low, where the CPU would typically be the bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate a balanced partnership where the CPU handles the game's simulation and the GPU handles the visual output, with neither component causing a significant performance ceiling at the tested settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data confirms that the most demanding preset tested, Ultra, remains well above the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution. This means the best visual quality is achievable without sacrificing playability.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 239.1 FPS. This is the highest performance level at the highest settings, making it the clear choice for users with 1080p displays, particularly those with high refresh rates. The margin over the 60 FPS threshold is immense, leaving substantial headroom for any potential frame drops.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 212.3 FPS. Similar to 1080p, this is the best setting for visual fidelity, and the average frame rate is still far above the playability threshold. The data shows that the performance cost of moving from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra is about 26.8 FPS, which is a minor penalty given the resolution increase.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 134 FPS. While this is the lowest average in the dataset, it is still more than double the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 4K averages 139.8 FPS, which is slightly higher than Ultra, but the difference is negligible. The Ultra preset remains the recommended setting for 4K, as the average frame rate of 134 FPS provides a smooth experience, and the visual improvements from High to Ultra are likely worth the small performance trade-off.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Inside with exceptional performance. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: all four tested settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at all three resolutions. The playable threshold is set at 60 FPS, and the lowest average frame rate recorded in the entire dataset is 134 FPS at 4K Ultra. This means every configuration tested clears the threshold by a wide margin.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 239.1 FPS, which is approximately four times the playability threshold. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 212.3 FPS, still over three times the threshold. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 134 FPS, which is over twice the threshold. The data shows that the system is not only capable of running the game but is also overqualified for it, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors and future-proofing against any potential patches or mods that might increase the rendering load.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12400, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD EPYC 7643, which scores 0.1% lower, and the Intel Core i7-1355U, which scores 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 0.7% lower, while the Intel Core i3-14100F scores 0.9% higher. These deltas are minimal, meaning any of these CPUs would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Inside, as the game is not heavily CPU-bound at the tested resolutions.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon 8060S, which scores 0.6% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which scores 0.7% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 2.3% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 2.2% lower. These performance differences are small enough that a system with any of these GPUs would yield very similar frame rates in Inside, though the RTX 5080's high absolute performance means the game's frame rates would remain far above the playability threshold with any of these alternatives.

It is important to note that these rival comparisons are based on aggregate benchmark scores, not in-game measurements. However, given the massive performance surplus observed in Inside, the choice between these CPUs and GPUs would not materially affect the playability or visual quality settings achievable.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average FPS is 320, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this system run the game at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 134, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1440p?

A: The Low preset averages 285.3 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 212.3 FPS, making Low approximately 34% faster.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data shows a cap of 320 FPS at 1080p Low, which suggests the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as the GPU is not heavily taxed at this resolution and preset.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between 1440p and 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1440p High is 218.5, while at 4K High it is 139.8, a difference of 78.7 FPS.

Q: Does the Ultra preset at 4K have a higher average FPS than the High preset?

A: No, the High preset at 4K averages 139.8 FPS, which is 5.8 FPS higher than the Ultra preset's 134 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination ranks 456th out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the top 12.3% of all configurations in the database. Given the game's modest hardware requirements, this ranking reflects the high absolute performance of the GPU and the competent CPU, though many other combinations with higher-tier CPUs and GPUs would also achieve frame rates far above the playability threshold. The ranking indicates that this combo is more powerful than the vast majority of systems tested, and the performance data confirms that it is overkill for Inside, providing a smooth experience at the highest settings on any resolution.