Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a starkly lopsided matchup for Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. Benchmark data shows the CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated solution that ranks near the bottom of the database. The measured FPS results across resolutions reveal a system that is almost entirely constrained by the graphics processor, though the CPU’s strong architecture ensures the game remains playable at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data for this combo demonstrates a classic case of GPU-bound scaling, where the frame rate is dictated almost entirely by the number of pixels being rendered. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 156 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 112 FPS, a reduction of 44 FPS. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls further to 70 FPS. This scaling pattern shows that even at the lowest quality settings, the Intel Arc B390 struggles to maintain high frame rates as resolution increases, with the 4K result representing a 55% decrease from the 1080p baseline.

The situation becomes more telling when examining the High and Ultra presets. At 1080p High, the average is 78 FPS, which drops to 56 FPS at 1440p and then to 35 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows even more severe degradation: 74 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and a barely playable 34 FPS at 4K. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 82 FPS, but at 4K this gap narrows to just 36 FPS. This compression of performance at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is hitting its raw throughput limit; the pixel fill rate and shading capacity of the Arc B390, which has a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s, are simply overwhelmed.

The data suggests that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D has a high average benchmark score of 27896, placing it in the 80th percentile of all CPUs, and its 3DMark scores show robust multi-threaded performance. In contrast, the Arc B390’s average benchmark score is just 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. When the resolution increases, the CPU’s job of feeding the GPU becomes less demanding relative to the GPU’s rendering workload. Since the frame rate drops proportionally with pixel count, the CPU is clearly not the bottleneck; it has ample headroom to handle the game’s logic and draw calls. The Arc B390, with its integrated design and system-shared memory, is the sole factor preventing higher frame rates at higher resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 56, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. However, at High settings the average drops to 35 FPS, and at Ultra it falls to 34 FPS, which is below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system?

A: Based on the data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, all settings presets produce playable average frame rates, ranging from 74 FPS at Ultra to 156 FPS at Low. The 2560x1440 resolution is also viable, but the 4K results are less consistent.

Q: How significant is the GPU bottleneck in this pairing?

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, ranking in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463, are over a decade old. The CPU, in contrast, is an 8-core, 16-thread processor that is far more capable than what this game requires.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s performance relevant to this game's results?

A: The CPU’s performance is largely irrelevant to the measured FPS in this title because the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU’s benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14317 and a single-core score of 1452, show it is a powerful processor, but these capabilities are not exercised by Inside at the tested settings. The frame rates are dictated by the GPU’s rendering speed.

Q: What is the expected FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the difference is substantial. The Low preset yields an average of 156 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 74 FPS. This represents a performance drop of over 50% when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Does the game’s release date affect these results?

A: Inside was released on 2016-07-06. The data shows that even with a modern CPU, the integrated Arc B390 GPU is the limiting factor. The game is not demanding by modern standards, but the GPU’s low performance ranking (9th percentile) prevents it from running at high frame rates at higher resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Inside, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2547 out of 2887 combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, which is a direct reflection of the GPU’s weak performance. The ranking is surprising given the CPU’s high standing in general benchmarks. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D sits in the 80th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27896. Its nearest CPU rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U with a score of 27887, the Intel Core i9-10900K with a score of 27872, and the Intel Core i5-12600KF with a score of 27799, all within a 0.3% delta. This shows the CPU is a top-tier performer.

However, the GPU’s ranking is the anchor. The Intel Arc B390 has a percentile rank of just 9 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, delta 1.3%), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (score 1460, delta 1.5%), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (score 1446, delta 2.5%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (score 1443, delta 2.7%). These are all entry-level or legacy parts. The combo’s rank of 2547 is thus almost entirely attributable to the GPU, which drags the overall system performance down despite the CPU’s strength. The data indicates that if the same CPU were paired with a more capable discrete GPU, the combo rank would be significantly higher.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. With Low settings, the average FPS is 156. Moving to Medium settings, the average is 125 FPS, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 144 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 78 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 74 FPS. All presets at this resolution are playable, with even the lowest average (Ultra) being comfortably above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance drops notably. The Low preset still delivers a high average of 112 FPS. The Medium preset brings the average down to 90 FPS, with a range of 76 to 103 FPS. The High preset averages 56 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. The Ultra preset averages 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for many users.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly struggling. The Low preset averages 70 FPS, which is acceptable. The Medium preset averages 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65 FPS, indicating noticeable frame drops. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 34 FPS. These latter two results are generally considered too low for a smooth experience in a game like Inside, which relies on precise timing and atmospheric immersion.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 82 FPS. At 1440p, it is 59 FPS. At 4K, it is just 36 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is running out of raw compute and memory bandwidth at higher resolutions, making the settings preset less impactful than the resolution itself.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 125 FPS and a minimum of 106 FPS, ensuring a smooth and responsive experience. The High preset at 78 FPS is also acceptable for most players, but the Medium preset provides a significant frame rate buffer at the cost of some visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 74 FPS is playable, but the performance gain from Medium to Ultra is not substantial enough to justify the drop from 125 FPS to 74 FPS, especially since the visual differences in a puzzle platformer are often subtle.

For 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only recommendation if a high frame rate is desired, yielding 112 FPS. The Medium preset at 90 FPS is also viable for those who prefer better visuals, but the minimum of 76 FPS shows it is still within a safe range. The High and Ultra presets, at 56 and 53 FPS respectively, are borderline for a smooth experience. In a game like Inside, where the atmosphere is key, a constant frame rate is more important than a few extra pixels of shadow detail. Therefore, Medium is the maximum recommended setting at this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a truly smooth experience, averaging 70 FPS. The Medium preset averages 56 FPS, which is acceptable for some, but the minimum of 48 FPS suggests occasional stutter. The High and Ultra presets, with averages of 35 and 34 FPS, are not recommended. They fall below the threshold for a fluid experience in a game that requires precise control and timing.

The best overall experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This configuration provides a high average frame rate (125 FPS) with a solid minimum (106 FPS), ensuring the game runs smoothly without sacrificing too much visual quality. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p yields 156 FPS, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of performance and visual fidelity.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a high-end desktop processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) using a 7 nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache configuration is notable: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large cache is a hallmark of the X3D series, designed to improve gaming performance by reducing memory latency.

However, in the context of Inside, the CPU’s role is minimal. The game is a 2D puzzle platformer with relatively simple physics and AI, meaning it does not require the multi-threaded capabilities of an 8-core, 16-thread processor. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a PassMark multi-thread score of 28309 and a single-thread score of 3234, are far in excess of what this game needs. The 3DMark scores also confirm its capability: 7299 for 16 threads and 884 for a single thread.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 156 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would require a reasonably fast CPU to maintain. Yet, the fact that the frame rate drops to 70 FPS at 4K Low, despite the same CPU, proves that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is effectively idle, waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s high average benchmark score of 27896, which places it in the 80th percentile, is irrelevant here because the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU’s instructions.

In summary, the CPU provides a solid foundation with its 8 cores and high clock speeds, ensuring that it will never be the cause of frame drops in this title. But the measured FPS results are a direct consequence of the Intel Arc B390’s limited performance. The CPU’s massive L3 cache and high single-core performance are simply not utilized by Inside’s workload, which is overwhelmingly GPU-bound. The combo’s rank of 2547 out of 2887 confirms this imbalance, where a top-tier CPU is paired with a GPU that ranks in the bottom 9% of all graphics cards.