Inside

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT delivers a remarkably smooth experience in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. The data shows this combination is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's immense power ensures frame rates remain consistently high even when the graphics card is the limiting factor. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, explains the roles of each component, and offers practical advice for optimizing your playthrough.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Inside with this combo?*

A: The data shows excellent results at all tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate ranges from 131 FPS on Ultra to 275 FPS on Low. At 2560x1440, it ranges from 94 FPS on Ultra to 198 FPS on Low. Even at 3840x2160, the combo maintains an average of 59 FPS on Ultra and 124 FPS on Low, making 4K a viable option.

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

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates are 62 FPS on High, 99 FPS on Medium, and 59 FPS on Ultra. While the Ultra preset dips below the 60 FPS threshold, the High and Medium presets provide playable and smooth performance at 4K.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate jumps from 131 FPS on Ultra to 275 FPS on Low, a 144 FPS increase. At 2560x1440, the jump is from 94 FPS to 198 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it's from 59 FPS to 124 FPS.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D a bottleneck for the RX 5700 XT in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate this is not a CPU bottleneck. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has a very high multi-threaded score of 47737 in Cinebench R23 and a single-thread score of 6739, which is more than enough for Inside. The frame rate scaling with resolution (e.g., 275 FPS at 1080p vs. 124 FPS at 4K on Low) suggests the GPU is the primary performance limiter, not the CPU.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested systems?

A: The data places this specific combination at rank 2117 out of 2887 tested combos for the game Inside. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, reflecting the GPU's age and tier.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 144Hz monitor?

A: To fully utilize a 144Hz display, you should select the Medium preset. At 1920x1080, it achieves an average of 220 FPS, and at 2560x1440, it averages 158 FPS. The High preset also works well at 1080p (137 FPS) but falls slightly short of 144 FPS at 1440p (99 FPS).

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture and features a Navi 10 chip manufactured on a 7 nm process. Its performance profile is defined by 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The card operates at a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. This configuration delivers a peak FP32 throughput of 9.754 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 121.9 GPixel/s.

Memory bandwidth is a critical factor for this GPU. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is connected via a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. In a game like Inside, which has a dark, atmospheric art style with limited texture complexity, this bandwidth is more than adequate. The benchmark results confirm this, showing that the GPU can push very high frame rates even at 4K resolution. The card's average benchmark score is 16361, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, and its performance is within 1% of rivals like the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell.

The data shows the GPU is the determining factor in this combo's performance. For instance, at 2560x1440, the average frame rate on Low settings is 198 FPS. When settings are increased to Ultra, the average drops to 94 FPS. This 104 FPS reduction is a direct result of the GPU's workload increasing. Similarly, at 3840x2160, the Ultra preset yields 59 FPS, while the Low preset yields 124 FPS. The scaling is consistent and points to a system that is firmly limited by the graphics card's rendering capabilities, not the CPU.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor from the 9000 series, based on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform and has a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It features a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache, which is a hallmark of the X3D series, designed to reduce memory latency in gaming workloads. Its benchmark scores are high, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and a single-core score of 6739. Its average benchmark score is 54762, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and it trades blows with rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (0.6% slower) and the Intel Core i7-14700F (2.1% slower).

For a title like Inside, which is not heavily threaded, the CPU's colossal single-core and multi-core performance is overkill. The measured frame rates demonstrate this. The CPU does not bottleneck the RX 5700 XT at any resolution or setting. Evidence of this is the massive performance headroom. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 275 FPS. If the CPU were a limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates plateau regardless of resolution. Instead, the data shows a clear decline in average FPS as resolution increases (from 275 FPS at 1080p to 124 FPS at 4K), which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D's role here is to provide a massive, untapped reservoir of performance. It ensures that the RX 5700 XT can operate at its maximum potential without being held back by processing bottlenecks. The CPU's 24 threads and high clock speeds guarantee that even the most complex physics or AI calculations in the game are handled with ease, leaving the GPU as the sole arbiter of final frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combo show a smooth and predictable scaling pattern. Here is the detailed breakdown across all tested resolutions and settings.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combo delivers playable performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 124 FPS. The Medium preset averages 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS. The High preset averages 62 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, dropping the average to 59 FPS. This shows that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is borderline, while Medium provides a comfortable margin.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance is strong across the board. The Low preset averages 198 FPS. The Medium preset averages 158 FPS, with a minimum of 134 FPS and a maximum of 182 FPS. The High preset averages 99 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 94 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for high refresh rate gaming, as both Low and Medium presets easily clear the 144 Hz threshold.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo is incredibly fast. The Low preset averages 275 FPS. The Medium preset averages 220 FPS, with a minimum of 187 FPS and a maximum of 253 FPS. The High preset averages 137 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 131 FPS. This resolution pushes the GPU to its limits, and the CPU's performance is so far ahead that it is essentially a non-factor.

The data clearly shows that the RX 5700 XT is the limiting component. The transition from Low to Ultra at 1080p halves the frame rate from 275 to 131 FPS. This is a GPU workload scaling, not a CPU limitation. The high minimum frame rates on Medium settings (e.g., 187 FPS at 1080p and 134 FPS at 1440p) also indicate a stable experience without significant stutters or frame time spikes.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Inside, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ranks at 2117 out of 2887 total combos. This places it in the 27th percentile (100 - (2117/2887)*100), meaning it outperforms about a quarter of all tested systems. This ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's age and tier. The CPU is a top-tier component, but the RX 5700 XT, while capable, is a mid-range card from an older generation.

The ranking is logical given the benchmark data. The combo's performance profile is defined by the GPU, which has an average benchmark score of 16361 and sits in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. This is a solid score, but it is far below the top-tier cards that would be paired with a CPU like the 9900X3D in more balanced builds. The CPU's performance, ranking in the 91st percentile, is not the limiting factor. Consequently, the combo's overall rank is pulled down by the GPU, while the CPU provides a massive amount of untapped potential for future upgrades. This pairing is a classic example of a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU, resulting in a system that is perfectly balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming but falls short of the top tier in the overall rankings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions. The data supports this recommendation with concrete numbers.

For 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers an average of 220 FPS with a minimum of 187 FPS. This provides a massive headroom for high refresh rate monitors and ensures a very smooth experience. The High preset (137 FPS) is also viable, but Medium provides a 60% performance increase over High while likely offering a visually similar experience in a game with Inside's stark aesthetic.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the clear winner. It averages 158 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate target. The High preset (99 FPS) is still playable but does not fully utilize a high refresh rate display. The Ultra preset (94 FPS) offers diminishing returns for the performance cost.

For 3840x2160, the choice depends on your preference. The Medium preset averages 99 FPS, which is excellent for 4K and provides a fluid experience. The High preset (62 FPS) is right at the edge of the 60 FPS target. The Low preset (124 FPS) is also viable if you prioritize frame rate over visual details. The data suggests that Medium is the optimal choice here, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a frame rate that is far above the playable threshold.

In summary, the Medium preset is the most versatile option. It provides the best combination of smoothness and visual quality, with measured average frame rates of 220 FPS at 1080p, 158 FPS at 1440p, and 99 FPS at 4K. The Low preset is recommended for competitive play or for users with very high refresh rate monitors (240Hz+), where the extra frames are more valuable than visual details. High and Ultra presets are best reserved for users who prioritize image quality over raw frame rate and have monitors with lower refresh rates.