Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB combination delivers a highly playable experience in Inside, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and settings. The data shows this pairing is capable of smooth frame rates even at 4K, though the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher settings. The measured results place this combo at rank 3242 out of 3716 tested configurations, indicating it sits in the lower-middle tier for this game, yet the actual frame rates tell a story of solid performance for a 2016 puzzle platformer.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor built on the 7 nm process, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, backed by a 32 MB L3 cache. In the context of Inside, a game that does not demand heavy multi-threaded workloads, the 3700X provides ample headroom. Its single-core performance, reflected in a Geekbench single-core score of 1593 and a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 204, is more than sufficient to keep up with the game's logic and physics calculations.

The processor's multi-threaded capabilities are not the limiting factor here. With a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2092 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 8899, the 3700X ranks in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. This means that in most gaming scenarios, especially in a title like Inside, the CPU is unlikely to be the bottleneck. The measured FPS data supports this conclusion: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 199 FPS, a frame rate that is far beyond the game's needs and indicates the CPU is not holding back performance. Even at 4K with Low settings, the average FPS drops to 90, which is still a significant frame rate, but the drop from 1080p to 4K suggests the GPU is starting to take over as the limiting component.

The nearest rivals to the 3700X in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (deltaPct 0.1), the AMD EPYC 4244P (deltaPct 0.1), and the Intel Core i5-13450HX (deltaPct -0.2). These scores are nearly identical, with the 3700X being effectively on par with these newer processors in synthetic benchmarks. For Inside, the CPU's role is to provide consistent frame pacing and avoid any dips. The measured data shows no min FPS values for Low and High settings, which suggests stable performance without sudden stutters. The only settings with min FPS data are Medium, where the min FPS is 135 at 1080p, 97 at 1440p, and 61 at 4K. These minimums are all well above playable thresholds, confirming that the 3700X is delivering consistent performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the more critical component in this pairing for Inside. It is based on the Ampere architecture with a GA107 chip, fabricated on an 8 nm process by Samsung. The GPU has a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1740 MHz, with 2048 shading units and 32 ROPs. Its memory configuration is 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is a potential concern for modern titles, but for Inside, which is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer with a stylized art style, the VRAM usage is likely modest.

The GPU's role is to handle the rendering of the game's atmospheric lighting, shadows, and post-processing effects. At 1080p, the RTX 3050 4 GB shows strong performance, with a 159 FPS average on Medium settings and 199 FPS on Low. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p results in a drop of 40 FPS (from 199 to 159), which is a 20% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is working harder to render the additional visual details. The drop from Medium to High at 1080p is another 60 FPS (from 159 to 99), a 38% reduction, which is a significant cost for the visual upgrade. This pattern suggests that the Medium preset offers a balanced trade-off between visual quality and performance.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s is sufficient for the game's texture streaming needs. The 4 GB VRAM is not likely to be a limiting factor at 1080p, but at higher resolutions, it could become more relevant. The data shows that at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 43, which is the lowest measured value. This is a clear sign that the GPU is struggling to maintain performance at that resolution and setting combination. The RTX 3050 4 GB sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is an average performer in the broader market, but its specific capabilities with Inside are well-documented by the measured results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which directly indicates where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 199. Moving to 1440p with the same settings, the FPS drops to 143, a 28% reduction. At 4K with Low settings, the FPS is 90, a 55% reduction from 1080p. This scaling is relatively linear and indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution.

The scaling pattern becomes more pronounced at higher settings. With Medium settings, the FPS drops from 159 at 1080p to 114 at 1440p (a 28% reduction) and then to 72 at 4K (a 55% reduction from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU, with its high single-thread performance, is not being stressed by the increased resolution, so the frame rate is directly tied to the GPU's rendering speed.

