Inside

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is a combination that lands in the lower quarter of tested systems for Inside, ranking 1498th out of 1671 combos. This is a decisive placement: the hardware is capable of running the game smoothly at high frame rates, but it does not compete with higher-end configurations in the database. The data shows a system that is more than adequate for the game’s puzzle-platformer demands, yet the 4 GB VRAM and entry-level CPU position it firmly in the mid-to-low tier of overall performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. For a game like Inside, which is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer, the CPU's workload is generally light, and the data confirms this. The processor’s single-thread performance is strong, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2224, which ensures that the game’s primary logic thread is handled with ease. The multi-threaded scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 11912, indicate that even when the game utilizes additional threads for physics or audio, the i3-12100F has ample headroom.

The CPU’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory are standard, but the key takeaway is that the processor is not a bottleneck at the tested settings. In the measured FPS data, the frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings, which suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the CPU can push the frame rate to 195.6 FPS, but this drops to 100.6 FPS at High settings, indicating that the graphics card is doing the heavy lifting. The i3-12100F’s percentile ranking of 72 against all CPUs shows it is a solid performer, but its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and Intel Core i7-7700K, are within a 1.8% delta, confirming that the CPU is competitive but not exceptional.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1498 out of 1671 total tested configurations puts this system in the bottom 10% of all combos in the database for Inside. This is a stark result when considering the actual frame rates achieved. The rank reflects the overall hardware capability, not just the game’s performance, and it shows that this pairing is outclassed by the majority of systems tested. The data indicates a CPU that scores an average benchmark of 13516, placing it just 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and 1.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K. This places the processor in a mid-range category, but the GPU’s 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs drags the combo down.

The combination’s low rank is largely due to the GPU’s modest specifications, as the RTX 3050 4 GB is an entry-level card. The measured FPS, however, tells a different story: at 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 158 FPS, which is far above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The rank must be interpreted as a measure of raw hardware power relative to other systems in the database, not as a reflection of the game’s playability. In this context, the combo is a low-tier performer that still delivers a playable experience, but it is not a system that will top any charts.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a 60 FPS average?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves 72.8 FPS, which is above 60 FPS. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average drops to 47.9 FPS, so 1440p is the highest resolution that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-7700K?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 1.8% higher than the i7-7700K’s score of 13280. This indicates a slight performance advantage for the newer i3 processor.

Q: Does the 4 GB VRAM cause any issues at 1080p?

A: The measured FPS at 1080p ranges from 195.6 FPS on Low to 95.9 FPS on Ultra, with no min FPS data provided. The high averages suggest that 4 GB is sufficient for this game at 1080p, as the frame rates remain well above playable levels.

Q: Is this combo more CPU-limited or GPU-limited at 4K?

A: The frame rate drop from 90.3 FPS at Low to 42 FPS at Ultra at 3840x2160 indicates a strong GPU dependency. The CPU’s performance is consistent, so the GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F had a launch MSRP of $97. This is a single data point and does not reflect current market pricing.

Q: How does the combo’s rank compare to its position in the overall GPU percentile?

A: The combo ranks 1498th out of 1671, which is in the bottom 10%. The GPU’s percentile is 50, meaning it is average, but the combination’s rank is lower due to the CPU’s lower relative standing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 195.6 FPS on Low, 158 FPS on Medium, 100.6 FPS on High, and 95.9 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that even at the highest settings, the system maintains a frame rate well above 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the averages are 142.5 FPS on Low, 114 FPS on Medium, 72.8 FPS on High, and 68.1 FPS on Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, with the Ultra preset losing 27.8 FPS, but the results remain playable.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates fall further: 90.3 FPS on Low, 73.9 FPS on Medium, 47.9 FPS on High, and 42 FPS on Ultra. The 4K results show a clear threshold where the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS, with only the Low and Medium presets exceeding that mark. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a drop of 48.3 FPS, which is the largest relative decrease across all resolutions. This data indicates that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can handle all settings with ease, while 4K requires lower settings to achieve smooth performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is the defining component of this combo’s performance in Inside. With a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1740 MHz, the GPU is built on the Ampere architecture with 2048 shading units. The 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the game’s demands but limits performance at higher resolutions. The GPU’s 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs places it in the middle of the pack, and the measured FPS data reflects this.

At 1080p, the GPU can deliver up to 195.6 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 95.9 FPS on Ultra, showing that the card’s 4 GB VRAM is not a bottleneck at this resolution. At 1440p, the Ultra preset still manages 68.1 FPS, but the 4K results reveal the GPU’s limits. The RTX 3050’s 7.127 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 16 RT cores are more than enough for Inside, which is not a graphically demanding title. The GPU’s power draw of 90 W and dual-slot design are standard, but the data confirms that it is the primary limiting factor when moving to higher resolutions. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is 53.9 FPS, a 56% reduction, which is entirely attributable to the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 95.9 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the best choice for visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. At 2560x1440, the High preset at 72.8 FPS is the recommended setting, as it provides a strong balance between image quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 68.1 FPS is also playable, but the marginal visual improvement may not justify the 4.7 FPS loss. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 73.9 FPS is the best option, as it maintains a high frame rate while the High preset drops to 47.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

For a consistent 60 FPS experience across all resolutions, the data suggests using High settings at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium settings at 4K. The Low preset, while achieving 195.6 FPS at 1080p, offers no practical benefit for a game like Inside since even Ultra is already above 60 FPS at that resolution. The measured rows show that the combo is flexible, but the best experience is found by prioritizing frame rate over settings at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the GPU’s role as the limiting component. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 195.6 FPS at 1080p to 142.5 FPS at 1440p and 90.3 FPS at 4K. This is a 54% reduction from 1080p to 4K. At Ultra settings, the drop is more pronounced: 95.9 FPS at 1080p, 68.1 FPS at 1440p, and 42 FPS at 4K, a 56% reduction. The consistency of these percentage drops across settings indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the CPU’s performance remains unchanged.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference is 99.7 FPS, but at 4K, it narrows to 48.3 FPS. This suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is so heavily loaded that the choice of settings has a smaller impact on absolute frame rates. The scaling pattern is classic GPU-bound behavior: the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at all resolutions, but the RTX 3050’s 4 GB memory and limited bandwidth cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K. For this combo, 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots, while 4K requires a compromise on settings to remain playable.