Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer from 2016, and the measured data for the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT combination shows a title that is heavily bound by the graphics card at higher resolutions, while becoming increasingly CPU-limited at lower ones. The frame rate scaling across the three tested resolutions reveals a clear performance curve that is typical for a well-optimized, stylized game of this era, where the workload shifts from the GPU to the CPU as pixel count drops.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking observation from the measured FPS data is the dramatic scaling between resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 281 FPS. Moving up to 2560x1440 drops this to 202 FPS, a reduction of 79 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 127 FPS. This scaling pattern indicates that at 1080p, the system is not fully utilizing the GPU, leaving headroom for the CPU to push frame rates to very high levels. The jump from 1080p to 1440p represents a 28% decrease in performance, while the jump from 1440p to 4K represents a 37% decrease. This increasing rate of decline suggests that the GPU begins to become a more significant bottleneck as resolution rises.

Looking at the High preset, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. The average FPS at 1080p is 140, which drops to 101 at 1440p and then to 63 at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is 39 FPS, while the delta between 1440p and 4K is 38 FPS. This near-linear scaling in raw FPS drop suggests the workload is scaling predictably with pixel count, pointing to a consistent GPU-bound scenario at these settings. The fact that the 1440p to 4K drop is nearly identical to the 1080p to 1440p drop, despite the larger pixel difference, indicates that the game’s rendering engine is handling the resolution increase efficiently, but the RX 6600 XT is still the limiting factor.

The Medium preset provides a middle ground. At 1080p, the average is 225 FPS, at 1440p it is 161 FPS, and at 4K it is 101 FPS. The scaling here shows that the GPU is still the primary constraint at 4K, but the 1080p result is high enough to suggest some CPU limitation is beginning to appear. When the frame rate exceeds 200 FPS, the Ryzen 7 7700’s single-thread performance becomes more relevant, as the CPU must feed the GPU with enough draw calls to maintain such high output.

At Ultra settings, the average FPS is 134 at 1080p, 96 at 1440p, and 60 at 4K. The 4K result is exactly 60 FPS, which is a common target for many displays. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is a 36 FPS drop, which is significant. This data supports the conclusion that for this game, the RX 6600 XT is the dominant factor in determining performance at 1440p and above, regardless of the preset. The limiting component shifts from the GPU at higher resolutions to a more balanced CPU/GPU scenario at 1080p, particularly at Low and Medium settings where the CPU has to work harder to generate very high frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In the context of Inside, a puzzle platformer that does not typically stress multi-threaded workloads, the CPU’s role is primarily to maintain a high minimum frame rate and avoid bottlenecking the GPU. The benchmark results show the CPU has a single-thread score of 1049 in 3dmark and a passmark single-thread score of 4063, which indicates strong per-core performance. This is crucial for a game like Inside, which is largely dependent on a few threads for game logic and rendering commands.

The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 281. This high number is a direct result of the CPU’s ability to process frames quickly. The Ryzen 7 7700 scores 8484 in 3dmark_16_threads and 8479 in 3dmark_max_threads, showing near-identical performance regardless of thread count, which suggests that the CPU has ample headroom for the game’s demands. The game’s release date in 2016 means it was designed for CPUs of that era, so a modern 8-core processor with a 5.30 GHz boost clock is more than sufficient to handle the game’s logic without becoming a limiting factor at standard refresh rates.

However, at the extreme high end of the FPS spectrum, the CPU’s role becomes more visible. The difference between the 1080p Low result of 281 FPS and the 1440p Low result of 202 FPS is 79 FPS. This drop is more than proportional to the pixel count increase, which suggests that the GPU is not the only factor. The CPU’s single-thread performance, while excellent, still has a ceiling. The data shows that the CPU’s percentile rank is 87, meaning it outperforms 87% of all CPUs in the database. This high ranking supports the idea that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios, but at 1080p Low, the frame rate is high enough to approach the CPU’s limits for this particular game engine.

The 3dmark_2_threads score of 2043 and 4_threads score of 3931 show that the CPU scales well with additional threads, but the game is unlikely to use all 16 threads effectively. The passmark physics score of 1978 suggests that the CPU can handle the simple physics calculations required by the game without issue. In summary, the CPU provides a solid foundation, ensuring that the GPU is the main performance limiter at 1440p and 4K, while enabling very high frame rates at 1080p where its strong single-core performance comes into play.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is a mid-range GPU based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, featuring 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 2589 MHz, and its game clock is 2359 MHz. The GPU’s role in Inside is clearly defined by the resolution scaling data: it is the primary component that determines performance at 1440p and 4K resolutions. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is more than adequate for a game from 2016, which likely has modest texture and geometry requirements, so VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor here.

At 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS is exactly 60, which is a common target for console ports and PC games of that era. This result indicates that the RX 6600 XT is just barely able to maintain 60 FPS at the highest settings at 4K. The GPU’s benchmark scores reflect its mid-range positioning. It has a passmark G3D score of 16461, and its percentile rank is 70, meaning it outperforms 70% of all GPUs. This places it in a solid position for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, it is at the edge of its capabilities for maintaining high refresh rates.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution shows the GPU’s capacity. At 1080p, the difference between Low (281 FPS) and Ultra (134 FPS) is 147 FPS, showing a large performance cost for higher graphical fidelity. At 4K, the same difference is 67 FPS (127 vs 60). This indicates that the GPU is more sensitive to settings changes at lower resolutions where it has more headroom, but at 4K, even Low settings push the GPU to a significant load. The 4K Low result of 127 FPS shows that the GPU can still deliver high frame rates if settings are reduced.

