Inside

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Inside, a game whose minimalist aesthetic and 2D side-scrolling perspective place unique demands on the rendering pipeline. The measured data shows that this pairing is heavily skewed toward CPU-limited performance at lower resolutions, with the GPU only beginning to assert its influence as pixel count climbs toward 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K reveals a system that is overwhelmingly CPU-bound at standard resolutions. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces 167 FPS, while dropping to Low settings pushes that figure to 257 FPS. This massive 90 FPS jump (a 54% increase) when reducing graphical load strongly indicates that the RTX 4060 is far from being the bottleneck at 1080p; instead, the Ryzen 5 5600F's six cores and twelve threads are the limiting factor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern shifts slightly. High settings yield 120 FPS, which is a 47 FPS drop from the 1080p High result. The Low preset at 1440p hits 230 FPS, still a substantial 27 FPS below the 1080p Low figure. This intermediate resolution shows the GPU beginning to take on more responsibility, but the fact that Low settings still nearly double the High preset score (230 vs. 120) confirms the CPU remains the primary constraint even at this higher pixel density.

The 4K results tell a different story. At 3840x2160, High settings produce 75 FPS, while Low settings reach 150 FPS. The gap between presets narrows considerably compared to 1080p, suggesting the RTX 4060's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus are now becoming significant factors. The most telling data point is the Medium preset at 4K: it delivers 120 FPS average with a minimum of 102 and maximum of 138, showing that even at this resolution, the system maintains playable frame rates across all settings.

What the scaling pattern reveals is a dual-phase bottleneck. At 1080p and 1440p, the Ryzen 5 5600F's Zen 3 architecture is the ceiling, with the RTX 4060 easily keeping pace. At 4K, the GPU's 272.0 GB/s bandwidth and 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 throughput become the limiting factor, but the frame rates remain high enough that the game is never unplayable. The 4K Low result of 150 FPS is particularly notable, demonstrating that even a demanding resolution can be handled comfortably when graphical settings are reduced.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this CPU-GPU pairing at rank 1558 out of 2887 tested combinations in Inside. This positions the combo in the 46th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 54% of combinations deliver higher average frame rates. Given the game's release in 2016 and its relatively modest graphical demands, this ranking suggests the pairing is adequate but not exceptional for this title.

Contextualizing this rank requires examining the individual components. The Ryzen 5 5600F sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 36945. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36938, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2% delta), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093, -0.4% delta). These margins are razor-thin, indicating the 5600F is firmly in the upper-midrange tier of processors.

The RTX 4060, meanwhile, holds the 61st percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals are surprisingly lower-tier cards: AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666, -0.2% delta), AMD Radeon 780M (17588, 0.3% delta), and AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551, 0.5% delta). This clustering suggests the RTX 4060's raw compute scores are comparable to much older or integrated solutions, though its modern features like Ada Lovelace architecture and 24 RT cores provide advantages not captured in these aggregate numbers.

The gap between the CPU's 85th percentile rank and the GPU's 61st percentile rank explains the combo's mid-pack placement. The processor is clearly capable of driving higher frame rates than the graphics card can deliver, particularly at higher resolutions. For a game like Inside that emphasizes atmospheric puzzle-solving over fast-paced action, this rank is more than sufficient, but it does indicate the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 brings a specific set of specifications that directly influence the measured results. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves adequate for Inside's relatively simple textures and geometric complexity. The GPU's base clock of 1830 MHz and boost clock of 2460 MHz are respectable for the Ada Lovelace architecture, with the boost clock being particularly relevant for sustained frame rates.

The measured data shows the RTX 4060 performing admirably in Inside, but its role is clearly secondary to the CPU at lower resolutions. The 4K results provide the clearest picture of the GPU's capabilities. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the combo manages 72 FPS, while High settings yield 75 FPS. This narrow 3 FPS difference between Ultra and High at 4K suggests that the GPU is hitting a performance ceiling that additional graphical features cannot overcome. The jump from High (75 FPS) to Medium (120 FPS) is far more pronounced, indicating that the 8 GB VRAM buffer is being stressed at the higher settings.

The GPU's 48 ROPs and 96 TMUs provide the pixel and texture throughput necessary for Inside's dark, atmospheric scenes. The 236.2 GTexel/s texture rate and 118.1 GPixel/s pixel rate are more than sufficient for a 2D platformer, even at 4K. The 3072 shading units handle the game's lighting effects and particle systems without difficulty, as evidenced by the 150 FPS result at 4K Low settings.

