Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a formidable combination for Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. Measured data indicates that this combo achieves playable frame rates at every tested resolution and preset, with a combo rank of 2,626 out of 3,716 tested configurations. This places it in the upper third of all tested combos, suggesting a strong performance ceiling for this title. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, comparing the hardware to its nearest rivals and detailing the measured FPS across different settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2,626 out of 3,716 tested combinations places it comfortably in the top 30% of all systems evaluated for Inside. This is a strong showing, indicating that this specific CPU-GPU pairing is well-suited to the game's demands. The rank is a composite measure, reflecting the balance between the processor's capabilities and the graphics card's raw output. Given that the game is a 2.5D side-scroller with a stylized, dark aesthetic, the workload is likely more dependent on the GPU than the CPU, but the i7-12700K ensures that no bottleneck will occur at any settings level.

The benchmark data reveals a clear pattern: the system is never below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Even at the most demanding 4K Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 61.7 FPS. This suggests that the combo rank is not just about hitting a playable target, but about achieving a high level of performance headroom. At 1080p, the average frame rates exceed 136 FPS even on the Ultra preset, which is far beyond the standard 60 FPS target and into high-refresh-rate territory. The percentile rankings support this: the CPU sits at the 84th percentile and the GPU at the 59th percentile compared to all other parts, meaning this pairing leverages a top-tier processor with a solid mid-to-high-range graphics card.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The data from nearestRivals provides context for what other hardware would deliver similar performance. For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35,287. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-13600T, scores 35,305, a negligible 0.1% difference. This means that in synthetic benchmarks, the i5-13600T would perform almost identically to the i7-12700K in Inside, likely producing the same frame rates. The Intel Core i7-12700KF (avg score 35,365, delta -0.2%) and Intel Core i7-13700T (avg score 35,403, delta -0.3%) are also within a fraction of a percent, indicating that swapping to any of these CPUs would result in no discernible change in game performance.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3060 Ti has an average score of 16,129. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the closest rival, with a score of 16,014, which is 0.7% higher. This difference is marginal, so the RX 9060 would be expected to produce nearly identical FPS in Inside. The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (score 16,351, delta -1.4%) and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (score 16,361, delta -1.4%) are slightly ahead in raw compute, but the sub-1.5% delta means the practical impact on frame rates is within the margin of error for game benchmarks. For a user looking to replicate this exact performance, any of these alternative GPUs paired with a similarly performing CPU would yield essentially the same experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of FPS across resolutions and presets reveals the respective roles of the CPU and GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces 282.9 FPS. This is an extremely high frame rate, which is a strong indicator that the CPU is capable of feeding frames far faster than the GPU can render them at lower graphical loads. As we move to 2560x1440 Low, the FPS drops to 200.8, and at 3840x2160 Low, it falls to 129.8. This progression shows the GPU becoming more of a limiting factor as the pixel count increases, but the CPU is still not the primary constraint.

The gap between Low and Ultra presets at each resolution is telling. At 1080p, the difference between Low (282.9 FPS) and Ultra (136.9 FPS) is a 146 FPS drop, which is entirely due to the increased GPU workload from higher graphical detail. This is a typical pattern for a game that is not heavily CPU-bound. The CPU's role becomes more apparent when looking at the 4K results. At 4K Ultra, the system still manages 61.7 FPS, but at 4K Low, it reaches 129.8 FPS. The fact that the system can double its frame rate by lowering settings at 4K shows that the GPU is the dominant factor at this resolution. The CPU, with its high single-thread score of 1,850.5 in Cinebench R23, ensures that even the lowest preset at 1080p does not hit a CPU ceiling, as evidenced by the 282.9 FPS result.

The Verdict

The measured data answers the question definitively: yes, this PC can run Inside at a playable level. The verdictByResolution data confirms that all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) are playable at every resolution tested, from 1920x1080 up to 3840x2160. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and the lowest average FPS recorded across the entire test matrix is 60.7 FPS (4K High). This means there is no scenario in the data where the system dips below the 60 FPS target.

For the best visual experience without sacrificing playability, the data suggests using the Ultra preset at all resolutions. At 1080p, Ultra delivers an average of 136.9 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, the Ultra preset averages 95.2 FPS, providing a smooth and highly detailed experience. Even at 4K, the Ultra preset holds at 61.7 FPS, just above the 60 FPS threshold. This indicates that the combo is well-balanced, offering headroom for the heaviest settings at the highest resolution, while providing exceptionally high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings preset combination.

1920x1080

• Low: 282.9 FPS
• Medium: 227.1 FPS
• High: 137.3 FPS
• Ultra: 136.9 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: 200.8 FPS
• Medium: 158.8 FPS
• High: 99.8 FPS
• Ultra: 95.2 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: 129.8 FPS
• Medium: 98.4 FPS
• High: 60.7 FPS
• Ultra: 61.7 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern: the difference between High and Ultra is minimal at each resolution, with a gap of only 0.4 FPS at 1080p and 4.6 FPS at 1440p. However, the jump from Medium to High is substantial, representing a 90 FPS drop at 1080p and a 59 FPS drop at 1440p. This suggests that the High preset introduces significantly more demanding graphical effects than Medium, but Ultra adds little on top of High for this particular title.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes. The data shows that all four settings presets at 3840x2160 are playable, with the lowest average FPS being 60.7 on High and the highest being 129.8 on Low.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1440p for a 60 FPS target?

A: All presets at 2560x1440 exceed 60 FPS, but the Ultra preset provides the highest visual quality at an average of 95.2 FPS, which is well above the threshold.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary factor at higher resolutions. The FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU's high single-thread performance allows it to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions without becoming a bottleneck.

Q: How does the RTX 3060 Ti compare to the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT in this context?

A: The RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score that is 1.4% higher than the RTX 3060 Ti. This is a negligible difference, so both cards would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Inside.

Q: What CPU would be a direct substitute for the i7-12700K?

A: The Intel Core i5-13600T has an average score within 0.1% of the i7-12700K. This makes it a near-identical performer in synthetic tests, implying the same gaming performance in Inside.

Q: Is the 6 FPS difference between High and Ultra at 4K worth it?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 61.7 FPS, which is only 1.0 FPS higher than High (60.7 FPS). The visual upgrade may be worth it since both are above the 60 FPS threshold, but the difference in frame rate is negligible.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is the Ultra preset. This is the highest quality setting available in the test data.

• 1920x1080: Ultra — average 136.9 FPS
• 2560x1440: Ultra — average 95.2 FPS
• 3840x2160: Ultra — average 61.7 FPS

The data shows that this combo is powerful enough to run the game at its highest visual fidelity at all tested resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 61.7 FPS is marginally above the 60 FPS threshold, but it is still a stable and playable experience according to the benchmark metrics. For users with a 60Hz 4K display, this is the ideal configuration. For those with high-refresh-rate 1440p or 1080p monitors, the Ultra preset also provides a smooth experience, with frame rates of 95.2 and 136.9 FPS respectively, which are well-suited for 100Hz or 144Hz displays.