Inside

The Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers a robust performance profile in Inside, a puzzle platformer. The benchmark data shows this pairing handles the game smoothly across most settings, with the GPU acting as the primary performance determinant. The following analysis examines the CPU and GPU contributions, scaling behavior, and optimal settings based on the measured FPS data.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It features a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. For a puzzle platformer like Inside, which is not typically demanding on multi-threaded workloads, this CPU provides ample headroom. The processor sits at the 68th percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14185. This places it in a competitive position, with its nearest rivals showing only marginal differences: the Intel Xeon 6756E is 0.2% ahead, while the AMD EPYC 7552 is 0.5% ahead, and the Intel Core 7 160UL and AMD Ryzen 3 7320C are 0.3% and 0.6% behind, respectively.

In the context of Inside, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. The measured FPS data indicates that even at the highest settings, the system never appears to be CPU-bound. For instance, at 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 114, which is well above playable thresholds. The single-thread performance, as indicated by a Geekbench single-core score of 1420 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 688, is more than sufficient for this game's logic and physics. The multi-threaded capabilities, reflected in a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283, ensure that background tasks or any additional processing demands do not create bottlenecks. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth further contribute to consistent frame delivery in a game that moves between areas with varying object counts. Given the game's 2016 release date and its stylized 2.5D presentation, the CPU's performance is effectively a non-issue; the data suggests the processor can easily handle the game's requirements without limiting the GPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the decisive component in this pairing. This GPU, based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation), is built on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The core operates at a consistent 2500 MHz base and boost clock. The GPU's specifications include 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 render output units. The Arc B570 holds the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rivals are extremely close in performance: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile is 0.1% ahead, the Intel Arc A750 is 0.1% behind, with the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M and AMD Radeon R9 M390X trailing by 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively.

In Inside, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates. The game's visual style, which relies on atmospheric lighting, shadows, and particle effects, benefits from the B570's capabilities. The 10 GB VRAM is more than adequate for a game of this scope, even at 4K resolution. The memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s supports high-resolution textures without stuttering. The B570's FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s ensure that the rendering pipeline is not starved. The measured FPS data shows a clear GPU-bound scenario: at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 52, while at 1080p Ultra, it reaches 114. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-limited system, where lowering resolution increases the load on the CPU but the GPU remains the limiting factor. The GPU's API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with modern rendering paths, but for Inside, which uses older APIs, the performance is still excellent. The data confirms that the Arc B570 is the performance gatekeeper, and its capabilities dictate the achievable frame rates across all tested settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. This behavior shows that the system is GPU-bound, as the CPU has sufficient power to maintain high frame rates even at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the average FPS across settings is notably high: Low runs at 233 FPS, Medium at 192 FPS, High at 120 FPS, and Ultra at 114 FPS. Moving to 1440p, the frame rates decrease proportionally: Low drops to 172 FPS, Medium to 138 FPS, High to 86 FPS, and Ultra to 82 FPS. This represents a roughly 25-30% reduction in FPS from 1080p to 1440p across all settings, which is consistent with the increased pixel count.

The jump from 1440p to 4K further illustrates GPU limitation. At 4K, the average FPS values are: Low at 108 FPS, Medium at 87 FPS, High at 54 FPS, and Ultra at 52 FPS. This is a more significant drop, particularly at High and Ultra settings, where the frame rate nearly halves compared to 1440p. The 4K Ultra average of 52 FPS is only slightly below the 60 FPS target, indicating that the GPU is nearing its limit. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a total FPS reduction of approximately 54% at Low settings (from 233 to 108 FPS) and 54% at Ultra settings (from 114 to 52 FPS). This uniform scaling percentage suggests that the system is consistently GPU-bound, with no CPU-related bottlenecks appearing even at lower resolutions. The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-10400F can maintain high frame rates well beyond what the GPU can render, confirming that the Arc B570 is the limiting component in this configuration for Inside.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1080p, the system delivers exceptional performance: the Low preset averages 233 FPS, which is far beyond any display refresh rate. The Medium preset averages 192 FPS, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 221 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery. The High preset drops to an average of 120 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 114 FPS. These numbers show that even at the highest quality settings, the system maintains a frame rate well above the standard 60 FPS target, offering a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 1440p, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. The Low preset averages 172 FPS, which is still very high. The Medium preset averages 138 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 159 FPS. The High preset averages 86 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 82 FPS. These values are all above 60 FPS, making 1440p playable at any setting. The minimum FPS recorded at Medium (117 FPS) is still well within the playable range, suggesting that frame pacing is consistent without major drops.

