Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer from 2016 that, on this hardware pairing, demonstrates an interesting balance between a very high-end CPU and a GPU that, while capable, is now several generations old. The benchmark data reveals a title that is surprisingly demanding at its highest settings, yet scales down to extremely high frame rates for those prioritizing smoothness. This combination of an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti occupies a specific performance tier, and the measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings paint a clear picture of its strengths and limitations.

Resolution Scaling

The impact of resolution on frame rate is pronounced and follows a predictable pattern across all settings. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops significantly, and the jump to 3840x2160 results in another substantial reduction. However, the rate of this drop is heavily dependent on the graphics preset. At Low settings, the game runs at 314.8 FPS at 1080p, drops to 227.7 FPS at 1440p (a 27.7% reduction), and then falls to 143.7 FPS at 4K (a 36.9% reduction from 1440p). This indicates that at lower presets, the CPU is capable of pushing a massive number of frames, and the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases.

In contrast, at Ultra settings, the scaling is less drastic in percentage terms but still substantial. The frame rate goes from 153.6 FPS at 1080p to 108.2 FPS at 1440p (a 29.6% drop), and then to 70.1 FPS at 4K (a 35.2% drop from 1440p). The data suggests that at Ultra, the GPU is already working near its limit even at 1080p, so the additional resolution overhead is more predictable. The High preset shows the most linear scaling, with the FPS dropping from 160.4 to 113.7 (29.1% drop) and then to 73 (35.8% drop). The consistent pattern across all presets points to the GTX 1080 Ti being the limiting component at higher resolutions, while the Ryzen 9 7900X ensures that the CPU is never the bottleneck, even when targeting very high frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz based on the Zen 4 architecture. Its benchmark scores are exceptionally high, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 43695 and a single-core score of 6168. The data shows this CPU is not a limiting factor in this game. Even at 1080p Low settings, where the game is most likely to be CPU-bound due to the sheer number of frames being rendered, the CPU delivers an average of 314.8 FPS. This indicates that Inside's engine is well-optimized to leverage the high single-thread performance of this processor.

The CPU's 64 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s further contribute to its ability to feed the GPU with data. In a game like Inside, which is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer, the primary CPU tasks involve physics, game logic, and draw call submission. The Ryzen 9 7900X's massive multi-threading capabilities are not fully utilized here, but its strong single-core performance is the key factor in achieving the high frame rates seen at lower presets. The data shows that the CPU's role is to provide a massive headroom, ensuring that frame rates are dictated by the GPU's rendering capabilities rather than any processor limitation.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database for Inside, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is ranked at 929 out of 1671 tested combos. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is a notable outcome given the CPU's top-tier status. The ranking is primarily dragged down by the GPU, which only sits at the 61st percentile when compared to all other GPUs. This suggests that many other tested configurations use either a more modern or a higher-end GPU, which results in better performance in this specific title.

The CPU itself is in the 93rd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 50556. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, have an average score of 50598, a difference of -0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT, which scores 50738, a -0.4% difference. These are all extremely close in overall CPU performance. However, the GPU is in the 61st percentile, with nearest rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (19405, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro 560X (19426, -0.1% delta). This shows that the GPU's performance is far more variable relative to its peers. The combination's rank of 929 indicates that while the CPU is a top performer, the GPU holds this pairing back to a mid-range tier in this particular game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance. At 1920x1080, the game is extremely playable at all settings. The Low preset yields an average of 314.8 FPS, Medium 255.1 FPS, and High 160.4 FPS. Ultra is the only setting that dips below the 200 FPS mark, averaging 153.6 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the GTX 1080 Ti is capable of delivering a very high refresh rate experience, even with the most demanding presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain solid but are noticeably lower. Low averages 227.7 FPS, Medium 183.8 FPS, and High 113.7 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 108.2 FPS, which is still well above the standard 60 FPS threshold. The step to 3840x2160 is where the GPU starts to show its age. Low settings still manage a very playable 143.7 FPS, and Medium averages 116.7 FPS. However, the more demanding settings push the hardware harder: High averages 73 FPS, and Ultra averages 70.1 FPS. These numbers are playable but indicate that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, High or Ultra settings are the ceiling for this GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, with its 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s. This memory configuration is substantial and helps maintain performance at higher resolutions. The GPU has a base clock of 1481 MHz and a boost clock of 1582 MHz, based on the Pascal architecture. Its benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 18600, place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, making it a mid-range performer by today's standards.

The data shows that this GPU is the primary factor in the FPS differences between resolutions. At 1080p, it can easily push frames, but the scaling to 4K shows a clear performance ceiling. The difference between the High and Ultra presets at 4K is only 2.9 FPS (73 vs 70.1), which indicates that the GPU is fully saturated and the extra graphical features in Ultra are causing a bottleneck. The 11 GB of VRAM is likely not a limiting factor in this game, but the raw compute power of the GP102 chip is. The GPU's role is to deliver good to excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, with playable, but not high-refresh-rate, performance at 4K on the highest settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings for this hardware depend on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as it delivers an average of 153.6 FPS, which is more than enough for any high refresh rate monitor. The drop from Medium (255.1 FPS) to Ultra (153.6 FPS) is significant, but the visual quality improvement is worth it, as the frame rate remains exceptionally high.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset is still the best option for a smooth experience on a 144Hz monitor, averaging 108.2 FPS. For those with a 60Hz display, all presets provide more than enough performance. At 4K, the choice is more nuanced. The High preset, at 73 FPS, is the best balance for a smooth experience on a standard 60Hz screen. The Ultra preset, at 70.1 FPS, offers a marginal visual upgrade for a small performance cost. The Medium preset, at 116.7 FPS, is the best choice for those with a high refresh rate 4K monitor, as it provides a substantial frame rate increase while still looking good. The Low preset at 4K, while hitting 143.7 FPS, is not recommended for a puzzle platformer where visual atmosphere is key. The data suggests that High at 4K is the sweet spot for this combination, delivering a locked 60 FPS experience with strong visual fidelity.