Inside

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 delivers a robust experience in Inside, a Puzzle Platformer from 2016-07-06. The benchmark data shows this combination handles the game's atmospheric 2.5D environments with significant headroom, particularly at lower resolutions, though 4K Ultra settings begin to strain the GPU. The measured FPS breakdown reveals a system where the graphics card becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution and settings increase, while the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures the frame pacing remains fluid.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates where the GTX 1070's limits reside. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces an average of 231 FPS, which is an exceptional result for a game of this style. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average drops to 166 FPS, representing a 28.1% reduction in frame rate for a 77.8% increase in pixel count. This indicates that at lower settings, the CPU and GPU are both contributing to the frame generation, but the GPU is starting to feel the load.

The jump to 3840x2160 at Low settings shows a more dramatic decline, with the average falling to 104 FPS. This is a 37.3% drop from the 1440p figure, and a 55.0% drop from the 1080p figure. The relationship between resolution and FPS is not linear, which suggests that the GTX 1070's memory bandwidth and pixel throughput are being taxed more heavily as the resolution climbs. The GPU's 256.3 GB/s memory bandwidth and 107.7 GPixel/s pixel rate are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K workload requires more from these subsystems.

When comparing settings presets at each resolution, the scaling pattern is consistent. At 1080p, the difference between Low (231 FPS) and Ultra (110 FPS) is 121 FPS, a 52.4% performance reduction from the lowest to highest quality preset. At 1440p, the spread is from 166 FPS to 79 FPS, a 52.4% reduction as well. At 4K, the spread narrows slightly in absolute terms but remains proportionally similar: from 104 FPS to 50 FPS, a 51.9% reduction. This consistency across resolutions indicates that the settings presets are scaling the GPU workload in a linear fashion, and the GTX 1070 is handling the additional shader and texture work without hitting a memory capacity wall.

The 4K Medium preset is the only one with recorded min and max FPS data, showing an average of 83 FPS with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. This narrow frame time distribution suggests the game is well-optimized on this hardware, with no significant stuttering or frame hitches. The data indicates that the limiting component at 4K is the GPU, as the CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient to feed the graphics card with draw calls and geometry data.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen series, built on the Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process. Its base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz provide solid single-thread performance, which is critical for a game like Inside that relies on consistent frame pacing rather than massive multi-threaded workloads. The CPU's L3 cache is 12 MB shared, and its single-thread benchmark scores are notable: a 3dmark_single_thread score of 893 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1674.

For a puzzle platformer, the CPU's role is primarily to handle game logic, physics, and draw call submission. The data shows that this CPU is not the bottleneck at any tested resolution or setting. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 231 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors, and the CPU is still not maxed out. The passmark_single_thread score of 3444 indicates strong per-core performance, which helps maintain high frame rates even when the GPU is under less stress.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are less relevant for this title, but the benchmark scores confirm it is not a weak link. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11860 and the 3dmark_max_threads score of 4023 show that the processor can handle concurrent tasks without issue. The 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for Inside, as the game was released in 2016 and does not require high core counts. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus of 68 indicates it performs better than 68% of all CPUs in the database, making it a capable mid-range option for this game.

The nearest rivals to this CPU in the benchmark database are the Intel Core 3 N355, which scores 13492 on average (a deltaPct of 0), and the Intel Core i5-9500, which scores 13452 (a deltaPct of 0.3). The i3-12100F's avgBenchmarkScore of 13494 puts it in a tight pack with these processors, indicating that its performance is well-matched for the demands of this game. The CPU's boost clock of 4.30 GHz is sufficient to avoid any frame rate drops, even in scenes with complex lighting or particle effects.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a Pascal architecture GPU with a chip designation of GP104, manufactured on a 16 nm process by TSMC. It features 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with a base clock of 1506 MHz and a boost clock of 1683 MHz. The 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth, which is the key specification for determining how the GPU handles increasing resolutions.

In Inside, the GPU's role is to render the game's detailed side-scrolling environments, which feature dynamic lighting, shadows, and water effects. The data shows that the GTX 1070 is the limiting component at 4K resolution. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 50, which is below the 60 FPS target most players prefer. The GPU's FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS is sufficient for this game, but the pixel fill rate and texture fill rate become strained at higher resolutions.

The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is more than adequate for Inside, as the game's textures are not particularly demanding by modern standards. Even at 4K Ultra, the memory usage is unlikely to exceed 4 GB, leaving plenty of headroom. The bottleneck at 4K is more likely the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth. The passmark_g3d score of 13498 places the GTX 1070 in the 47th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range card in the current database.

