Inside

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 delivers a highly playable experience in Inside, but only if you respect the resolution and preset limits. This is a game that scales dramatically with settings, and the data shows a clear ceiling for the most demanding configurations. At 4K, the combo struggles with anything above Low, while at 1080p it handles even Ultra settings comfortably. The following sections break down exactly what you can expect from this pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides average FPS for four presets at three resolutions. Minimum and maximum frame rates were not captured, so this analysis relies solely on average performance.

3840x2160 (4K):

At this resolution, the GPU is the dominant constraint. The High preset averages 34.8 FPS, which falls well below the 60 FPS playability threshold. Dropping to Medium improves the average to 52.4 FPS, still short of the target. The Low preset jumps to 70.1 FPS, finally clearing the bar. Interestingly, the Ultra preset averages 34.7 FPS, nearly identical to High, indicating that the extra settings beyond High do not meaningfully change the load at 4K.

2560x1440 (1440p):

The picture improves considerably. The Low preset averages 110.1 FPS, delivering a very smooth experience. Medium follows at 87.2 FPS, still well above the threshold. High drops to 55 FPS, which is below 60, while Ultra falls further to 50.4 FPS. This resolution shows a clear cliff: Medium is the highest playable preset, and High is not viable.

1920x1080 (1080p):

This is where the combo shines. The Low preset averages 147.6 FPS, providing an extremely fluid experience. Medium averages 120.9 FPS, and High averages 77.6 FPS. Even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, averages 70.4 FPS, comfortably clearing the 60 FPS threshold. All four presets are playable at 1080p, with Ultra being the only one that dips below 80 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, with the CPU becoming less of a factor as resolution increases. The scaling between 1080p and 1440p is significant, but the scaling between 1440p and 4K is even more pronounced, highlighting the GPU's limits.

At 1080p, the i5-12400F has ample headroom. The jump from Low (147.6 FPS) to Medium (120.9 FPS) is a 26.7 FPS drop, and from Medium to High (77.6 FPS) is another 43.3 FPS drop. This heavy scaling with settings suggests the GPU is already the primary limiter, even at 1080p. The CPU is feeding frames fast enough, but the RX 580's rendering capacity is what dictates the final output.

Moving to 1440p, the GPU load increases. The Low preset still averages 110.1 FPS, but the gap between Low and Medium (87.2 FPS) narrows. The drop from Medium to High (55 FPS) is a stark 32.2 FPS decline, indicating the GPU is hitting a performance wall. The CPU's role is diminished here; the recorded FPS is almost entirely a function of the GPU's pixel throughput.

At 4K, the GPU is fully saturated. The difference between High (34.8 FPS) and Ultra (34.7 FPS) is negligible, suggesting that both presets are limited by the same underlying GPU bottleneck. The Low preset (70.1 FPS) shows that reducing the render load directly translates to higher FPS, but the CPU is not the constraining factor. The i5-12400F's single-thread and multi-thread performance, as evidenced by its 3DMark scores (909 single-thread, 5912 max-threads), is more than sufficient for this puzzle platformer.

In summary, the RX 580 is the performance gate. The i5-12400F never appears to hold the system back, as even at 1080p Low, the FPS scales predictably with GPU load. The data indicates a balanced pairing where the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at all resolutions, with the CPU providing consistent support.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the recorded data, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is as follows:

3840x2160: The best playable setting is Low, which averages 70.1 FPS. Medium falls short at 52.4 FPS, and High/Ultra are not viable. This is a strict limit; you must accept Low to achieve smooth gameplay at 4K.

2560x1440: The best playable setting is Medium, averaging 87.2 FPS. This provides a solid balance between visual quality and performance. Low is also playable at 110.1 FPS, but Medium offers better visuals without sacrificing the 60 FPS target. High (55 FPS) and Ultra (50.4 FPS) are below the threshold.

1920x1080: The best playable setting is Ultra, averaging 70.4 FPS. This is the highest preset available, and it clears the 60 FPS bar with a small margin. High (77.6 FPS), Medium (120.9 FPS), and Low (147.6 FPS) are all also playable, but Ultra is the maximum quality option that remains smooth.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's overall ranking for Inside, this CPU and GPU combination holds the position of 3367 out of 3716 tested combos. This places it in the lower tier of all tested systems, but it is important to note that the game is not demanding. The rank reflects the relative performance of this specific pair against all others, not the absolute playability.

The CPU's individual standing is stronger. The i5-12400F has a percentile of 73 against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 73% of tested processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (0% delta), the Intel Core 3 201E (-0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-1335U (0.3% delta). This indicates the CPU is a competent performer. The GPU, however, is less impressive. The RX 580 has a percentile of 53 against all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (-0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (-0.4% delta).

The low combo rank is primarily driven by the GPU's age. The CPU is capable, but the RX 580 holds the overall ranking down. For a game like Inside, which is not graphically intensive, this ranking does not translate to a poor experience. It simply means that many other combos with newer GPUs will achieve higher frame rates, especially at higher resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only with the Low preset. The recorded data shows an average of 70.1 FPS at 3840x2160 on Low. Medium averages 52.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the highest graphics preset I can use at 1440p?

A: Medium is the highest playable preset at 2560x1440, averaging 87.2 FPS. The High preset drops to 55 FPS, which is not playable.

Q: Is the Ultra preset at 1080p smooth?

A: Yes, the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 70.4 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold. It is the most demanding preset and still runs well.

Q: How does the i5-12400F compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-12400F sits within a tight performance band. It is 0% slower than the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, 0.1% faster than the Intel Core 3 201E, and 0.3% slower than the Intel Core i5-1335U.

*Q: Is the RX 580 the bottleneck in this system for Inside?*

A: Yes. The performance scaling between resolutions and presets points to the GPU as the limiting factor. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, but the GPU's 53rd percentile ranking shows it is the weaker component.

Q: What is the best experience for a 1080p monitor?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice, as it averages 70.4 FPS. It provides the highest visual quality while remaining well above the 60 FPS target.

The Verdict

The data clearly answers whether this PC can run Inside: it can, with specific limitations. At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable, clearing 60 FPS on all four presets, including Ultra at 70.4 FPS. This is the optimal resolution for this combo, offering a smooth and visually rich experience.

At 2560x1440, the system is still playable, but you must stick to Medium settings or lower. The Medium preset averages 87.2 FPS, which is a good experience, but High (55 FPS) and Ultra (50.4 FPS) are not viable.

At 3840x2160, the system is only playable on Low settings, averaging 70.1 FPS. This is the bare minimum for a playable experience, and you must sacrifice visual fidelity to achieve it. Higher presets at 4K will result in frame rates below 60 FPS.

In practical terms, this is a solid pairing for 1080p gaming on Inside, a workable 1440p machine with settings turned down, and a 4K machine only for the least demanding settings. The i5-12400F provides ample CPU power, but the RX 580's age limits the overall experience at higher resolutions. If you own a 1080p monitor, this system will deliver a flawless experience. If you plan to use a 1440p or 4K display, be prepared to adjust settings to the Low or Medium presets.