Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a highly variable experience in Inside, with performance scaling that reveals a clear bottleneck depending on the resolution and settings. The data shows this combo is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU's strength becomes more apparent at 1080p. Overall, this configuration ranks 2654 out of 2887 tested combos for this game, placing it in the lower percentile of systems, but the measured frame rates indicate it can still deliver playable results under the right conditions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and tells a clear story about which component is the limiting factor. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 141 at 1920x1080 to 64 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 77 FPS, or roughly 54.6%. This steep decline is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck, as the Arc B370's integrated nature and shared system memory struggle to keep up with the pixel throughput demanded by 4K.

The trend continues across all settings, but the magnitude of the drop varies. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 70 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p, then down to 32 at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at High is a 37.3% reduction, while the drop from 1080p to 1440p is a 27.1% reduction. This suggests that the GPU is being pushed progressively harder as resolution increases, and the performance penalty is not linear but rather accelerates as the pixel count grows.

At Ultra settings, the pattern is similar but the starting point is lower. The average FPS is 67 at 1080p, 48 at 1440p, and 30 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 37 FPS, a 55.2% decrease. This indicates that at the highest visual fidelity, the system is already near its limits at 1080p, and 4K Ultra is simply too demanding for this combo.

The data also reveals that the gap between Medium and Low settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low (141 FPS) and Medium (113 FPS) is 28 FPS. At 1440p, the gap is 20 FPS (101 vs 81). At 4K, the gap narrows to 13 FPS (64 vs 51). This suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU can still feed the GPU enough data to see a benefit from higher settings, but at 4K, the GPU becomes so saturated that the improvements from lowering settings yield diminishing returns.

The limiting component is clearly the Intel Arc B370. The Ryzen 7 9700X, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is a high-end desktop processor that ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, but the integrated GPU is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This massive disparity in relative performance means that the GPU is the primary constraint at all resolutions, but the effect is most pronounced at 4K where the pixel count overwhelms the GPU's capabilities. The fact that even at 1080p Low, the system only achieves 141 FPS, suggests that the GPU is also limiting performance at lower resolutions, as a dedicated high-end GPU paired with this CPU would likely produce significantly higher frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is achieved at Medium settings. This preset offers a strong balance between visual quality and playable frame rates across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers an average of 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 130 FPS. This is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay and provides a comfortable margin for demanding scenes.

At 1440p, Medium is the only setting that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, achieving an average of 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS. This is a playable experience for most users, and the minimum frame rate of 69 FPS ensures that there are no major stutters or drops below the 60 FPS target. In contrast, High at 1440p averages 51 FPS, which is borderline, and Ultra drops to 48 FPS, which is below the ideal smoothness threshold.

The data shows that High settings are viable only at 1080p, where the average FPS is 70. This is a playable experience, but the margin is thinner than at Medium, and the minimum FPS is not recorded, suggesting potential for dips. At 1440p and 4K, High settings result in average frame rates of 51 and 32 FPS respectively, which are not ideal for a smooth experience. Ultra settings are only recommended for 1080p, where the average is 67 FPS, but the visual improvement over High is marginal while the performance cost is significant.

Low settings are the only option that provides a truly smooth experience at 4K, with an average of 64 FPS. However, this comes at a significant visual cost. At 1080p, Low settings produce 141 FPS, which is far more than necessary, suggesting that the GPU is not being fully utilized at this resolution and setting. The sweet spot is Medium at 1080p or 1440p, as it provides high frame rates with a substantial improvement in visual quality over Low.

The frame time data, where available, supports this recommendation. At 1080p Medium, the range from 96 FPS minimum to 130 FPS maximum indicates a relatively stable experience. At 1440p Medium, the range is 69 to 93 FPS, which is broader but still within acceptable limits. At 4K Medium, the range is 43 to 59 FPS, showing that the system is struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate at this resolution. The conclusion is clear: Medium settings at 1440p or 1080p provide the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for this hardware combination.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. Its performance in Inside is primarily dictated by its clock speeds and its dependence on system shared memory. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The data shows that this boost clock is not enough to overcome the challenges of rendering at high resolutions, as the frame rates drop significantly as resolution increases.

The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning the GPU uses the system's DDR5 memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The bandwidth is described as "System Dependent," which means that performance can vary based on the system's memory configuration. This is a critical factor in Inside, as the game's visuals require constant data streaming, and the shared memory bandwidth can become a bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the demand for texture data increases.

