Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and Intel Arc B390 combination produces highly variable frame rates in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. The data shows a system where the CPU provides immense headroom, but the integrated-class GPU becomes the decisive factor for playability. Benchmark results indicate that while the processor is a top-tier desktop part, the graphics solution ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, fundamentally shaping the performance envelope across all tested resolutions and settings.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer. It operates on the AMD Socket AM4 platform with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This is a high-end desktop CPU, evidenced by its 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, and its synthetic benchmark scores are substantial, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 26017 and a single-core score of 1614.

Given the nature of Inside as a puzzle platformer, the game's engine is unlikely to stress a 16-core processor. The data supports this; the CPU's single-thread performance is robust, with a Passmark single-thread score of 3470 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 944. These scores indicate that the processor can handle the game's logical and physics calculations without becoming a bottleneck. The 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support further ensure that memory bandwidth is not a limiting factor for the CPU’s role.

The processor's performance relative to its nearest rivals is essentially a tie. The data shows it is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, 0.3% slower than the AMD EPYC 8124P, and 0.7% slower than the Intel Core i7-14700. It is 0.4% faster than the Intel Core i9-13900F. These negligible percentage differences confirm that the Ryzen 9 5950X is operating at the very top of its class, and in a game like Inside, its capabilities are far beyond what is required.

The measured FPS data confirms that the CPU is not the limiting component. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves an average of 156 FPS. This high frame rate, even in a less demanding scenario, suggests the CPU is feeding the GPU efficiently. The fact that scores drop when settings increase or resolution scales up points directly to the GPU as the performance ceiling. The CPU role here is to provide a stable, high-throughput foundation. It does this effectively, with its 32 threads ensuring that any background tasks or game engine threads are handled without contention, allowing the GPU to work at its maximum potential for each given setting.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is the polar opposite of the CPU in terms of performance class. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Critically, its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 RAM rather than having dedicated VRAM. This architecture and memory sharing contribute to its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482.

The GPU's synthetic data is sparse, with only a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. Its nearest rivals are all low-end dedicated GPUs from previous generations, including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster), GeForce 800M (1.5% faster), GeForce GT 625 OEM (2.5% faster), and GeForce GT 710 (2.7% faster). This context is crucial: the Arc B390 is performing at the level of entry-level graphics solutions from over a decade ago, despite its modern architecture.

In Inside, the GPU's role is to render the game's distinctive 2D silhouette art style and lighting effects. The data shows this is a struggle at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 74, and at 1440p Ultra, it falls to 53. The GPU's pixel rate is listed as 60.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate as 120.0 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS. These numbers are modest, and the lack of dedicated VRAM means that texture loading and memory bandwidth are dependent on the system's overall performance and memory speed, which is listed as "System Dependent."

The boost clock of 2500 MHz is respectable, but the architecture's limitations are clear. The GPU's performance scales poorly with increased graphical load. For instance, moving from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p causes the average FPS to halve, from 156 to 74. This indicates that the shader and fill-rate limitations of the Arc B390 are the primary constraint. The GPU is not powerful enough to maintain high frame rates at maximum quality presets, making it the definitive bottleneck in this combination.

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

The resolution scaling data provides a clear picture of a GPU-bound system. When moving from 1080p to 4K (3840x2160), the average frame rates decrease significantly across all settings, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting factor.

At High settings, the average FPS drops from 78 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p and finally to 35 at 4K. This is a 55% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K. The trend is even more pronounced at Low settings, where the average FPS drops from 156 at 1080p to 112 at 1440p and 70 at 4K—a 55% drop as well. This proportional decrease is a classic sign of GPU limitation, as the workload scales with the number of pixels rendered.

The Medium settings row is the only one with full min/max data, providing more detail. At 1080p Medium, the average is 125 FPS (min 106, max 144). At 1440p Medium, the average falls to 90 FPS (min 76, max 103). At 4K Medium, the average drops to 56 FPS (min 48, max 65). The frame time consistency appears to be maintained, but the overall throughput is heavily impacted by resolution.

