Inside

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is an extreme pairing for a 2016 puzzle platformer like Inside. The data shows this combination produces exceptionally high frame rates at every resolution and preset, making the game run far beyond the 60 FPS playable threshold. This analysis breaks down how the CPU and GPU interact, which settings to use, and what the benchmark results mean for your experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this combo each have close rivals based on their average benchmark scores, though the comparison pool differs significantly.

For the Intel Core i5-12400F, the nearest rivals are a mix of mobile and desktop parts. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS scores 19047, a 0% delta from the i5-12400F's 19039 average benchmark score. This indicates the i5-12400F and the Ryzen 5 7535HS deliver nearly identical overall processing performance. The Intel Core 3 201E scores 19056, which is 0.1% lower, meaning it would behave almost indistinguishably in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18982, 0.3% higher, while the AMD EPYC 7773X scores 18979, also 0.3% higher. These small deltas suggest that for a game like Inside, which is not heavily threaded, any of these processors would yield similar results. The i5-12400F sits in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the majority of processors on the market, so any of these rivals would offer comparable headroom for this game.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090's nearest rivals are largely data-center or older workstation cards. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB scores 79605, a 0.3% delta from the RTX 5090's 79842 average benchmark score. The Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB scores 79396, a 0.6% delta. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT scores 78940, a 1.1% delta, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X scores 80959, a 1.4% delta in the opposite direction. These comparisons show that the RTX 5090's raw compute performance is in a league with professional-grade hardware, though for Inside the practical difference is negligible because the game is not graphically demanding. The RTX 5090 ranks in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, so any of these rivals would still crush the game's requirements.

CPU and GPU Roles

For Inside, the GPU is overwhelmingly the dominant component, but the CPU still needs to keep up with frame pacing. The measured FPS data shows how the balance shifts across resolutions and presets.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are heavily influenced by GPU load. The Low preset produces 247.2 FPS, Medium 229.2 FPS, High 150 FPS, and Ultra 146.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is about 100 FPS, indicating that the GPU is doing most of the work, and higher presets increase its workload. The i5-12400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the bottleneck here because even at Ultra 4K, the system still hits 146.9 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the GPU is still the primary driver. Low produces 285.4 FPS, Medium 264.5 FPS, High 222.5 FPS, and Ultra 214.8 FPS. The scaling from 4K to 1440p shows a significant improvement, roughly 40-60 FPS at each preset, which confirms the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at these rates, as evidenced by the fact that even the most demanding preset stays above 200 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the CPU begins to play a slightly larger role, but the GPU still leads. Low produces 319.7 FPS, Medium 293.1 FPS, High 244.6 FPS, and Ultra 238.3 FPS. The jump from 1440p to 1080p is smaller than the jump from 4K to 1440p, suggesting that at 1080p the system is approaching a point where the CPU's single-thread performance could start to matter. However, the i5-12400F's single-thread score of 909 in 3dMark and 1680 in Cinebench R23 is more than sufficient for Inside, which is a 2016 title with modest processing demands. In practice, the GPU remains the primary contributor to frame rate at all resolutions, and the CPU never becomes a meaningful constraint.

Best Settings per Resolution

The benchmark data clearly identifies the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS for each resolution. Since every measured configuration exceeds 60 FPS, the best choice is always the Ultra preset.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 146.9 FPS. This is the most visually demanding setting at 4K, and it still delivers more than double the playable threshold. The High preset at 150 FPS is slightly faster, but Ultra offers the same playable experience with better visual quality. For 4K, use Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 214.8 FPS. This is a substantial margin over the 60 FPS threshold, and the difference between Ultra and High (222.5 FPS) is only about 8 FPS, which is imperceptible. The Ultra preset is the right choice for 1440p, as it provides the best visuals without any risk of dropping below playable rates.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 238.3 FPS. This is the highest frame rate at the most demanding settings across all resolutions, and it leaves enormous headroom. Even if the game has sudden scene complexity, the system is unlikely to dip below 60 FPS. For 1080p, Ultra is the definitive choice.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Inside, and it does so with extraordinary performance. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: every resolution and every preset clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 3840x2160, the playable settings include High, Low, Medium, and Ultra, with the best settings being Ultra at 146.9 FPS. This means you can run the game at maximum visual fidelity in 4K and still have more than double the required frame rate. At 2560x1440, all settings are playable, with Ultra at 214.8 FPS being the best choice. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with Ultra at 238.3 FPS. The data shows no scenario where this combo fails to deliver a smooth experience.

The RTX 5090 is a 92nd percentile GPU, and the i5-12400F is a 73rd percentile CPU, so this pairing is far beyond what Inside requires. The game was released in 2016, and its puzzle platformer genre does not push modern hardware. The benchmark results confirm that you can max out the game at any resolution and still have frame rates that are suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. The only practical consideration is that the GPU's 575 W TDP and the suggested 950 W PSU mean you need a robust power supply, but that does not affect in-game performance.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K with the highest settings?*

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 146.9, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict lists Ultra as the best playable setting at 4K.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 319.7 FPS, while Ultra averages 238.3 FPS. Low is about 81 FPS faster, but both are far above playable rates.

Q: What is the biggest frame rate difference between resolutions?

A: Comparing the Ultra preset, 4K averages 146.9 FPS, 1440p averages 214.8 FPS, and 1080p averages 238.3 FPS. The largest gap is between 4K and 1440p, a difference of roughly 68 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Ultra, the system still hits 238.3 FPS, and the i5-12400F has a single-thread score of 909 in 3dMark and 1680 in Cinebench R23, which is sufficient for Inside.

*Q: Is the RTX 5090 overkill for Inside?*

A: The benchmark results show that the GPU is far more powerful than needed. The RTX 5090 ranks in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, and even the most demanding preset at 4K runs at 146.9 FPS, so the game never stresses the hardware.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice at 2560x1440, averaging 214.8 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate that is more than three times the playable threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination ranks 409th out of 3716 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the top 11% of all systems tested for this game. The rank reflects that while the combo is very powerful, there are 408 other combinations that produce higher average frame rates. Given that the RTX 5090 is a 92nd percentile GPU, the ranking is likely limited by the CPU's 73rd percentile standing, but for Inside this does not matter because the game runs at over 200 FPS at most settings. The high rank confirms that this system is exceptionally well-suited for the game, and the minor difference from higher-ranked combos would be imperceptible in actual gameplay. The data shows that this pairing delivers a flawless experience for Inside, with no resolution or preset coming close to the 60 FPS playability limit.