Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX pairing with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile delivers a playable experience in Inside, but the data reveals a system that is consistently constrained by its GPU rather than its processor. Across all tested resolutions, the frame rate scales predictably with pixel count, and while the CPU’s substantial core count ensures high minimums, it is the RTX 5050 Mobile’s raw throughput that dictates the final performance envelope.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected pattern: performance degrades as resolution increases, confirming that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile is the primary limiting component in this configuration. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system produces 122 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops this to 88 FPS, a reduction of approximately 28%. At 3840x2160, the average falls to 55 FPS, which is 55% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels rendered directly impacts the workload.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings further illustrates this point. At 1080p, the difference between Low (245 FPS) and Ultra (117 FPS) is 128 FPS, indicating that the GPU’s shading and rasterization workload is the bottleneck. At 4K, the same settings range yields 111 FPS on Low and 53 FPS on Ultra, a 58 FPS spread. Notably, the 4K Low result (111 FPS) is only slightly lower than the 1080p High result (122 FPS), suggesting that the GPU can maintain high frame rates at lower settings even at higher resolutions, but the CPU is never the limiting factor.

The data also shows diminishing returns at lower resolutions. At 1440p, Low delivers 176 FPS, which is 31 FPS lower than the 1080p Low result. However, the 1440p Medium (141 FPS) and 1080p Medium (196 FPS) show a similar proportional drop. This pattern indicates that the RTX 5050 Mobile’s memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s and its 128-bit bus are sufficient for 1080p, but the 4K resolution requires more fill rate than the 32 ROPs can provide, leading to the steepest relative declines.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for a consistent 60 FPS experience?

A: The 3840x2160 Medium setting delivers an average of 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS, making it the only 4K preset that guarantees a 60 FPS floor. For higher frame rates, 2560x1440 High achieves 88 FPS, and 1920x1080 High reaches 122 FPS, both well above the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 8945HX affect performance in this game?

A: The CPU’s 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, provide ample headroom. The benchmark results show no CPU-related stutters or low minimums, as even the weakest measured average (53 FPS at 4K Ultra) is limited by the GPU, not the processor. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713 confirms its high throughput, which prevents it from becoming a bottleneck.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth using at any resolution?

A: The data suggests that Ultra offers marginal gains over High. At 1080p, Ultra (117 FPS) is only 5 FPS slower than High (122 FPS), while at 1440p, the difference is 4 FPS (84 vs 88). At 4K, Ultra (53 FPS) drops below the 60 FPS threshold, making High (55 FPS) a marginally better choice. The visual fidelity increase does not justify the performance cost.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. The 4K Medium preset averages 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS, which is comfortable. However, 4K High and Ultra average 55 and 53 FPS respectively, which may be acceptable for a puzzle platformer but not for a 60 FPS target. The 4K Low preset reaches 111 FPS, showing the GPU can handle the resolution if settings are dialed down.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2971 out of 3716 tested combinations for this game, placing it in the lower 20% of all systems. This is surprising given the hardware, but it reflects the fact that Inside is not a demanding title, and many older or less powerful GPUs can achieve high frame rates. The RTX 5050 Mobile’s 83rd percentile rating among all GPUs does not translate to a high rank in this specific game.

Q: What is the frametime consistency like?

A: The only presets with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values are Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the range is 166 to 225 FPS, a 59 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, it is 120 to 162 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it is 75 to 102 FPS. These ranges indicate smooth frame pacing with no severe dips, suggesting the CPU and GPU are well matched.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. With a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, it offers substantial single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6030. In Inside, a game that is not heavily multithreaded, this high boost clock is more relevant than the core count. The benchmark results show that the CPU rarely becomes the bottleneck, as frame rates are primarily dictated by the GPU’s settings and resolution.

The processor’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 physics and logic. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 95 among all CPUs indicates it is in the top 5% of processors, which is overkill for a title like Inside. The nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, show a negligible 0.1% difference in average benchmark score, confirming that the 8945HX is not a performance outlier. In practice, the game’s frame rates are limited by the RTX 5050 Mobile’s 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and its 32 ROPs, not by the CPU’s ability to feed instructions.

