Inside

Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B390 is a system that sits in an unusual position for running Inside. The CPU is a strong modern desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated graphics solution with a very low percentile ranking. The recorded data shows that this combination can play the game smoothly at standard resolutions, but 4K requires a significant settings compromise.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database defines 60 FPS as the playable threshold. Based on the measured average frame rates, here are the most demanding presets that stay at or above that mark for each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the only preset that clears the threshold is Low, with an average of 70 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, and High and Ultra are lower still. For 4K users, the choice is clear: Low settings are the only way to maintain smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the best preset that remains playable is Medium, delivering an average of 90 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above the threshold. The High preset at this resolution averages 56 FPS, which just misses the playable mark, so Medium is the ceiling for a consistent 60 FPS experience.

At 1920x1080, the system has enough headroom to run the highest preset. Ultra averages 74 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. All four presets, Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, are playable at 1080p, making this resolution the only one where the highest quality settings are viable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3296 out of 3716 tested combos in this game. That places it in the lower portion of the database, near the 11th percentile of all tested systems. This low ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU, which sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs in the database.

The CPU, by contrast, is a strong performer. It scores in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, indicating that the processor is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The imbalance between a high-ranking CPU and a low-ranking GPU is the defining characteristic of this system. The rank of 3296 suggests that while the CPU could drive far more demanding graphics hardware, the integrated GPU holds the combo back relative to the broader field of tested systems.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database recorded average frame rates for every resolution and preset combination, with minimum and maximum values captured for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the results are as follows:

• Low: average 70 FPS
• Medium: average 56 FPS, minimum 48, maximum 65
• High: average 35 FPS
• Ultra: average 34 FPS

The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 14 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 21 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is just 1 FPS, indicating that the GPU is already saturated at this resolution.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: average 112 FPS
• Medium: average 90 FPS, minimum 76, maximum 103
• High: average 56 FPS
• Ultra: average 53 FPS

The Medium preset shows a minimum of 76 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. The drop from Medium to High is steep at 34 FPS, showing a sharp scaling cliff between these two settings.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: average 156 FPS
• Medium: average 125 FPS, minimum 106, maximum 144
• High: average 78 FPS
• Ultra: average 74 FPS

The 1080p results show a different pattern. The difference between High and Ultra is only 4 FPS, suggesting that the visual cost of Ultra is modest at this resolution. The Medium preset has a minimum of 106 FPS, well above the playable threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 are all very close in average benchmark score. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F matches at a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is 0.2% behind, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 0.4% behind, and the Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.5% behind. Any of these CPUs would behave nearly identically to the Ultra 5 225 in this game, since the GPU is the limiting factor.

The nearest rivals for the Intel Arc B390 are older, low-end NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% ahead, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M is 1.5% ahead, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% ahead, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% ahead. These deltas are small, meaning the Arc B390 performs in the same class as those legacy GPUs. A system with any of these GPU alternatives would produce nearly identical frame rates in Inside.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a system where the GPU dominates the performance profile, but the CPU matters more as resolution decreases. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are low across all presets, with Ultra at 34 FPS and High at 35 FPS. The GPU is clearly the bottleneck at this resolution. The CPU's high benchmark scores do not translate into higher frame rates because the integrated GPU cannot keep up with the pixel load.

At 2560x1440, the pattern shifts slightly. The Medium preset achieves 90 FPS, but High drops to 56 FPS. This steep scaling cliff between Medium and High indicates that the GPU is reaching its limits as the settings increase. The CPU has more headroom, but the GPU cannot exploit it at higher quality settings.

At 1920x1080, the CPU begins to play a more meaningful role. The Low preset reaches 156 FPS, which is high enough that the CPU's single-thread performance becomes relevant. The Ultra preset at 74 FPS shows that the GPU still limits the highest settings, but the overall frame rates are high enough that the CPU is no longer idle. The scaling between resolutions reinforces this: dropping from 4K to 1440p nearly doubles frame rates at Medium settings, from 56 to 90 FPS, while dropping from 1440p to 1080p increases Medium from 90 to 125 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is the primary constraint at all resolutions, but the CPU's influence grows as the resolution drops.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 1920x1080 with the highest settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 74 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. All four presets at 1080p are playable.

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

A: The Medium preset, which averages 90 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS. The High preset at this resolution averages 56 FPS and does not meet the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is 4K playable on this hardware?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which average 70 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K averages 56 FPS, and High and Ultra average 35 and 34 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 is within 2.7% of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, GT 625 OEM, GeForce 800M, and GT 520MX. It performs in the same class as those older entry-level GPUs.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 compare to similar CPUs?

A: The Ultra 5 225 is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, Ryzen 5 5500X3D, Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and Intel Core i9-12900T. Any of these CPUs would perform nearly identically in this game.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between the Low and Medium presets at 3840x2160?

A: The Low preset averages 70 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 56 FPS. That is a 14 FPS difference, and it is the difference between playable and not playable at 4K.

The Verdict

The verdict from the database is conditional on resolution. At 1920x1080, this system runs Inside with all presets playable, including Ultra at 74 FPS. This is the resolution where the combo performs best, with enough headroom for the highest quality settings.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable at Low and Medium settings, with Medium averaging 90 FPS. The High and Ultra presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold, so users at this resolution must choose between quality and smoothness.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, averaging 70 FPS. Higher settings at 4K all fall below 60 FPS, with Ultra at 34 FPS and High at 35 FPS.

The data indicates that this is a capable 1080p system for Inside, a workable 1440p system with settings compromises, and a 4K system only on the lowest settings. The CPU has ample performance, as shown by its 85th percentile ranking, but the integrated GPU's 9th percentile ranking caps the overall experience. Users seeking higher quality at 1440p or 4K would need a more powerful discrete GPU, while those playing at 1080p can enjoy the game at its highest quality settings.