Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that is remarkably undemanding by modern standards, and the combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT transforms this title into a high-refresh-rate showcase. The measured data, which is based on actual benchmarking, shows this pairing delivers triple-digit frame rates across every resolution and preset tested, with the only variable being the sheer magnitude of the performance surplus. The following analysis breaks down the exact measured FPS, the division of labor between the CPU and GPU, how this specific combo ranks against other tested configurations, and what alternatives exist for users seeking similar performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this configuration covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160) across four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). All figures are average FPS; no minimum or maximum frame time data was captured in the fact pack.

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the frame rates are astronomical. The Low preset yields an average of 357.9 FPS. Moving to Medium increases the graphical load slightly, but the average only drops to 330.7 FPS. The High preset delivers 248.2 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset still manages an average of 233.3 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 124.6 FPS, indicating that while settings do impact performance, even the heaviest load does not stress this hardware at 1080p.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally high but shows a clear scaling trend. The Low preset delivers 325.1 FPS, which is only a 9% reduction compared to the 1080p Low result. Medium follows at 282.5 FPS, High at 181.1 FPS, and Ultra at 171.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra here expands to 153.3 FPS, suggesting that pixel count begins to matter more as resolution increases, though the absolute numbers are still far beyond what any standard 1440p monitor can display.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the performance curve steepens noticeably. The Low preset still achieves an average of 221 FPS, which is a 32% drop from the 1080p Low figure. Medium produces 176.7 FPS, High drops to 115 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 104 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is 117 FPS. Crucially, even at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate of 104 FPS remains well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: the RX 7900 XT has ample headroom at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra setting is where the hardware finally begins to feel some meaningful load, though it still does not approach a playability concern.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of responsibility between the Core i5-12600KF and the RX 7900 XT shifts predictably as resolution increases, but the data suggests this game is overwhelmingly GPU-bound in most scenarios.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates exceed 230 FPS on all presets. These are figures that exceed the refresh rate of virtually all mainstream monitors, and they indicate that neither component is being fully utilized. The fact that the Ultra preset still delivers 233.3 FPS, only 35% lower than the Low preset’s 357.9 FPS, shows that the GPU is not the primary limiter; the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU fast enough to maintain these extreme frame rates. This is a CPU-bound scenario, as the game’s puzzle-platformer nature does not generate enough graphical complexity to saturate a high-end GPU at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the scaling is more pronounced. The Low preset drops to 325.1 FPS from 357.9 FPS at 1080p, a 9% reduction. However, the Ultra preset drops from 233.3 FPS to 171.8 FPS, a 26% reduction. This divergence indicates that at 1440p, the GPU is starting to become a more significant factor, as the increased pixel count places more load on the Radeon card, while the CPU still has headroom to spare.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s role becomes dominant. The Low preset falls to 221 FPS, a 32% drop from 1080p, while the Ultra preset falls to 104 FPS, a 55% drop from 1080p. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is narrower in percentage terms than at 1440p, but the absolute numbers show that the GPU is now the clear bottleneck. The CPU’s performance is effectively static across resolutions, so the frame rate changes are almost entirely attributable to the RX 7900 XT’s rendering load.

In summary, the Core i5-12600KF is more than sufficient for this game at any resolution, and the RX 7900 XT is the component that determines the final frame rate as you move up to 4K. The data shows no scenario where the CPU limits performance below 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT achieves a rank of 521 out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places the configuration in the top 14% of all tested pairings, which is a strong result given that the game is not particularly demanding.

This rank reflects the fact that the GPU is a high-end part that sits above the 55th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 79th percentile among all CPUs. The combination of a top-quartile CPU with a mid-to-high-tier GPU yields a system that is well-balanced for this title, avoiding any obvious bottleneck that would drag the rank lower.

However, the rank of 521 is not near the very top of the list. Combos with more powerful GPUs, such as those with higher G3D scores, would logically rank higher. The fact that this pairing lands in the top 14% rather than the top 5% suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor for achieving top-tier rank, since the CPU is already in the 79th percentile. For a game like Inside, where frame rates are already far above playable thresholds, this rank is more a measure of raw hardware capability than a practical concern.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU, there are several configurations that would deliver similar performance in Inside.

For the Intel Core i5-12600KF, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-10900K, which has an average benchmark score of 27872 versus 27799 for the i5, a delta of -0.3%. This means the i9-10900K is essentially identical in performance, and a system with that CPU would produce nearly the same frame rates. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is another close match, scoring 27896, a delta of -0.3%, making it a dead heat. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U also falls within the same performance band with a score of 27887. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 27712, which is 0.3% higher than the i5, but still within the margin of error.

For the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, the nearest rivals are surprising in their diversity. The AMD Radeon 660M has a score of 13812, which is 0.5% higher than the RX 7900 XT’s 13745, meaning it would perform almost identically in this game. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile scores 13821, also a 0.5% delta. The AMD Radeon RX 570X scores 13871, a 0.9% delta, and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543, which is 1.5% lower.

It is important to note that these rival scores are aggregate benchmark averages, not specific to Inside. However, they indicate that a user could swap the CPU or GPU for any of these alternatives and experience a negligible difference in frame rates, given that the game is not heavily dependent on either component’s extreme capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Inside at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 104 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: All presets at 2560x1440 stay above 60 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, delivers an average of 171.8 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: At 1080p and 1440p, the CPU has enough headroom to keep frame rates high, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K. The data shows a 55% drop in Ultra FPS from 1080p to 4K, indicating GPU-bound behavior at higher resolutions.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 521 out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the top 14% of all configurations tested for Inside.

Q: What settings should I use for the highest frame rate?

A: For maximum FPS, use the Low preset, which delivers 357.9 FPS at 1080p, 325.1 FPS at 1440p, and 221 FPS at 4K.

Q: Are there any settings where this PC drops below 60 FPS?

A: No. The lowest average FPS measured across all resolutions and presets is 104 FPS at 4K Ultra. Every configuration tested exceeds the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT can run Inside with overwhelming ease. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: every resolution tested (1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160) has all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) listed as playable, meaning each one clears the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the worst-case scenario is Ultra at 233.3 FPS, which is nearly four times the playability threshold. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 171.8 FPS, still nearly three times the threshold. Even at 3840x2160, the most demanding configuration of Ultra delivers 104 FPS, which is 73% above the 60 FPS line.

There is no scenario in which this PC fails to run the game smoothly. The data indicates that the system has so much headroom that it could handle significantly more demanding titles, but for Inside, it is effectively overkill. The only limitation is the monitor’s refresh rate, as the frame rates produced at 1080p and 1440p exceed what most displays can show.

Best Settings per Resolution

For users who want the best visual quality without sacrificing the 60 FPS playability threshold, the data supports the following choices:

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 233.3 FPS. This is the recommended setting for maximum visual fidelity at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is also Ultra, with an average of 171.8 FPS. This provides the best image quality while maintaining a frame rate that is nearly three times the playability threshold.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 104 FPS. This is the best possible visual experience at 4K, and it still clears the 60 FPS requirement by a comfortable margin.

In all three cases, the Ultra preset is the optimal choice, as it provides the highest graphical fidelity while keeping frame rates well above the playable threshold. The data shows no reason to lower settings on this hardware for Inside, as even the heaviest load does not approach a performance issue.