Inside

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT achieves a combo rank of 2229 out of 3716 tested combinations in the database for Inside. This places the pairing in the upper-middle portion of all recorded system configurations, indicating a solid, though not elite, standing for this specific game. The ranking reflects that while the GPU is a high-percentile part, the CPU sits closer to the middle of the pack, and the game's modest demands allow the combination to still perform admirably.

The CPU itself holds a 47th percentile ranking among all processors in the database, meaning roughly half of all tested CPUs outperform it in general compute tasks. The GPU, by contrast, sits at the 72nd percentile among all graphics cards, a significantly stronger relative position. This imbalance suggests the system's overall rank in Inside is constrained more by the processor than by the graphics card, though the game's lightweight nature minimizes the impact of that limitation.

Looking at the recorded data, the combo's position at 2229 of 3716 means approximately 60 percent of tested systems rank higher. However, for a puzzle platformer like Inside, raw ranking matters less than achieving smooth frame rates, and the measured FPS data shows this pairing clears that bar with substantial headroom at every resolution tested.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear pattern in how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the GPU is not the limiting factor. The frame rates are exceptionally high, with Low settings producing 222.8 FPS average and Ultra still delivering 162.9 FPS. The CPU's six cores and six threads, running at a 2.90 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost clock, are sufficient to feed the RX 6700 XT without creating a bottleneck at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high but show the GPU beginning to take on more load. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly proportional: Ultra drops from 162.9 to 117.3 FPS, a reduction of about 28 percent as pixel count increases by about 78 percent. This less-than-proportional drop indicates the game is not purely GPU-bound at these settings. The CPU is still contributing meaningfully to the performance ceiling, and the RX 6700 XT has enough headroom that the processor's mid-range standing does not yet create a visible constraint.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. Ultra settings produce 70.6 FPS, and High settings yield 75.1 FPS. The gap between Medium (122.1 FPS) and High (75.1 FPS) is substantial, showing that the GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 384.0 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed heavily at 4K. The CPU's role diminishes at this resolution, as the pixel throughput demands more from the graphics card. The data suggests that at 4K, the RX 6700 XT's 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs are the primary determinants of performance, while the i5-9400's compute capabilities are no longer the constraining factor.

Across all presets, the scaling between Low and Ultra is consistent. At 1080p, Low to Ultra represents a 26.8 percent reduction in average FPS. At 1440p, the same comparison shows a 41.6 percent reduction. At 4K, Low to Ultra shows a 53.0 percent reduction. This progressive widening indicates that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows faster than the CPU's, confirming that the graphics card becomes the performance arbiter at higher resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database provide useful context for what other processors would behave similarly. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259 in average benchmarks, just 0.2 percent above the i5-9400's 2254. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4 percent lower, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4 percent higher. These four chips all sit within a tiny performance band around the i5-9400, meaning any of them would produce nearly identical frame rates in Inside when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are notably stronger in raw benchmark terms. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile matches the RX 6700 XT at 27435 versus 27425, a 0 percent difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 scores 27565, 0.5 percent higher. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell scores 27135, 1.1 percent lower, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 scores 27839, 1.5 percent higher. These deltas are all within 1.5 percent, meaning any of these GPUs would deliver functionally identical performance in Inside. The RTX 3090's presence in this list is notable, as it indicates the RX 6700 XT punches well above its class in this particular game.

A system with an i7-1068NG7 or Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 paired with any of these rival GPUs would produce frame rates within a few percent of the measured values. The practical takeaway is that the i5-9400 and RX 6700 XT combination sits in a performance neighborhood shared by several other hardware pairings, all of which would provide a similar experience in Inside.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: this system can run Inside at 60 FPS or above at every resolution and preset tested. At 3840x2160, all four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 70.6 FPS. At 2560x1440, every setting exceeds 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 117.3 FPS. At 1920x1080, every setting exceeds 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 162.9 FPS.

The playable settings list for each resolution includes all four presets, meaning there is no configuration in the measured data that falls below the playable threshold. The best settings at each resolution are the most demanding ones: Ultra at 4K yields 70.6 FPS, Ultra at 1440p yields 117.3 FPS, and Ultra at 1080p yields 162.9 FPS. This indicates the system has enough performance headroom that even the heaviest settings remain comfortably above the 60 FPS target.

For a game released in 2016, this level of performance is expected given the hardware. The RX 6700 XT, despite being end-of-life in production status, delivers frame rates that are multiples of the 60 FPS target at lower resolutions. The i5-9400, also end-of-life, provides sufficient single-threaded performance for a puzzle platformer that does not demand heavy multi-core utilization.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 222.8 FPS, Medium produces 204.2 FPS, High produces 169.9 FPS, and Ultra produces 162.9 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 59.9 FPS, showing that the preset selection has a meaningful but not drastic impact at this resolution. The gap between High and Ultra is only 7.0 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns from the highest preset.

At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 200.9 FPS, Medium produces 185.3 FPS, High produces 120.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 117.3 FPS. The drop from Medium to High is substantial at 64.8 FPS, indicating that High settings introduce a significant graphical workload increase. High to Ultra is again a smaller gap at 3.2 FPS.

At 3840x2160, Low settings produce 150.1 FPS, Medium produces 122.1 FPS, High produces 75.1 FPS, and Ultra produces 70.6 FPS. The scaling here is the most dramatic. Medium to High represents a 47.0 FPS drop, and the difference between Low and Ultra is 79.5 FPS. At this resolution, the GPU is clearly working hard, and the preset selection has a much larger influence on performance than at lower resolutions.

The data shows no min or max FPS values recorded, only averages. This means the analysis relies on average performance, which for Inside is sufficient given the game's relatively stable frame pacing. All recorded values are well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, with the lowest value being 70.6 FPS at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, all four presets are playable. Ultra settings average 70.6 FPS, High averages 75.1 FPS, Medium averages 122.1 FPS, and Low averages 150.1 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset at 1080p for maximum visual quality?

A: Ultra settings at 1920x1080 produce an average of 162.9 FPS, which is both the highest visual quality and well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much performance drops between 1080p and 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At Ultra, the 1080p average is 162.9 FPS, and the 4K average is 70.6 FPS. This represents a 56.7 percent reduction in frame rate when moving to four times the pixel count.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the GPU dominates the performance picture. The RX 6700 XT's workload increases significantly with resolution, while the CPU's role diminishes.

Q: Are there similar GPUs that would perform the same?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile, RTX 3090, RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell, and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 all score within 1.5 percent of the RX 6700 XT in average benchmarks, so any would produce nearly identical results.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS at any tested setting?

A: No. The lowest recorded average is 70.6 FPS at 4K Ultra. Every resolution and preset combination clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 162.9 FPS. This is the highest visual quality available and still delivers more than double the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is also Ultra, averaging 117.3 FPS. This provides near-4K sharpness with frame rates that remain well above 60 FPS, leaving ample headroom for any potential scene complexity.

At 3840x2160, Ultra remains the best setting, averaging 70.6 FPS. This is the only resolution where the frame rate approaches the 60 FPS threshold, but it still clears it comfortably. The 10.6 FPS margin above the threshold is sufficient for a puzzle platformer with controlled pacing.

In all three resolutions, the recommendation is the same: Ultra. The data shows no scenario where the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS, even at maximum settings and highest resolution. This makes the decision straightforward for users seeking the best visual experience.