Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is a study in contrasts: a modern 8-core processor from 2024 paired with a 2019 graphics card that was already mid-range at launch. For a 2016 puzzle platformer like Inside, this combination produces a surprisingly broad range of outcomes depending on your resolution and settings targets. The data shows that at 1080p, this combo is overkill, delivering hundreds of frames per second. However, at 4K with maximum settings, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, dragging performance down to near the minimum playable threshold.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160 with High or Ultra settings, the average FPS is 48.1 and 46.7, respectively, which is playable but not smooth for fast-paced sections. Dropping to Low settings at 4K yields a much healthier 99.3 FPS average.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results, with an average of 216.5 FPS at Low settings and 171.9 FPS at Medium. Even at the demanding Ultra preset, the average stays above 100 FPS (101.0), making 1080p the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate displays.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D has an average benchmark score of 24673. It is nearly identical in performance to the Intel Core i7-1360P, which is only 0.2% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, which is 0.3% faster. It also edges out the Intel Core i5-11600 by 0.5%.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 14286. It trails the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 by 0.2%, the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics by 0.2%, and the AMD Radeon Vega 11 by 0.5%. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is 0.7% faster.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. For example, dropping from High to Low at 1440p increases average FPS from 78.2 to 153.7, a massive jump that indicates the graphics card is being stressed. The CPU’s high core count and cache are more than sufficient for this title.

Q: What is the difference between Medium and High settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 171.9 FPS, while High averages 108.6 FPS. This represents a significant performance drop of about 63 FPS, suggesting that High settings introduce a notable load increase on the GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1530 MHz, with a boost clock of 1785 MHz. In the context of Inside, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the card is not the limiting factor, as even the Ultra preset achieves 101.0 FPS. However, the benchmark results show a clear pattern of scaling: at 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 76.9 FPS, and at 4K, it plunges to 46.7 FPS.

The GPU’s memory capacity appears sufficient for this game, but the raw compute power is what limits performance at higher settings. The 12 nm process node and 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are modest by modern standards, yet they are more than enough for a puzzle platformer. The data indicates that the GTX 1660 SUPER is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with Medium or Low presets, where it can deliver frame rates well above 120 FPS. At 4K, the card's limits are exposed, and users would need to sacrifice settings quality to maintain smooth gameplay.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a Zen 3 (Vermeer) processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, based on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its defining feature is the massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is particularly beneficial for gaming. The CPU’s benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22366 and a single-core score of 3157. In terms of its peers, the 5700X3D sits at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 24673.

For Inside, the CPU’s role is largely secondary given the game’s age and genre. The data shows that the CPU can easily feed the GPU at all tested resolutions. The 16 threads ensure that any background tasks or game logic won’t cause stutters. The high L3 cache is likely why the CPU performs so consistently, as it reduces memory latency for the game’s data. Even at 4K with Low settings, where the GPU is less stressed, the system achieves 99.3 FPS, indicating no CPU bottleneck. The 5700X3D is more than capable for this title, and its performance is effectively overkill for a game with the visual complexity of Inside.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy for settings optimization. For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 101.0 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. There is no need to drop to High (108.6 FPS) or Medium (171.9 FPS) unless you have a 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitor, in which case the Medium preset offers a massive FPS boost.

At 1440p, the High preset (78.2 FPS) provides a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Ultra preset (76.9 FPS) is also viable, but the difference in quality is minimal. For a consistently high frame rate, the Medium preset (122.1 FPS) is the recommended choice, as it offers a substantial performance increase without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. The Low preset (153.7 FPS) is reserved for those who prioritize frame rate above all else.

At 4K, the situation is more delicate. The High preset (48.1 FPS) is borderline playable, but the Ultra preset (46.7 FPS) is not recommended for a comfortable experience. The Medium preset (79.2 FPS) is the sweet spot for 4K, providing a smooth and visually pleasing experience. If you require the highest frame rates, the Low preset (99.3 FPS) is the go-to option, but it will look noticeably worse. Overall, for the best experience across all resolutions, the Medium preset offers the most balanced performance.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 1485th out of 1671 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations, which is a surprising result given the components' individual capabilities. The low ranking is likely a consequence of the GPU’s age and its limitations at higher resolutions, which are a key part of the benchmark suite. The CPU’s strong performance is not enough to compensate for the GPU’s relative weakness in this context.

The ranking indicates that while this combo is perfectly playable at 1080p, it is not a top-tier performer for this game compared to other combinations that feature more modern graphics cards. The data suggests that if you are building a system for Inside specifically, the CPU is not the limiting factor, and a more powerful GPU would yield a significantly better ranking. However, for a puzzle platformer, the actual gameplay experience is more important than a benchmark ranking, and this combo delivers a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080:

• Low: 216.5 FPS average. This is the peak performance of the combo, offering an exceptionally high frame rate for competitive or high-refresh-rate play.
• Medium: 171.9 FPS average. A 45 FPS drop from Low, but still far above the requirements for smooth gameplay.
• High: 108.6 FPS average. A significant step down from Medium, indicating a major graphical load increase.
• Ultra: 101.0 FPS average. The most demanding preset, yet it still breaks the 100 FPS barrier, making it a viable option.

2560x1440:

• Low: 153.7 FPS average. A substantial drop from 1080p, but still very high.
• Medium: 122.1 FPS average. A solid performance level, ideal for 1440p gaming.
• High: 78.2 FPS average. This is a comfortable level for most games, but it’s a notable step down from Medium.
• Ultra: 76.9 FPS average. The difference between High and Ultra here is minimal, suggesting a similar load.

3840x2160:

• Low: 99.3 FPS average. The only 4K preset that provides a truly smooth experience.
• Medium: 79.2 FPS average. A good balance for 4K, offering a playable and visually pleasing result.
• High: 48.1 FPS average. This is below the 60 FPS threshold, which may be noticeable in fast-moving scenes.
• Ultra: 46.7 FPS average. The lowest measured result, which is only suitable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness.