Inside

# Inside CPU/GPU Performance Analysis

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and AMD Radeon RX 570 combination delivers playable frame rates in Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer that is far more demanding on the GPU than on the CPU. The Ryzen 7 9700F, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, runs at a 3.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.50 GHz, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs tested. This processor uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on TSMC's 4 nm process with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The CPU's 32 MB shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provide ample headroom for a game like Inside, which does not demand heavy multi-threaded workloads. Meanwhile, the Radeon RX 570, based on the Polaris 20 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, is the clear bottleneck in this pairing. This GPU sits in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus delivering 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. The measured frame rates show that the GPU's limits dictate performance across all resolutions and settings, with the CPU never appearing to constrain results.

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

The Ryzen 7 9700F provides substantial processing power that goes largely underutilized in Inside. With 8 cores and 16 threads, this CPU can handle far more demanding tasks than a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer requires. The base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz are more than sufficient for the game's physics calculations and logic updates, which typically run on a single or few threads. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4691 and multithread score of 36470 place it among the top desktop processors, with an average benchmark score of 69996. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 9700F is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.2% higher score), Intel Core i7-14700KF (0.2% lower), AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.7% higher), and Intel Core i7-14700K (0.9% higher). This level of performance means the CPU never becomes a limiting factor in Inside; the game's frame rates are entirely governed by the GPU's capabilities.

The CPU's architecture and memory subsystem also contribute to smooth frame pacing. The Zen 5 architecture with 80 KB L1 cache per core and 1 MB L2 cache per core provides low-latency access to frequently used data. The 32 MB shared L3 cache helps when the game engine needs to share data across cores, though Inside likely uses only a fraction of these resources. The DDR5 memory support with dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth ensures that memory bandwidth is not a constraint, even when the GPU is struggling to maintain frame rates at higher resolutions. The 65 W TDP and PCIe Gen 5 support with 24 lanes (CPU only) indicate a modern platform that is ready for more demanding workloads, but for Inside, the CPU sits mostly idle, waiting for the GPU to deliver frames. The PassMark physics score of 2122 and floating-point math score of 77955 further demonstrate that the CPU can handle any physics calculations the game throws at it without breaking a sweat.

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

The Radeon RX 570 is the performance bottleneck in this system, and its specifications explain the measured frame rates. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1168 MHz and boosts to 1244 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is adequate for a game from 2016 but becomes strained at higher resolutions and settings. The GPU's 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 raster operations processors deliver a pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 5.095 TFLOPS (with FP16 at 5.095 TFLOPS in a 1:1 ratio) shows the GPU's raw compute capability, which is modest by modern standards but sufficient for Inside's art style.

The GPU's benchmark scores put its performance in context. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 880, Geekbench Metal score of 39349, OpenCL score of 32084, and Vulkan score of 42752 indicate a mid-range GPU from its era. The RX 570's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (0.4% higher), AMD Radeon R9 M295X (0.7% lower), AMD Radeon RX 470 (0.8% higher), and NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 (1.2% lower). This tight grouping shows that the RX 570 performs at a level consistent with other mid-range GPUs, but its age (released in 2017, now end-of-life) means it lacks modern features like hardware ray tracing. The 150 W TDP with a 450 W suggested PSU and 1x 6-pin power connector indicate modest power requirements. The GPU's 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries with 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die shows its manufacturing generation. For Inside, the GPU's 4 GB VRAM is sufficient at 1080p but may be a limiting factor at 4K, where the measured frame rates drop significantly.

FAQ

*Q: Does the Ryzen 7 9700F bottleneck the RX 570 in Inside?*

A: No. The CPU is far more powerful than the GPU, with an average benchmark score of 69996 compared to the GPU's 28766. The CPU sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 74th percentile. The measured frame rates show GPU-limited behavior, with performance scaling directly with resolution changes.

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Inside?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the smoothest experience, with 135 FPS on Low settings and 68 FPS on High. At 2560x1440, frame rates drop to 97 FPS on Low and 49 FPS on High. At 3840x2160, even Low settings only achieve 61 FPS, making 1080p the recommended resolution for this pairing.

Q: How does the RX 570 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 570's average benchmark score of 28766 is nearly identical to its nearest competitors. The AMD Radeon RX 6800M scores 0.4% higher, the AMD Radeon R9 M295X scores 0.7% lower, the AMD Radeon RX 470 scores 0.8% higher, and the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 scores 1.2% lower. This indicates the RX 570 performs within a tight band of similar GPUs.