For High settings, the FPS drops from 99 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p (a 28% reduction) and then to 45 at 4K (a 55% reduction from 1080p). This pattern is consistent, with the 1440p to 4K transition being the most demanding. The Ultra settings show a similar trend: 95 FPS at 1080p, 68 at 1440p, and 43 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K for Ultra settings is 55%, identical to the other presets. This consistency in scaling percentages strongly suggests that the GPU is the sole limiting factor, and the CPU's performance is not affecting the frame rate at any resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for this hardware combination. The Medium preset stands out as the best balance between visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers a 159 FPS average with a minimum of 135 FPS, which is smooth and consistent. At 1440p, Medium still achieves 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS, which is excellent for a higher resolution. Even at 4K, Medium manages 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, which is perfectly playable for a puzzle platformer.

The Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot because the jump from Medium to High incurs a substantial performance penalty without a proportional visual benefit. At 1080p, High is 60 FPS slower than Medium, which is a 38% reduction. At 4K, High is 27 FPS slower than Medium, a 38% reduction. This consistent 38% penalty suggests that High settings enable visual features that are disproportionately expensive on the RTX 3050 4 GB.

For players with high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, the Low preset is worth considering, as it delivers 199 FPS and ensures maximum frame rates. However, the visual compromise may not be worth it for a game like Inside, which relies on its atmospheric presentation. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it offers only marginal improvements over High while costing an additional 4 FPS at 1080p (95 vs 99) and 2 FPS at 4K (43 vs 45). The data clearly shows that Ultra is not worth the performance hit. The best experience is achieved with Medium settings, which provide a high frame rate at all resolutions while maintaining the game's visual fidelity.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best settings preset for this hardware in Inside?*

A: The Medium preset provides the best balance. It achieves 159 FPS at 1080p, 114 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K, with minimum FPS values of 135, 97, and 61 respectively.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops consistently by 28% from 1080p to 1440p and 55% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, indicating the CPU is not a bottleneck.

*Q: Can this hardware run Inside at 4K?*

A: Yes, it can. With Medium settings, the average FPS is 72 at 4K, and even with High settings it achieves 45 FPS. The lowest measured performance is 43 FPS at 4K with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 3700X compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 with a score of 34222 (0.1% slower) and the Intel Core i5-13450HX with a score of 34333 (0.2% faster).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low settings achieve 199 FPS, while Ultra settings achieve 95 FPS. This represents a 104 FPS difference, with Ultra being 52% slower.

*Q: Does the 4 GB VRAM limit performance in Inside?*

A: The data does not indicate any VRAM-related stutters or issues. The minimum FPS values on Medium settings are 135 at 1080p, 97 at 1440p, and 61 at 4K, suggesting the 4 GB capacity is sufficient for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB combination in Inside is detailed below, organized by resolution and settings.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 199 FPS average
• Medium: 159 FPS average, with a minimum of 135 FPS and maximum of 183 FPS
• High: 99 FPS average
• Ultra: 95 FPS average

The 1080p data shows the RTX 3050 4 GB is well-suited for this resolution. The frame rates are consistently high, with Low settings pushing past 199 FPS. The Medium preset offers a strong 159 FPS average, and even the most demanding Ultra setting maintains 95 FPS. The minimum FPS on Medium is 135, which ensures smooth gameplay without significant dips.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 143 FPS average
• Medium: 114 FPS average, with a minimum of 97 FPS and maximum of 131 FPS
• High: 71 FPS average
• Ultra: 68 FPS average

At 1440p, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings still deliver 143 FPS, which is excellent for a higher resolution. Medium maintains a respectable 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS, ensuring a consistent experience. High and Ultra settings drop to 71 and 68 FPS respectively, which are still playable but show the GPU working harder.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 90 FPS average
• Medium: 72 FPS average, with a minimum of 61 FPS and maximum of 83 FPS
• High: 45 FPS average
• Ultra: 43 FPS average

At 4K, the RTX 3050 4 GB begins to show its limits. Low settings achieve a playable 90 FPS, but the more demanding presets drop significantly. Medium settings still provide a smooth 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, which is fine for this game. High and Ultra settings fall to 45 and 43 FPS respectively, which are below the ideal threshold for a fluid experience but still acceptable for a slower-paced puzzle platformer.