The GPU's raw compute specifications are modest. It has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS. These numbers, while not the only factor, help explain why the GPU struggles at 4K. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s is insufficient to fill the 8.3 million pixels of a 4K display at high frame rates, which is why the average FPS at 4K High is only 32 and at Ultra is 30.

The GPU's TDP is 25 W, which is very low for a graphics solution, but this is an integrated part, not a discrete card. The low power envelope limits the sustained clock speeds, and the boost clock of 2400 MHz likely cannot be maintained under heavy load. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and it is most closely rivaled by older, low-end parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190, a -0.5% delta. This context is important: the Arc B370 is not a gaming powerhouse, and its performance in Inside reflects its position as a basic integrated solution.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark data all have similar scores, with deltas of less than 1.5%. This indicates that the Arc B370 is performance-classed with very old discrete GPUs, which further explains its limitations in a modern title like Inside.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. At Low settings, the average FPS is 141. At Medium settings, the average is 113 FPS, with a minimum of 96 and a maximum of 130. At High settings, the average drops to 70 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average is 67 FPS. This shows a clear hierarchy, with Low being the fastest and Ultra the slowest, but the gap between High and Ultra is minimal (3 FPS).

At 2560x1440, performance degrades noticeably. At Low settings, the average FPS is 101. At Medium settings, the average is 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. At High settings, the average is 51 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average is 48 FPS. The pattern is consistent, but the frame rates are lower across the board. The minimum FPS at Medium (69) is still above 60, but the averages for High and Ultra are below the ideal threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly overburdened. At Low settings, the average FPS is 64. At Medium settings, the average is 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 and a maximum of 59. At High settings, the average is 32 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average is 30 FPS. Only Low settings achieve a playable average FPS above 60, and even then, the minimum is not recorded, suggesting potential instability. Medium is borderline, with an average of 51 FPS, but the minimum of 43 FPS indicates that the experience will not be smooth.

Looking at the data holistically, the only configurations that provide a consistently playable experience are: 1080p Low, Medium, High, and Ultra; 1440p Low and Medium; and 4K Low. The 4K Low setting, with an average of 64 FPS, is the only 4K option that is viable, but it requires sacrificing all visual fidelity. The 1440p Medium setting is the best high-resolution option, as it offers a solid 81 FPS average with a minimum above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2654 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, which is a low ranking driven almost entirely by the GPU's weak performance. The CPU, on the other hand, is a strong performer. It has an average benchmark score of 37943, which places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14901E, with an average score of 37911 (a delta of 0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with a score of 37904 (a delta of 0.1%).

The disparity between the CPU's high percentile ranking and the combo's low game ranking highlights the importance of the GPU in this title. The data shows that the Ryzen 7 9700X is capable of far more than this GPU can deliver. In CPU-bound scenarios, such as the 3DMark 16-thread test where it scores 9824, the processor shows its strength. However, in Inside, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, preventing the system from achieving frame rates that would be expected from a CPU with this level of performance.

The combo's rank of 2654 is only slightly better than the worst-performing 233 combos. This is a poor result, but it is not surprising given the GPU's 5th percentile ranking. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1184 is dwarfed by its nearest rivals, which are all within a 1.4% delta, but these rivals are themselves very low-end parts. The data suggests that this combo is not suitable for high-refresh-rate gaming or for playing Inside at high resolutions with maximum settings. It is, however, capable of running the game at playable frame rates at lower settings and resolutions, as detailed in the measured FPS breakdown.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Inside with this combo for a smooth 60 FPS experience?*

A: The data shows that 1440p Medium is the highest resolution and settings combination that maintains an average FPS above 60 (81 FPS) with a minimum of 69 FPS. At 4K, only Low settings achieve an average of 64 FPS, but the minimum is not recorded.

*Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X the bottleneck in this system for Inside?*

A: No. The data indicates the Intel Arc B370 GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile. The steep FPS drops as resolution increases are a strong indicator of GPU limitation.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: It can, but only at Low settings, where it achieves an average FPS of 64. At Medium settings, the average drops to 51 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 32 and 30 FPS, respectively, which are not playable.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark. Its closest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, a -0.2% delta. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a -0.5% delta. These are very similar performance levels.

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

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce an average of 141 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 67 FPS. This is a difference of 74 FPS, indicating a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700X a high-performance CPU?

A: Yes. The CPU has an average benchmark score of 37943, placing it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs. It is closely matched with the Intel Core i9-14901E, which scores 37911 (a 0.1% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which scores 37904 (a 0.1% delta).