Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile delivers a remarkably strong experience in Inside, with the data showing that the title is far more dependent on the GPU than the CPU. The measured frame rates reveal that even at 4K with Ultra settings, the combo maintains an average of 64 FPS, which is perfectly playable for this puzzle platformer. However, the scaling pattern across resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher settings, while the 16-core processor ensures that the game never becomes CPU-bound, even at 1080p with Low settings where the average FPS reaches 297.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a clear and predictable drop as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that drop is heavily influenced by the graphics preset. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 297 at 1080p to 213 at 1440p, a reduction of 84 FPS, and then to 134 at 4K, another 79 FPS reduction. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 4060 Mobile is the limiting factor, as the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth are saturated by the higher pixel counts, while the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames.

At High settings, the scaling is slightly less dramatic in absolute terms: 148 FPS at 1080p, 107 FPS at 1440p, and 67 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings is 81 FPS, which is similar to the Low setting delta. However, the percentage drop is more pronounced because the starting point is lower. The data indicates that doubling the resolution from 1080p to 4K roughly halves the frame rate at High settings, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario.

The Medium preset provides the most complete picture, as it is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the average is 237 FPS with a minimum of 202 and a maximum of 273. Moving to 1440p Medium drops the average to 171 FPS (min 145, max 196), and 4K Medium further reduces it to 107 FPS (min 91, max 123). The minimum FPS values are consistently about 85% of the average, suggesting that the frame pacing is stable and that no sudden CPU-related stutters occur, even at the lower resolutions where the CPU is working harder.

The Ultra preset shows the smallest absolute differences between resolutions: 141 FPS at 1080p, 102 FPS at 1440p, and 64 FPS at 4K. This compression of the frame rate range at Ultra suggests that the GPU is heavily loaded even at 1080p, and the additional pixel workload at higher resolutions has a diminishing impact on the already strained GPU. The fact that 4K Ultra (64 FPS) is only 77 FPS slower than 1080p Ultra (141 FPS) indicates that the RTX 4060 Mobile's 8 GB VRAM and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are being fully utilized at all resolutions with this preset.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This is a top-tier mobile CPU, ranking in the 95th percentile among all processors, and its benchmark scores reflect its strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 42,713 points in multi-core and 6,030 points in single-core, while its Passmark multithread score is 51,405.

For a game like Inside, which is a puzzle platformer with relatively modest CPU demands, the 8945HX is grossly overqualified. The data shows that even at 1080p with Low settings, where the CPU has to prepare the most frames per second (297 FPS), the processor does not bottleneck the system. The lack of minimum FPS data for Low settings suggests that the frame rate is stable and not subject to CPU-induced dips. The CPU's single-core performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 2,532, is more than sufficient to handle the game's physics and logic updates.

Comparing the 8945HX to its nearest rivals, it is effectively tied with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which has an average benchmark score of 76,155 versus 76,212 for the AMD chip, a delta of just 0.1%. This means that in CPU-bound scenarios, the choice between these two processors would have virtually no impact on frame rates. The 8945HX also performs within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and within 0.4% of both the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX, all of which are far more expensive desktop or server parts.

The CPU's 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth provide ample data throughput for the game's assets. The Passmark data compression score of 677,755 indicates that the CPU can handle asset decompression without introducing loading hitches. In practice, the 8945HX's role in this combo is to provide a completely unconstrained platform for the GPU, ensuring that the RTX 4060 Mobile is always the determining factor for performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is the decisive component in this pairing. Based on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 3,072 shading units, it has a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1890 MHz. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and its FP32 performance is rated at 11.61 TFLOPS. The GPU sits in the 67th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22,729.

The measured FPS data clearly shows the GPU's influence. At 1080p Low, the RTX 4060 Mobile pushes 297 FPS, but this drops to 141 FPS at 1080p Ultra, a 53% reduction. This scaling is the result of the GPU's shading units being tasked with more complex pixel shading and lighting calculations at Ultra settings. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 17,469 is respectable, but it is the DirectX 11 score of 157 that is more relevant for Inside, as that API is commonly used for such titles.