Interesting, the RTX 4060's 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 performance appears to be the limiting factor only at 4K Ultra, where the combination of higher resolution and maximum settings pushes the GPU to its limits. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is never fully utilized, with the CPU consistently being the performance bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the Medium preset offers the most balanced experience across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the combo delivers 237 FPS with a minimum of 201 and maximum of 272, providing a smooth and responsive experience with minimal risk of frame drops. The 1440p Medium result of 192 FPS (minimum 163, maximum 220) maintains this quality while offering higher pixel density.

At 4K, Medium is the clear winner. The 120 FPS average with a minimum of 102 FPS ensures the game remains fluid even during demanding scenes. The minimum frame rate of 102 is particularly important, as it indicates the system can maintain playable performance without stuttering. This is in stark contrast to the Ultra preset at 4K, which drops to 72 FPS average with no reported minimum, suggesting potential instability.

High settings are a viable alternative for users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate. At 1080p High, the system produces 167 FPS, and 1440p High reaches 120 FPS. However, 4K High drops to 75 FPS, which may be less desirable for a game that benefits from smooth motion. The Low preset, while delivering exceptional frame rates (257 FPS at 1080p, 230 FPS at 1440p, 150 FPS at 4K), likely sacrifices too much visual quality for a game that relies on atmosphere and lighting.

The optimal configuration is Medium settings, which provides a 50% frame rate improvement over High at 4K while maintaining acceptable visual quality. For users with 1080p or 1440p displays, High settings are equally viable, but the Medium preset's superior minimum frame rates make it the safer choice for consistent performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full range of settings produces the following results: Low delivers 257 FPS average, Medium achieves 237 FPS with a minimum of 201 and maximum of 272, High reaches 167 FPS, and Ultra manages 159 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, but even the lowest result at 1080p is well above any playability threshold.

The 2560x1440 results follow a similar pattern with expected reductions. Low settings produce 230 FPS, Medium delivers 192 FPS (minimum 163, maximum 220), High reaches 120 FPS, and Ultra drops to 114 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 38 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is a minimal 6 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns at the highest settings.

At 3840x2160, the scaling becomes more pronounced. Low settings achieve 150 FPS, Medium delivers 120 FPS (minimum 102, maximum 138), High reaches 75 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 72 FPS. The 30 FPS difference between Low and Medium at 4K is noteworthy, but the larger 45 FPS drop from Medium to High highlights the GPU's limitations at this resolution.

The data shows that the Medium preset maintains the most consistent frame pacing across all resolutions, with minimum frame rates that are 85% or higher of the average. The High and Ultra presets at 4K lack reported minimum frame rates, indicating potential variability that could affect gameplay smoothness.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is the dominant component in this pairing for much of the tested resolution range. Its six cores and twelve threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture codenamed Vermeer, provide strong single-threaded performance that Inside leverages heavily. The base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz are modest by modern standards, but the 32 MB shared L3 cache helps compensate for lower clock speeds.

The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce its capability. The PassMark single-thread score of 2872 places it in the upper echelon of processors, while the multithread score of 19236 demonstrates solid multi-core performance. The 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms that the 5600F is a capable processor for gaming workloads, even if it is not a top-tier part.

In Inside, the CPU's influence is most evident at 1080p and 1440p. The 90 FPS difference between Low and High settings at 1080p (257 vs. 167 FPS) cannot be attributed to GPU limitations, as the RTX 4060 is capable of much higher frame rates. This gap is a direct result of the CPU's instruction throughput and cache performance. The 5600F's 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and DDR4 support provide sufficient data transfer rates for the game's physics and AI calculations.

The CPU's impact diminishes at 4K, where the GPU becomes the bottleneck. However, the 5600F still plays a role in maintaining consistent frame rates. The 4K Medium result of 120 FPS suggests the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently enough to avoid stalling, even at higher resolutions. The processor's 65 W TDP and 7 nm process node allow it to sustain boost clocks without thermal throttling, which is crucial for maintaining stable performance over extended gaming sessions.

The nearest rival comparisons show the 5600F is well-matched against its peers. The 0% delta from the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and -0.2% from the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D indicate that this processor is neither a standout nor a laggard in its class. For Inside, the CPU's performance is more than adequate, with the primary limitation being the GPU at higher resolutions.