Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer that scales across a wide range of hardware, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a compelling dataset for analysis. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is heavily overqualified for the game’s demands, yet the performance curve across resolutions and settings offers a clear picture of where the bottleneck shifts between the CPU and GPU. This page examines the measured FPS data, contextualizes the component roles, and answers key questions about how this pairing behaves in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a dramatic and consistent drop in frame rates as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which strongly indicates that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 228 FPS, but at 1440p this falls to 178 FPS, and at 4K it drops further to 112 FPS. This represents a 51% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at High settings, a scaling pattern typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering workload grows exponentially with pixel count. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep at 66 FPS, suggesting that the RX 7900 XT’s memory bandwidth and compute resources are being taxed heavily at the 3840x2160 resolution.

When examining the Low settings preset, the same trend is visible but the absolute numbers are much higher, reinforcing that the GPU is still the dominant constraint. At 1080p Low, the system hits 296 FPS, while 1440p Low yields 265 FPS, and 4K Low still manages 224 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is a 24% drop, which is less severe than at High settings, indicating that the game’s visual effects at higher presets add a significant load that disproportionately affects higher resolutions. This pattern suggests that while the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, the RX 7900 XT’s performance ceiling is reached well before the processor’s limits are approached.

The Ultra preset shows the most constrained performance, with 4K Ultra averaging 107 FPS compared to 224 FPS at 1080p Ultra, a 52% reduction. The similarity between the High and Ultra scaling percentages (51% vs. 52%) implies that the additional settings in Ultra do not change the fundamental bottleneck behavior; they simply shift the entire performance curve downward. The data supports a conclusion that at 4K, the GPU is unequivocally the limiting component, while at 1080p, the system has enough headroom that even the lowest preset cannot fully saturate the CPU, leaving performance tied to the graphics card’s output capabilities.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the clear workhorse in this pairing for Inside, and its specifications directly correlate with the measured frame rates. The GPU features 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 800.0 GB/s, which is ample for a game of this era and graphical complexity. The high memory capacity ensures that even at 4K Ultra, there is no VRAM pressure, allowing the card to operate without memory-related stutters. The boost clock of 2394 MHz and game clock of 2025 MHz indicate a high-frequency design, but the data suggests that the card’s raw throughput, rather than clock speed alone, drives the performance.

The GPU’s shading units (5376) and texture mapping units (336) are numerous, which explains why the card can push 296 FPS at 1080p Low without breaking a sweat. However, the benchmark results for the RX 7900 XT show a percentile rank of only 55 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13745, which is surprising given its strong showing in this game. This discrepancy highlights that Inside is not a particularly demanding title for modern GPUs, and the card’s performance here is likely limited by driver overhead or game engine inefficiencies rather than hardware capabilities.

The nearest rivals to the RX 7900 XT in the benchmark database include the AMD Radeon 660M (deltaPct -0.5), NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (deltaPct -0.5), and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (deltaPct 1.5). These deltas are remarkably small, indicating that in synthetic benchmarks, the RX 7900 XT performs similarly to much lower-tier mobile GPUs, which is unusual. This suggests that the benchmark average may not reflect gaming performance accurately, and the measured FPS in Inside shows the card punching well above its synthetic weight, likely due to the game’s low geometric complexity and reliance on fill rate over compute. The GPU’s 192 ROPs contribute to a pixel rate of 459.6 GPixel/s, which is critical for a 2D-side-scrolling puzzle platformer that relies on high frame rates for smooth animation.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and RX 7900 XT achieves a combo rank of 930 out of 3716 tested combinations in Inside, placing it in the top 25% of all systems. This rank confirms the pairing’s overall capability, but it also reflects the game’s modest requirements, as many lower-end components can achieve playable frame rates. The rank is more indicative of the system’s ability to hit high refresh rates rather than just being playable, as the measured FPS exceeds 100 at all tested settings and resolutions.

To contextualize this rank, it is useful to consider the CPU’s position relative to its rivals. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D has an average benchmark score of 27896, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (27887, deltaPct 0) and Intel Core i9-10900K (27872, deltaPct 0.1). This means that in synthetic CPU tests, the 5800X3D is virtually tied with these processors, yet its 96 MB of L3 cache provides a distinct advantage in gaming scenarios that the benchmarks do not capture. The combo rank of 930 suggests that the system is not at the very top, likely because the GPU’s synthetic benchmark percentile (55) drags down the overall ranking, despite stellar in-game performance.

