Inside

Inside is a restrained puzzle platformer, but its minimalist art style hides a rendering load that scales dramatically with resolution and quality settings. The recorded data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 shows a system that is capable at standard resolutions but quickly runs out of headroom when pushed to 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across the board, contextualizes the performance against other tested combinations, and explains where the bottleneck lies.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database records a playable threshold of 60 FPS. The most demanding preset that stays at or above this mark varies sharply by resolution, indicating that the Arc B370's integrated-class performance is the primary constraint at higher pixel counts.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the only setting that clears the threshold is Low, which produces an average of 64 FPS. The jump to Medium drops the average to 51 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target. High and Ultra are far behind at 32 FPS and 30 FPS respectively, making them unplayable at this resolution.

At 2560x1440 (QHD), the system can handle a higher preset. The best setting that maintains 60 FPS is Medium, which averages 81 FPS. Low runs even faster at 101 FPS, but Medium offers a better visual balance while still providing a comfortable margin above the threshold. High dips to 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 48 FPS, both missing the mark.

At 1920x1080 (Full HD), the combination is fully unleashed. Every preset clears 60 FPS, including the most demanding Ultra setting, which averages 67 FPS. High averages 70 FPS, Medium hits 113 FPS, and Low reaches 141 FPS. This is the only resolution where the user can enable Ultra without compromising the frame rate target.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 3,716 tested combinations for Inside, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 lands at rank 3422. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested system configurations for this particular game.

The low ranking is not a reflection of the CPU, which performs well above average in synthetic benchmarks. Instead, it is a direct consequence of the GPU's position in the performance hierarchy. The Arc B370 holds a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs, indicating that the vast majority of graphics cards in the database will outperform it. The data suggests that this is a configuration where the graphics processor is a severe limiting factor, outweighing the considerable strength of the central processor.

While the CPU has an average benchmark score of 35,365, the GPU's average score is a mere 1,184. This massive disparity in raw compute potential confirms that the user experience in Inside will be dictated entirely by the graphics solution, not the processor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution and settings increase. The performance delta between settings is consistent across resolutions, but the absolute frame rates shift dramatically.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its peak capabilities. Low settings produce an average of 141 FPS. Medium settings reduce the average to 113 FPS, with observed minimum and maximum values of 96 FPS and 130 FPS respectively. High settings yield 70 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 67 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 74 FPS, showing that the visual upgrades come at a significant, but manageable, cost at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop by roughly 30% to 50% across the board. Low averages 101 FPS. Medium averages 81 FPS, with a min/max range of 69 FPS to 93 FPS. High falls to 51 FPS, and Ultra sits at 48 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 53 FPS, as the resolution itself becomes a heavier load.

At 3840x2160, the performance collapses. Low is the only playable preset, averaging 64 FPS. Medium averages 51 FPS, with a min/max of 43 FPS to 59 FPS. High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is now just 34 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is saturated by the sheer pixel count, rendering the quality settings less impactful than at lower resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for what other hardware might behave similarly with this game. For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-12700KF is flanked by several close performers, though its performance is not the limiting factor here.

• The Intel Core i7-13700T scores an average of 35,403, which is 0.1% lower than the i7-12700KF's 35,365.
• The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35,305, which is 0.2% higher.
• The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35,428, which is 0.2% lower.
• The Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35,287, which is 0.2% higher.

These deltas are negligible for gaming purposes. Any of these CPUs would deliver identical frame rates in Inside when paired with the same GPU, reinforcing that the processor is not the source of any performance variance.

For the GPU, the situation is more critical. The Intel Arc B370's nearest rivals include:

• The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, with an average score of 1,186, which is 0.2% higher.
• The ATI Radeon HD 5770, with an average score of 1,190, which is 0.5% higher.
• The AMD Radeon HD 7650M, with an average score of 1,192, which is 0.7% higher.
• The AMD FirePro M2000, with an average score of 1,168, which is 1.4% lower.

These are all older, low-power graphics solutions. The data indicates that the Arc B370 sits in a performance class that is roughly equivalent to these legacy parts for this workload. Users coming from any of these GPUs would see nearly identical frame rates in Inside.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data clearly shows that the GPU is the dominant factor in this system's performance for Inside. The evidence lies in the scaling between resolutions and presets.

When moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS at Medium settings drops from 113 FPS to 81 FPS, a reduction of 28%. When moving from 1440p to 4K, the average at Medium settings drops from 81 FPS to 51 FPS, a further reduction of 37%. This steep, non-linear decline with increasing pixel count is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The rendering pipeline is being choked by the graphics processor's inability to keep up with the pixel fill rate demands.

The CPU's role is secondary. The Intel Core i7-12700KF, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, is far more powerful than what a puzzle platformer like Inside requires. Even at 1080p with Low settings, where the game engine's draw calls are at their lightest, the GPU still manages only 141 FPS. A more balanced system would show a much higher ceiling at these low-stress settings if the CPU were the limiting factor. The fact that the frame rate drops so uniformly across presets suggests the GPU is the bottleneck even at the lowest load.

The lack of a CPU bottleneck is further supported by the resolution scaling. If the CPU were the constraint, the frame rate would remain relatively flat as resolution increased, since the CPU workload per frame would be similar. Instead, the frame rate plummets, confirming that the GPU's processing power, and not the CPU's, is the determining factor for this game.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Inside has a nuanced answer that depends entirely on the target resolution and desired visual quality.

At 1920x1080, the answer is a definitive yes. The system clears the 60 FPS threshold on all settings, including the highest Ultra preset, which averages 67 FPS. This is the resolution where the combination of the i7-12700KF and Arc B370 delivers a fully smooth and visually rich experience.

At 2560x1440, the system is still playable, but with limitations. The Medium preset is the best option, averaging 81 FPS. The Low preset also works well at 101 FPS. However, the High and Ultra presets fall below the 60 FPS target, averaging 51 FPS and 48 FPS respectively. Users at this resolution will need to compromise on visual fidelity to maintain smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system is only marginally playable. The Low preset is the sole option that meets the 60 FPS target, averaging 64 FPS. All other presets fail to reach playable frame rates, with Medium at 51 FPS, High at 32 FPS, and Ultra at 30 FPS. The system is not recommended for 4K gaming with this game unless the user is willing to accept minimal detail settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Inside at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the recorded average FPS is 67, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting for 1440p?

A: The best playable setting at 2560x1440 is Medium, which averages 81 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: Only with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 64 FPS. Other presets are unplayable.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck for this game?

A: The GPU. The Intel Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, while the Intel Core i7-12700KF ranks in the 85th percentile among CPUs. The frame rate drops dramatically with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload.

Q: How does this system compare to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 3422 out of 3716 tested combos for this game, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems in the database.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings average 141 FPS, while Ultra settings average 67 FPS. This represents a 74 FPS drop for the highest visual quality.