Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer that relies on precise timing and atmospheric tension, so consistent frame pacing matters more than peak frame rates. The database measurements for this specific combination, pairing an Intel Core i9-14900K with an Intel Arc B390, show a wide performance spread depending on resolution and quality preset. At 4K the experience is heavily constrained, while at 1080p the hardware has enough headroom to run every preset above the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded data indicates that this is not a uniform performer; it shifts dramatically based on where the rendering load is placed.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The captured frames per second data is organized by resolution and settings, with average values provided for all configurations, and minimum and maximum values recorded only for the Medium preset at each resolution.

Starting with 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the results are as follows. At High settings the average frame rate is 35 FPS. Dropping to Low settings raises the average to 70 FPS, which is a substantial improvement. The Medium preset sits between these two, with an average of 56 FPS, a minimum of 48 FPS, and a maximum of 65 FPS. Ultra settings produce the lowest average at this resolution, 34 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra here is 36 FPS, indicating that the visual quality slider has a very strong influence on performance at 4K.

Moving down to 2560x1440, the same four presets were tested. High settings average 56 FPS, which is identical to the Medium average at 4K, showing that resolution scaling is a major factor. Low settings at 1440p reach an average of 112 FPS, more than double the High preset result. Medium settings average 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. Ultra settings average 53 FPS, the only preset at this resolution that falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 59 FPS, even larger than at 4K.

At 1920x1080, the results are markedly better. High settings average 78 FPS. Low settings reach an average of 156 FPS, which is the highest recorded score across all resolutions and presets. Medium settings average 125 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS. Ultra settings average 74 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS line by a comfortable margin. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 82 FPS, showing that even the most demanding preset is playable while lighter presets provide very high refresh rates.

The Medium preset data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p the minimum is 106 FPS, at 1440p the minimum drops to 76 FPS, and at 4K the minimum falls to 48 FPS. This progression highlights how the hardware struggles as pixel count increases. The maximum values follow a similar trend, from 144 FPS at 1080p down to 65 FPS at 4K.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database lists comparable components based on average benchmark scores, which helps contextualize where this CPU and GPU sit relative to other hardware.

For the Intel Core i9-14900K, the nearest rivals are close in overall score. The Intel Core i9-14900KF is nearly identical, with a score 0.3% lower. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 0.6% lower, and the AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% lower. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 1.7% higher. These deltas are small, meaning a system using any of these processors would likely behave similarly in CPU-bound scenarios within Inside. The i9-14900K sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, so it is a high-end part, but its nearest neighbors show that the specific choice among these top-tier chips matters little for this game.

For the Intel Arc B390, the situation is quite different. This GPU scores in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, which is very low. Its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% higher, the GeForce 800M is 1.5% higher, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% higher, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% higher. These are entry-level or legacy graphics solutions. The delta percentages are small, but the absolute performance level is what matters. A user swapping the Arc B390 for any of these rivals would see nearly identical frame rates in Inside, meaning the GPU is the limiting factor in most scenarios.

The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU creates an unusual pairing. The processor is unlikely to bottleneck at any resolution, while the GPU determines the outcome. The rival comparisons confirm that this is not a balanced system for modern gaming, but for a 2D puzzle platformer the CPU headroom may compensate in less demanding scenes.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database identifies the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS average for each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the only playable option is Low settings, which achieves an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset averages 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, so it cannot be recommended as the best playable setting. The data shows that High and Ultra are far off, at 35 and 34 FPS respectively.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Medium, with an average of 90 FPS. Low settings also run well at 112 FPS, but Medium is the most demanding preset that still clears 60 FPS. High falls short at 56 FPS, and Ultra is even lower at 53 FPS, so those are not viable for smooth play.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 74 FPS. This is the only resolution where the highest quality preset is playable. High runs at 78 FPS, Medium at 125 FPS, and Low at 156 FPS, but Ultra represents the full visual experience without dropping below the threshold.

The progression is logical: as resolution increases, the playable preset ceiling drops. At 1080p the ceiling is Ultra, at 1440p it is Medium, and at 4K it is Low. The average FPS at the best playable setting scales downward as resolution increases, from 74 at 1080p to 90 at 1440p (which is higher due to the preset difference) and then to 70 at 4K.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Inside depends entirely on the target resolution. The recorded verdict data provides clear answers for each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the system can run the game at every preset above 60 FPS. The playable settings list includes High, Low, Medium, and Ultra. The best setting is Ultra with an average of 74 FPS. This is a fully playable experience at the highest quality level, with no compromise needed.

