Inside

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 pairing in Inside presents a stark contrast in component capability. The CPU is a modern flagship desktop processor, while the GPU is an older, entry-level model. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings clearly show which component dictates the gaming experience. This analysis walks through the CPU and GPU characteristics, the combo's standing among tested hardware, and the exact performance data from the benchmark runs.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC, containing 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The chip features 8 cores and 16 threads, a configuration well-suited for modern multithreaded workloads. Its base clock is 4.70 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The processor has a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, alongside 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. This large cache structure is often beneficial in gaming scenarios, where data reuse is common. The CPU supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and it also supports ECC memory. It connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU.

Benchmark results place this CPU in the 92nd percentile of all processors tested. Its average benchmark score is 58,386. In multi-core tests, the Cinebench R23 score is 22,807, while the single-core score is 2,228. The PassMark multithread score is 41,318, and the single-thread score is 4,704. Compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight grouping. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M has an average score of 58,323, which is 0.1% lower than the Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The Intel Xeon w5-2545 scores 58,504, which is 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58,115, which is 0.5% lower, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 scores 58,826, which is 0.7% higher. These deltas are minimal, indicating that the 9850X3D performs on par with these other high-end chips in general processing tasks.

Given the nature of Inside, a puzzle platformer, the game's logic and physics are typically not demanding enough to stress a CPU like the 9850X3D. The processor's high single-thread performance and large cache should ensure that frame pacing is consistent and that there are no CPU-related bottlenecks in most scenarios. The data from the measured FPS, however, will show if the CPU's power is ever fully utilized or if the GPU becomes the limiting factor long before the CPU's potential is reached.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a graphics card from the GeForce 10-series, based on the Turing architecture with the TU117 chip. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process at TSMC, with 4,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die. The card has a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. Its memory subsystem consists of 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. The GPU has 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. Its compute capabilities are rated at 2.984 TFLOPS for FP32 and 5.967 TFLOPS for FP16. The card has a 75 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 250 W. It uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface.

The GTX 1650 holds the 40th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 7,472. Its PassMark G3D score is 7,880, and its DirectX 12 score is 35. The nearest rivals show a close performance cluster. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M has an average score of 7,447, which is 0.3% lower. The Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7,441, which is 0.4% lower. The AMD Radeon R7 350 scores 7,425, which is 0.6% lower. The Intel Arc A310 scores 7,550, which is 1% higher. This places the GTX 1650 in a similar performance tier to these other entry-level or older cards.

The 4 GB VRAM capacity is a critical detail for modern games, but for Inside, which was released in 2016, it is likely sufficient for the game's art style and texture sizes. The memory bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s is also a potential constraint for higher resolutions. The benchmark results will show how this GPU handles the load of Inside at various settings. The GTX 1650 is clearly the weaker component in this pairing, and its performance ceiling will likely define the maximum frame rates achievable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is ranked 2780 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the bottom 4% of all combinations. This rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's low performance relative to other available graphics cards. The CPU is capable of high frame rates, but it is paired with a GPU that cannot deliver them.

This ranking indicates that while the CPU is a top-tier component, the overall system performance is severely bottlenecked by the GTX 1650. The data suggests that the vast majority of other CPU and GPU combinations tested for this game achieve higher frame rates, likely due to having a more balanced or a more powerful graphics card. The rank of 2780 out of 2887 is a strong indicator that this specific pairing is not optimal for Inside if the goal is to maximize visual fidelity and frame rate. The system's performance is fundamentally limited by the GPU, and the CPU's potential remains largely untapped in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the GTX 1650's performance with this CPU. At 1080p, the game is playable across all settings. The Low preset yields an average of 134 FPS. The Medium preset produces an average of 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 and a maximum of 124. The High preset delivers an average of 67 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 64 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 27 FPS drop, while the step from Medium to High is a more significant 40 FPS drop. The difference between High and Ultra is only 3 FPS, suggesting that the High and Ultra presets are taxing the GPU similarly.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates decrease further. The Low preset averages 97 FPS, a 37 FPS drop from 1080p Low. The Medium preset averages 77 FPS, with a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 89. This is a 30 FPS drop from the 1080p Medium result. The High preset averages 48 FPS, a 19 FPS drop from 1080p High. The Ultra preset averages 46 FPS, an 18 FPS drop from 1080p Ultra.

