Inside

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the Intel Arc B580 delivers a decisive performance in Inside, a Puzzle Platformer that is far more demanding on the GPU than its minimalist art style suggests. The measured data shows this combination is not just capable of running the game, but does so with substantial headroom at most settings, making it a viable choice for high-refresh-rate monitors at standard resolutions and even for 4K gaming at high settings. The data indicates a clear hierarchy: 1080p and 1440p are thoroughly dominated, while 4K requires a slight compromise in settings to maintain a locked 60 FPS experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a clear picture of performance scaling across three resolutions and four graphics presets. The data shows a consistent pattern where the frame rate drops as resolution increases and as settings are raised, but the magnitude of these changes reveals the strengths of this hardware configuration.

At 1920x1080, the combination is exceptionally fast. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 269.8 FPS. Moving to Medium drops this to 214.9 FPS, still an immense figure. High settings yield 135.1 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 126.7 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is minimal here, which suggests that at this resolution, the GPU is not the primary limiting factor and the performance is more than sufficient for any display.

At 2560x1440, performance remains extremely strong. Low settings produce an average of 195.3 FPS, and Medium settings are not far behind at 155.4 FPS. High settings still deliver a very smooth 98.3 FPS. The Ultra preset is the standout, maintaining an average of 90.9 FPS, which is more than enough for a fluid experience. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance reduction of roughly 28-31% across presets, indicating a predictable load increase on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the limits of the configuration become apparent. Low settings still manage an impressive 121.2 FPS, and Medium settings remain highly playable at 96.1 FPS. High settings sit precisely at the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 60 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, dips below the playable threshold with an average of 57.3 FPS. This is the only preset at any resolution that fails to clear the 60 FPS bar. The data shows a significant performance hit from 1440p to 4K, with the High preset dropping by 39% and the Ultra preset by 37%, which highlights the raw pixel-pushing demands of 4K.

Min and max FPS values are not provided in the dataset, so this analysis relies solely on average frame rates to assess performance consistency.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Inside at 4K resolution with the best possible graphics?*

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 57.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages exactly 60 FPS.

Q: What is the highest graphics preset that maintains over 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 maintains an average of 90.9 FPS. This is the most demanding setting tested at that resolution and it clears the 60 FPS threshold with substantial margin, confirming that all presets are playable at 1440p.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700K a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B580 in this game?

A: Based on the benchmark results, the CPU is not a limiting factor. The performance scales consistently with resolution and settings, indicating the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate. At 1080p, the high frame rates across all presets suggest the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to its closest rivals in terms of overall benchmark score?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, which places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, has a score of 23061, a difference of -0.2%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is 0.6% behind, while the RTX 3080 is 0.7% ahead.

Q: Is the Core i7-14700K considered a high-performance CPU relative to other processors?

A: Yes. The Core i7-14700K sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 69355, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X's score of 69515, a difference of only -0.2%.

Q: Are there any settings at 1080p that would drop below 60 FPS?

A: No. The lowest average frame rate at 1920x1080 is 126.7 FPS, recorded on the Ultra preset. All other presets at this resolution are significantly higher, meaning every setting combination is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data makes it clear that the Intel Arc B580 is the dominant component in this pairing for Inside. The frame rates scale predictably with resolution changes, which is a classic indicator of GPU-bound performance. For instance, moving from 1080p Low (269.8 FPS) to 1440p Low (195.3 FPS) results in a 27.6% decrease in performance. This is a proportional response to the increase in pixel count, a signature of GPU limitation.

The CPU's role is to provide a stable platform, and the data suggests it performs this task flawlessly. The Intel Core i7-14700K’s high benchmark scores, including a multithread score of 52392 in Passmark and a 94th percentile ranking, indicate it has the single-thread and multi-thread horsepower to avoid bottlenecking the GPU. The fact that the 1080p Ultra preset (126.7 FPS) is only slightly lower than the 1080p High preset (135.1 FPS) while both are significantly lower than the Low preset (269.8 FPS) shows that the GPU is working harder on more complex effects, not that the CPU is struggling.

At 4K, the GPU's role becomes even more pronounced. The substantial performance drop at this resolution—most notably the Ultra preset falling to 57.3 FPS—confirms that the Arc B580 is being fully utilized. The CPU's performance remains consistent, so the bottleneck is unequivocally the GPU's rendering capabilities at these higher pixel counts. In summary, the CPU ensures the system is capable, but the GPU determines the final frame rate in Inside.

The Verdict

This system can run Inside effectively, with the overall experience dependent on the target resolution and desired visual fidelity. The data from `verdictByResolution` confirms that the combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and Intel Arc B580 is more than adequate for the vast majority of gaming scenarios.

For 1920x1080 users, the verdict is a clear success. Every preset, from Low to Ultra, delivers an average frame rate well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 126.7 FPS, meaning users can enjoy the game at its highest visual quality without any performance concerns.

At 2560x1440, the system also passes with flying colors. All four presets are playable, with the most demanding Ultra setting maintaining an average of 90.9 FPS. This provides a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

The situation at 3840x2160 is more nuanced. The system can handle 4K, but not at the highest settings. High settings achieve an average of exactly 60 FPS, which is the playable threshold. The Ultra preset falls short at 57.3 FPS. Therefore, for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, users should select the High preset. The data shows that this is a capable 4K machine, provided expectations are set to High quality rather than Ultra.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Users looking for comparable performance to this specific combination can consider the nearest rivals identified in the benchmark data. While the Core i7-14700K and Arc B580 are a strong pair, the following components offer similar overall compute capabilities.

On the CPU side, the Intel Core i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355. The closest alternatives are the AMD EPYC 9115, with a score of 69288 (a 0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, with a score of 69515 (a -0.2% difference). The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F are also very close, with scores of 69875 and 69996, respectively. These processors would provide a nearly identical level of CPU performance in this game.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B580's average benchmark score is 23021. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which scores 23061, a difference of -0.2%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is also a close match, scoring 22895 (a 0.6% difference), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 scores 23172 (a -0.7% difference). These graphics cards would deliver a similar level of frame rates in Inside at the tested resolutions and settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for a 60 FPS experience are as follows:

1920x1080: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 126.7 FPS. This provides the maximum visual quality with a vast amount of performance headroom.

2560x1440: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 90.9 FPS. This is the best choice for a high-quality 1440p experience.

3840x2160: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages exactly 60 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below the threshold at 57.3 FPS, so High is the recommended setting for a smooth 4K experience.