Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that places unusual demands on hardware: its monochrome art style and 2D perspective hide a physics-driven world where CPU and GPU loads shift constantly. This analysis covers the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, using measured frame rates to show how this combination handles the game across resolutions and settings. The data set includes 12 distinct measurement points, from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra, providing a complete picture of the pairing’s capabilities.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. For Inside, which is not a heavily threaded title, this configuration is more than adequate. Benchmark data supports this: the processor scores 893 in 3dmark_single_thread, 1,681 in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 2,224 in Geekbench single-core. These numbers place it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong single-thread performance that matters most for game logic and physics in a puzzle platformer.

In multi-threaded tests, the i3-12100F shows its limits but remains competent. It scores 4,051 in 3dmark_16_threads, 5,003 in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 11,912 in Cinebench R23 multicore. The average benchmark score of 13,516 sits nearly identical to its nearest rivals: it is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U. This indicates that while the CPU is not a flagship, its performance profile is well-balanced for games like Inside that rarely use more than 4 cores effectively.

The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide adequate memory locality for the game’s assets. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the measured results do not distinguish between memory types. Given Inside’s modest CPU demands, the i3-12100F’s single-thread strength ensures that frame pacing remains consistent, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the bottleneck. The data shows no min FPS values, but the average FPS across all settings suggests the CPU does not hold back the GPU in this title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is a RDNA 2.0 architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1968 MHz with a boost clock of 2589 MHz and a game clock of 2359 MHz. This GPU scores 16,461 in Passmark G3D and 10.60 TFLOPS in FP32 performance, placing it in the 71st percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 27,985 is nearly tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, which it trails by 0.1%, and it is 0.9% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070.

For Inside, the GPU’s role is primarily about fill rate and memory bandwidth, given the game’s 2D visuals but high-resolution rendering. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for all tested settings, as the game’s textures are not demanding. The 64 ROPs and 128 TMUs provide a pixel rate of 165.7 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 331.4 GTexel/s, which explains why the GPU scales well from 1080p to 4K. The 2000 MHz memory clock (16 Gbps effective) ensures data transfer keeps pace with the renderer.

The RX 6600 XT’s performance in Inside is strong across the board. At 1080p, it achieves over 130 FPS on Ultra settings, and even at 4K Ultra, it maintains an average of 60.9 FPS. This indicates the GPU is not the limiting factor until the highest resolution and settings combination. The GPU’s 12 Ultimate DirectX support and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility align well with the game’s engine, though Inside’s release in 2016 predates some of these features.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ranks 1,122 out of 1,671 tested combos in Inside, placing it in the upper third of all configurations. This ranking reflects the balance between the CPU’s strong single-thread performance and the GPU’s high fill rate. The combo outperforms many older or lower-tier pairings, but it does not reach the top echelon where flagship CPUs and GPUs reside.

The ranking is influenced by the fact that Inside is more GPU-bound at high resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo produces 60.9 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target, while at 1080p Ultra it delivers 133.8 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is the primary driver of the combo’s rank, as the CPU’s 4 cores are sufficient to feed the GPU at all tested settings. The percentile data for both components (72nd for CPU, 71st for GPU) aligns with the combo’s overall position, confirming that neither part is a weak link.

Compared to other combos tested, this pairing sits in a sweet spot for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data shows that at 1440p High, it achieves 104.2 FPS, which is well above playable thresholds. The rank of 1,122 out of 1,671 indicates that roughly 549 combos perform better, likely those with higher-end GPUs like the RTX 3070 or faster CPUs, but the margin is not enormous given the game’s modest requirements.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 281.5 FPS, Medium drops to 225.8 FPS, High achieves 140.3 FPS, and Ultra yields 133.8 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is small (6.5 FPS), suggesting diminishing returns beyond High. These numbers indicate that the RX 6600 XT is barely stressed at 1080p, with the CPU providing ample headroom.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong. Low settings average 202.8 FPS, Medium reaches 164.0 FPS, High holds at 104.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 99.1 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by roughly 28% across settings, which is consistent with the increase in pixel count. The combo still exceeds 60 FPS on all settings, confirming that 1440p is comfortable territory.

At 3840x2160, the GPU starts to feel the load. Low settings average 125.5 FPS, Medium drops to 101.9 FPS, High falls to 63.1 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 60.9 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 4K is only 2.2 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset’s additional effects are not significantly taxing the GPU. The 4K results show that this combo can handle 60 FPS only on the Ultra preset, with High just above the threshold.

The data set lacks min and max FPS, so only averages are available. However, the consistent scaling from Low to Ultra across all resolutions suggests stable performance without major frame drops. The largest relative drop occurs at 4K between Low and Medium, which is a 23.6 FPS reduction, while the smallest is at 1080p between High and Ultra, a 6.5 FPS reduction.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Inside at 60 FPS on 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 60.9 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high frame rates?

A: At 2560x1440, all settings exceed 99 FPS, with Low reaching 202.8 FPS. This resolution provides a strong balance between visual quality and performance.

Q: How does the RX 6600 XT compare to its nearest rival in this game?

A: The RX 6600 XT has an average benchmark score of 27,985, which is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti and 0.9% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070.

Q: Is the i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RX 6600 XT in Inside?

A: The data shows no evidence of CPU bottlenecking. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 281.5 FPS, and even at 4K Ultra it manages 60.9 FPS, indicating the CPU keeps up with the GPU’s output.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between High and Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p, High delivers 140.3 FPS while Ultra delivers 133.8 FPS, a difference of 6.5 FPS. At 4K, the difference narrows to 2.2 FPS (63.1 vs 60.9 FPS).

Q: How many combos does this pairing outperform in Inside?

A: This combo ranks 1,122 out of 1,671 tested combos, meaning it performs better than 549 combinations.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience per the measured rows, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers an excellent balance. It produces 164.0 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS target, while providing better visual fidelity than Low. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs 59.8 FPS (from 164.0 to 104.2 FPS), which is a significant drop for marginal visual gains. If the player prefers higher fidelity, High at 1440p still delivers 104.2 FPS, which remains smooth.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is recommended, as it achieves 140.3 FPS while Ultra only adds 6.5 FPS more. The difference between Medium and High at 1080p is 85.5 FPS (from 225.8 to 140.3), so High is the sweet spot for visual quality without sacrificing frame rate. For 4K gaming, the data shows that High and Ultra are nearly identical in performance (63.1 vs 60.9 FPS), so High is preferable as it offers a slight frame rate advantage with essentially the same experience.

Players prioritizing maximum frame rates should use Low settings at 1080p, which yields 281.5 FPS, but this is unnecessary for a puzzle platformer where reaction time is less critical. The Medium preset at 1440p is the most balanced choice overall, providing high frame rates and better visuals than Low, while the 4K Ultra setting is viable for those who prioritize resolution over frame rate, as it still meets the 60 FPS mark.