Inside

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers exceptional performance in Inside, a title that is clearly not demanding on modern hardware. The data indicates that this combination is heavily CPU-limited at lower resolutions, with the GPU only becoming the primary constraint at 4K Ultra settings. Across all tested configurations, the combo never dips below 108 FPS, making it a definitive overkill solution for this puzzle platformer.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic bottleneck shift as resolution increases. At 1080p, the average frame rates are extraordinarily high, ranging from 237.5 FPS at Ultra to a staggering 314.7 FPS at Low. This narrow spread between settings—only a 24.5% difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p—strongly suggests that the CPU is the limiting factor. The i3-12100F’s 4 cores and 8 threads are being pushed to their limit, preventing the RTX 4070 SUPER from fully stretching its legs.

Moving to 1440p, we see a modest decline in performance, with averages between 177.3 FPS (Ultra) and 284.4 FPS (Low). The gap between Low and Ultra widens slightly to 37.7%, indicating the GPU is starting to take on more of the workload. However, the frame rates remain so high that they far exceed the refresh rate of most monitors, meaning the experience is still buttery smooth.

At 4K, the tables turn decisively. The average FPS drops to 108.3 at Ultra, while Low settings still produce a phenomenal 233.6 FPS. The performance delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is a massive 53.6%, clearly demonstrating that the RTX 4070 SUPER is now the limiting component. The GPU’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed by the higher pixel count, while the CPU has more headroom to feed it frames. This scaling pattern confirms that Inside is a lightweight title where even a mid-range CPU can become the bottleneck at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest recorded average is 314.7 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

*Q: Is this CPU-GPU combination capable of 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Yes, it is more than capable. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo still delivers an average of 108.3 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 243.8 at 1920x1080 to 117.1 at 3840x2160, representing a 52% reduction in frame rate.

Q: Does the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB of VRAM cause any issues in this game?

A: No. Inside is not a VRAM-intensive title, and the 12 GB capacity is far more than sufficient. No VRAM-related performance anomalies are present in the measured data.

Q: Which settings preset provides the largest performance jump?

A: The most significant jump occurs when moving from Ultra to High. At 4K, this change yields an increase from 108.3 FPS to 117.1 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium is larger, but the Low preset is already so fast that it is irrelevant for practical use.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: It ranks 317th out of 1671 tested combos, placing it in the top 19% of all configurations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a powerhouse built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring a 5 nm process node and 35,800 million transistors. Its core configuration includes 7168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output pipelines. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, with memory running at an effective 21 Gbps.

In Inside, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly critical as resolution rises. At 1080p and 1440p, the card’s immense power is largely untapped, as the CPU cannot feed it enough data to saturate its capabilities. The benchmark results show that the RTX 4070 SUPER is effectively coasting, with frame rates limited by the processor’s single-thread performance.

However, at 4K, the GPU’s specifications come to the forefront. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is essential for handling the increased texture data and pixel throughput required at this resolution. The GPU’s 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power and 554.4 GTexel/s texture rate ensure that it can process the game’s visual effects without breaking a sweat. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the card maintains an average of 108.3 FPS, proving that it is the superior component in this pairing for high-resolution gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset provides a clear picture of performance across all tested scenarios. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings yield 314.7 FPS, Medium settings produce 289.8 FPS, High settings deliver 243.8 FPS, and Ultra settings achieve 237.5 FPS. The performance difference between Low and Ultra is 77.2 FPS, which is substantial in absolute terms but negligible given the already extreme frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the results show a similar pattern with slightly lower numbers. Low settings average 284.4 FPS, Medium settings hit 262.5 FPS, High settings reach 182.1 FPS, and Ultra settings manage 177.3 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra is minimal at 4.8 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns from the highest preset.

At 3840x2160, the impact of resolution is most pronounced. Low settings still manage an impressive 233.6 FPS, while Medium settings drop to 186.1 FPS. High settings produce 117.1 FPS, and Ultra settings bring up the rear at 108.3 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 125.3 FPS, highlighting the increased GPU workload at this resolution. In all cases, the minimum FPS values were not recorded, but the average figures indicate a consistently smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER achieves a rank of 317 out of 1671 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the 81st percentile of all configurations, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The rank suggests that while this combo is not the absolute fastest available, it is still far ahead of the vast majority of systems tested.

The CPU’s individual performance contributes significantly to this ranking. The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (scoring 13534, just 0.1% higher), the Intel Core i7-1250U (13462, 0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i3-10105 (13430, 0.6% lower). This indicates that the i3-12100F punches well above its weight class for a 4-core processor.

The GPU’s ranking is even more impressive. The RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 42576, placing it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest competitors are the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (42653, 0.2% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE (42723, 0.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon Pro 580X (41991, 1.4% lower). This shows that the GPU is a top-tier performer, and its high ranking in this game’s combo list is largely driven by its raw power.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel memory bus, and it features 80 KB of L1 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. It is built on Intel’s 10 nm process node and has a TDP of 58 W.

In Inside, the CPU’s role is the primary limiting factor at lower resolutions. The game’s engine appears to be heavily dependent on single-thread performance, which is where the i3-12100F excels. Its 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1681 indicate strong per-core performance. However, with only 4 physical cores, the processor can struggle to keep up with the GPU’s frame output at 1080p, leading to the CPU bottleneck observed in the data.

The benchmark results for the CPU show a clear scaling pattern across different thread counts. The 3DMark scores range from 1659 for 2 threads to 4051 for 16 threads, with the 8-thread score of 4026 nearly matching the max-thread score of 4023. This indicates that the processor’s performance is consistent across workloads, but its 4 cores limit its overall throughput. In a game like Inside, which is not heavily multi-threaded, this limitation becomes apparent at high frame rates, capping performance below what the RTX 4070 SUPER could theoretically deliver.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and display refresh rate. For 1080p and 1440p displays, the Ultra preset is recommended for the best visual quality, as it still delivers 237.5 FPS and 177.3 FPS respectively. These frame rates are well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most gaming monitors, so there is no reason to sacrifice visual fidelity for additional performance.

For 4K gaming, the Ultra preset is still viable at 108.3 FPS, which is suitable for 60 Hz displays. However, for those with 120 Hz or higher refresh rate 4K monitors, the High preset provides a significant boost to 117.1 FPS, offering a better balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Medium preset at 186.1 FPS is also an option for players who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual downgrade from High may not be worth the extra 69 FPS.

The Low preset is never recommended for this combination, as it provides no practical benefit. Even at 4K, the Low preset’s 233.6 FPS is far beyond what any current display can utilize, and the visual compromise is severe. In summary, the High or Ultra presets are the sensible choices for this hardware, with Ultra being the default recommendation for most users and High serving as a fallback for high-refresh-rate 4K displays.