Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER delivers a highly playable experience in Inside, a Puzzle Platformer from 2016. The benchmark data shows this combination is capable of very high frame rates at 1080p, with performance scaling predictably as resolution increases to 1440p and 4K. While the combo ranks in the lower half of the database's tested configurations, the absolute performance in this specific title is strong, with the CPU providing ample headroom across all tested settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution-dependent scaling, indicating that the rendering load is the primary variable as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces 108 FPS on average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same High preset, the average FPS drops to 78, a reduction of 30 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 49 FPS. This trajectory shows that the GTX 1660 SUPER is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the workload on the GPU increases substantially.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep for the High preset, with a 29 FPS drop. This indicates that the GPU's computational resources are being saturated as the pixel count quadruples from 1440p to 4K. Conversely, the jump from 1080p to 1440p is a 30 FPS drop, showing a linear progression that is typical for a mid-range GPU being pushed by a demanding resolution. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is able to feed the GPU adequately, but as resolution climbs, the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity become the bottleneck.

The Low settings show a similar trend but at higher absolute frame rates. At 1080p Low, the average is 216 FPS, which drops to 156 FPS at 1440p and 98 FPS at 4K. This 118 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K underscores how much the GPU is stressed by the higher pixel counts, even with reduced visual fidelity. The Medium settings provide a middle ground, with 173 FPS at 1080p, 125 FPS at 1440p, and 78 FPS at 4K. The data clearly indicates that the limiting component in this configuration shifts from the CPU at low resolutions to the GPU as resolution increases, which is expected given the GTX 1660 SUPER's specifications and the game's relatively modest CPU requirements.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER ranks 3166 out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the lower percentile of all configurations, suggesting that many other hardware pairings achieve higher average frame rates in this title. The position is heavily influenced by the GPU, which has a percentile rank of 53 among all GPUs, placing it near the median. In contrast, the CPU has a much higher percentile rank of 87, indicating that the processor is a top-tier component relative to the rest of the database.

The combo's rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance ceiling. While the CPU is capable of high benchmark scores, the GTX 1660 SUPER's average benchmark score of 12986 puts it in a competitive but not dominant position. Its nearest rivals show how close the competition is: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile has an average score of 12940 (a 0.4% difference), the AMD Radeon RX 580 scores 12928 (0.4% higher), and the AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870 (0.9% higher). The NVIDIA Tesla M2090 is the only rival with a higher score at 13075, which is 0.7% faster.

This tight grouping means that the GTX 1660 SUPER's performance is very much in line with its peers. The combo's ranking of 3166 out of 3716 is therefore not a reflection of a poorly matched pair, but rather an indication that the GPU is the constraining factor, and many combos with more powerful graphics cards will naturally score higher. The data suggests that for a game like Inside, which is not particularly demanding, this combo's rank is acceptable, but not exceptional, when compared to the entire spectrum of tested hardware.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer). It operates on the AMD Socket AM4 platform and features a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This processor is designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16262 and Geekbench multicore score of 14118. Its single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1527 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3469.

For a game like Inside, which is a 2D puzzle platformer, the CPU requirements are typically low. The data confirms this, as the processor's high core count and clock speeds are not fully utilized. The benchmark results show that the Ryzen 9 5900X has a percentile rank of 87 against all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 87% of tested processors. Its average benchmark score of 41376 places it in a tight competitive group, with the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H scoring 41263 (0.3% slower), the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H scoring 41215 (0.4% slower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 scoring 41208 (0.4% slower). The Intel Core i7-14650HX is the closest competitor from above, with a score of 41576 (0.5% faster).

In the context of Inside, the CPU's role is to ensure that the GPU is never starved of data. Given that the frame rates at 1080p Low reach 216 FPS, it is clear that the Ryzen 9 5900X provides more than enough processing power to handle the game's physics and logic. The bottleneck is almost exclusively the GPU, as the frame rate drops significantly when resolution increases, which does not heavily impact CPU load. The CPU's high boost clock and single-thread performance ensure that even at high frame rates, there is no stuttering or frame pacing issues, allowing the GTX 1660 SUPER to operate at its maximum potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: The average FPS is 216, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the game is heavily GPU-limited at this setting. There are no min or max FPS values provided, but the average suggests a very smooth experience.
• Medium: The average FPS is 173, with a minimum of 147 and a maximum of 199. This shows a stable frame rate with a 52 FPS range between min and max, indicating good consistency.
• High: The average FPS drops to 108, which is still very playable. No min or max values are provided for this preset.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 103, the lowest at this resolution, but still comfortably above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: The average FPS is 156, showing that the GPU can still push high frame rates at this resolution when settings are lowered.
• Medium: The average FPS is 125, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 143. The 37 FPS range indicates slightly more variance than at 1080p, but still within acceptable limits.
• High: The average FPS is 78, which is a significant drop from 1080p, showing the impact of the higher pixel count.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 74, the lowest at this resolution, but still maintains a playable frame rate.