The GPU's memory configuration plays a critical role at higher resolutions. With 8 GB of VRAM and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, the RTX 4060 Mobile is able to handle 4K textures without running out of memory, as evidenced by the playable 67 FPS average at 4K High. However, the performance delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is 70 FPS (134 vs 64), which indicates that the memory bandwidth is a limiting factor when the GPU is forced to write and read larger frame buffers at Ultra quality.

In comparison to its rivals, the RTX 4060 Mobile is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which has an average score of 22,895 (0.7% higher). It also trades blows with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT (22,549, 0.8% lower) and the Intel Arc B580 (23,021, 1.3% higher). The most interesting comparison is with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile, which scores 22,435 (1.3% lower), suggesting that the older 4060 Mobile is still highly competitive in this performance tier. This means that in GPU-bound scenarios, the 4060 Mobile will deliver frame rates within a few percentage points of these alternatives.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Inside, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile ranks 2,237 out of 3,716 tested combos. This places it in the 60th percentile of all combinations, which is a solid mid-to-upper tier ranking. The ranking is influenced by the fact that many other combos include desktop-class GPUs or higher-end mobile parts that outperform the RTX 4060 Mobile.

The combo's rank is more a reflection of the GPU's relative position than the CPU's. The 8945HX is in the 95th percentile of CPUs, but the RTX 4060 Mobile is only in the 67th percentile of GPUs. Since Inside is GPU-bound at most settings, the combo's overall ranking is dragged down by the GPU's mid-pack performance. A combo with a slower CPU but a faster GPU would likely rank higher, as the CPU has more than enough headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck.

The data suggests that this combo is a balanced match for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1440p High, it produces 107 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at 4K High, the 67 FPS average is playable, but the 64 FPS at 4K Ultra is right at the edge of what many consider acceptable for a title that is not reflex-intensive. The ranking of 2,237 out of 3,716 indicates that while this combo is not a top-tier performer, it is far from being a low-end configuration, and it offers a consistent experience across all resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset at 141 FPS is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p only costs 7 FPS (148 to 141), making it a worthwhile trade-off for the enhanced effects.

For 1440p, the High preset at 107 FPS is the recommended starting point. The Ultra preset drops to 102 FPS, which is still playable, but the 5 FPS difference is not worth the potential for more demanding scenes to dip below 100 FPS. The Medium preset at 171 FPS is ideal for players who prioritize high refresh rates, but the visual downgrade from High is noticeable.

At 4K, the situation is more nuanced. The High preset at 67 FPS is the best balance of quality and performance, as it remains above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 64 FPS is technically playable, but the margin is thin, and the min FPS data for Medium (91 FPS) suggests that Ultra could dip below 60 in more complex scenes. The Low preset at 134 FPS is overkill for this game's visuals and should only be used if the user has a 120Hz+ 4K display and prioritizes frame rate over everything else.

The Medium preset provides the most consistent experience, with a minimum FPS that is 85-87% of the average across all resolutions. For players who value stability, Medium at 1440p (171 FPS avg, 145 min) offers a large safety margin over any potential frame drops. Overall, the data indicates that High settings are the "sweet spot" for this combo, providing a 67-148 FPS range depending on resolution, which comfortably covers all standard refresh rates.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve in Inside?*

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 297, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This confirms the CPU's ability to feed frames without bottlenecking.

*Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Yes, the data shows playable frame rates at 4K. The High preset produces an average of 67 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 64 FPS. Both are above the standard 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 8945HX compare to its closest CPU rival?

A: The 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76,212, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (76,155). This makes them effectively identical in performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4060 Mobile better than the RTX 5060 Mobile?

A: According to the benchmark data, the RTX 4060 Mobile has an average score of 22,729, which is 1.3% higher than the RTX 5060 Mobile's 22,435 score. The 4060 Mobile is slightly faster in this comparison.

Q: What is the best preset for a 1440p display with a high refresh rate?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 171 FPS with a minimum of 145 FPS. This provides a large margin above 144Hz refresh rates, ensuring consistent smoothness.

Q: Does the CPU ever become a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests not. Even at 1080p Low with 297 FPS, the system performs without issue. The 16-core processor's single-core performance (6,030 in Cinebench R23) is more than sufficient for Inside's workload.