Inside

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination in Inside reveal a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 268 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 210 FPS, a 21.6% reduction, while 4K Low yields 132 FPS, a further 37.1% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline with each resolution step indicates that the Radeon RX 6650 XT is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU's workload does not scale with pixel count.

The scaling curve is not linear, and the data shows a particularly aggressive drop between 1440p and 4K. At Medium settings, the frame rate falls from 168 FPS at 1440p to 106 FPS at 4K, a 36.9% decrease. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become critical constraints. The RX 6650 XT's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus width, with a bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s, are being taxed heavily at this resolution, even for a game as visually modest as Inside.

Conversely, the difference between 1080p and 1440p is more moderate. For High settings, the drop is from 146 FPS to 105 FPS (28.1% reduction). This indicates that while the GPU is still the bottleneck, the gap is less severe than the leap to 4K. The 4K Ultra setting, at 63 FPS, represents a 54.7% drop from the 1440p Ultra score of 100 FPS. This near-halving of performance when moving to 4K Ultra strongly suggests that the combination of high resolution and maximum settings pushes the GPU's 10.79 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 168.6 GPixel/s pixel rate to their absolute limits.

The implications are clear for users targeting high refresh rates. While 1080p and 1440p are comfortably within reach of 100+ FPS at most settings, 4K presents a challenge. The 66 FPS average at 4K High is playable, but the 63 FPS at Ultra suggests that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, users would need to dial back from the highest preset. The data implies that the system is far more capable at lower resolutions, where the CPU's performance can be more fully utilized to push frame rates beyond 200 FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the workhorse in this pairing, and its specifications directly correlate with the measured results. With a boost clock of 2635 MHz and a game clock of 2410 MHz, its performance is strongly influenced by its memory subsystem. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p but becomes a limiting factor at 4K. This is evident in the 4K results, where even at Low settings (132 FPS), the frame rate is nearly half of the 1080p Low score (268 FPS).

The GPU's architectural capabilities, such as its 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs, are well-matched to Inside's rendering demands. The game's art style, which relies on stark lighting and shadow contrasts, benefits from the GPU's pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s. However, the data shows that the GPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the 268 FPS is likely approaching the CPU's frame delivery limit, given the Ryzen 5 5500X3D's specifications. The GPU is capable of rendering more frames, but the processor cannot feed it data fast enough.

The RX 6650 XT's position in the benchmark hierarchy, with an average benchmark score of 19765 and a percentile of 65, places it as a mid-range performer. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (avg score 19885, delta -0.6%) and the AMD FirePro D300 (avg score 19637, delta 0.7%). This suggests that for Inside, the GPU's performance is typical for its class, but the 4K results show it operating at the edge of its capabilities. The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is not a direct issue for this game, as the 4K Medium results (106 FPS average) show no signs of texture thrashing or memory-related stutters, but the bandwidth is clearly a constraint.

The GPU's compute performance, measured at 10.79 TFLOPS FP32, is more than adequate for the game's physics and particle effects. The benchmark results show that the GPU is not a limiting factor at 1080p and 1440p, where the frame rates are exceptionally high. Instead, the data reveals that the GPU's role becomes dominant only when the resolution increases to 4K, where the sheer number of pixels to be shaded overwhelms the memory bandwidth and pixel throughput.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in Inside?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 268 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is capable of very high refresh rates, likely exceeding the refresh rate of most standard monitors.

*Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, the data shows playable frame rates at 4K. At High settings, the average FPS is 66, and at Medium settings, it is 106 FPS. The 4K Ultra preset drops to an average of 63 FPS, which is still considered playable for a puzzle platformer, though it is the least comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Radeon RX 6650 XT has an average benchmark score of 19765. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla K40m, has a score of 19885, which is 0.6% higher. The AMD FirePro D300 is 0.7% lower with a score of 19637. This indicates the RX 6650 XT sits in a tight competitive band with these GPUs.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 210 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 100 FPS. This represents a 52.4% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra, showing the significant performance cost of the highest settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the data suggests the CPU is the primary bottleneck. With Low settings producing 268 FPS and High settings producing 146 FPS, the GPU is not being fully saturated at Low settings, as the frame rate is limited by the CPU's ability to process the game's draw calls and physics updates.

Q: What is the performance difference between the two highest settings at 4K?

A: At 4K, the High preset averages 66 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 63 FPS. The difference is only 4.5%, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional visual fidelity comes at a minimal frame rate cost at this resolution, as the GPU is already heavily constrained.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates provides a detailed picture of the system's performance across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 268. Medium settings reduce this to 234 FPS, with a minimum of 199 and a maximum of 269. High settings yield 146 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 139 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is minimal (7 FPS), suggesting that the Ultra preset's additional effects are not heavily taxing at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a clear step down. Low settings average 210 FPS. Medium settings average 168 FPS, with a range of 143 to 193 FPS. High settings produce 105 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 100 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is substantial (63 FPS), indicating a significant performance cost for the High preset's visual enhancements.