At 4K, the performance becomes marginal. The Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently playable experience, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56. The High preset averages 30 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS. The 4K results show a clear threshold where the GTX 1650's 4 GB VRAM and limited compute power are overwhelmed by the higher resolution.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the game is playable at 1080p on all presets, acceptable at 1440p on Low and Medium, and only playable at 4K on the Low preset. The performance ceiling of this GPU is around 134 FPS at 1080p Low, and it progressively degrades as resolution and settings increase.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K highlights the GPU-bound nature of this system. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 134 at 1080p to 97 at 1440p and then to 61 at 4K. This represents a 28% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 37% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, indicating that the GPU is struggling more as the pixel count increases.

At the Medium preset, the average FPS drops from 107 at 1080p to 77 at 1440p and then to 49 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28%, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is 36%. This pattern is very similar to the Low preset, showing that the GPU's performance is scaling consistently with the number of pixels.

For the High preset, the average FPS drops from 67 at 1080p to 48 at 1440p and then to 30 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28%, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is 38%. The Ultra preset shows a similar trend, dropping from 64 at 1080p to 46 at 1440p and then to 29 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28%, and the drop from 1440p to 4K is 37%.

The consistency of the percentage drops across all settings is a strong indicator that the limiting factor is the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth. The CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution, as the frame rates are entirely dependent on the GPU's ability to render the frame. The 4K results, in particular, show a severe performance penalty, with the High and Ultra presets dropping to around 30 FPS. This suggests that the GTX 1650 is simply not powerful enough for 4K gaming in this title, regardless of the CPU's capability.

FAQ

*Q: Is this CPU and GPU combo capable of running Inside at 1080p?*

A: Yes, the measured data shows that the combo can run the game at 1080p on all tested presets. The average FPS ranges from 134 on Low to 64 on Ultra, ensuring a smooth experience at this resolution.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a high frame rate?

A: The data indicates that 1080p is the optimal resolution for high frame rates. At 1440p, the average FPS on High and Ultra drops to 48 and 46, respectively, which is noticeably lower. At 4K, only the Low preset achieves an average above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1650's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: According to the benchmark data, the GTX 1650 has an average score of 7,472. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc A310, scores 7,550, which is 1% higher. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 7,447, which is 0.3% lower, and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7,441, which is 0.4% lower.

Q: Why is the 4K performance so low even with a powerful CPU?

A: The 4K performance is limited by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and a 128-bit memory bus, which provide a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. This is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at a 3840x2160 resolution, where even the Low preset only averages 61 FPS.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9850X3D a bottleneck for the GTX 1650 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck. The consistent FPS scaling with resolution changes indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's single-thread score of 4,704 in PassMark is more than sufficient for a puzzle platformer like Inside.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 48 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 46 FPS. This is a marginal difference of 2 FPS, suggesting that the Ultra preset does not add a significant load for the GPU at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution. For a 1080p display, the High preset is a strong choice, delivering an average of 67 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset only offers a 3 FPS improvement over High, which is not a meaningful gain for the same performance level. The Low preset is the only way to achieve frame rates above 100 FPS, hitting 134 FPS, but it comes with a significant visual sacrifice.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is recommended for a playable experience, with an average of 77 FPS and a minimum of 66 FPS. This ensures smooth gameplay without dropping below 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets, averaging 48 and 46 FPS respectively, are on the edge of playability and may feel less fluid. The Low preset at 1440p averages 97 FPS, but the visual reduction is substantial.

For 4K, the only viable option is the Low preset, which averages 61 FPS. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High and Ultra presets, averaging 30 and 29 FPS, are not recommended for a playable experience. The data shows that the GTX 1650 is not suited for 4K gaming in Inside beyond the lowest settings. The best experience per the measured rows is to prioritize 1080p or 1440p with Medium or High settings, as these provide a stable frame rate with better visual fidelity than the Low preset.