Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer with a deliberately oppressive atmosphere, and the benchmark data for this Intel Core i5-12400F + Intel Arc B370 combo reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics processor at higher resolutions. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern: the game scales dramatically with resolution and settings, but the GPU’s low percentile standing among all tested graphics cards (5th percentile) becomes the dominant factor as the pixel count climbs. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, the division of labor between CPU and GPU, and what the numbers imply for a smooth playthrough of this title.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a steep and consistent performance penalty as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which strongly indicates the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 70 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 1440p, and further down to 32 FPS at 4K. This represents a 54% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, a scaling pattern typical of a GPU that is saturated by the increasing number of pixels it must render. The drop is not linear; the jump from 1440p to 4K is particularly harsh, costing 19 FPS, which suggests the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are exhausted well before the highest resolution is reached.

The Low settings row amplifies this finding. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 141 FPS, but at 4K Low, it falls to 64 FPS. While the percentage drop is similar (54%), the absolute numbers confirm that even with the lowest graphical load, the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K. This is a clear sign that the CPU, an Intel Core i5-12400F with 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the bottleneck here; if it were, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

The Medium settings row provides additional nuance, with the only complete min/max data in the pack. At 1080p Medium, the average is 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 130 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 81 FPS (min 69, max 93), and at 4K Medium, it falls to 51 FPS (min 43, max 59). The fact that the minimum frame rate at 4K Medium (43 FPS) is lower than the average at 4K High (32 FPS) from a different row is not directly comparable, but within the Medium preset, the 4K min of 43 FPS shows that the GPU is struggling to maintain a consistent frame pacing under load. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Medium is a 28% drop, while 1440p to 4K is a 37% drop, indicating the GPU’s performance degrades more rapidly as resolution approaches its limits.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this game’s performance, and its specifications in the FACT PACK explain why. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 3 nm process node and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Crucially, its memory is listed as "System Shared" with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, which is a significant handicap for a game like Inside, which, while not graphically intense by modern standards, still benefits from dedicated memory bandwidth. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which are over a decade old. This context is essential: the Arc B370 is not a gaming-focused part, and its performance in this benchmark reflects that.

The boost clock of 2400 MHz is relatively high for an IGP, but it cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated graphics memory. The texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s are modest figures, and the FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is low compared to discrete solutions. In practical terms, this means the GPU can handle the 2D side-scrolling art style and simple lighting of Inside at lower resolutions, but it becomes overwhelmed when asked to render at 4K. The data shows this clearly: the only 4K row that achieves a playable average (above 60 FPS) is Low at 64 FPS, and even that is marginal. The GPU’s performance ceiling in this game is approximately 141 FPS at 1080p Low, and it degrades from there as resolution increases.

The relationship between the GPU’s low percentile (5th) and the measured frame rates is direct. A GPU in the 5th percentile will struggle with any modern 3D workload, and while Inside is a 2016 title, its visual effects and post-processing still demand a certain level of graphics throughput. The fact that the Arc B370’s nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, has a nearly identical average benchmark score (1186 vs 1184) underscores that this is entry-level hardware from a bygone era. The data implies that for any resolution above 1440p, the GPU is the sole limiting factor, and even at 1440p, the user must adjust settings to achieve a smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows it can, but only at Low settings, where it achieves an average of 64 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 51 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 32 FPS and 30 FPS respectively, which are below the typical 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Inside with this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings presets achieve an average above 60 FPS. At 1080p, the lowest average is 67 FPS (Ultra), while Low reaches 141 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low preset (101 FPS) and Medium preset (81 FPS) stay above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, a delta of -0.2%. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (delta -0.5%), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (delta -0.7%). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (delta 1.4%).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400F CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests it is not. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, are strong for a desktop processor. The frame rates scale inversely with resolution, which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, not the CPU.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 70 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 67 FPS. This is a negligible difference of 3 FPS, suggesting that Ultra offers a minimal performance cost over High for potentially similar visual gains in this game.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among tested systems for Inside?

