Inside

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a distinctive combination for running Inside, a game released on 2016-07-06. The benchmark data places this combo at rank 2547 out of 2887 tested combinations, putting it in the lower tier of tested systems. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, particularly at higher resolutions, while the processor shows it can handle the game's demands at lower settings. This analysis walks through the CPU and GPU roles, resolution scaling behavior, and the practical settings that deliver the most consistent experience based solely on the measured data.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 10th Gen desktop processor built on the Comet Lake architecture using a 14 nm process. It provides 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is typical of a mainstream desktop part from the Comet Lake generation, offering a solid foundation for gaming workloads.

In general compute benchmarks, the i5-10400F shows respectable multi-threaded capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 10283, while the single-core score is 1451. The Geekbench multicore result is 6257, with a single-core score of 1420. In PassMark, the multithread score is 12115, and the single-thread score is 2541. The 3DMark tests show a progression from a single-thread score of 688 to a max-thread score of 4735, with the 16-thread test at 4748, indicating the processor scales well when additional threads are utilized. The processor sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14185.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-10400F is effectively tied with the Intel Xeon 6756E, which has a deltaPct of 0.2, and the AMD EPYC 7552, which is 0.5% slower. It is marginally behind the Intel Core 7 160UL by 0.3% and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.6%. These tiny deltas mean that in synthetic CPU workloads, the i5-10400F performs nearly identically to those server and low-power parts, but its gaming performance is what matters here.

For Inside, a puzzle platformer, the CPU load is generally modest. The game does not require extreme multi-core scaling, so the i5-10400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient. The measured FPS data supports this: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 156 FPS, which is the highest measured result and suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at that point. Even at Ultra settings at 1080p, the game runs at 74 FPS, which is far above playable thresholds. The CPU's boost clock of 4.30 GHz helps with single-threaded game logic, and its 12 MB of L3 cache provides enough capacity for the game's data. The data indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing; instead, the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution and settings increase.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Memory is system shared, meaning the GPU uses the same memory pool as the CPU, with bandwidth that is system dependent. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the Arc B390 scores 1482. This places it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs, which is quite low. Its average benchmark score is also 1482. The nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% slower, the GeForce 800M is 1.5% slower, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% slower, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% slower. This suggests the Arc B390 performs in the range of very old entry-level discrete GPUs, despite being a modern integrated solution.

The GPU's low performance is the dominant factor in this combo's results. The measured frame rates show a clear ceiling imposed by the GPU. At 1080p Low, the system hits 156 FPS, but as settings increase at the same resolution, the frame rate drops to 125 FPS at Medium, 78 FPS at High, and 74 FPS at Ultra. This pattern is directly attributable to the GPU's limited shading and texture throughput. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is not sufficient for high-end rendering, and the 24 ROPs limit pixel fill rate to 60.00 GPixel/s. The GPU's 2500 MHz boost clock helps, but the underlying architecture is not designed for demanding game loads.

The fact that the GPU is an "IGP" with a TDP of 80 W and no power connectors indicates it draws power from the system, but the performance envelope is small. The 3DMark result of 1482 is low enough that the GPU is clearly the bottleneck in most measured scenarios. For Inside, which has a stylized art style, the GPU can still render the game, but the frame rates at higher settings and resolutions show its limits. The system shared memory is a further constraint, as bandwidth is system dependent and cannot match dedicated VRAM.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 156 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 112 FPS, a 28% reduction. At 4K Low, it falls to 70 FPS, which is a 55% reduction from 1080p and a 37% reduction from 1440p. This scaling is steep, indicating that the GPU is running out of fillrate and shading capacity as pixel count increases.

The same pattern holds for Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 125, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 144. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103. At 4K Medium, the average is 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65. The delta between 1080p and 4K at Medium is 69 FPS, or a 55% drop, consistent with the Low setting scaling.

For High settings, the 1080p average is 78 FPS, 1440p is 56 FPS, and 4K is 35 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 43 FPS, a 55% reduction. At Ultra settings, the 1080p average is 74 FPS, 1440p is 53 FPS, and 4K is 34 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 40 FPS, a 54% reduction. Across all settings, the resolution scaling is remarkably consistent, with roughly a 55% performance loss moving from 1080p to 4K.