*Q: Is the 4 GB VRAM on the RX 570 sufficient for Inside?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 1920x1080, the game runs well across all settings, indicating the 4 GB VRAM is not a constraint. At 3840x2160, frame rates drop significantly, which could be due to VRAM limitations or raw GPU compute limits. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s and 256-bit bus help, but the 4 GB capacity may cause texture thrashing at higher resolutions.

*Q: What CPU performance level is needed for Inside?*

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F's single-thread score of 4691 and multithread score of 36470 are far beyond what Inside requires. The game's frame rates are identical across CPU-intensive scenarios, suggesting that even a much weaker CPU would not bottleneck the RX 570 in this title.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 2749 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations. This low ranking reflects the RX 570's age and performance level, not the CPU, which is a top-tier processor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data across three resolutions and four settings presets provides clear guidance for the best experience. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable: Low delivers 135 FPS, Medium 108 FPS (with min 92 and max 124), High 68 FPS, and Ultra 64 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers the best balance, with an average of 108 FPS and a minimum of 92 FPS ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The jump from Medium to High costs 40 FPS (from 108 to 68), which is a significant drop, while High to Ultra only costs 4 FPS (from 68 to 64). For a puzzle platformer where precise timing matters, the Medium preset's 92 FPS minimum provides a more consistent experience than High's 68 FPS average, which could dip lower during complex scenes.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 78 FPS on average with a minimum of 66 FPS, making it the only 1440p setting that maintains a consistently smooth frame rate. Low at 1440p achieves 97 FPS but sacrifices visual quality, while High drops to 49 FPS and Ultra to 46 FPS, both of which may feel less responsive. The Medium preset at 1440p is the recommended choice if the display supports this resolution, as it maintains a high frame rate while preserving visual fidelity. At 3840x2160, only Low settings (61 FPS) approach playability, but the visual compromise is substantial. Medium at 4K delivers 49 FPS with a minimum of 42 FPS, which is borderline, while High (31 FPS) and Ultra (29 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience. For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides the optimal combination of visual quality and performance, with the 1080p Medium row showing min/max values of 92/124 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F + AMD Radeon RX 570 combination ranks 2749 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside, placing it in the bottom 5% of all configurations tested. This ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU, which sits in the 74th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 28766. The CPU, by contrast, is a top-tier processor in the 94th percentile with an average score of 69996. The discrepancy between CPU and GPU performance levels explains why this combo ranks so low: the system's overall gaming performance is capped by the RX 570's capabilities. The ranking suggests that many other GPU options would deliver better frame rates in Inside, even when paired with weaker CPUs.

The combo's ranking can be understood by comparing the GPU's performance to its rivals. The RX 570's nearest competitors all score within 1.2% of its average benchmark score, indicating that any of these GPUs would produce similar results in Inside. The AMD Radeon RX 470, which scores 0.8% higher, would likely deliver nearly identical frame rates. The RX 570's age and end-of-life production status explain its position in the ranking. For a game like Inside, which is not graphically demanding, the GPU's 4 GB VRAM and 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 performance are sufficient for 1080p gaming, but the combo's low rank reflects that most modern GPUs outperform it. The CPU's high percentile ranking provides no benefit in this GPU-bound scenario, making this combo better suited for CPU-intensive workloads rather than gaming at high resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured frame rates show a clear progression across settings. Low settings achieve an average of 135 FPS, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. Medium settings deliver 108 FPS on average, with a minimum of 92 FPS and maximum of 124 FPS, indicating consistent performance with only minor frame dips. High settings produce 68 FPS on average, which is still playable but represents a significant drop from Medium. Ultra settings achieve 64 FPS on average, only slightly lower than High, suggesting diminishing returns at the highest preset. The 1080p results demonstrate that this combo handles Inside well at standard resolution, with even Ultra settings maintaining a playable frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are more pronounced. Low settings deliver 97 FPS on average, which remains smooth. Medium settings achieve 78 FPS on average, with a minimum of 66 FPS and maximum of 89 FPS, providing a good balance of visual quality and performance. High settings drop to 49 FPS on average, which may feel less smooth during fast-paced sections. Ultra settings produce 46 FPS on average, making them borderline for a puzzle platformer where precise control is important. The 1440p results show that Medium is the highest setting that maintains a consistently smooth experience at this resolution. At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become evident. Low settings achieve 61 FPS on average, making them the only 4K preset that delivers a smooth experience. Medium settings produce 49 FPS on average, with a minimum of 42 FPS and maximum of 56 FPS, which may be acceptable for a slower-paced game. High settings drop to 31 FPS on average, and Ultra settings achieve only 29 FPS, both of which are below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K results indicate that the RX 570 is not well-suited for 2160p gaming in Inside, with only Low settings providing an acceptable frame rate.