Inside

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 pairing delivers a surprisingly smooth experience in Inside, a game that heavily favors GPU throughput at higher resolutions. The measured frame rates show a system that is largely GPU-bound when settings are pushed, but the CPU’s strong single-thread and multi-thread scores provide a robust foundation for this puzzle platformer.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It operates on the AM5 socket with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This configuration, backed by a 32 MB shared L3 cache, positions it well for a game like Inside, which is not typically a multi-threaded benchmark. The CPU’s performance in synthetic tests reflects a processor that excels in both single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. For instance, in Cinebench R23, the 7500F scores 3218 in single-core and 22799 in multi-core. Similarly, Geekbench results show 2374 single-core and 12362 multi-core. These scores place the CPU in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance.

In the context of Inside, the game’s physics and logic are often handled on a few threads, making the processor's 3.70 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock particularly relevant. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-11850H and the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, have average scores of 24935 and 25005, respectively, with the 7500F scoring 24964. This places it within 0.1% to 0.4% of these competitors, showing a near-tie in overall CPU capability. The high single-thread performance ensures that the game’s core logic and any physics calculations are handled without bottlenecking the GPU. The CPU’s 65W TDP also suggests it can sustain boosts without excessive power draw, which is beneficial for sustained gameplay.

The measured FPS data supports this balanced CPU behavior. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 256 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors, indicating that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. Even at 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 116, which remains well above the 60 FPS target. This suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU with data quickly enough to avoid bottlenecking, even at high resolution. The CPU’s 3DMark scores, such as a single-thread score of 974 and a max-threads score of 6379, further confirm its ability to handle the game’s demands.

The 7500F’s memory support for DDR5, with a dual-channel bus and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, also aids in quick data access for the game. While Inside is not a memory-heavy title, the fast memory bandwidth ensures that texture and asset streaming are not a limiting factor. The CPU’s integrated graphics are not present, but that is not relevant here, as the system relies on a dedicated GPU.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 192-bit memory bus. Its memory bandwidth is 336.0 GB/s, which is a significant asset for a game like Inside that features detailed, atmospheric scenes. The GPU’s base clock is 1365 MHz, with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it has 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. These specifications contribute to its ability to render the game’s 2D side-scrolling visuals, which are not particularly demanding on raw pixel throughput but can be memory sensitive.

The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks is indicative of its mid-range standing. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 1242, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 65846. Its Passmark G3D score is 14111, and it holds a 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs. The nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, AMD Radeon 680M, and RTX 3050 OEM, all with average scores within 0.1% to 0.8% of the RTX 2060’s 15290. This shows that the RTX 2060 is a solid performer for its class, but it is not a high-end card.

In Inside, the GPU’s 6 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s texture sizes. The data shows that at 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 55, which is slightly below the 60 FPS target. This suggests that at the highest settings, the GPU is the limiting factor. However, the GPU’s compute performance, with 6.451 TFLOPS FP32, is more than enough for a puzzle-platformer. The RTX 2060 also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which allows for advanced features if the game were to use them, though Inside is a 2016 title and likely does not leverage these.

The GPU’s performance in this game is also influenced by its boost clock. At 1680 MHz, it can handle the game’s rendering without hitting a hard clock wall, and the 336 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming is fast. The 160W TDP and suggested 450W PSU are reasonable for a dual-slot card, but the focus here is on frame rates. The 4K Medium setting achieves an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS, which is excellent for a 6 GB card, and indicates that the GPU is not a bottleneck at this level. The GPU’s performance in the game is thus more than adequate, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p, the High preset yields an average of 128 FPS, while at 1440p it drops to 92 FPS, and at 2160p it falls to 58 FPS. This is a 28% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 37% drop from 1440p to 4K. This scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames.

At Low settings, the 1080p average is 256 FPS, which is extremely high, and the 1440p average is 184 FPS, showing a 28% drop. At 4K, the average is 116 FPS, which is a 37% drop from 1440p. This pattern is consistent: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes more stressed, and the frame rate declines. The CPU is not the limiting factor, as even at 4K Low, the frame rate is above 100 FPS, which is likely beyond the refresh rate of most displays.

