Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Inside, a game that is clearly not demanding on modern hardware. Across all tested resolutions and settings, the combo never dips below 72 FPS, indicating a massive performance headroom for this puzzle platformer. The data suggests that the primary bottleneck in this title is not the CPU or GPU raw horsepower, but rather the game's engine and the chosen graphics preset, which have a disproportionate impact on frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic pattern where the GPU becomes more influential as pixel count increases, yet the absolute frame rates remain exceptionally high in all cases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 333 FPS, which is a phenomenal figure. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 239 FPS, a 28% reduction, and 4K Low brings it down to 150 FPS, another 37% reduction. This scaling shows that even at 4K, the RTX 4070 is not being pushed anywhere near its limits, as the frame rate remains more than double the refresh rate of most high-end monitors.

When we look at the High settings preset, the resolution scaling is more moderate in percentage terms but still results in high playability. The 1080p High score of 166 FPS falls to 120 FPS at 1440p, a 28% drop, and then to 75 FPS at 4K, a further 38% drop. The fact that the 4K High frame rate (75 FPS) is still comfortably above 60 FPS indicates that the GPU has sufficient headroom for this title. The performance delta between 1080p and 1440p is nearly identical to the delta between 1440p and 4K, suggesting a linear scaling curve that is typical for a GPU-bound scenario at these settings.

The most telling data point for identifying the limiting component comes from the Ultra preset. At 1080p Ultra, the combo produces 159 FPS, which is only 4% lower than the 166 FPS at High settings. This small difference suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is beginning to play a more significant role, as the GPU can render frames faster than the game logic can feed it. However, at 4K Ultra, the score drops to 72 FPS, a 55% reduction from 1080p Ultra. This substantial drop confirms that the RTX 4070 is the primary limiter at 4K, as the increased pixel workload finally starts to saturate the GPU's capabilities.

The Medium preset provides the most balanced scaling data. The 1080p Medium score of 266 FPS drops to 192 FPS at 1440p (a 28% reduction) and then to 120 FPS at 4K (a 38% reduction). This pattern is nearly identical to the High preset scaling, reinforcing that the game's engine responds consistently to resolution changes regardless of the specific preset, as long as the CPU is not the bottleneck. The minimum FPS data available for Medium settings also shows strong stability, with a 226 FPS minimum at 1080p, 163 FPS at 1440p, and 102 FPS at 4K, indicating no severe frame time spikes.

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 an extremely high-end mobile CPU, scoring in the 95th percentile compared to all other CPUs in the benchmark database. Its multi-threaded performance is substantial, with a Cinebench R23 score of 42713, but its single-thread score of 6030 is equally impressive and more relevant for gaming workloads.

In Inside, the CPU's role is mostly to maintain a high frame rate ceiling. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 333 FPS, which is likely near the engine's maximum frame rate limit. At this point, the CPU's single-thread performance is crucial for processing game logic and draw calls quickly enough to feed the GPU. The Ryzen 9 8945HX's strong single-core performance, evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 3907, ensures that it does not become a limiting factor even at these extreme frame rates.

The CPU's 16 cores and 32 threads are largely underutilized in this puzzle platformer, as the game is not designed to scale across many threads. However, the high boost clock of 5.40 GHz provides the necessary speed for the primary game thread. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212, which is only 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This indicates that while it is a top-tier CPU, its performance is nearly identical to other flagship parts in synthetic benchmarks, and in a game like Inside, the CPU choice between these top processors would yield negligible differences.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s and support for DDR5 memory ensures that data can be fed to the GPU efficiently. The large 64 MB L3 cache is also beneficial for holding game assets, reducing the need to access slower system memory. For a game with simple 2D side-scrolling visuals like Inside, the CPU's raw power is overkill, but it guarantees that the GPU is never starved for data, allowing the RTX 4070 to operate at its full potential.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K with maximum settings?*

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 72 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. While this is the lowest frame rate recorded for this combo, it is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for the highest frame rates?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves its highest scores, ranging from 159 FPS on Ultra to 333 FPS on Low. If you have a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor, this is the resolution to use to maximize performance.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from High to Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS drop is minimal. At 1080p, the drop is from 166 FPS to 159 FPS (about 4%). At 1440p, it drops from 120 FPS to 114 FPS (5%). At 4K, it drops from 75 FPS to 72 FPS (4%). The visual fidelity increase from Ultra is often not worth even this small frame rate cost.