The nearest rivals to the GTX 1070 in the database are the AMD FirePro W5000, which scores 9803 on average (a deltaPct of -0.2), and the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M, which scores 9832 (a deltaPct of -0.5). The GTX 1070's avgBenchmarkScore of 9780 is nearly identical to these professional cards, suggesting that its gaming performance is well-documented and consistent. The GPU's 150 W TDP and suggested 450 W PSU indicate it is a power-efficient option for this game.

The data shows that the GTX 1070 is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Inside, where it can easily maintain high frame rates at any settings preset. At 4K, it can handle Medium settings with an average of 83 FPS, but Ultra settings push it to the edge of playability. The GPU's memory clock of 2002 MHz (8 Gbps effective) and its 256-bit bus provide enough bandwidth for the game's asset streaming, but the pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s is the limiting factor at 4K.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a 60 FPS experience in Inside?*

A: The data shows that 3840x2160 with High settings achieves an average of 52 FPS, which is below 60 FPS. The 2560x1440 Ultra preset averages 79 FPS, so 1440p Ultra is the highest quality preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. For a locked 60 FPS experience, 4K Medium (83 FPS) is the optimal choice.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an avgBenchmarkScore of 13494, which is 0% different from the Intel Core 3 N355 (13492) and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452). This places it in a tight performance band with these processors.

*Q: Is the GTX 1070's 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Inside at 4K?*

A: Yes, the 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is more than adequate for this game. The GTX 1070's memory bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s and the game's moderate texture sizes mean VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor, even at 4K Ultra.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 231 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 110 FPS. This represents a 52.4% performance reduction from Low to Ultra, indicating that the Ultra preset significantly increases the GPU's workload.

Q: Does the game show any frame pacing issues at 4K Medium settings?

A: The measured data for 4K Medium shows an average of 83 FPS with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. This narrow range of frame times suggests no significant stuttering or frame pacing issues on this hardware.

*Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for Inside?*

A: The combo rank is 3056 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the 17.8th percentile. This indicates that while it is not a top-tier configuration, it is far from the bottom and provides a playable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3056 out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the lower half of the database, but the ranking is influenced by the age of the hardware. The GTX 1070 was released on 2016-06-09, and the CPU is a more recent budget offering, but the combination still delivers playable frame rates at most settings.

The rank of 3056 suggests that there are many newer or higher-end configurations that outperform this combo, but the data shows it is not a poor performer. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus of 68 and the GPU's percentileVsAllGpus of 47 indicate that both components are mid-range or better. For a game like Inside, which is not particularly demanding, this combo provides a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, and even 4K at lower settings.

The fact that this combo ranks below the median is not surprising given the GPU's age. The GTX 1070 is an end-of-life product, and its successor, the GeForce 20 series, offers significant improvements. However, the data indicates that for this specific game, the combo is capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 1440p Ultra, which is a respectable result. The rank should be considered in context: Inside is a side-scrolling puzzle game, not a AAA first-person shooter, so the hardware requirements are lower than many other titles in the database.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo performs across all resolutions and settings. The following table summarizes the average frame rates, with min and max data where available:

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 231 FPS average
• Medium: 184 FPS average (min 157, max 212)
• High: 115 FPS average
• Ultra: 110 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 166 FPS average
• Medium: 133 FPS average (min 113, max 153)
• High: 83 FPS average
• Ultra: 79 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 104 FPS average
• Medium: 83 FPS average (min 71, max 96)
• High: 52 FPS average
• Ultra: 50 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo is clearly CPU-bound, as the frame rates are exceptionally high even at Ultra settings. The 110 FPS average at Ultra is more than sufficient for any display, and the gap between High (115 FPS) and Ultra (110 FPS) is minimal, suggesting that the Ultra preset adds only a small amount of GPU work. The 231 FPS at Low reflects the CPU's strong single-thread performance, as the GPU is not being fully utilized.

Moving to 1440p, the GPU begins to take on a larger role. The 79 FPS average at Ultra is still above 60 FPS, providing a smooth experience. The difference between High (83 FPS) and Ultra (79 FPS) remains small, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional effects are not overly taxing. The 166 FPS at Low shows that the GPU can easily handle the resolution when settings are reduced.

At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The Ultra preset drops to 50 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 52 FPS is only slightly better, while the Medium preset at 83 FPS provides a playable experience. The Low preset at 104 FPS is surprisingly high for 4K, suggesting that the game's visual effects at Low settings are not particularly demanding on the GPU's fill rate.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern across all resolutions. The Medium preset always provides a significant boost over High, while the jump from High to Ultra is relatively small. This suggests that the Ultra preset in Inside is not a major visual upgrade over High, and players with this hardware should use Medium or High at 4K to maintain a solid frame rate. At 1080p and 1440p, the Ultra preset is perfectly playable, and the high frame rates make this combo ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.