At 3840x2160, the system is pushed to its limits. Low settings average 132 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings average 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 and a maximum of 121 FPS. High settings produce 66 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 63 FPS. The step from Medium to High is a 37.7% reduction, showing that the High preset at 4K is where the GPU starts to struggle. The 4K Ultra score of 63 FPS is the lowest average recorded, but it remains playable.

The Medium settings rows are the only ones with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p, the range is 199-269 FPS; at 1440p, it is 143-193 FPS; and at 4K, it is 90-121 FPS. These ranges indicate good frame pacing, with no severe stutters, as the minimums are still well above 60 FPS in all cases.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, plays a crucial role in ensuring the high frame rates seen at lower resolutions. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz, combined with a large 96 MB shared L3 cache, are well-suited for a game like Inside, which likely has low per-thread demands but benefits from fast memory access. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 2941 and multithread score of 20363 indicate strong performance that is not the limiting factor at 1080p.

However, the data reveals that the CPU is indeed the bottleneck at 1080p Low settings. The 268 FPS achieved here is likely near the maximum frame rate the CPU can maintain, given the game's logic and rendering commands. The fact that the 1080p Ultra score (139 FPS) is not much lower than the High score (146 FPS) suggests that the CPU's frame pacing is consistent, and the GPU is still able to keep up with the increased settings.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals is tight. Its average benchmark score of 37018 places it just 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (avg score 36945) and 0.2% below the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (avg score 36938). The Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.3% higher with a score of 37112. This indicates that the 5500X3D is a strong performer, but not exceptional, in its class. For Inside, the CPU's 12 threads are more than sufficient, as the game is not heavily multithreaded, but the high IPC of the Zen 3 architecture ensures smooth frame delivery.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s (DDR4 dual-channel) is not a constraint for this game, as the data shows no significant frame rate drops attributable to memory stalls. The CPU's 105 W TDP and 7 nm process node are relevant for system builders, but for gameplay, the key takeaway is that this processor provides ample headroom for the GPU to operate at its full potential at 1080p and 1440p, only becoming the limiting factor at extreme frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this system depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For users with 1080p displays, the High preset (146 FPS) is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The jump to Ultra (139 FPS) offers minimal visual improvement for a 7 FPS loss, making High the more efficient choice. Medium (234 FPS) is only recommended for users with 240 Hz displays who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the Medium preset (168 FPS) provides an excellent experience, offering high frame rates and good visual quality. The High preset (105 FPS) is also viable, particularly for 100 Hz or 120 Hz displays, and offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium. The Ultra preset (100 FPS) is playable but provides diminishing returns over High, making High the recommended setting for 1440p.

At 4K, the Medium preset (106 FPS) is the clear recommendation for a smooth experience, as it maintains a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The High preset (66 FPS) is playable but only offers a 60 FPS experience with little headroom for drops. The Ultra preset (63 FPS) is not recommended, as the 3 FPS gain over High is imperceptible, and the system is already operating at its limits. For a locked 60 FPS experience, Medium is the safest choice at 4K.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the "sweet spot" for this system, as it provides the largest performance margin over High and Ultra at all resolutions. The 4K Medium score of 106 FPS is particularly impressive, as it demonstrates that the system can handle 4K gaming comfortably without resorting to Low settings. For the best overall experience, users should target 1440p Medium or High, where the system delivers both high frame rates and substantial visual detail.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 1863 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the 35.5th percentile of all tested systems. This ranking is lower than what the raw frame rates might suggest, as Inside is a light game that can run well on many systems, meaning that even modest hardware can achieve high frame rates, pushing the combo down in the relative ranking.

The combo's rank of 1863 indicates that while it performs admirably, there are 1862 other combinations of CPUs and GPUs that produce higher average frame rates in this specific game. This is likely due to the RX 6650 XT being a mid-range GPU, as the top-performing combos in the database likely feature flagship GPUs that can push frame rates even higher at 4K. However, the data shows that this combo is not a weak performer; its 4K High score of 66 FPS is respectable, and its 1080p Low score of 268 FPS is exceptionally high.

The ranking is also influenced by the fact that Inside is not a demanding game, so the CPU's performance is less critical than in other titles. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D's strong single-thread score (2941) ensures it does not hold the system back, but it does not boost the combo's ranking as much as it would in a CPU-intensive game. The GPU's percentile of 65 and average score of 19765 place it in the mid-range, and its performance in Inside is consistent with that positioning.

Given that the combo ranks in the 35th percentile, it is clear that most other tested systems achieve higher frame rates. This is not a criticism of the hardware, but rather a reflection of the fact that Inside is an older title (released in 2016) that can be run at very high frame rates by even entry-level hardware. The data shows that this combo is capable of delivering a smooth, playable experience at all resolutions, with 4K Medium being the recommended setting for a 100+ FPS experience. The ranking is a relative measure, and the absolute performance is more than sufficient for the target audience of this hardware.