Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B580 delivers smooth performance in Inside at 1080p and 1440p across all presets, and at 4K up to High settings. The system clears the 60 FPS threshold in most configurations, with only 4K Ultra falling short at 58 FPS average. Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is far more powerful than this 2016 puzzle platformer requires, while the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions and presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84003. Its nearest rivals, based on average score and delta percentage, are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (83807, 0.2% slower), the AMD EPYC 4584PX (83090, 1.1% slower), the AMD EPYC 9135 (82980, 1.2% slower), and the AMD EPYC 7F72 (85072, 1.3% faster). For gaming workloads, the 290K Plus is effectively interchangeable with the 285K, and even the EPYC parts are within a rounding error of its performance. None of these alternatives would meaningfully change Inside frame rates, as the game is not CPU-bound at any tested configuration.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc B580 holds the 68th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 23021. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (23061, 0.2% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, 0.6% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (23172, 0.7% faster), and the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, 1% faster). The B580’s performance envelope is therefore very close to that of an RTX 2080 or RTX 3080, despite the generational gap. The GPU also carries a launch MSRP of 249 USD, though that figure is not relevant to its in-game behavior. In Inside, any of these rival GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates at the same settings, since the differences are under 1%.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data from the measured FPS table shows a clear pattern: resolution scaling has a large impact, while settings scaling is also substantial, but the relationship between them reveals which component dominates. At 1080p Low, the system averages 271 FPS; at 4K Low, it drops to 123 FPS — a 55% reduction. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 129 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 58 FPS — again a 55% reduction. This consistent drop across all settings when moving from 1080p to 4K indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher pixel counts. Similarly, within each resolution, switching from Low to Ultra cuts frame rates roughly in half: at 1080p, from 271 to 129; at 1440p, from 195 to 93; at 4K, from 123 to 58. That settings sensitivity also points to GPU-bound behavior, as the Arc B580’s shading units, texture units, and memory bandwidth are being pushed harder with each preset step.

The CPU, in contrast, is far beyond what Inside demands. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores 51731 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 7303 in single-core, and its Passmark multithread score is 60860. These numbers place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. A 2016 puzzle platformer with simple geometry and physics will not stress a 24-core/24-thread processor. The measured frame rates at 1080p Low (271 FPS) are high enough to suggest that the CPU is not limiting even at the lowest settings, where CPU overhead typically matters most. At higher resolutions, the GPU’s workload increases while the CPU’s remains roughly constant, so the GPU becomes even more dominant. Thus, for this game, the Arc B580 dictates playable settings and resolutions; the CPU is effectively a non-factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists the exact average, minimum, and maximum frame rates recorded for each resolution and preset combination. Minimum and maximum values were only captured for Medium settings; other rows do not have those figures in the data.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 61 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 123 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 98 | 83 | 113 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 58 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | High | 98 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 195 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 156 | 133 | 180 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 93 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | High | 136 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 271 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 217 | 185 | 250 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 129 | — | — |

At 4K, the spread from Low to Ultra is 123 to 58 FPS, with High landing at 61. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 83 FPS and a maximum of 113, indicating that even the worst-case frame time stays above 60. At 1440p, all presets exceed 93 FPS, with Low at 195 and Medium min/max of 133/180. At 1080p, the lowest average is 129 FPS on Ultra, while Low hits 271. The system never dips below 60 FPS in any tested configuration except the 4K Ultra preset, which averages 58 FPS.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Inside at all tested resolutions, but with a single caveat at 4K Ultra. The verdict by resolution confirms the following playable settings (those with an average of 60 FPS or higher):

• 3840x2160: High, Low, and Medium are playable. Ultra is not, with an average of 58 FPS.
• 2560x1440: All four presets — High, Low, Medium, and Ultra — are playable, with Ultra averaging 93 FPS.
• 1920x1080: All four presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 129 FPS.

The system clears the 60 FPS threshold comfortably at 1080p and 1440p, even on the most demanding preset. At 4K, you must stay at High or below to maintain a smooth experience. The 4K Ultra deficit is small — only 2 FPS below the target — but it is a real dip that could cause noticeable stutter on a 60 Hz display. If you own a 4K monitor, High is the recommended ceiling; if you play at 1440p or 1080p, you can max everything out without concern.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution, along with its exact average frame rate:

• 3840x2160: High — 61 FPS. Ultra falls short at 58 FPS, so High is the highest playable preset.
• 2560x1440: Ultra — 93 FPS. All presets exceed 60, so Ultra is the best choice.
• 1920x1080: Ultra — 129 FPS. Again, all presets are playable, and Ultra delivers nearly double the 60 FPS target.

These settings provide the best visual quality while maintaining a fluid frame rate. For 4K, if you prefer to stay well above 60 FPS rather than right at the edge, Medium (98 FPS) or Low (123 FPS) offer more headroom, but High is the highest that still meets the threshold.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra?

A: The system averages 129 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K Ultra playable on this system?

A: No. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 58, which is 2 FPS below the 60 FPS threshold. The highest playable preset at 4K is High, with an average of 61 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to the RTX 2080?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, while the RTX 2080 scores 22895, a difference of 0.6% in favor of the B580. In Inside, they would produce nearly identical frame rates.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for Medium settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum FPS is 133, and the maximum is 180, with an average of 156.

*Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the system in Inside?*

A: No. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. The game’s frame rates scale with resolution and settings in a way that points to the GPU as the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best preset for a 4K display?

A: High is the highest preset that maintains an average of 60 FPS or more, with 61 FPS. Medium (98 FPS) and Low (123 FPS) are also playable if you want extra headroom.