Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti pairing delivers a robust experience in Inside, a puzzle platformer from 2016. The data shows a system capable of high frame rates across all tested resolutions, though the performance scaling reveals a clear division of labor between the modern CPU and the older GPU. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes the hardware within its respective performance tiers, and provides actionable settings recommendations based on the provided data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This modern desktop chip, released in September 2022, provides substantial computational headroom. In CPU-focused benchmarks like Cinebench R23, it scores 19,088 points in multi-core and 1,987 points in single-core tests. Its performance percentile of 85 versus all CPUs indicates it sits comfortably above the majority of processors, with an average benchmark score of 35,909.

The processor's nearest rivals, based on average score, include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, Intel Core 7 250H, AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, and Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. The 7700X leads this group by a marginal 0.3% to 0.7% in average score, showing that while it is competitive, it does not hold a decisive lead over these specific alternatives in general processing tests.

For a game like Inside, which is not a multi-threaded heavy workload, the CPU's high single-thread performance is critical. The Geekbench single-core score of 2,289 points helps ensure that the game's primary logic thread is processed with minimal delay. The high boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures rapid response, but the measured frame rates suggest that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 317 FPS average, a frame rate so high that it indicates the CPU is feeding the GPU as fast as it can process frames, but the GPU is still keeping pace. The 16 threads also ensure that any background system processes or game overhead do not create bottlenecks, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential in this title.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a Pascal-architecture card with 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus, providing 484.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is rated at 1582 MHz. While its benchmark percentile is 58 versus all GPUs, its performance in Inside is substantial. The GPU's 11 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for the game's visual data, even at 4K, which is reflected in the high frame rates at that resolution.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the GTX 1080 Ti's average benchmark score of 15,548 is notably close to the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15,679) and the AMD Radeon R9 M380 (15,521), with a delta of -0.8% and 0.2% respectively. It also leads the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (15,290) and GTX 580 (15,283) by 1.7%. This suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the GTX 1080 Ti competes closely with these cards, though its specific architecture and driver optimizations can yield different results in real-world games.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities, such as 11.34 TFLOPS FP32 and a texture rate of 354.4 GTexel/s, are key to rendering the game's detailed environments. The data shows a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 68, while at 4K Low, it reaches 143 FPS. This 75 FPS difference directly correlates with the GPU's workload, demonstrating that the Pascal card is the primary determinant of performance when visual fidelity is increased. The 11 GB frame buffer prevents any memory capacity issues, allowing the GPU to focus solely on shader and fill-rate workloads.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales with resolution. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and finally to 3840x2160 shows a consistent and predictable performance drop, indicative of a GPU-bound system at higher resolutions.

• At High settings: The average FPS drops from 159 at 1080p to 114 at 1440p, a 28.3% decrease. From 1440p to 4K, the average FPS drops to 72, a further 36.8% decrease. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 54.7%.
• At Medium settings: The average FPS drops from 254 at 1080p to 183 at 1440p (a 28.0% decrease) and then to 115 at 4K (a 37.2% decrease from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 54.7%.
• At Low settings: The average FPS drops from 317 at 1080p to 228 at 1440p (a 28.1% decrease) and then to 143 at 4K (a 37.3% decrease from 1440p). The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 54.9%.

This consistent pattern of a ~28% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a ~37% drop from 1440p to 4K, regardless of settings, is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU has enough headroom to maintain the same level of input processing, but the GPU's render workload increases with pixel count, directly impacting the average FPS. The data indicates that the GTX 1080 Ti is the limiting component in this pairing, especially as resolution increases. The CPU is not showing signs of bottlenecking, as the performance degradation scales predictably with pixel throughput, not with game logic complexity.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Inside?*

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 317 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: Is the GTX 1080 Ti capable of running Inside at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, the data shows it is more than capable. At 3840x2160, it achieves an average of 143 FPS on Low settings, 115 FPS on Medium, and 72 FPS on High settings. Even at Ultra settings, it maintains a playable 68 FPS average.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 7700X has an average benchmark score of 35,909. This puts it 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, 0.5% ahead of both the Intel Core 7 250H and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H.

Q: At which settings is the system most limited by the GPU?

A: The system is most GPU-limited at 3840x2160 Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 68. The significant drop from the 143 FPS average at 4K Low settings shows the GPU's workload scaling with graphical fidelity.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves an average of 114 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 109 FPS. This is a modest 5 FPS difference, suggesting that the Ultra preset is not significantly more demanding in this specific test.

Q: Does the 11 GB VRAM of the GPU ever become a limiting factor?

A: The measured data does not indicate that VRAM capacity is a limiting factor. The system maintains high frame rates at 4K with Ultra settings (68 FPS average), which suggests that the 11 GB frame buffer is sufficient for the game's textures and assets at that resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks 2004th out of 3716 tested combos in Inside. This places the pairing in the 54th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of configurations. This rank is notable because it reflects the balance between a high-end modern CPU and an older, but still potent, high-end GPU from the Pascal generation.

The ranking suggests that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the GPU is the anchor holding the combo back from a higher position. The GTX 1080 Ti's performance, while excellent for this game, is still the primary determinant of the overall ranking. A more modern GPU paired with the 7700X would likely push the combo significantly higher. The data indicates that this pairing is a strong mid-to-high-tier option, capable of delivering high refresh rate experiences at 1080p and playable 4K, but it does not reach the top echelons of the benchmark database due to the GPU's age relative to the CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS figures measured for this combo in Inside, organized by resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 317 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 254 | 216 | 292 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 159 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 151 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 228 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 183 | 155 | 210 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 114 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 109 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 143 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 115 | 97 | 132 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 72 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 68 | - | - |

The data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy. At 1080p, all presets deliver frame rates well above 144 Hz, with Low settings reaching over 300 FPS. At 1440p, the system still provides excellent performance, with all presets exceeding 100 FPS. At 4K, the system remains playable, but only the Low and Medium presets exceed 100 FPS, while High and Ultra presets land in the 68-72 FPS range.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display and performance goals.

For a 1080p display with a high refresh rate (144Hz or higher), the High preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 159 FPS, which is above the 144 Hz threshold and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (254 FPS) without the performance penalty of Ultra (151 FPS). The difference between High and Ultra is only 8 FPS, but High offers a more stable and higher average, making it the superior choice for competitive or smooth gameplay.

For a 1440p display, the High preset is also recommended. It achieves 114 FPS average, which is suitable for a 100Hz or 120Hz display. The Ultra preset is nearly identical in performance (109 FPS), but High consistently provides a few more frames, suggesting it is the more efficient option. While the Medium preset offers a higher frame rate (183 FPS), the visual fidelity jump to High is substantial for the minimal FPS cost.

For a 4K display, the Medium preset offers the best balance. It provides a 115 FPS average, which is smooth and well above the 60 FPS standard for console-like play. The Low preset increases this to 143 FPS, but the visual quality reduction is significant. The High (72 FPS) and Ultra (68 FPS) presets are playable, but the frame rate dips closer to 60 FPS, which may not be desirable for all players. The Medium preset's 115 FPS average provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while maintaining a good level of graphical detail.