This consistency indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at all settings. The CPU's workload does not scale significantly with resolution, so the frame rate drop is purely a function of the GPU's rendering capacity. The data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo can maintain high frame rates across all settings. At 1440p, only Low and Medium settings provide averages above 90 FPS, while High and Ultra fall below 60 FPS. At 4K, only Low settings achieve an average above 60 FPS, with Medium at 56 FPS and High/Ultra in the mid-30s. The limiting component is clearly the GPU, as the CPU has no trouble feeding it frames at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2547 out of 2887 tested combinations in Inside. This places it in the bottom 12% of all combos, which is a low standing. The rank reflects the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU is competent but the integrated GPU drags the overall result down.

The GPU's percentile of 9 is the primary reason for this low rank. Compared to other GPUs, the Arc B390 is in the bottom 10%, which means most discrete GPUs will outperform it. The CPU's percentile of 68 is respectable, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. The data shows that the combo's performance is heavily skewed by the GPU, and the rank of 2547 out of 2887 is consistent with a system that is GPU-bound.

To put this in context, the nearest CPU rivals show that the i5-10400F itself is not a weak part. It is within 0.6% of its nearest rivals in average benchmark score. However, the GPU's nearest rivals are all much older and slower parts, such as the GeForce GT 710, which is 2.7% slower. This disparity between CPU and GPU capability means that the combo's rank is almost entirely determined by the GPU. In a game like Inside, which is not particularly demanding, the combo can still run at playable frame rates at 1080p, but it cannot compete with systems that have even modest discrete GPUs.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Inside?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 156, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the main bottleneck at 4K Ultra?

A: At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS is 34. The GPU's low percentile (9) and the consistent 55% FPS drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings indicate the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% faster than the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 1440p with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, at 1440p Low the average is 112 FPS, and at 1440p Medium it is 90 FPS. High and Ultra settings drop to 56 FPS and 53 FPS, respectively.

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

A: The combo ranks 2547 out of 2887 tested combinations, putting it in the lower tier of systems.

Q: Does the CPU's multi-threaded performance help in this game?

A: The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score is 10283, but the game's frame rates are consistent across settings at the same resolution, showing that the GPU limits performance and the CPU's 12 threads are sufficient.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 156 FPS average
• Medium: 125 FPS average, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 144
• High: 78 FPS average
• Ultra: 74 FPS average

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 112 FPS average
• Medium: 90 FPS average, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 53 FPS average

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 70 FPS average
• Medium: 56 FPS average, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

The data shows a clear trend: at 1080p, all settings are playable, with even Ultra averaging 74 FPS. At 1440p, Low and Medium are smooth, but High and Ultra dip below 60 FPS. At 4K, only Low achieves an average above 60 FPS, and Medium is just at 56 FPS. The minimum FPS values, where available, show that Medium settings are stable, with the 1080p minimum at 106 FPS and the 1440p minimum at 76 FPS. The 4K Medium minimum is 48 FPS, which is playable but not ideal.

The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution is significant. At 1080p, the difference is 82 FPS (156 vs 74). At 1440p, the difference is 59 FPS (112 vs 53). At 4K, the difference is 36 FPS (70 vs 34). This indicates that the Low preset provides a substantial performance boost over Ultra, and the gap widens at lower resolutions because the GPU is less constrained.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1080p, the Ultra preset at 74 FPS is a solid choice for the best visual quality while maintaining a frame rate above 60. The High preset at 78 FPS offers a slight performance increase with a minor visual reduction. The Medium preset at 125 FPS is the best option for high refresh rate displays, as it provides a significant boost over High and Ultra. The Low preset at 156 FPS is only necessary for very high refresh rate monitors, as the Medium preset already delivers excellent performance.

For 1440p, the Medium preset at 90 FPS is the recommended choice. It provides a smooth experience well above 60 FPS, and the minimum of 76 FPS ensures no major dips. The Low preset at 112 FPS is also viable for competitive play, but the Medium preset offers better visual fidelity. The High preset at 56 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 53 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold, so they are not recommended for a consistent experience.

For 4K, the Low preset at 70 FPS is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 56 FPS is playable but may have dips to 48 FPS, which can be noticeable. The High and Ultra presets at 35 FPS and 34 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for smooth gameplay. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option for a fluid experience.

The data suggests that the combo's best experience is at 1080p with Medium or Ultra settings, where the frame rates are high enough for a responsive puzzle platformer. At 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot. At 4K, only Low settings provide a satisfactory frame rate. Users with 1080p displays can maximize settings without concern, while 4K users must accept significant visual compromises to maintain playable performance.