Inside

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a remarkably fluid experience in Inside, a game whose minimalist aesthetic belies its demanding rendering. The measured frame rates across all presets and resolutions are exceptionally high, often exceeding the refresh rates of standard monitors. The data suggests that players have substantial headroom to prioritize visual fidelity, making the Ultra preset a viable option for most users. At 1080p, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 176.5 FPS, while the High preset is not far behind at 179.1 FPS. The difference between these two presets is marginal, but Ultra offers the definitive visual experience without sacrificing the fluidity that the game’s precise platforming demands. Even at 4K, the Ultra preset maintains an average of 97.1 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Given the data, the Ultra preset provides the best balance of image quality and performance, ensuring the game’s atmospheric lighting and shadow details are fully realized.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 holds a rank of 811 out of 1671 tested combos for Inside. This places the system in the upper-middle tier of all configurations tested, indicating that while it is not the absolute top performer, it is capable of delivering a high-end experience. The ranking is particularly interesting when considering the CPU’s overall standing; the i5-10400F sits in the 73rd percentile against all CPUs in the database. This suggests that in this game, the processor’s relative position is a limiting factor compared to the GPU. The RTX 3080, on the other hand, is in the 80th percentile against all GPUs. The data implies that the combo’s rank is a synthesis of a strong, but not top-tier, CPU and a powerful GPU. The game’s engine appears to be more sensitive to GPU capabilities, allowing the RTX 3080 to push performance high, but the CPU’s position in the 73rd percentile prevents the system from climbing higher in the overall rankings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the primary driver of performance in Inside, as evidenced by the substantial frame rates achieved at all resolutions. The GPU’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth provide ample resources for the game’s high-resolution textures and effects. The card’s architecture, Ampere, with 8704 shading units, is more than sufficient to handle the game’s rendering load. The data shows a clear correlation between GPU load and settings; moving from Low to Ultra at any resolution introduces a significant performance cost, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound rendering. The RTX 3080’s boost clock of 1710 MHz ensures it operates at high frequencies during gameplay. Interestingly, the GPU’s average benchmark score is 35787, placing it in the 80th percentile, which aligns with its ability to produce high frame rates here. The card’s performance in Inside is indicative of a system where the GPU is not the bottleneck, as even at 4K Ultra, the frame rate remains high. The data suggests that the GPU has untapped potential, as the frame rates at 1080p are so high that they may be limited by the CPU in some scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent performance hierarchy across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates range from 235.4 FPS on Low to 176.5 FPS on Ultra. The High preset yields 179.1 FPS, while Medium produces 217.4 FPS. The transition from Low to High results in a significant drop of 56.3 FPS, but the difference between High and Ultra is a mere 2.6 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns at the highest settings. At 2560x1440, the pattern is similar, with Low achieving 210 FPS, Medium at 191.4 FPS, High at 157.3 FPS, and Ultra at 150.6 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra narrows further to 6.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more demanding: Low produces 179.3 FPS, Medium 156.9 FPS, High 101.3 FPS, and Ultra 97.1 FPS. The most notable observation is the steep drop from Medium to High at 4K, a 55.6 FPS difference, which is more pronounced than at lower resolutions. This indicates that the High preset introduces effects that are particularly taxing at higher pixel counts. The Ultra preset at 4K, while the slowest, still delivers a playable 97.1 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K highlights the increasing demand on the GPU as pixel count rises. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 235.4 at 1080p to 179.3 at 4K, a 23.8% reduction. This relatively modest decrease suggests that at Low settings, the system is not fully GPU-bound, and the CPU can keep up with the increased load. However, at the Ultra preset, the drop is more severe: from 176.5 FPS at 1080p to 97.1 FPS at 4K, a 45% reduction. This steep decline indicates that at higher settings, the GPU becomes the definitive limiting component. The data shows that the scaling is not linear; the cost of 4K is amplified at higher settings. For instance, at Medium, the drop from 1080p to 4K is 60.5 FPS (from 217.4 to 156.9), while at High, the drop is 77.8 FPS (from 179.1 to 101.3). This pattern suggests that the High and Ultra presets involve complex shaders and lighting effects that scale disproportionately with resolution. The 4K resolution is clearly the most demanding scenario, and the RTX 3080’s performance there is a strong indicator of its capabilities.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, operates at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. In Inside, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU, but it is not insignificant. The CPU’s benchmark scores show a single-thread score of 688 in 3dMark and a multi-thread score of 10297 in Cinebench R23. The game likely relies on a few primary threads for game logic and physics, which the i5-10400F handles competently. However, the data suggests that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU may become a bottleneck. For example, at 1080p Low, the frame rate of 235.4 FPS is exceptionally high, and it is plausible that the CPU’s single-thread performance is limiting the GPU from reaching even higher values. The CPU’s position in the 73rd percentile against all CPUs, while decent, is not top-tier, and this is reflected in the frame rates. The boost clock of 4.30 GHz is crucial for maintaining high minimum frame rates in demanding scenes. The processor’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache provides adequate fast storage for game data, but the overall performance is capped by its architecture. The data implies that while the RTX 3080 can push high frame rates, the i5-10400F ensures the system remains responsive.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best settings preset for the Intel Core i5-10400F and RTX 3080 in Inside?*

A: The Ultra preset is recommended for the best experience. At 1080p it delivers 176.5 FPS, at 1440p it delivers 150.6 FPS, and even at 4K it maintains 97.1 FPS. The performance difference between High and Ultra is minimal, making Ultra the superior choice.

Q: How does this combo rank overall in the benchmark database?

A: This specific combo ranks 811th out of 1671 tested combinations for Inside. This places it in the upper-middle tier, with the CPU in the 73rd percentile and the GPU in the 80th percentile.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 the main performance driver in this game?

A: Yes, the data indicates the GPU is the primary factor. The frame rate drops significantly when settings are increased from Low to Ultra, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound rendering. The GPU’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and high shading unit count support this conclusion.

Q: How does the game perform at 4K resolution?

A: The game is very playable at 4K. The average frame rates are 179.3 FPS on Low, 156.9 FPS on Medium, 101.3 FPS on High, and 97.1 FPS on Ultra. All presets exceed the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the CPU limit performance in this game?

A: The CPU can become a limiting factor at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the frame rate of 235.4 FPS is very high, and the CPU’s single-thread performance may prevent even higher results. The CPU’s boost clock is 4.30 GHz.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra settings?

A: The difference is small. At 1080p, the drop from High to Ultra is 2.6 FPS (from 179.1 to 176.5). At 1440p, the difference is 6.7 FPS (from 157.3 to 150.6). At 4K, the difference is 4.2 FPS (from 101.3 to 97.1).