The scaling at Medium settings shows a similar trend: 1080p at 205 FPS, 1440p at 147 FPS (a 28% drop), and 4K at 93 FPS (a 37% drop from 1440p). At Ultra, the drops are more pronounced: 1080p at 122 FPS, 1440p at 88 FPS (a 28% drop), and 4K at 55 FPS (a 38% drop). This suggests that the Ultra preset, which likely increases the shadow and texture detail, imposes a heavy load on the GPU, particularly at 4K.

The 4K Ultra setting is the only one that drops below 60 FPS, with an average of 55, which is not ideal for smooth gameplay. This indicates that the RTX 2060 is not powerful enough to handle the highest settings at 4K, but it is more than capable at 1440p and 1080p. The CPU’s performance is consistent across resolutions, which is why the scaling is solely due to GPU workload.

The minimum FPS values at Medium settings also show a pattern: at 1080p, the minimum is 174, and at 1440p it is 125, and at 4K it is 79. This indicates that the GPU is not stuttering due to CPU limitations, but rather that the GPU is reaching its limits at 4K. The frame times are likely longer at 4K, but the game remains playable. The maximum FPS values, 236 at 1080p, 169 at 1440p, and 106 at 4K, also show a steady decline, confirming that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Given the measured data, the best experience is achieved with the Medium preset. At 1080p, Medium delivers an average of 205 FPS, with a minimum of 174 and a maximum of 236. This is more than enough for a 60Hz or 144Hz display, and it is a 60% increase over the High preset’s 128 FPS. At 1440p, Medium achieves an average of 147 FPS, with a minimum of 125 and a maximum of 169, which is still very smooth. At 4K, Medium yields an average of 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 106, which is above the 60 FPS target and provides a great visual experience.

The High preset is also a good choice, but it reduces the frame rate significantly. At 1080p, High is 128 FPS, which is still good, but the lower 58 FPS at 4K shows that High is not ideal at 4K. The Low preset offers the highest frame rates, but it likely sacrifices some visual fidelity. Ultra is the most demanding, and at 4K, it drops to 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, so it is not recommended for 4K play.

The Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot. It provides a high frame rate at all resolutions, and the minimum FPS values are well above 60 at 1080p and 1440p. The 4K Medium performance is particularly impressive, as it is within 5% of the 4K High performance, but the average is 93 FPS versus 58 FPS for High. This suggests that the Medium preset is the best overall, balancing visual quality with frame rate. The Ultra preset, while offering the highest quality, is not recommended for 4K, as the frame rate is too low for a smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with the Low preset?

A: The average FPS at 1080p with the Low preset is 256, with a maximum of 236, though the maximum is for Medium.

Q: Is the RTX 2060 capable of 4K gaming in Inside?

A: Yes, but not at the highest settings. At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 93, which is playable, but at Ultra settings, it drops to 55 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 7500F has an average benchmark score of 24964, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-11850H and 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-13620H, but 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 2060 has a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s, which is a 192-bit bus and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory.

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

A: The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 125, with an average of 147 and a maximum of 169.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU bottleneck at 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the frame rate drops significantly, while the CPU does not show a bottleneck, given the FPS remains high at Low settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured data for the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and the RTX 2060 shows the following results:

At 3840x2160 (4K), the High preset yields an average FPS of 58. The Low preset averages 116 FPS. The Medium preset averages 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 and a maximum of 106. The Ultra preset averages 55 FPS, making it the only 4K preset below the 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the High preset averages 92 FPS. The Low preset averages 184 FPS. The Medium preset averages 147 FPS, with a minimum of 125 and a maximum of 169. The Ultra preset averages 88 FPS, which is a substantial improvement over 4K.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the High preset averages 128 FPS. The Low preset averages 256 FPS. The Medium preset averages 205 FPS, with a minimum of 174 and a maximum of 236. The Ultra preset averages 122 FPS. This makes the 1080p Medium preset the most stable, with a minimum well above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2915 out of 3716 tested combos in the game Inside. This places it in the 78th percentile of tested configurations, indicating that it performs better than the majority of other combos in the database. While it is not a top-tier setup, the ranking is respectable, especially considering the game is from 2016 and the GPU is a mid-range card. The ranking suggests that this combination is more than adequate for playing Inside at high frame rates, and the data confirms that the GPU is the primary factor in the ranking, as the CPU is not a bottleneck.