Inside

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti combination delivers a fascinating performance profile in Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer that is anything but demanding on modern hardware. The data reveals a pairing where the aging Pascal GPU often becomes the primary constraint, yet the CPU’s modern Zen 4 architecture ensures frame rates remain exceptionally high across all settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the roles of each component, and how this specific combo ranks among the 1671 tested configurations.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop reveals which component is doing the heavy lifting. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 316.9 FPS, which is a massive figure for a game like Inside. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 226.4 FPS, a reduction of approximately 28.5%. The jump to 4K Low further reduces performance to 140.3 FPS, which is a 38% drop from the 1440p result and a 55.7% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline as pixel count increases strongly indicates that the GTX 1080 Ti is becoming the limiting factor at higher resolutions, even on Low settings where the CPU could theoretically push even higher frame rates.

The scaling behavior is similar across all quality presets. For High settings, the progression is 158.2 FPS (1080p) → 114.5 FPS (1440p) → 74.5 FPS (4K). This represents a 27.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 34.9% drop from 1440p to 4K. The Ultra preset shows the same pattern: 153.3 FPS → 105.5 FPS → 65.7 FPS. The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings is telling. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see the 1080p and 1440p results to be much closer together, as the CPU load does not scale significantly with resolution. Instead, the data shows a near-linear relationship with pixel count, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

The fact that 4K Ultra still manages 65.7 FPS is notable. It shows that even at the most demanding settings tested, this combination remains playable. However, the 4K Low result of 140.3 FPS versus the 1080p Low result of 316.9 FPS is the most telling data point. It suggests that the GTX 1080 Ti’s raw fillrate and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain the same frame rates as the resolution quadruples, while the Ryzen 5 8400F has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions. The data implies that for maximum frame rates, users should stay at 1080p, but the GPU is the clear wall above that.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the elder statesman in this pairing, with a launch MSRP of 699 USD and a release date of 2017-03-09. Its architecture is Pascal, built on a 16 nm process at TSMC, and it features 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus, providing 484.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 1481 MHz with a boost clock of 1582 MHz. These specifications, while impressive for their time, are now the primary limit on performance in Inside at higher resolutions.

The 11 GB VRAM allocation is more than sufficient for Inside, which is a visually simple game with modest texture requirements. This is evident because even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate does not collapse due to memory swapping; it simply scales down due to compute and fillrate limits. The GDDR5X memory bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s is also not a bottleneck here, as the performance drops are consistent across settings, suggesting the GPU’s shading units and ROPs (88 ROPs, 3584 shading units) are the limiting factor rather than memory throughput.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it at the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19402. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (avgScore 19405, deltaPct 0) and the NVIDIA TITAN Xp (avgScore 19184, deltaPct 1.1). This puts the GTX 1080 Ti in a performance tier that is roughly equivalent to a modern mid-range card, but its age shows in the Inside results. The data shows that at 1080p, the GPU can push 316.9 FPS on Low, which reflects its raw power. However, the fact that 4K Ultra drops to 65.7 FPS indicates that the Pascal architecture is simply not efficient enough to handle the increased pixel workload without a significant frame rate penalty. The GPU is the bottleneck above 1080p, as the CPU is clearly capable of higher output.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a modern 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. This CPU is a far more recent release (2024-03-31) than the GPU, and its benchmark results reflect its modern design. With a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20851 and a single-core score of 2943, it sits at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25064.

In the context of Inside, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. Inside is not a heavily threaded game, so the Ryzen 5 8400F’s 12 threads are more than enough. The high boost clock of 4.70 GHz is particularly important for maintaining high minimum frame rates in a game that relies on a single main thread for much of its simulation. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 316.9 FPS, which is a frame rate that would be impossible if the CPU were the limiting factor. This indicates that the Ryzen 5 8400F has significant headroom.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (avgScore 25057, deltaPct 0) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (avgScore 24993, deltaPct 0.3). This places the 8400F in a performance tier where it is unlikely to bottleneck any game at 60 FPS, and certainly not Inside. The 16 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (83.2 GB/s bandwidth) are more than adequate for this game’s data requirements. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is never the problem in this combo; even at 1080p Low, where the CPU load is highest relative to the GPU, the frame rates are sky-high, and the bottleneck is clearly the GPU trying to keep up with the CPU’s output.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo’s performance. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 316.9 FPS, Medium produces 255.5 FPS, High produces 158.2 FPS, and Ultra produces 153.3 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 61.4 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is only 4.9 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset adds very little visual benefit over High for a significant drop from Medium.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down as expected. Low settings yield 226.4 FPS, Medium yields 179.3 FPS, High yields 114.5 FPS, and Ultra yields 105.5 FPS. The delta between Low and Medium is 47.1 FPS, and the delta between High and Ultra is 9 FPS. The trend continues, with the gap between Medium and High being the largest single drop (64.8 FPS), indicating that High settings introduce a substantial increase in GPU load over Medium.