The fact that the combo ranks 930 out of 3716 means there are 2786 combinations that score lower, which is a strong showing for a system with an end-of-life CPU and GPU. The data implies that for Inside specifically, this pairing is overkill, as even a mid-range GPU could likely achieve 60 FPS at 4K, but the headroom provided by the RX 7900 XT allows for high refresh rate gaming at 1440p and 4K. The rank also indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck, as the 5800X3D’s single-thread performance (3dmark_single_thread score of 884) is sufficient for the game’s physics and logic, allowing the GPU to operate without interruption.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 296 FPS on Low, 273 FPS on Medium, 228 FPS on High, and 224 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset includes a minimum FPS of 232 and a maximum of 314, showing a tight frame time distribution that indicates stable performance. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 72 FPS, which is a 24% reduction, suggesting that the GPU can handle the increased visual effects without significant frame rate loss.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 265 FPS on Low, 245 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 208 and maximum of 282), 178 FPS on High, and 170 FPS on Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is noticeable, with a 10% reduction at Low settings and a 22% reduction at High settings. This indicates that the GPU is starting to become more constrained, but the frame rates remain exceptionally high for a puzzle platformer, easily exceeding the refresh rates of most monitors. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 208 FPS, which is still well above 144 Hz, making it an excellent choice for high-refresh displays.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 224 FPS on Low, 179 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 152 and maximum of 206), 112 FPS on High, and 107 FPS on Ultra. The 4K results show a significant drop from 1440p, with High settings falling by 37% and Low by 15%. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 152 FPS, which is still comfortably above 144 Hz, but the High and Ultra presets dip below 120 FPS, indicating that 4K gaming with maximum quality requires a more powerful GPU or a reduction in settings. The data shows that the system is capable of 4K gaming, but the user must choose between high frame rates (Low/Medium) and visual fidelity (High/Ultra) at this resolution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D plays a supporting role in this combination, providing the computing power necessary to feed the GPU without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, based on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer) on a 7 nm process. Its 96 MB of L3 cache is a standout feature that is particularly beneficial for gaming, as it allows for more data to be stored closer to the cores, reducing latency and improving frame times in CPU-bound scenarios.

The CPU’s benchmark scores indicate strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14317 and a Geekbench multicore score of 11765. However, its single-thread performance is more modest, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 884 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3234. For Inside, which is not a highly threaded game, the single-thread performance is more relevant, and the data shows that the CPU has enough headroom to handle the game’s logic without bottlenecking the GPU. The CPU’s percentile rank of 80 among all CPUs places it in the top 20%, and its nearest rivals include the Ryzen 7 6800U (deltaPct 0) and Core i9-10900K (deltaPct 0.1), showing that it is competitive with newer and older high-end processors.

The CPU’s 105 W TDP and support for DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s are adequate for this game, as the memory subsystem does not appear to be a limiting factor. The fact that the measured FPS at 1080p Low (296 FPS) is only slightly higher than at 1080p High (228 FPS) suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint, as the GPU is still the bottleneck even at lower settings. This is further evidenced by the minimal difference between High and Ultra at each resolution, which indicates that the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output regardless of the settings preset.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s display and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset at 224 FPS is the best choice, as it provides maximum visual quality while still exceeding the refresh rate of any standard monitor. The difference between High (228 FPS) and Ultra (224 FPS) is negligible, so there is no reason to sacrifice visual fidelity for a 4 FPS gain. For 1440p displays, the Medium preset at 245 FPS is recommended, as it offers a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a frame rate that is well above 144 Hz. The High preset at 178 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset provides a better balance of quality and performance, especially considering the minimum FPS of 208.

For 4K displays, the choice is more nuanced. The Medium preset at 179 FPS is the best option for high-refresh gaming, as it maintains a minimum of 152 FPS, which is above the 144 Hz threshold. The Low preset at 224 FPS is also excellent, but it sacrifices too much visual quality for a game that is praised for its atmosphere and art style. The High preset at 112 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for users with 120 Hz or 144 Hz displays, as it does not consistently hit those refresh rates. The Ultra preset at 107 FPS is the most visually impressive but is best reserved for users with 60 Hz or 100 Hz displays, as the frame rate is too low for high-refresh gaming.

In summary, the data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this system, providing a balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is recommended due to the abundance of headroom, but at 1440p and 4K, the Medium preset offers the best experience, ensuring that the frame rate remains high enough to take advantage of modern displays. The Low preset is only recommended for users prioritizing maximum frame rates above all else, as the visual downgrade is noticeable in a game that relies on its art direction.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Inside?

A: The highest average FPS is 296, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates that the system is heavily overqualified for the game at lower resolutions, providing massive headroom for high-refresh displays.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average FPS of 107. This is below the 120 Hz threshold, making it suitable primarily for 60 Hz displays, but it still provides a smooth gameplay experience for a puzzle platformer.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. The drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 51%, while the CPU’s benchmark percentile (80) is higher than the GPU’s (55), suggesting that the graphics card limits performance before the processor does.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 930 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the top 25% of all systems. This rank reflects the system’s ability to deliver high frame rates across all settings, though the GPU’s average benchmark score is lower than expected.

Q: Does the Medium preset offer a good balance at 1440p?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 245 FPS with a minimum of 208 FPS. This makes it an excellent choice for 144 Hz monitors, providing high visual quality without sacrificing frame rate stability.

Q: How does the RX 7900 XT compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: In synthetic benchmarks, the RX 7900 XT has an average score of 13745, which is within 1.5% of its nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon 660M (deltaPct -0.5) and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (deltaPct 1.5). This suggests that the card’s synthetic performance is not indicative of its strong showing in Inside.