The CPU’s power envelope of 55 W TDP is modest, but the benchmark data does not include power consumption measurements. The fact that the 8945HX can maintain high single-core clocks without impacting the GPU’s performance is evident in the consistent minimum FPS values at all settings. For example, the 4K Medium preset reports a minimum of 75 FPS, which is above the average of many lesser CPUs. This suggests that the CPU’s scheduling and cache design are efficient enough to avoid frame hitches, even when the GPU is under load.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 9 8945HX and RTX 5050 Mobile ranks 2971 out of 3716 tested combos for Inside, placing it in the 80th percentile from the bottom. This low rank is counterintuitive given the hardware’s specifications, but it is a direct result of the game’s low system requirements. Many older or lower-tier GPUs can easily exceed 60 FPS at 1080p in this title, which means the RTX 5050 Mobile’s performance is not exceptional in this context. The combo’s rank is not a reflection of poor performance, but rather proof of how well-optimized Inside is for a wide range of hardware.

Compared to the GPU’s own ranking, the RTX 5050 Mobile sits at the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 43268. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB with a 0% delta and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile at -0.9%, indicating that the 5050 Mobile’s raw compute is comparable to much older or higher-tier parts. However, the game’s frame rates are more dependent on fill rate and memory bandwidth. The 5050 Mobile’s 384.0 GB/s bandwidth and 128-bit bus are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K results show a significant drop, suggesting that the 8 GB of GDDR7 memory is not the limiting factor, but rather the 32 ROPs.

The CPU’s percentile ranking of 95 is far above the combo’s game rank, reinforcing that the processor is not the reason for the low position. The data shows that the combo is GPU-bound in all scenarios, even at 1080p Low where the 245 FPS average is still limited by the GPU’s ability to render frames. The combo’s rank would likely be higher in a more demanding game, but for Inside, the hardware is underutilized. This is a case where the CPU’s 95th percentile performance is wasted, as the game does not require 16 cores or a 5.40 GHz boost clock to deliver smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 5050 Mobile delivers exceptional performance. Low settings produce an average of 245 FPS, which is more than enough for any high-refresh-rate display. Medium settings see a drop to 196 FPS, with a minimum of 166 FPS and a maximum of 225 FPS, indicating stable frame times. High settings average 122 FPS, which is still smooth, while Ultra dips to 117 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is only 5 FPS, suggesting that Ultra’s additional effects are not heavily taxing the GPU at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings average 176 FPS, a 28% reduction from 1080p. Medium settings average 141 FPS, with a range of 120 to 162 FPS. High settings drop to 88 FPS, which is exactly half of the 1080p High result, highlighting the pixel count increase. Ultra settings average 84 FPS, only 4 FPS lower than High. This resolution is the sweet spot for a 60 FPS experience with high visual fidelity, as even Ultra stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle with higher settings. Low settings still manage 111 FPS, but Medium drops to 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS. High settings average 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, and Ultra averages 53 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 23 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 33 FPS, indicating that the higher settings introduce effects that are disproportionately expensive at 4K. The 4K Medium preset is the only one that maintains a consistent 60 FPS floor, while High and Ultra are playable but not optimal for competitive or fast-paced gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium averages 196 FPS, which is well above any display’s refresh rate, and the minimum of 166 FPS ensures no stutters. At 1440p, Medium averages 141 FPS, providing a smooth experience with room to spare. At 4K, Medium is the only preset that guarantees a 60 FPS average (88 FPS) and a minimum above 60 FPS (75 FPS). The data shows that Medium offers a significant jump in quality over Low without the performance penalty of High or Ultra.

High settings are viable for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate. At 1080p, High achieves 122 FPS, which is still excellent. At 1440p, High averages 88 FPS, which is acceptable for a puzzle platformer. At 4K, High drops to 55 FPS, which may be tolerable for a slow-paced game, but it is not ideal. Ultra settings are not recommended, as the performance gain over High is negligible (5 FPS at 1080p, 4 FPS at 1440p, and 2 FPS at 4K) and the frame rate drops below 60 FPS at 4K. The data indicates that Ultra’s marginal visual improvements do not justify the FPS loss.

For a 60 FPS target, the optimal configuration is 1440p Medium, which provides 141 FPS average and 120 FPS minimum. For a 120 FPS target, 1080p High is the best choice, delivering 122 FPS average. If 4K is a priority, Medium is the only setting that meets the 60 FPS threshold. The 4K Low preset at 111 FPS is also an option for users who prefer higher frame rates over resolution fidelity, but the Medium preset offers a better balance. In summary, the RTX 5050 Mobile is best utilized with Medium settings, as it provides the most consistent performance without sacrificing too much visual detail.