Inside

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B370 combination delivers a fascinating, if modest, performance profile in Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer. The data reveals a system where the CPU is exceptionally capable, while the integrated GPU acts as the definitive bottleneck, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured results to understand where this pairing excels and where it struggles.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a modern 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture. With a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, it represents a high-end desktop part. Its benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17528.5 and a single-core score of 2183.5. This places the processor in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29713.

Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are close in average score, with a delta of less than 1%. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE scores 29656, a 0.2% difference, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H scores 29868, a -0.5% difference. This indicates that the 9600X's compute performance is solidly in line with other high-end parts, making it more than capable of handling the physics and game logic of a title like Inside, which is not known for being heavily CPU-threaded.

In the context of this game, the CPU's role is largely to feed frames to the GPU. The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination achieves 141 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution and setting. The processor has plenty of headroom, as indicated by its strong 3DMark 16-thread score of 7585 and its single-thread score of 1253. The game's puzzle-platformer nature relies on consistent, stable logic, and the 9600X's architectural strength ensures there are no CPU-related hitches. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample bandwidth for the game's assets. The 65 W TDP also suggests it runs efficiently, though this is a spec detail rather than a performance metric.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is a stark contrast to the CPU. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. It features 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. The most critical specification here is its memory: it uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This shared memory architecture is a significant factor in its performance.

The GPU's benchmark presence is minimal, with a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, a very low ranking. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%) and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%). These are legacy, low-power parts, which clearly demonstrates the Arc B370's position as an entry-level graphics solution.

In Inside, the GPU's limitations are immediately apparent. The game's art style, which relies on a dark, atmospheric palette and subtle lighting, is still rendered with a specific resolution and texture load. The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo hits 141 FPS. This is the only configuration that crosses the 144 Hz threshold. As settings increase to Medium, the frame rate drops to 113 FPS, and at High, it falls to 70 FPS. This steep drop-off is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of fill rate or memory bandwidth. The shared memory system means the GPU is competing with the CPU for bandwidth, and under higher settings, the demand for texture data and pixel processing quickly overwhelms it. The 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is respectable for an IGP, but the system-dependent bandwidth is the bottleneck.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 141 FPS. Dropping the resolution to 2560x1440 Low yields 101 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Low, the frame rate falls to 64 FPS. This is a consistent and steep decline, showing that the GPU's rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count.

The trend is similar but more pronounced at higher settings. At Medium settings, the frame rates are 113 FPS (1080p), 81 FPS (1440p), and 51 FPS (4K). At High settings, they are 70 FPS (1080p), 51 FPS (1440p), and 32 FPS (4K). The drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is a 54% reduction in frame rate, from 70 to 32 FPS. This massive performance penalty is directly attributable to the integrated GPU's inability to process the increased pixel workload.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates plateau or remain relatively stable as resolution increases, since the CPU's workload (game logic, draw calls) remains constant. However, the data shows a linear and significant decrease in FPS as resolution increases, a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The Arc B370's shared memory and limited ROP count (20) are simply overwhelmed by the demand to fill 8.3 million pixels at 4K. This indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary limiting component in this pairing, and the powerful Ryzen 5 9600X is largely idle, waiting for the GPU to catch up.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Inside, this pairing of AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2654 out of 2887 combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, a surprisingly low rank given the strong CPU. However, this low rank is entirely explained by the GPU's performance percentile of 5%.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations. While the CPU is in the 81st percentile, the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The overall combo rank is dragged down by the weakest link in the chain. The data shows that the system can play the game at 1080p Low with a very playable 141 FPS, but its inability to handle higher settings or resolutions with smooth frame rates places it near the bottom of the overall rankings.

Compared to its nearest CPU rivals, the 9600X's performance is excellent, but this is irrelevant when paired with such a weak GPU. The combo rank of 2654 is a stark reminder that a balanced system is crucial for gaming. A system with a weaker CPU but a dedicated GPU, even an older one, would likely rank significantly higher. The data suggests that this combination is not designed for high-end gaming but rather for a scenario where the user has a very strong processor for other tasks but must rely on its integrated graphics for gaming, which yields poor results in a demanding title like Inside at higher presets.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend entirely on the target resolution and desired smoothness.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only option that provides a frame rate well above 60 FPS, hitting 141 FPS. This is ideal for a game like Inside, which benefits from smooth, consistent motion. The Medium preset, at 113 FPS, is also an excellent choice, offering a significant visual upgrade while still maintaining a very high frame rate that is above the 100 FPS threshold. The High preset drops to 70 FPS, which is still playable and above the 60 FPS standard, but the jump from Medium to High is not worth the 38% performance cost. The Ultra preset at 67 FPS is nearly identical to High, suggesting it adds little visual benefit for the performance hit.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that stays comfortably above 60 FPS, with a score of 101 FPS. The Medium preset, at 81 FPS, is a viable option for a 75 Hz monitor, but the High (51 FPS) and Ultra (48 FPS) presets drop below the 60 FPS threshold, which is not ideal for a smooth experience in a platformer that demands precise timing.

At 3840x2160, no setting is ideal. The Low preset at 64 FPS is the only one that is playable, but it still dips below the smooth 60+ FPS standard. The Medium preset at 51 FPS and the High (32 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) presets are all too slow for a responsive experience.

Recommendation: For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the standout choice, delivering 113 FPS. If maximum smoothness is the priority, the Low preset at 1080p provides 141 FPS. For users at 1440p, stick to Low or Medium. I would not recommend any preset at 4K, as the frame rates are too low for this genre.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combination can achieve in Inside?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 141, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

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

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 64, which is achieved on the Low preset. The Medium preset drops to 51 FPS, and High/Ultra presets fall to 32 and 30 FPS, respectively. Only the Low preset approaches a playable level.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw benchmark score?

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score is 1184. This is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168).

Q: What is the difference in performance between the High and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset produces an average of 70 FPS, while the Ultra preset produces an average of 67 FPS. This represents a very small difference of 3 FPS, or roughly 4%.

*Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the primary bottleneck in this system for Inside?*

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases (e.g., from 141 FPS at 1080p Low to 64 FPS at 4K Low), which is a classic sign of a GPU limitation. Additionally, the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile, while the CPU ranks in the 81st percentile.

*Q: What is this system's rank among all tested combos for Inside?*

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2654 out of 2887 tested combos for this game.

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

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for this hardware combination in Inside.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :---------- | :------ | :------ |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 141 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 113 | 96 | 130 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 70 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 67 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 101 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 81 | 69 | 93 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 51 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 48 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 64 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 51 | 43 | 59 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 32 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 30 | - | - |

The data shows a clear progression: at 1080p Low, the system is highly capable, but the experience degrades rapidly with increased resolution and settings. The only configuration that can reliably hit 60 FPS at 1440p is Low, and at 4K, no setting achieves a consistent 60 FPS. This highlights the Arc B370's limitations as an integrated solution.