This data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck, as the FPS scales almost linearly with pixel count. If the CPU were the limit, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions. Instead, the FPS continues to climb as resolution decreases, reaching 156 FPS at 1080p Low. This suggests that the Ryzen 9 5950X is capable of much higher frame rates, but the Arc B390 cannot render them. The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU, as its rendering throughput is exhausted at 4K, resulting in averages of 35 FPS on High and 34 FPS on Ultra.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1080p is the only resolution that consistently provides 60+ FPS averages. At 1080p Low, the average is 156 FPS; at Medium, it is 125 FPS; and at High, it is 78 FPS. At 1440p, only Low settings (112 FPS) and Medium (90 FPS) achieve 60+ FPS averages.

*Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K Ultra settings?*

A: No. The measured average FPS at 4K Ultra is 34 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at 4K High, the average is only 35 FPS. The GPU does not have enough rendering power for this resolution and preset combination.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The data shows the Arc B390 is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 1.5% slower than the GeForce 800M. It is 2.5% slower than the GeForce GT 625 OEM and 2.7% slower than the GeForce GT 710. This puts it in the performance class of very old, entry-level dedicated GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The CPU's performance is far beyond what the game requires. Its 91st percentile ranking and high single-thread scores, such as a 3DMark single-thread score of 944, suggest it is not the limiting factor. The FPS scales with resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What is the highest settings preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Medium settings at 1440p yields an average of 90 FPS. High settings at 1440p drops to an average of 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS mark. Therefore, Medium is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 2547 out of 2887 indicate?

A: This rank indicates that this specific CPU-GPU combination is outperformed by the vast majority of other tested combos in this game. It places the combo in the lower 12% of all tested systems, primarily due to the GPU's low performance percentile.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for the best experience. The primary goal is to maintain a frame rate that is smooth and responsive, which generally means targeting 60 FPS or higher. The data shows that the Intel Arc B390 requires significant compromises in settings to achieve this.

At 1080p, the system is capable of running the game at High settings with an average of 78 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. While Ultra settings are playable at 74 FPS, the marginal visual improvement may not justify the performance cost, and High is the safer recommendation for maintaining a consistent frame rate. The Medium preset offers a high average of 125 FPS, which is beneficial for players with high refresh rate monitors, but the visual quality is lower.

At 1440p, the recommended settings shift to Low, which produces an average of 112 FPS. Medium is also viable, with an average of 90 FPS, but it introduces a minimum FPS of 76. For a more stable experience with higher visual fidelity, Medium is the best choice. High settings at 1440p drop to 56 FPS, which is below the ideal target.

At 4K, the system struggles to maintain smooth gameplay. Low settings provide an average of 70 FPS, which is acceptable. Medium settings drop to 56 FPS, and High and Ultra are not recommended due to averages of 35 and 34 FPS, respectively. For the best experience at 4K, Low settings are the only viable option. The data suggests that 1080p High is the optimal balance, offering good visual quality without sacrificing performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination. The data shows a consistent decline in performance as both resolution and graphical fidelity increase.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest performance. Low settings produce an average of 156 FPS. Medium settings average 125 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS. High settings average 78 FPS. Ultra settings average 74 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance decreases. Low settings average 112 FPS. Medium settings average 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. High settings average 56 FPS. Ultra settings average 53 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings average 70 FPS. Medium settings average 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS. Ultra settings average 34 FPS.

These numbers paint a clear picture of a system whose frame rate is dictated entirely by the GPU's capability. The CPU provides ample headroom, but the Arc B390 cannot deliver high frame rates at high resolutions or settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined rank of this specific hardware configuration in Inside is 2547 out of 2887 tested combos. This places the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X + Intel Arc B390 in the bottom 12% of all systems tested for this game. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU's performance.

The CPU's individual ranking is very high, in the 91st percentile, and its benchmark scores are competitive with the fastest processors available. However, the GPU's 9th percentile ranking and its proximity in performance to GPUs like the GeForce GT 710 and GT 520MX drag the entire system down. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in an overall system that is severely bottlenecked.

The data suggests that this combo is not well-suited for gaming at high resolutions or settings. While the CPU is future-proof and capable of handling any modern game, the GPU limits the system to playing Inside at 1080p with medium-to-high settings for a smooth experience. The rank of 2547 indicates that almost any other tested combo with a more capable dedicated GPU would provide a better gaming experience, regardless of the CPU's power. The system’s performance is a direct reflection of its weakest link, which is the Intel Arc B390.