Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers an exceptional performance profile for Inside, far exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested resolution and preset. Benchmark data shows this combination ranks 248th out of 3,716 tested hardware combos for this game, placing it in the top tier of systems. The measured frame rates are uniformly high, with the lowest average recorded at 123.9 FPS in 4K Ultra settings, which is more than double the playable threshold. This system does not merely run Inside; it dominates it, offering headroom for high refresh rate displays even at maximum graphical fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 367.7 FPS, while Medium achieves 339 FPS. High settings produce 280.5 FPS, and Ultra settings average 277.1 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a performance drop of approximately 24.6%, from 367.7 FPS down to 277.1 FPS, indicating that even the most demanding preset leaves substantial performance on the table.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high. The Low preset averages 330.7 FPS, and Medium follows closely at 301.3 FPS. High settings yield 207.8 FPS, while Ultra settings average 202.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is roughly 38.8%, with the system still maintaining an average above 200 FPS at the highest quality level.

At 3840x2160, the system continues to perform admirably. The Low preset averages 266.1 FPS, Medium averages 208.5 FPS, and High averages 133.2 FPS. Ultra settings produce the lowest measured average of 123.9 FPS. The transition from Low to Ultra at 4K represents a performance reduction of about 53.4%, yet even the most demanding configuration keeps the average frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold. No minimum or maximum FPS values were recorded in the data, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates, which are consistently robust across all configurations.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals that the GPU is the primary performance driver for Inside, with the CPU playing a secondary role. The evidence for this lies in the scaling of frame rates across resolutions. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average frame rate drops by a noticeable margin. For example, at Ultra settings, the frame rate falls from 277.1 FPS at 1080p to 202.3 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 27%. This indicates that the GPU is being pushed harder at higher resolutions, as the rendering load increases.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced. At Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops from 202.3 FPS at 1440p to 123.9 FPS at 4K, a further 38.7% reduction. This steep decline is characteristic of GPU-bound scenarios, where the graphics card's rendering capabilities become the limiting factor. The CPU, an Intel Core i7-12700K with 12 cores and 20 threads, demonstrates strong synthetic benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19,784 and a single-core score of 1,850.5, but these capabilities are not the bottleneck in this game.

At lower resolutions, such as 1080p, the frame rates are so high that the CPU could theoretically become more relevant, but the data shows the system still achieves 367.7 FPS at Low settings, suggesting the CPU handles the game's logic without constraint. The GPU's role is further emphasized by its benchmark scores, including a PassMark G3D score of 34,245 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,600, which position it as a top-tier graphics solution. For Inside, a puzzle platformer with modest graphical demands, the RTX 4080 SUPER provides overwhelming performance, making the CPU's contribution negligible in determining playable frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering hardware alternatives, the nearest rivals for both the CPU and GPU offer similar performance profiles. The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35,287, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival is the Intel Core i5-13600T, with an average score of 35,305, a delta of -0.1%. This indicates that the i5-13600T would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Inside, making it a viable alternative if the i7-12700K is unavailable. The Intel Core i7-12700KF, with an average score of 35,365, shows a -0.2% delta, meaning it performs essentially the same as the 12700K. The Intel Core i7-13700T, scoring 35,403, and the Intel Core 5 213PE, scoring 35,428, also fall within a -0.3% and -0.4% delta respectively, all representing negligible performance differences.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54,209, ranking in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, with an average score of 54,247, a delta of -0.1%. This means the non-SUPER RTX 4080 would produce nearly identical frame rates in Inside, with differences imperceptible in real-world gaming. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, scoring 54,828, shows a -1.1% delta, indicating it would perform slightly better on average, though the difference remains small. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a score of 55,698, and the AMD Radeon 8060S, scoring 55,757, show deltas of -2.7% and -2.8% respectively, suggesting these cards might offer marginally higher performance, but the variance is within a few percentage points. For Inside, any of these alternatives would provide similar high frame rates, ensuring a smooth experience across all resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Inside at 4K resolution with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The benchmark data shows the system achieves an average of 123.9 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this system can achieve?

A: The highest recorded average is 367.7 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At Ultra settings, the maximum average is 277.1 FPS at the same resolution.

Q: How does the performance scale between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 280.5 FPS at 1920x1080 to 207.8 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 133.2 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 52.5% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

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

A: The GPU is the dominant factor. The frame rate scaling across resolutions shows significant drops when increasing resolution, which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's high benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19,784, are more than sufficient for the game's demands.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate falls below 60 FPS?

A: No. All measured configurations, from 1920x1080 Low to 3840x2160 Ultra, maintain average frame rates above 123.9 FPS, far exceeding the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does this system rank compared to other hardware combinations for Inside?

A: The system ranks 248th out of 3,716 tested combos, placing it in the top 6.7% of all configurations tested for this game.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Inside, and it does so with exceptional headroom. The verdict by resolution confirms that all four settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at every resolution tested. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 277.1 FPS at Ultra settings, which is over 4.6 times the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings maintain an average of 202.3 FPS, still more than triple the threshold. Even at 3840x2160, the most demanding configuration, the system achieves an average of 123.9 FPS at Ultra settings, which is more than double the 60 FPS requirement.

The data indicates that this system is not just capable of running Inside; it is overpowered for it. The lowest average frame rate recorded across all tests is 123.9 FPS, meaning the system never dips below double the playable threshold in any scenario. For users with high refresh rate monitors, this system can take full advantage of 144Hz or even 240Hz displays at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, with Ultra settings providing frame rates above 200 FPS. At 4K, the system still supports smooth gameplay on 120Hz displays, making it a versatile choice for this title.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is identified. At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, with an average FPS of 123.9. This is the highest quality preset available, and it still delivers more than double the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings are also the best choice, achieving an average of 202.3 FPS. The system has so much performance headroom at this resolution that even the most demanding settings leave the frame rate well above 200 FPS.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings provide an average of 277.1 FPS, making it the best configuration for this resolution. The data shows that the system can handle the highest quality settings at every resolution without dropping below 60 FPS, so users can always select Ultra for the best visual experience. The performance margins are substantial, with the lowest Ultra average still being 123.9 FPS at 4K. This indicates that the system is future-proof for Inside, as it can handle any potential updates or modifications to the game without compromising playability.