At 4K, the system begins to show its limits. The Low preset averages 108 FPS, which is excellent for 4K resolution. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target but still playable. The Ultra preset averages 52 FPS, which is the lowest recorded value. At this setting, the system is clearly GPU-bound, and users may notice occasional frame dips below 50 FPS. The data shows that the Medium preset at 4K offers a good balance, with an average FPS of 87 and a minimum of 74 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are borderline, with averages around 52-54 FPS, which could be acceptable for a slower-paced puzzle game like Inside, but may not be ideal for users sensitive to frame rate drops.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2357 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, but this ranking must be interpreted in context. The rank of 2357 indicates that many other combinations achieve higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs or newer CPU architectures. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo still delivers excellent playability across all settings and resolutions. The rank is primarily influenced by the GPU's position at the 65th percentile, as the CPU's performance is not a limiting factor for this game.

The ranking suggests that while this combo is not among the top performers, it is far from being underpowered. For a game like Inside, which is not graphically intensive, the combo's rank of 2357 out of 2887 does not reflect a poor experience. The data shows that at 1080p Ultra, the system averages 114 FPS, which is higher than many other combos that might rank higher but target 60 FPS. The ranking is a relative measure against all other tested configurations, many of which include high-end GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which is only 0.1% ahead of the Arc B570 in average benchmark score. This close rivalry suggests that the Arc B570's performance is competitive with mid-range GPUs, and the ranking is more a reflection of the GPU's tier rather than a deficiency. In practical terms, the combo's performance in Inside is more than sufficient for a smooth experience, and the ranking should be viewed as a data point rather than a definitive measure of quality.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p Ultra settings is 114 FPS, which is well above the standard 60 FPS target.

*Q: Is the system CPU-bound or GPU-bound in Inside?*

A: The system is GPU-bound, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU maintains sufficient performance to not limit the GPU.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 1440p Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 117, and the maximum FPS is 159, with an average of 138 FPS.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Yes, it can handle 4K gaming. At 4K Low settings, the average FPS is 108, and at 4K Medium settings, the average FPS is 87, both of which are playable. However, at 4K High and Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 54 and 52, respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Arc A750?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, while the Intel Arc A750 has an average score of 20582, making the Arc A750 0.1% faster in synthetic benchmarks.

*Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations in Inside?*

A: The combo ranks 2357 out of 2887 tested configurations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance goals. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 114 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any display. The High preset at 1080p offers 120 FPS, but the difference in visual quality between High and Ultra is minimal, and the Ultra preset's 114 FPS is still well above 60. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or higher), the Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 192 FPS, might be preferable to maximize frame rates, but Ultra is the best balance for visual fidelity.

For 1440p, the High preset is recommended, with an average FPS of 86, which is comfortably above 60. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 82 FPS, which is also excellent, but the difference between High and Ultra is minimal. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 138 FPS, is ideal for users prioritizing higher frame rates, but the visual upgrade from Medium to High is noticeable. The data shows that High at 1440p provides the best balance between visual quality and performance.

For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation. It provides an average FPS of 87, with a minimum of 74 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience without significant frame drops. The Low preset at 4K averages 108 FPS, which is also playable, but the visual quality is noticeably reduced. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not recommended, as they drop below 60 FPS, with averages of 54 and 52, respectively. For a puzzle platformer like Inside, where precise timing is less critical, these frame rates might be acceptable, but the Medium preset offers a superior experience with a minimum FPS of 74, which is well above the threshold for noticeable stuttering. In summary, the data suggests using Ultra at 1080p, High at 1440p, and Medium at 4K to achieve the best balance of visual quality and frame rate consistency.