A: The combo is ranked 2654 out of 2887 tested combinations for this game, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested. This low rank is consistent with the GPU’s 5th percentile standing among all graphics cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. Low settings deliver an average of 141 FPS, Medium delivers 113 FPS (with a minimum of 96 FPS and maximum of 130 FPS), High delivers 70 FPS, and Ultra delivers 67 FPS. All presets at 1080p are playable, with even the lowest (Ultra) maintaining an average well above 60 FPS. The gap between Medium (113 FPS) and High (70 FPS) is substantial, a 38% drop, indicating that High introduces significant graphical effects that tax the GPU.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops across the board. Low settings average 101 FPS, which is still smooth, and Medium averages 81 FPS (min 69, max 93), which remains playable. High settings drop to 51 FPS, and Ultra falls to 48 FPS. At this resolution, the user must choose between Medium (81 FPS) and High (51 FPS); the former offers a better experience for fast-moving scenes, while the latter may be acceptable for slower puzzle sections. The data shows that 1440p is the boundary where the GPU’s limitations become apparent, as two of the four presets dip below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, performance is severely compromised. Low settings average 64 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target, but any higher preset results in sub-60 FPS averages. Medium averages 51 FPS (min 43, max 59), High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The 4K data confirms that the Arc B370 is not designed for this resolution in this game. The minimum frame rate at 4K Medium (43 FPS) indicates noticeable stuttering, and the High and Ultra averages of 32 and 30 FPS are near-unplayable for a platformer requiring precise timing. The complete breakdown shows a system that is perfectly capable at 1080p, adequate at 1440p with settings adjustments, and only marginally playable at 4K on the lowest settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores in the FACT PACK are robust: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380 and a single-core score of 1680, a Geekbench multi-core score of 9472, and a single-core score of 1964. The CPU’s percentile ranking is 73rd among all CPUs, which places it well above the GPU’s 5th percentile. This disparity is the key insight: the CPU is far more capable than the GPU, and in a game like Inside, which is not CPU-intensive due to its 2D side-scrolling nature, the processor has ample headroom.

The 3DMark thread tests show the CPU scales well with cores: 2-thread score of 1699, 4-thread score of 3067, 8-thread score of 4779, and max-thread score of 5912. This indicates that even if the game were to use multiple threads, the CPU could handle it. However, the fact that frame rates drop by roughly half when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings proves that the CPU is not the bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting, the FPS would be similar across resolutions, but the data shows a clear resolution-dependent decline. The CPU is essentially idle waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with an average score of 19047 (delta 0%), and the Intel Core i5-1335U with 18982 (delta 0.3%), are comparable in synthetic benchmarks. This means the i5-12400F is a mid-range performer that should not struggle with a 2016 puzzle platformer. The data suggests that the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, and it does so without issue. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (141 FPS) is likely near the game’s engine limit or the GPU’s maximum output, and the CPU is not preventing higher frame rates at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s target resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset at 67 FPS is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining an average frame rate above 60 FPS. The difference between High (70 FPS) and Ultra (67 FPS) is only 3 FPS, so there is no reason to choose High over Ultra, as the visual upgrade from Ultra is essentially free in performance terms. For users with high refresh rate monitors, the Low preset at 141 FPS is the only option to exceed 120 FPS, but this sacrifices visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 81 FPS is the recommended choice. It offers a balanced experience with a minimum frame rate of 69 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The High preset at 51 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel less responsive, while the Low preset at 101 FPS is smooth but loses the visual richness of Medium. The data shows that Medium at 1440p is the sweet spot, providing a 60% performance improvement over High (81 vs 51 FPS) while still looking significantly better than Low. Users who prioritize frame rate over visuals could opt for Low, but the Medium preset is the best compromise.

For 3840x2160, the only playable option is the Low preset at 64 FPS. The Medium preset at 51 FPS (min 43 FPS) is borderline, but the low minimum frame rate suggests potential stuttering. The High (32 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) presets are not recommended for gameplay, as they fall well below the 60 FPS target and would impair the game’s timing-based puzzles. The recommendation is to run the game at 4K Low if the user insists on that resolution, but the data clearly shows that 1080p or 1440p with higher settings provides a superior experience. The measured rows indicate that the GPU’s performance ceiling is best utilized at lower resolutions, where settings can be maximized without sacrificing frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B370 is ranked 2654 out of 2887 tested combinations for Inside, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems. This low rank is directly attributable to the GPU’s poor performance, as the CPU is in the 73rd percentile. The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking among all graphics cards is the primary driver of this combo’s poor standing. The data shows that while the CPU is a capable mid-range part, the GPU is a significant bottleneck that prevents the system from competing with even modest gaming setups.

The combo’s rank of 2654 suggests that the vast majority of other tested systems deliver higher frame rates in Inside. This is expected, as the Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution with no dedicated VRAM, and its nearest rivals include the ATI Radeon HD 5770, a discrete GPU from 2009. The measured FPS at 1080p High (70 FPS) is respectable, but the system’s inability to maintain 60 FPS at 4K High (32 FPS) puts it at a disadvantage compared to systems with discrete GPUs. The rank is a reflection of the GPU’s limitations, not the CPU’s.

In the context of the benchmark database, this combo serves as a reference point for low-end integrated graphics performance. The data implies that for Inside, a game with modest requirements, this system can provide a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p with settings adjustments, but it is far from competitive. The rank of 2654 out of 2887 is a stark reminder that the Arc B370 is not designed for gaming, even at lower resolutions. Users with this combo should expect to play at 1080p Ultra (67 FPS) or 1440p Medium (81 FPS) for the best experience, and they should avoid 4K except at the lowest settings. The benchmark data positions this combo as a capable entry-level office or media system that can handle light gaming, but it is not a gaming powerhouse by any measure.