Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 produces a compelling dataset for Inside, a Puzzle Platformer from 2016. The measured frames per second (FPS) reveal a configuration that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet transitions into a more balanced state at 1080p, where the CPU’s high clock speeds become increasingly relevant. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across three resolutions and four settings presets, contextualizing the results within the broader benchmark database.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drops tells a specific story about system bottlenecks. At 1080p High, the combo averages 148 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 High drops the average to 106 FPS, a reduction of 42 FPS (approximately 28.4% lower). Escalating to 3840x2160 High yields an average of 67 FPS, which is 81 FPS below the 1080p figure—a substantial 54.7% decrease from the 1080p baseline.

This scaling pattern is indicative of a system that is primarily limited by the GPU at higher resolutions. The RTX 5050's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus, delivering 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are being pushed harder as pixel count increases. The data shows that the gap between 1440p and 4K is larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p, which is typical for a GPU-centric bottleneck. For instance, at High settings, the difference between 1080p and 1440p is 42 FPS, while the difference between 1440p and 4K is 39 FPS. While the absolute drops are similar, the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K (36.8%) is slightly higher, indicating the GPU is running out of headroom.

The story changes at Low settings. Here, the 1080p average is 296 FPS, which drops to 213 FPS at 1440p and 134 FPS at 4K. The massive 296 FPS at 1080p suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU an enormous number of frames, but the GPU is still the limiting factor since the frame rate is not capped. The fact that the 1080p Low score is more than double the 4K High score (296 vs 67) underscores that resolution and settings have a multiplicative effect on the GPU load. The data strongly suggests that for this title, the RTX 5050 is the primary constraint on performance at 1440p and 4K, while the Ryzen 9 7900X has ample headroom to support high frame rates at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 achieves a combo rank of 1719 out of 2887 tested combinations for Inside. This places it in the 59.6th percentile of all tested combos, meaning it performs better than the majority of systems in the database but is not near the top tier. The 2887 total combos represent a wide array of hardware pairings, and a rank of 1719 suggests that while the CPU is a high-end part, the GPU holds the combo back from reaching the upper echelons of the leaderboard.

The combo's ranking is a direct consequence of the hardware's individual performance characteristics. The CPU, with a percentileVsAllCpus of 91, is in the top 10% of all processors tested. The GPU, however, has a percentileVsAllGpus of 66, placing it in the upper third of all graphics cards. The disparity between these two percentiles is the key factor in the combo's overall rank. The system is effectively a top-tier CPU paired with a mid-to-upper-tier GPU, and for a game like Inside which is less demanding than modern AAA titles, the GPU is the component that determines the final position. The data shows that the combo is not a top-1000 performer, but it is comfortably above the median, offering a solid experience for this title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. For a 2016 puzzle platformer like Inside, these specifications are far beyond what is necessary for a fluid experience. The game is not designed to utilize 12 cores effectively, and the benchmark results reflect this. The 1080p Low setting, which minimizes GPU load, produces an average of 296 FPS, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck even in the most favorable conditions for it.

The CPU's benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29300 and a single-core score of 2016.5, demonstrate its immense computational power. However, in Inside, the FPS at 1080p High (148 FPS) is likely limited by the GPU, not the CPU. The high single-core performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4238, ensures that the game's primary game logic thread is handled with ease. The data suggests that the CPU's role is to provide a stable, high-frequency platform that never becomes the limiting factor. Its 64 MB of shared L3 cache and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are more than sufficient for the game's data requirements. The 24 threads are largely idle, but the high boost clock of 5.60 GHz is what allows the system to achieve the very high frame rates seen at 1080p Low, where the GPU is less burdened. The CPU is a silent partner in this combo, providing a robust foundation that allows the GPU to be the sole determinant of performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The dataset provides average FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, across Low, Medium, High, and Ultra settings. Minimum and maximum FPS are only available for the Medium preset.

At 1920x1080, the performance is high across the board. The Low preset averages 296 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth. The Medium preset averages 237 FPS, with a minimum of 201 and a maximum of 272 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 148 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to 141 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is minimal (7 FPS), suggesting that the Ultra preset is not significantly more demanding than High at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very playable. The Low preset averages 213 FPS. Medium settings average 170 FPS, with a minimum of 145 and a maximum of 196 FPS. The High preset averages 106 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 101 FPS. The drop from 1080p High to 1440p High is 42 FPS, illustrating the impact of the increased pixel count on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, performance begins to dip below the 60 FPS threshold for the first time. The Low preset still manages an average of 134 FPS, which is excellent for 4K. The Medium preset averages 107 FPS, with a minimum of 91 and a maximum of 123 FPS. However, the High preset averages 67 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS. These are the only two data points where the average FPS falls below 70, indicating that the RTX 5050 is struggling to maintain high frame rates at 4K with higher graphical fidelity.

