Inside

# CPU Role — Cores, Clocks, and How They Relate to This Game's Results

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Its memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus, and it connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

In benchmark terms, this CPU sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs tested. Its average benchmark score is 18683, with multi-threaded performance highlighted by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257. PassMark multithread score reaches 18747, while single-thread performance is measured at 3456. For a game like Inside, which is a puzzle platformer originally released in 2016, the CPU workload is generally light, but the i5-12400's strong single-thread performance — evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 1848 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 910 — ensures that any physics or logic calculations are handled without bottlenecking the frame rate.

The measured FPS data for this combo shows that at 1080p Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 141 FPS, which is well above typical display refresh rates. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 67 FPS, still respectable but indicating that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase. The CPU's 12 threads and 18 MB of L3 cache provide ample headroom for this title, which is not heavily threaded. Data compression scores (226908 in PassMark) and encryption scores (11418) further confirm the CPU's capability in handling background tasks while gaming, though these are not directly relevant to Inside's rendering demands.

The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the AMD EPYC 7643 (average score 18697, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i7-1355U (18730, delta -0.3%), AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (18811, delta -0.7%), and Intel Core i3-14100F (18519, delta 0.9%). The i5-12400 sits within 1% of these scores, indicating that its processing power is competitive with a range of server, mobile, and desktop parts. For Inside, this means the CPU is never the primary constraint; the data shows that even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS is 30, the bottleneck is clearly the graphics subsystem.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2654 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside, placing it in the bottom 8% of configurations. This is a notably low ranking, which reflects the GPU's limited performance rather than the CPU's capabilities. The combo rank indicates that while the processor is more than adequate for the game, the graphics card holds the system back significantly.

To contextualize, the Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution (IGP) based on the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture. It has a 3 nm process node, 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. Its boost clock is 2400 MHz with a base of 300 MHz, and it relies on shared system memory. In the GPU benchmark database, this card scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it at the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, delta -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, delta -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, delta 1.4%). All of these are older, low-end parts, confirming that the Arc B370 is positioned at the very bottom of the performance spectrum.

The combo rank of 2654 out of 2887 means that only 233 tested combinations perform worse. This is consistent with the GPU's percentile ranking. The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 72nd percentile, so the pairing is heavily mismatched — a strong processor paired with an entry-level integrated GPU. In practice, this means that for Inside, the system's frame rates are entirely dictated by the GPU. The CPU's 3DMark scores (single-thread 910, 2-thread 1692, 4-thread 3012, 8-thread 4745, 16-thread 5873, max-thread 5890) show it can handle far more demanding tasks, but the Arc B370's 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 96.00 GTexel/s texture rate are simply insufficient for higher resolutions and settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how this combo scales across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 141. Moving to 1440p Low, it drops to 101 FPS, a reduction of approximately 28%. At 4K Low, it falls further to 64 FPS, which is a 55% drop from 1080p. This scaling pattern indicates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is struggling to maintain high frame rates as pixel count increases.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 1080p averages 113 FPS, 1440p drops to 81 FPS (a 28% reduction), and 4K falls to 51 FPS (a 55% reduction from 1080p). The minimum FPS at Medium settings also shows the strain: 96 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 43 FPS at 4K. These minimums suggest occasional frame hitches, particularly at higher resolutions.

For High settings, 1080p averages 70 FPS, 1440p averages 51 FPS (a 27% drop), and 4K averages 32 FPS (a 54% drop from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings — roughly 27-28% from 1080p to 1440p, and 54-55% from 1080p to 4K — strongly suggests that the GPU is the limiting component. A CPU-bound scenario would show less dramatic scaling with resolution, but here the frame rate halves as pixel count quadruples, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited workload.

Ultra settings show the most severe impact: 1080p averages 67 FPS, 1440p averages 48 FPS (a 28% drop), and 4K averages 30 FPS (a 55% drop). The fact that the scaling percentages remain nearly constant regardless of settings further confirms that the Arc B370's fill rate and shading power are the bottlenecks. The GPU's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are simply not enough to handle 4K resolution with high-quality effects.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Inside?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1080p is the only resolution where the combo achieves consistently playable frame rates across all settings. At 1080p Low, the average is 141 FPS; at Medium, 113 FPS; at High, 70 FPS; and at Ultra, 67 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (101 FPS) and Medium (81 FPS) remain above 60 FPS, while 4K only exceeds 60 FPS at Low settings (64 FPS).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B370?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not the bottleneck. The i5-12400 ranks in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile of GPUs. The consistent frame rate drops of roughly 27-28% from 1080p to 1440p and 54-55% from 1080p to 4K across all settings are classic signs of GPU limitation, not CPU limitation.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5%), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7%). It is slightly ahead of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, +1.4%). All of these are legacy, low-end parts, confirming the Arc B370's entry-level positioning.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 81 FPS at 1440p Medium, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. This is a playable experience, though the minimum frame rate indicates some drops may occur during intense scenes.

