Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 produces a highly variable experience in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. The data shows that this combination's performance is heavily dictated by the graphics settings and resolution, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher presets. While the CPU is a top-tier 16-core processor, the measured frame rates reveal a system that can deliver smooth gameplay at lower settings but struggles to maintain high refresh rates at maximum quality.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data illustrates a clear and significant drop in performance as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 135 FPS. This figure drops to 95.3 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 59.4 FPS at 3840x2160 on the same Low preset. This represents a reduction of approximately 30% when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and another 38% when stepping up to 4K.

This scaling pattern strongly indicates that the limiting component is the GPU. The GTX 1650's 4 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are being saturated as the pixel count increases. The trend is consistent across all settings. For instance, on the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 67.1 FPS at 1080p to 48.6 FPS at 1440p, and then to 31.8 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows a similar trajectory, with a drop from 63.5 FPS at 1080p to 44.2 FPS at 1440p and 31.9 FPS at 4K.

The fact that the frame rate nearly halves when moving from 1080p to 4K on the Low preset (135 FPS to 59.4 FPS) is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the primary constraint, the frame rates would be much closer together at different resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not scale with pixel count in the same way. Here, the performance penalty is directly proportional to the increase in rendering load, confirming that the GeForce GTX 1650 is the decisive factor in this pairing for Inside.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a formidable processor, featuring 16 cores and 32 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture. Its benchmark scores are excellent, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 38607 and a single-core score of 5450. In multi-threaded workloads, it sits in the 93rd percentile compared to all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49062. Its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Core i5-14600KF, post scores of 49166 and 49367, respectively, showing the 5950X is essentially on par with those parts, with a negligible deltaPct of -0.2% and -0.6%.

However, the data for Inside indicates that this immense CPU power is largely underutilized. The game's performance is not scaling with the CPU's capabilities. At 1080p Low, where the CPU would normally be the upper bound for frame rates, the system only achieves 135 FPS. While this is a high number, it is not a reflection of the 5950X's full potential, which can push far beyond this in less demanding scenarios. The CPU's single-thread performance, a key metric for many games, is also strong, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2211 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3470, yet it is not the limiting factor.

The CPU's role here is to provide a stable and high ceiling that the GPU cannot reach. With a multi-threaded Passmark score of 45424, there is no indication of a CPU bottleneck. The frame rates are instead being capped by the GTX 1650's rendering capabilities. The processor is simply waiting for the GPU to finish its work, which is why the resolution scaling shows such a pronounced effect. The data suggests that the Ryzen 9 5950X is more than sufficient for this title, and any performance limitations are entirely attributable to the graphics card.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the clear bottleneck in this configuration. This GPU, based on the Turing architecture, has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. Its benchmark scores are modest, sitting in the 43rd percentile for all GPUs with an average score of 8713. It is closely matched with rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile (deltaPct -0.4%) and the AMD Radeon 550X (deltaPct -0.4%), indicating it performs in the lower-middle tier of graphics cards.

The GPU's performance limits are directly visible in the measured FPS data. The card's compute capabilities, with a FP32 rating of 2.984 TFLOPS, are not enough to handle the demands of Inside at higher resolutions and settings. The 4 GB VRAM buffer is likely a contributing factor at 4K, where the game requires more memory for textures and frame data. The difference between the Low and High presets at 4K is stark: 59.4 FPS versus 31.8 FPS. This shows that the increased texture detail and effects on the High preset are taxing the GPU far more heavily.

The GTX 1650's performance is also characterized by its clock speeds, with a base of 1485 MHz and a boost of 1665 MHz. While these are decent for the card's class, they do not compensate for the limited memory bandwidth and shading units (896). The card's pixel rate of 53.28 GPixel/s and texture rate of 93.24 GTexel/s are simply not sufficient to maintain high frame rates under heavy load. The data confirms that for Inside, the GPU is the component that determines the playable settings and resolutions, not the CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database of tested combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks 1605th out of 1671 combos for Inside. This places it in the bottom 4% of all tested systems, which is a remarkably low position. This ranking is a direct consequence of the significant mismatch between the high-end CPU and the entry-level GPU.

This low rank is not a reflection of the CPU's performance, but rather the GPU's inability to keep pace. The data shows that the GTX 1650 is holding back the entire system. While the 5950X is in the 93rd percentile for CPUs, the GTX 1650 is only in the 43rd percentile for GPUs. When combined, the system's overall capability is dragged down to the GPU's level. The combo's rank suggests that for a game like Inside, the pairing is inefficient, as the processor's potential is almost entirely wasted.

The ranking implies that a user would see nearly identical frame rates with a much weaker CPU paired with the same GTX 1650. The performance envelope is defined by the graphics card. This combo is an example of an imbalanced build, where the CPU's power is far ahead of what the GPU can utilize. The data strongly suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield a dramatic improvement in this game, while upgrading the CPU would provide no measurable benefit.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired smoothness. For a standard 60 FPS experience, the data shows that this is achievable at 1080p and 1440p with the right settings.

At 1920x1080, the High preset provides an average of 67.1 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and offers a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset drops to 63.5 FPS, which is still playable but offers diminishing returns for the extra load. The Medium preset delivers 104.6 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors, and Low pushes it to 135 FPS for maximum smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset offers a solid 79.3 FPS, making it the best choice for a smooth experience. The High preset at 48.6 FPS is playable but falls below the 60 FPS mark, and Ultra at 44.2 FPS is not ideal. At 4K (3840x2160), the Low preset is the only viable option for smooth gameplay, hitting 59.4 FPS. The Medium preset at 49.9 FPS and High at 31.8 FPS are too demanding for this GPU.

Therefore, the data suggests that for the best experience, users should target 1440p with Medium settings for a high frame rate, or 1080p with High settings for a balance of quality and performance. For 4K, the Low preset is the only way to achieve near-60 FPS, but it sacrifices significant visual fidelity. The gap between Low and High settings is substantial at every resolution, indicating that the GTX 1650's performance is very sensitive to graphical load.

FAQ

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

A: No, at 3840x2160 with High settings, the combo only averages 31.8 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 31.9 FPS. The Low preset is required for a playable 59.4 FPS at 4K.

Q: What is the best resolution and setting for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset achieves 67.1 FPS, which is above 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers 79.3 FPS, also exceeding the target. The 4K resolution only reaches 59.4 FPS on the Low preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The frame rates drop significantly with increasing resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The Ryzen 9 5950X's performance is far beyond what the GTX 1650 can utilize, as evidenced by the 1605th rank out of 1671 combos.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 8713. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, has a score of 8746, a difference of -0.4%. Similarly, the AMD Radeon 550X scores 8749, also a -0.4% delta.

Q: What kind of frame rate increase is seen when moving from High to Low settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 67.1 FPS, while the Low preset averages 135 FPS. This is more than double the frame rate, showing a massive performance gain from reducing graphical fidelity.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5950X a high-performing CPU in general?

A: Yes, the data shows it is in the 93rd percentile for all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 49062. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 38607, placing it in the same performance tier as the Intel Core i5-14600K, which has a score of 49166 and a deltaPct of -0.2%.