Inside

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 in Inside presents a fascinating case study in how a modest integrated GPU interacts with a high-end desktop processor. The measured frame rates reveal a system where the graphical component is decisively the limiting factor, yet the Ryzen 5 7400F’s architectural muscle ensures the experience remains fluid at lower resolutions. This analysis dissects the provided benchmark data to understand the performance dynamics of this specific combo.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a steep and consistent performance cliff as resolution increases, which is a clear signature of a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 156 FPS, but this drops to 112 FPS at 1440p and further to 70 FPS at 4K. This represents a 55% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at the Low preset. The pattern holds across other settings, with the High preset dropping from 78 FPS at 1080p to 56 FPS at 1440p and finally to 35 FPS at 4K—a 55% decline as well.

This linear scaling with pixel count is the definitive indicator that the Intel Arc B390's rendering capabilities are saturated. The game's internal resolution scaling directly translates to fill-rate demands, and the Arc B390, with its 24 ROPs and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate, simply cannot keep pace as the pixel workload multiplies. The CPU, even at 4K, is not the bottleneck; the Ryzen 5 7400F’s 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient to feed the GPU. The data implies that if the GPU were stronger, the frame rates at 4K would not degrade so uniformly.

The most telling aspect is the gap between Medium and High at each resolution. At 1080p, Medium yields 125 FPS while High produces 78 FPS. This 47 FPS difference suggests a significant increase in shader complexity or texture detail that disproportionately taxes the GPU's 1536 shading units. The scaling from Low to Medium is less severe (156 to 125 FPS), but the jump to High is dramatic, highlighting a specific setting that causes a major performance hit. This combo is clearly optimized for 1080p or 1440p play, with 4K only viable on the Low preset.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the undisputed performance ceiling for this configuration. With a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, its dynamic range is wide, but the hardware fundamentals limit its output. The benchmark results show that this GPU, in its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, scores 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in that benchmark are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, which are all entry-level parts from a bygone era. This context is crucial: the Arc B390 is not a gaming powerhouse, and the Inside results reflect that.

The system memory is shared with the GPU, as indicated by "System Shared" for memory size, type, bus width, and bandwidth. This means the GPU relies on the Ryzen 5 7400F's dual-channel DDR5 memory, which has a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. While this is respectable, it is still a shared resource and can introduce latency or bandwidth contention in demanding scenes. The data shows that even with this shared memory, the combo can produce 156 FPS at 1080p Low, proving the game is not heavily memory-bandwidth dependent. However, the 12 RT cores are present but likely unused, as Inside is a 2D puzzle platformer with no ray-traced effects.

The GPU's clock speed behavior is not explicitly measured, but the FPS deltas between settings suggest that the boost clock of 2500 MHz is being maintained under load. The fact that the GPU can scale from 35 FPS at 4K High to 70 FPS at 4K Low indicates that it is not power-limited, but rather shader-limited. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is the theoretical peak, but the game's requirements at High settings with post-processing and effects appear to be more than the 1536 shading units can handle. This is a GPU that is best suited for light, older, or indie titles, and Inside fits that profile, but only at its lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of benchmarked systems, this combo ranks 2547 out of 2887 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested combos, which is a poor overall standing. However, this rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's low percentile (9th), while the CPU's percentile is much higher at 83rd. The comboRankInGame demonstrates that the pairing of a high-end CPU with a very low-end GPU creates a severely unbalanced system. The CPU is capable of much more, but it is hamstrung by the GPU.

The data suggests that this combo would be outperformed by virtually any system with a discrete GPU, even an older mid-range one. The ranking is a direct consequence of the Arc B390's performance, which is in the same league as NVIDIA's GT 710. While the CPU's average benchmark score of 32750 puts it in the same class as the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, the GPU's score of 1482 is in the same class as the GeForce GT 520MX. This mismatch means the combo's overall gaming potential is capped by the weakest link. For a game like Inside, which is not graphically demanding, the combo still manages to be playable, but its rank indicates that many other CPU/GPU pairings would deliver a far superior experience.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset, where it averages 70 FPS. At 4K High, the average drops to 35 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it is 34 FPS, which may be less desirable for smooth gameplay.

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU pairing in Inside?*

A: The data shows 1080p is the sweet spot. It achieves 156 FPS at Low, 125 FPS at Medium, and 78 FPS at High, all of which are very playable. 1440p is also viable, with 112 FPS at Low and 90 FPS at Medium.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the Arc B390 scores 1482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, and 2.5% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, indicating it is marginally faster than these older entry-level GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B390 in this game?

A: No. The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's high percentile (83rd) and strong multi-core performance (21765 in Cinebench R23) far exceed the demands of Inside, and the FPS scaling with resolution confirms a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What settings should be used for a 60 FPS experience at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 averages 90 FPS, which is well above 60. The High preset at this resolution averages 56 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. Therefore, Medium is the safest choice for a locked 60 FPS experience.

Q: How much faster is the CPU compared to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 5 7400F's average benchmark score is 32750, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600T and 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. It is also 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, showing these CPUs are virtually identical in average performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset achieves an average of 156 FPS, while Medium produces 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 144. High settings yield 78 FPS, and Ultra drops to 74 FPS. This resolution offers the most headroom, with all presets being playable.

At 2560x1440, performance takes a noticeable hit. Low averages 112 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium averages 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103. High drops to 56 FPS, and Ultra falls to 53 FPS. This resolution is still viable for most presets, but High and Ultra are borderline for a 60 FPS target.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. Low is the only playable option, averaging 70 FPS. Medium averages 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 34 FPS. The data shows that 4K is only for the Low preset if a smooth experience is desired.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a formidable processor that is entirely outclassed by the GPU in this pairing. It features 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21765 places it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a high-performance part. In the PassMark multi-thread test, it scores 25645, and its single-thread score is 3689.

These numbers are far beyond what a puzzle platformer like Inside requires. The game's logic and physics are simple, and the 7400F's single-core performance is more than adequate. The data suggests that the CPU is not being challenged at any resolution or setting. The FPS differences between 1080p and 4K are solely due to GPU load. The CPU's 32 MB of L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide ample data to the GPU, but the GPU's intrinsic limits prevent the system from achieving higher frame rates.

The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, have nearly identical average benchmark scores (within 0.2%), confirming that the 7400F is a top-tier mainstream chip. Its role in this combo is to ensure that the GPU is never starved for data, and it succeeds in that task. The performance ceiling is entirely defined by the Arc B390, not the Ryzen 5 7400F.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience is achieved at 1080p with the Medium preset. This yields an average of 125 FPS with a minimum of 106, providing a smooth and responsive experience with better visual fidelity than Low. The High preset at 1080p is also excellent, averaging 78 FPS, and is a strong choice for those prioritizing image quality over maximum frame rate. For a 60 FPS lock, the High preset at 1080p is ideal.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the best balance, averaging 90 FPS. It delivers a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a high frame rate. The Low preset at 1440p is also very good at 112 FPS, but Medium offers a better visual experience for a modest performance cost. The High preset at 1440p, at 56 FPS, is playable but may not be ideal for those sensitive to frame pacing. At 4K, the Low preset is the only recommendation, as it averages 70 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K averages 56 FPS, which is acceptable but may dip to 48 FPS in intense scenes. The Ultra preset at any resolution provides only marginal visual gains over High while costing significant performance and should be avoided for this combo. The data clearly indicates that users should prioritize lower settings at higher resolutions to maintain a playable frame rate.