At 3840x2160, the results show the GPU struggling to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average 140.3 FPS, Medium averages 112.5 FPS, High averages 74.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 65.7 FPS. The drop from Medium to High is 38 FPS, which is the most significant reduction between any two consecutive settings at this resolution. The minimum FPS is not reported in the data, but the average figures indicate that even at 4K, the game remains playable on all presets. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is for maximum frame rates, 1440p is a balanced middle ground, and 4K is for visual fidelity over raw speed.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve the highest frame rates?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 on Low settings produces the highest average FPS at 316.9. If you prioritize frame rate above all else, 1080p is the optimal choice.

*Q: Is the GTX 1080 Ti powerful enough for 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Yes, the measured data shows that 4K Ultra still achieves an average of 65.7 FPS, which is playable. Even 4K High produces 74.5 FPS, indicating that the GPU can handle 4K with some settings adjustments.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25064, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (25057, deltaPct 0) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (24993, deltaPct 0.3). It is slightly behind the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 by 0.1%.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset produces 114.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces 105.5 FPS. The difference is 9 FPS, which is a minimal visual trade-off for a small performance gain.

Q: Does the combo rank highly among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 948th out of 1671 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This is due to the GPU’s age, despite the CPU’s strong performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1080p Ultra?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 153.3 FPS, but at 1080p Low it reaches 316.9 FPS. The CPU can clearly output more frames, as evidenced by the Low setting result, so the GPU’s limitations on the Ultra preset are the constraining factor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience. For players with a 1080p display, the Medium preset at 255.5 FPS offers a massive improvement over Low (316.9 FPS) in visual quality for a relatively modest 61.4 FPS drop. The jump to High (158.2 FPS) is a much larger sacrifice, and Ultra (153.3 FPS) provides negligible gains over High. Therefore, Medium is the sweet spot for 1080p, balancing fluidity with visual detail.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. Medium produces 179.3 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth. High drops to 114.5 FPS, which is still above 100 FPS and likely a better visual experience. Given that the drop from Medium to High is only 64.8 FPS, High is the recommended preset for 1440p if you want a sharper image without sacrificing the high refresh rate experience. Ultra at 105.5 FPS is also viable but offers little over High.

For 4K, the data suggests that High (74.5 FPS) is the best balance. It provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (112.5 FPS) while maintaining a frame rate that is well above 60 FPS. Ultra (65.7 FPS) is also playable but is only 8.8 FPS slower than High, making High the safer choice for consistency. The data shows that Low settings are unnecessary at any resolution for this game, as even the Medium preset at 4K delivers over 100 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti combination ranks 948th out of 1671 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the 56.7th percentile of all configurations, meaning it outperforms roughly 43% of the tested setups. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the high frame rates achieved, but it is a reflection of the database including many newer and more powerful GPUs. The GTX 1080 Ti, while still capable, is an end-of-life product whose performance is now matched by cheaper modern cards.

The GPU’s percentile ranking of 61st among all GPUs is lower than the CPU’s 82nd percentile ranking, which highlights the imbalance of this pairing. The CPU is a top-tier performer in its class, but the GPU holds the combo back from a higher overall rank. The nearest GPU rivals, such as the NVIDIA TITAN Xp (deltaPct 1.1), show that the 1080 Ti is at the edge of its performance tier. The data indicates that this combo is a classic case of a modern CPU paired with an older, high-end GPU. In Inside, the result is playable at all resolutions and settings, but the ranking suggests that to move up the leaderboard, a GPU upgrade would be the logical next step.