The GPU’s RDNA 2 architecture supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is relevant for modern rendering features, but Inside’s release date means it likely uses DirectX 11 or Vulkan. The GPU’s passmark DirectX 11 score is 163, while its DirectX 12 score is 61, suggesting that the game’s API will affect performance. The data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K across all settings, as the frame rates are consistently lower than at lower resolutions. The RX 6600 XT’s 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient for the game’s data requirements, and its 10.60 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is what drives the pixel and texture rates. The GPU’s role is clear: it provides playable frame rates at 4K with adjusted settings, but it is most comfortable at 1440p where it can deliver high refresh rates on High settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p users, the High preset at 140 FPS is a strong choice, offering a smooth experience well above 60 FPS. For those with high refresh rate monitors (144Hz or higher), the Medium preset at 225 FPS is recommended, as it provides a significant FPS boost over High with likely minimal visual difference in a stylized game like Inside. The Low preset at 281 FPS is only necessary for extreme competitive play, which is unlikely for a puzzle platformer.

For 1440p, the High preset at 101 FPS is the best balance, delivering a fluid experience that is close to 100 FPS. The Medium preset at 161 FPS is also excellent, and it is the recommended choice for users with 144Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 96 FPS is also playable, but the marginal gain over High does not justify the 5 FPS drop. The Low preset at 202 FPS is overkill and would require a very high refresh rate monitor to appreciate.

At 4K, the situation is more constrained. The High preset at 63 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a near-60 FPS experience. The Ultra preset at 60 FPS is also viable, but it offers no advantage over High in terms of frame rate, and the visual difference may be negligible. The Medium preset at 101 FPS is the best option for 4K users with high refresh rate displays, as it nearly doubles the frame rate of High while likely maintaining good visual quality. The Low preset at 127 FPS is also an option for those who prioritize performance over visuals, but it may compromise the game’s atmospheric presentation.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the “sweet spot” for this GPU and CPU combo across all resolutions. It offers a substantial FPS boost over High and Ultra settings, and the measured min FPS values (191 at 1080p, 137 at 1440p, 86 at 4K) show that it maintains a stable frame rate without significant dips. The High preset is the best choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing too much performance, while the Ultra preset offers only a minimal visual upgrade over High at a noticeable FPS cost.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS is 134, with no minimum or maximum FPS recorded in the data.

Q: Does the combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K?

A: Yes, at both High and Ultra settings, the average FPS is 63 and 60 respectively, meeting the 60 FPS target.

Q: Which resolution and settings combo yields the highest frame rate?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 281, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 has an average benchmark score of 40081, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, its closest rival.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset?

A: The minimum FPS values are 191 at 1080p, 137 at 1440p, and 86 at 4K.

Q: Is the GPU more powerful than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER?

A: No, the RX 6600 XT has an average benchmark score of 24442, which is 1.1% lower than the RTX 2080 SUPER’s score of 24170. Wait, the data shows the RX 6600 XT score is 24442 and the RTX 2080 SUPER score is 24170, meaning the RX 6600 XT is 1.1% higher, not lower.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a complete breakdown of the measured average FPS for all tested resolution and settings combinations.

3840x2160:

• High: 63 FPS
• Low: 127 FPS
• Medium: 101 FPS (min 86, max 117)
• Ultra: 60 FPS

2560x1440:

• High: 101 FPS
• Low: 202 FPS
• Medium: 161 FPS (min 137, max 186)
• Ultra: 96 FPS

1920x1080:

• High: 140 FPS
• Low: 281 FPS
• Medium: 225 FPS (min 191, max 258)
• Ultra: 134 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern: the Medium preset offers the highest frame rates with recorded minimums, indicating stable performance. The Low and High presets have no recorded minimum FPS, which suggests they may have been less stable or simply not measured. The Ultra preset consistently delivers the lowest frame rates, but it still remains playable at all resolutions, with the 4K result exactly at 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 + AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ranks 2594 out of 3716 total combos for the game Inside. This places it in the 30th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms 30% of the combinations in the database. This rank is relatively low, which is surprising given the high FPS numbers measured. This suggests that many other combos in the database achieve even higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs.

The rank is influenced by the GPU’s mid-range positioning. The RX 6600 XT ranks in the 70th percentile of all GPUs, but in the context of this game, it is outclassed by many higher-end cards that can push frame rates even higher at 1080p and 1440p. The CPU’s high percentile rank (87) does not translate to a higher combo rank because the game is not CPU-bound in most scenarios. The combo’s performance is solid for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the rank reflects that other systems with more powerful GPUs can achieve higher frame rates, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU is not the limiting factor.

The nearest rivals for the GPU include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630, which has a 0.7% lower average score, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, which has a 1.1% lower score. This indicates that the RX 6600 XT is well-positioned among its peers, but the combo rank shows that the game’s performance is more dependent on the GPU than the CPU. For a puzzle platformer, the rank is adequate, but users seeking the absolute highest frame rates would need a more powerful GPU.