The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, revealing a consistent frame pacing. At 4K Medium, the min FPS is 91, which is above the 60 FPS target, indicating a stable experience. At 1440p Medium, the min is 145, and at 1080p Medium, the min is 201. These minimums are high enough to avoid perceptible stutter.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the defining component in this combo's gaming performance. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus and a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s, it is a capable mid-range card. The GPU's boost clock is 2572 MHz, and it has 2560 shading units. In Inside, the GPU is the primary bottleneck at all resolutions and settings, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops when increasing resolution or graphical fidelity.

The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 17326 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502, place it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. This is a solid performance level, but it is not designed for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming in more demanding titles. For Inside, the data shows that the RTX 5050 can handle 4K at Medium settings with an average of 107 FPS, but at High and Ultra, it falls to 67 and 64 FPS, respectively. The 8 GB VRAM is likely not a limitation for this game, given its 2016 release date and relatively simple textures, but the raw compute power of the GPU is the limiting factor.

The transition from Medium to High at 4K causes a 40 FPS drop (from 107 to 67 FPS), which is a steep penalty. This suggests that the High preset introduces a significant increase in shader complexity or memory allocation that the GPU struggles to sustain. The GPU's FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS is sufficient for this title, but the data clearly indicates that the RTX 5050 is more suited to 1080p and 1440p gaming at high frame rates, with 4K being a stretch for the highest settings. The GPU is the reason the combo ranks at 1719, as its performance ceiling is the primary constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate.

For 4K (3840x2160), the Medium preset is the clear choice. It delivers an average of 107 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard, and has a minimum of 91 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. The High preset drops to 67 FPS, and while it might be acceptable for some, the Medium preset offers a much better balance of visual quality and performance. The Low preset at 134 FPS is an option for maximum smoothness, but the visual compromise is likely not worth it. Ultra is not recommended, as the 64 FPS average puts it on the edge of playability.

For 1440p (2560x1440), the High preset is recommended, providing an average of 106 FPS. This offers a significant visual improvement over Medium (170 FPS) while maintaining a frame rate that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors. For gamers with 144Hz displays, the Medium preset at 170 FPS is the better choice to fully utilize the refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 101 FPS is also viable, but the marginal visual gain over High is not supported by the data, which shows only a 5 FPS difference between the two.

For 1080p (1920x1080), the Ultra preset is the most logical choice. It averages 141 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth for most displays. Since the difference between High (148 FPS) and Ultra (141 FPS) is negligible, there is no reason not to enable the highest quality settings. For those with 240Hz or higher refresh rate monitors, the Medium preset at 237 FPS is the only setting that can approach those refresh rates, but the visual fidelity sacrifice is substantial. The Low preset at 296 FPS is for esports-level response times, but it is unnecessary for a single-player puzzle platformer.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a 60Hz display?

A: For a 60Hz display, the 4K Medium preset is the best choice, as it provides an average of 107 FPS with a minimum of 91 FPS, ensuring a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. This allows for the highest resolution with smooth performance.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X a bottleneck for the RTX 5050 in this game?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck. The 1080p Low preset achieves 296 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate to suggest the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's high single-core performance is more than adequate for Inside.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 148 at 1080p High to 67 at 4K High. This represents a reduction of 81 FPS, or approximately 54.7% of the 1080p performance, highlighting the significant load increase on the GPU.

Q: Which preset offers the most stable frame pacing, based on the available data?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with minimum and maximum FPS data. At 4K, the minimum is 91 FPS and the maximum is 123 FPS, showing a consistent range. At 1440p, the range is 145-196 FPS, and at 1080p, it is 201-272 FPS, indicating stable performance across all resolutions.

Q: How does this combo's rank compare to other tested systems for this game?

A: The combo ranks 1719 out of 2887 tested combinations. This places it in the upper half of all systems tested, but the GPU's 66th percentile ranking versus the CPU's 91st percentile suggests the graphics card is the primary reason it does not rank higher.

Q: Is the RTX 5050 capable of running the Ultra preset at 4K?

A: The data shows the Ultra preset at 4K averages 64 FPS. While technically playable, this is very close to the 60 FPS minimum standard and leaves little headroom for demanding scenes, making it a less desirable option than the Medium preset.