Inside

The Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 combination presents a stark contrast in capabilities. The processor is a high-end desktop part with strong multi-threaded performance, while the graphics solution is an integrated-class chip based on the Panther Lake architecture, designed for mobile or low-power contexts. In the puzzle platformer Inside, this pairing yields playable results at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes a significant bottleneck at higher demands.

Benchmark data shows that this combination ranks 3296th out of 3716 tested combos for this specific game, placing it in the lower percentile of all systems in the database. The CPU, however, sits in the 90th percentile when compared to all processors, indicating that the processor is far from being the limiting factor here. The Arc B390, by contrast, sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, which clearly identifies the graphics component as the primary constraint for frame rate output.

Similar Performance Alternatives

When examining the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600K is closely matched by several other processors. Its average benchmark score is 48618, which places it between the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, scoring 48698 with a delta of -0.2%, and the AMD EPYC 4345P, scoring 48470 with a delta of 0.3%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX and Intel Core Ultra 5 245 are also in the same performance band, with scores of 48287 and 48995 respectively. These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound behavior in Inside, meaning the frame rate differences between them would be negligible.

For the GPU, the Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, which places it directly alongside a group of very old, entry-level NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 with a delta of 1.3%, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460 with a delta of 1.5%, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 with a delta of 2.5%, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 with a delta of 2.7%. These rivals are all within a 3% performance envelope of the Arc B390, so any of them would produce similar frame rates in this game. The data suggests that the Arc B390 performs at a level consistent with a decade-old discrete GPU, despite its modern architecture.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the CPU and GPU in Inside is clearly demonstrated through the scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination achieves an average of 156 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to saturate its limited processing capacity. When the resolution increases to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 112 FPS, and at 3840x2160 at Low settings, it falls to 70 FPS. This pattern shows a direct correlation between resolution and performance, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario.

The preset scaling further confirms the GPU's dominance as the limiting factor. At 1920x1080, moving from Low to Medium reduces the average from 156 FPS to 125 FPS, and from Low to Ultra it drops to 74 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same progression sees the average fall from 112 FPS at Low to 90 FPS at Medium, then to 53 FPS at Ultra. At 3840x2160, the drop is even more severe, with the average going from 70 FPS at Low to 56 FPS at Medium, and finally to 34 FPS at Ultra.

The CPU's role is more apparent in the upper frame rate tiers. At 1080p Low, the 156 FPS average shows that the i5-14600K can push well beyond 60 FPS, but the GPU cannot maintain that pace when the workload increases. The data indicates that the CPU has substantial headroom for this game, while the Arc B390 is fully utilized at all settings. In practical terms, the GPU determines whether the frame rate clears the 60 FPS threshold, and the CPU only becomes relevant if the GPU were replaced with a faster model.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Inside, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 achieves a rank of 3296 out of 3716 combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested for this game. Given that the CPU is a high-end part with a 90th percentile ranking, the low overall rank is directly attributable to the GPU's weak performance.

The discrepancy between the component rankings and the combo ranking highlights the GPU bottleneck. The CPU's nearest rivals all have average scores within 1% of each other, which means any of those processors paired with the Arc B390 would land in a similar rank. The GPU's nearest rivals, which are all much older parts, would also produce similar results when paired with this CPU. The conclusion from the data is that the combo rank is effectively determined by the GPU, and the CPU choice has minimal impact on the final position in the rankings.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Inside? The measured data says yes, but with significant caveats. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at all four presets tested. The average frame rate at Ultra settings is 74 FPS, which provides a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at Low and Medium settings, with averages of 112 FPS and 90 FPS respectively. At High settings, the average drops to 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, and at Ultra it falls to 53 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system is only playable at Low settings, where it achieves an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 56 FPS, which is below the threshold, and High and Ultra are not playable with averages of 35 FPS and 34 FPS respectively. The verdict is straightforward: this combo can run Inside at 1080p with maximum settings, at 1440p with medium settings, and at 4K only with the lowest settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides exact frame rate measurements for each resolution and preset combination.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 156 FPS with no minimum or maximum recorded. The Medium preset averages 125 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS. The High preset averages 78 FPS with no range data. The Ultra preset averages 74 FPS with no range data. All four presets at this resolution remain above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 112 FPS with no range data. The Medium preset averages 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. The High preset averages 56 FPS with no range data. The Ultra preset averages 53 FPS with no range data. Only Low and Medium stay above 60 FPS at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 70 FPS with no range data. The Medium preset averages 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS with no range data. The Ultra preset averages 34 FPS with no range data. Only the Low preset stays above 60 FPS at this resolution.

The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the average frame rate drops proportionally, and the number of playable presets shrinks. The minimum frame rates recorded at the Medium presets indicate that even when the average is above 60 FPS, there can be dips below that threshold, such as the 48 FPS minimum at 4K Medium.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains a 60 FPS average is as follows.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 74 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and it still provides a 14 FPS margin above the playable threshold. The High preset also works at 78 FPS, but Ultra offers the maximum visual quality without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the best playable option, with an average of 90 FPS. This provides a 30 FPS margin above the threshold. The Low preset is also playable at 112 FPS, but Medium offers a meaningful visual improvement while keeping performance well above 60 FPS. The High preset at 56 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only playable option, with an average of 70 FPS. This provides a 10 FPS margin above the threshold. The Medium preset at 56 FPS is close but does not meet the 60 FPS requirement. For 4K gaming, users must accept the lowest quality settings to maintain smooth playback.

The data indicates that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting factor across all resolutions. Even with a powerful CPU like the i5-14600K, the GPU cannot sustain high frame rates at higher resolutions or quality settings. The system is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can handle the maximum preset, or 1440p gaming with medium settings. For 4K, only the lowest settings are viable, and even then, the frame rate margin is thin.