At 2560x1440, the system can run the game at Low and Medium settings above 60 FPS. The best setting is Medium at 90 FPS average. High and Ultra both fall below the threshold, so users at this resolution must choose between lower quality or lower frame rates. The 56 FPS average at High is close but not sufficient for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the system can only run the game at Low settings above 60 FPS, with an average of 70 FPS. Medium averages 56 FPS, which is below the threshold. High and Ultra are not playable. The 4K experience is limited to the lowest visual quality preset.

Overall, the system is playable at all resolutions, but only at 1080p does it offer the full preset range. At 1440p and 4K, users must sacrifice quality to maintain frame rates. The data shows a clear verdict: this is a 1080p machine for Inside, with 1440p viable only at medium or lower settings, and 4K viable only at low settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The relative importance of the CPU versus the GPU can be inferred from how frame rates scale across resolutions and presets.

The CPU, an Intel Core i9-14900K, is a 24-core, 32-thread processor with a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. It scores in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and a single-core score of 2262.5. These are extremely strong numbers. The GPU, an Intel Arc B390, has 1536 shading units, a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. It sits in the 9th percentile among all GPUs.

The scaling data reveals the GPU's dominance. When moving from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings, the average FPS drops significantly: High goes from 78 to 56 FPS, Low from 156 to 112 FPS, Medium from 125 to 90 FPS, and Ultra from 74 to 53 FPS. This is a roughly 30% reduction in frame rate for a 1.78x increase in pixel count, which is typical of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU is not the limiting factor, as the i9-14900K has ample headroom.

The preset scaling at a fixed resolution also points to GPU limitations. At 1440p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 59 FPS (112 vs 53), while at 1080p it is 82 FPS (156 vs 74). The absolute drop is larger at lower resolutions because the CPU can feed more frames, but the GPU still cannot maintain high FPS at Ultra. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is only 36 FPS (70 vs 34), suggesting that the GPU is so overwhelmed that even the preset change has a smaller relative impact.

At 1080p, the CPU may play a larger role in the Low preset, where the frame rate reaches 156 FPS. This is beyond what many GPUs can deliver, and the i9-14900K's strong single-thread performance (2262.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core) likely helps maintain high minimum frame rates, although minimum data is only available for Medium. At 4K, the CPU role diminishes further, as the GPU is clearly the bottleneck with average FPS in the 30s and 50s.

The data implies that for this game, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance at all resolutions, with the CPU only becoming relevant at very high frame rates on low settings. The i9-14900K is far more capable than the Arc B390, so upgrading the GPU would yield the largest performance gains.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination against all other tested combos for Inside. The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3296 out of 3716 total combinations. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested setups, which is a low position.

The rank reflects the GPU's weak performance. While the CPU is in the 95th percentile, the GPU is in the 9th percentile, and the overall combo ranking is dragged down by the graphics component. Out of 3716 combos, only 420 are ranked lower. This means most other systems, even those with older or less powerful CPUs, would outperform this pairing in Inside if they had better GPUs.

The low rank is consistent with the measured FPS data. At 4K, the best preset only averages 70 FPS, and at 1440p the best preset is Medium. Many other combos in the database likely achieve higher frame rates at higher quality settings. The rank serves as a summary of the system's overall capability for this specific game, and it is not favorable.

The verdict is that this combo is functional but far from optimal. Users with this hardware should target 1080p for the best experience, as the rank suggests that pushing higher resolutions will result in performance that is below average compared to other tested systems.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS is 74, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K with Medium settings?

A: No, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 56, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Only Low settings at 4K achieve playable performance, with an average of 70 FPS.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The best playable setting is Medium, with an average FPS of 90. Low also runs well at 112 FPS, but Medium is the highest quality preset that stays above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i9-14900K compare to its nearest CPU rival in benchmark scores?

A: The i9-14900K scores 79097 on average, while the nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF, scores 79371, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% higher.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS is 106, with a maximum of 144 and an average of 125. The minimum stays above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating consistent frame delivery.

Q: What is the overall rank of this CPU and GPU combo for Inside?

A: The combo ranks 3296 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the database results.