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

A: The GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops by 55% from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra, indicating the RTX 4070 is saturated. At 1080p, the CPU's role is more prominent, as the frame rate difference between High and Ultra is very small.

Q: Are the frame rates stable, or are there significant drops?

A: The available minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows strong stability. The minimum at 1080p is 226 FPS, at 1440p it is 163 FPS, and at 4K it is 102 FPS. These minimums are all well above playable levels.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its direct competitors in overall performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212. This is virtually tied with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which scores 76155 (a 0.1% difference). It is also ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D by 0.6%.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Inside, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 holds the rank of 1426 out of 2887 total combos. This places it in the top half of all tested systems, which is a strong result given the age of the game and the sheer number of configurations possible. The rank indicates that while there are many systems that can run Inside well, this particular combo is not at the absolute top tier, likely because the game is so easy to run that mid-range hardware can also achieve high frame rates.

The rank is more a reflection of the raw benchmark scores of the components rather than their specific in-game performance. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking and the GPU's 81st percentile ranking contribute to a high overall score, but in a game like Inside, the difference between this combo and a system ranked much higher is likely to be a few percent in frame rate. For example, the RTX 4070's average benchmark score of 37648 is only 1.3% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, which is a direct rival. This small performance gap in synthetic benchmarks translates to a similarly small gap in Inside's frame rates.

The data shows that the combo is squarely in the mid-to-upper echelon of performance. Being ranked 1426 out of 2887 means that roughly half of all tested systems are faster, but given the game's low requirements, this rank does not translate to a poor experience. In fact, the measured frame rates are so high that the rank is almost irrelevant from a playability perspective. The 4K Ultra score of 72 FPS is more than sufficient for a smooth experience, and the lower resolutions offer frame rates that exceed the refresh rates of most monitors.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the High settings preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, it provides 166 FPS, which is only slightly below the 333 FPS of Low settings but offers significantly better visual fidelity. At 1440p, it maintains a solid 120 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming. Even at 4K, the High preset delivers a playable 75 FPS, making it the only preset besides Low that stays above 60 FPS at that resolution.

The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it provides a negligible visual improvement over High while costing a few frames per second. The data shows only a 4-5% performance penalty for Ultra compared to High across all resolutions. However, the frame rate at 4K Ultra (72 FPS) is still playable, so users with a strong preference for maximum graphical settings can use it without issue. The Medium preset is a good middle ground if you have a 4K display and want a higher frame rate buffer, as it produces 120 FPS at 4K, but the visual jump from Medium to High is usually more noticeable than from High to Ultra.

The Low settings preset offers the highest frame rates, with a staggering 333 FPS at 1080p and 150 FPS at 4K. This preset is only recommended for competitive play or if you have a monitor with a refresh rate above 240 Hz, as the visual downgrade is significant. For most players, the High preset is the clear choice, as it provides a high frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay in all resolutions, while still looking great. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings also shows that the game runs without major hitches, so any preset above Low will provide a stable experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 333 FPS. This is the highest score recorded, indicating an engine-level frame rate cap or a pure CPU limit.
• Medium: Average 266 FPS, with a minimum of 226 FPS and a maximum of 306 FPS. The frame pacing is excellent.
• High: Average 166 FPS. A substantial drop from Medium, showing the impact of increased shading and effects.
• Ultra: Average 159 FPS. A minimal drop from High, suggesting diminishing returns from the Ultra preset.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 239 FPS. Still an incredibly high frame rate, demonstrating the GPU's capability.
• Medium: Average 192 FPS, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 220 FPS. The frame rate is highly stable.
• High: Average 120 FPS. This is a solid score for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.
• Ultra: Average 114 FPS. The drop from High is only 5%, making the Ultra preset a viable option here.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 150 FPS. A very high score for 4K, indicating that the GPU is not fully stressed at Low settings.
• Medium: Average 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. This is an excellent result for 4K gaming.
• High: Average 75 FPS. This is the recommended preset for 4K, as it provides a smooth experience above 60 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 72 FPS. The lowest score recorded, but still playable. The performance difference between High and Ultra at 4K is only 4%.