At 3840x2160:

• Low: The average FPS is 98, which is still very high for 4K, though it is a substantial drop from the 156 FPS seen at 1440p.
• Medium: The average FPS is 78, with a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 90. The 24 FPS range shows that the frame rate is more consistent at this resolution, likely due to the GPU being fully saturated.
• High: The average FPS is 49, which is on the edge of playability for some users, but not ideal for a smooth experience.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 47, the lowest recorded in the entire dataset, indicating that the GTX 1660 SUPER is struggling at 4K with maximum settings.

The data shows that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates on most presets. At 4K, only the Low preset provides a consistently smooth experience, while Medium is borderline, and High/Ultra fall below 60 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60+ FPS?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, all tested settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) achieve average FPS above 100, making it the most comfortable resolution. At 2560x1440, all settings also exceed 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset averaging 74 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset (98 FPS) and Medium preset (78 FPS) exceed 60 FPS, while High (49 FPS) and Ultra (47 FPS) fall below.

Q: How does the combo's GPU rank compared to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 12986. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile, scores 12940, which is 0.4% slower. The AMD Radeon RX 580 scores 12928 (0.4% slower), and the AMD Radeon 740M scores 12870 (0.9% slower). The NVIDIA Tesla M2090 is the only rival with a higher score at 13075, which is 0.7% faster.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 216, but this drops to 49 FPS at 4K High. This significant drop with increasing resolution points to the GPU being saturated, especially since the Ryzen 9 5900X has a high benchmark score and is unlikely to be a constraint in a 2D puzzle platformer.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the database for this game?

A: The combo ranks 3166 out of 3716 tested combinations for Inside. This places it in the lower half of all tested configurations, which is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range performance rather than any CPU inadequacy.

Q: What are the CPU's key specifications that might affect game performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. It has 64 MB of L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Its high single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1527, is beneficial for games that rely on a few fast cores.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for this game?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER comes with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. For Inside, which is a relatively simple game, this amount of VRAM is sufficient, and the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p confirm that memory capacity is not a limiting factor in the measured results.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data shows that at 1920x1080, the Ultra preset can be used, as it averages 103 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality without sacrificing performance. For users with a 1440p monitor, the Ultra preset also averages 74 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended choice for maximum fidelity.

If the goal is to achieve a very high frame rate, such as 144 FPS or above, the Low preset at 1080p (216 FPS) or 1440p (156 FPS) is the only viable option. The Medium preset at 1080p (173 FPS) and 1440p (125 FPS) also offers high frame rates, but with better visual quality than Low. For 4K gaming, the data suggests that the Low preset (98 FPS) is the best choice for a smooth experience, while the Medium preset (78 FPS) is acceptable for those who prefer better visuals and can tolerate slightly lower frame rates.

The High preset at 4K (49 FPS) and Ultra at 4K (47 FPS) are not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as they fall below the 60 FPS mark. In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is to use Ultra settings at 1080p or 1440p for a balance of quality and performance, or Low settings at 4K for the highest frame rates possible. The Medium preset serves as a good middle ground at 4K, offering a playable frame rate with improved visual details over Low.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is based on the Turing architecture (chip TU116) and is a member of the GeForce 16-series. It features a base clock of 1530 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz. The GPU has 1408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, with a texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 85.68 GPixel/s. It delivers 5.027 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The memory subsystem consists of 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s.

The GPU's performance in Inside is directly tied to these specifications. The high memory bandwidth is beneficial for loading textures, though the game's simple art style does not heavily stress this aspect. The GPU's shading units and texture rate are more relevant, as they determine the fill rate and pixel processing capabilities, which are the primary factors at higher resolutions.

The benchmark results show that the GTX 1660 SUPER has a percentile rank of 53 among all GPUs, placing it in the middle of the pack. Its average benchmark score of 12986 is very close to its nearest rivals, with the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile just 0.4% slower and the RX 580 also 0.4% slower. This indicates that the GPU is a solid mid-range performer, but it is not designed for high-end 4K gaming. The data confirms this, as the frame rates at 4K High and Ultra drop below 50 FPS, showing the GPU's limits. The GPU's role in this combo is to provide playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, which it does exceptionally well, with the CPU ensuring that there is no bottleneck from the processor side.