Q: Does the Arc B370 have dedicated VRAM?

A: No, the GPU uses System Shared memory. The memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," and the bandwidth is "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system's main memory, which can impact performance depending on the platform's memory configuration.

*Q: Is this combo suitable for 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Only at Low settings does 4K achieve a playable average of 64 FPS. At Medium, the average drops to 51 FPS; at High, 32 FPS; and at Ultra, 30 FPS. Given that the minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 43 FPS, the experience would be inconsistent. For smooth 4K gameplay, Low settings are recommended, but even then, the frame rate is only marginally above 60 FPS.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation units, along with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with a TDP of 25 W. Its memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning there is no dedicated VRAM; the memory type, bus width, and size are all listed as "System Shared," and bandwidth is "System Dependent."

In terms of raw compute, the Arc B370 delivers 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.29 TFLOPS of FP16 performance with a 2:1 ratio. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. These specifications place it firmly in the entry-level segment, as confirmed by its 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12.

For Inside, a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer, the GPU's role is to render the game's atmospheric visuals, which include lighting effects, shadows, and detailed environments. The measured FPS data shows that the Arc B370 can handle the game at 1080p with ease — even at Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 67 FPS. However, at 1440p and 4K, the GPU's limited ROP count (20) and texture units (40) become apparent, as frame rates drop significantly. The nearest GPU rivals — all from the ATI/AMD HD 5000 and 7000 series era — underscore how dated this performance level is. The Arc B370's 3DMark score of 1184 is nearly identical to the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), a GPU from 2009, indicating that while the architecture is modern, the performance envelope is not.

The GPU's 25 W TDP and IGP form factor mean it draws very little power and requires no additional power connectors, making it suitable for low-power systems. However, this comes at the cost of raw performance, as the data clearly shows. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1184 is a direct measure of its modern rendering capability, and the 5th percentile ranking places it below the vast majority of discrete GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, all settings are playable: Low averages 141 FPS, Medium averages 113 FPS, High averages 70 FPS, and Ultra averages 67 FPS. Given that the difference between High and Ultra is only 3 FPS (70 vs. 67), Ultra settings at 1080p provide the best visual experience without a significant performance penalty. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 96 FPS, suggesting that even the lowest frames are above 60 FPS, so there is no risk of stuttering.

For 1440p, the choice is more constrained. Low settings average 101 FPS, Medium averages 81 FPS, High averages 51 FPS, and Ultra averages 48 FPS. To maintain a consistent 60+ FPS experience, Low or Medium settings are recommended. Medium offers a 81 FPS average with a 69 FPS minimum, which is a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. High and Ultra both fall below 60 FPS, which may be acceptable for a slower-paced puzzle platformer but is not ideal for a fluid experience.

At 4K, Low settings are the only option for a playable frame rate, averaging 64 FPS. Medium drops to 51 FPS, High to 32 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS. Given that the minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 43 FPS, there would be noticeable drops below 60 FPS. For a game like Inside, which relies on atmosphere and smooth animation, 4K Low settings are the recommended choice, as they provide a playable experience without compromising the core gameplay. However, users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate could opt for Medium, as the 51 FPS average is still within the territory of playability for this genre.

The data suggests that the best experience overall is at 1080p Ultra, where the average frame rate of 67 FPS is well above the minimum requirement for smooth gameplay, and the visual quality is maximized. This configuration takes full advantage of the CPU's capability while staying within the GPU's performance envelope.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B370 combo in Inside covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). All data is measured, not estimated.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 141 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.
• Medium: Average 113 FPS, minimum 96 FPS, maximum 130 FPS.
• High: Average 70 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.
• Ultra: Average 67 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 101 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.
• Medium: Average 81 FPS, minimum 69 FPS, maximum 93 FPS.
• High: Average 51 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.
• Ultra: Average 48 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 64 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.
• Medium: Average 51 FPS, minimum 43 FPS, maximum 59 FPS.
• High: Average 32 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.
• Ultra: Average 30 FPS, no minimum or maximum data provided.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low settings provide the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the most demanding. At 1080p, the spread from Low to Ultra is 74 FPS (141 to 67), while at 1440p it narrows to 53 FPS (101 to 48), and at 4K it narrows further to 34 FPS (64 to 30). This narrowing indicates that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes more saturated, reducing the relative impact of settings changes. The minimum FPS data at Medium settings shows a consistent degradation: 96 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 43 FPS at 4K, representing a 28% and 55% drop, respectively, from 1080p. This reinforces the GPU-bound nature of the system at higher resolutions.