Inside

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a remarkably fluid experience in Inside, a 2D puzzle platformer where the hardware is far more capable than the game demands. The measured data shows this combo achieving over 124 FPS at 1080p on the Ultra preset, and even at 4K Ultra it remains playable at 52.5 FPS. This pairing is overqualified for the title, with the GPU acting as the primary performance limiter at higher resolutions while the CPU provides ample headroom.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Core 12th Gen series, built on the Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz provide substantial single-thread headroom, which is critical for a physics-driven puzzle platformer. The CPU's benchmark scores reflect this strength: a 3dmark_single_thread score of 909 and a passmark_single_thread score of 3481 indicate strong per-core performance. This is further supported by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2332, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Inside, the CPU's role is to maintain consistent frame pacing and handle game logic without becoming a bottleneck. The data demonstrates that the i5-12400F excels at this task. At 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 254.1 FPS, a figure that far exceeds the refresh rate of most displays. Even at 1080p Ultra, where the GPU workload increases, the system still produces 124.3 FPS. This suggests that the CPU's multi-threaded capabilities, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16518 and a passmark_multithread score of 19433, are more than sufficient.

The processor is positioned competitively against its nearest rivals. Its average benchmark score of 19221 is virtually identical to the Intel Core i7-8700K (19210, deltaPct 0.1%) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U (19167, deltaPct 0.3%). It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (19364, deltaPct -0.7%) by a negligible margin. This indicates that for Inside, the CPU is not a limiting factor; its performance envelope is well above what the game's engine requires at any settings combination tested.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, built on the Turing architecture with a 12 nm process, is the more significant component in this pairing for Inside. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz. Its benchmark standing is solid, with an average score of 16074 and a percentile ranking of 58 against all GPUs. The 3dmark_3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 1242 provides a modern DX12 performance reference.

For Inside, the GPU's workload scales dramatically with both resolution and settings. The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 2060 handles the game's visual effects—likely including dynamic lighting and shadow rendering—with ease. At 1440p High, the combo delivers 94.6 FPS, and at 4K High it achieves 58.1 FPS. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is not a constraint in this title, as the game's art style is relatively low-polygon and texture-light.

The GPU's nearest rivals show it is a mid-range performer. It sits just ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996, deltaPct 0.5%) and slightly behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16351, deltaPct -1.7%) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (16351, deltaPct -1.7%). This positioning is consistent with the observed frame rates: the RTX 2060 provides a playable 4K experience on High settings, but requires dropping to Medium or Low for higher refresh rates at that resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly identifies the GPU as the performance bottleneck, while the CPU remains largely idle. The data shows a predictable progression: at 1080p Ultra, the combo produces 124.3 FPS; at 1440p Ultra, it drops to 89.9 FPS; and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 52.5 FPS. This represents a 57.8% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings, which is a significant but expected drop for a GPU of this class.

The scaling becomes more pronounced at lower settings where the CPU has less work to hide behind. At Low settings, the system goes from 254.1 FPS at 1080p to 182.6 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 115.5 FPS at 4K. This pattern indicates that the GPU is fully utilized at all resolutions, with its rendering throughput being the limiting factor. The CPU's contribution is minimal; even at 4K Low, the frame rate of 115.5 FPS suggests the i5-12400F is not being stressed.

The medium settings tier provides a balanced view of the GPU's scaling. The frame rates are 202.3 FPS at 1080p, 145.1 FPS at 1440p, and 93.4 FPS at 4K. The consistent ~30% drop between each resolution step confirms that the RTX 2060's fill rate and shading capacity are the primary constraints. For Inside, this means players targeting 4K will need to use Medium or Low settings for a smooth experience, while 1080p and 1440p offer ample headroom for maximum quality.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K with maximum settings?*

A: At 4K Ultra, the combo averages 52.5 FPS. This is playable but not perfectly smooth. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, dropping to High settings (58.1 FPS) or Medium settings (93.4 FPS) is recommended.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals in overall performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19221, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-8700K (19210) and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-1335U (19167). It is 0.7% lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (19364).

Q: Is the RTX 2060 a significant upgrade over its nearest competitor?

A: The RTX 2060's average score of 16074 is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996) and 1.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15786). It is 1.7% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (both 16351).

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: At 1080p, the combo delivers 254.1 FPS on Low and 202.3 FPS on Medium, which is well above 144Hz. At 1440p, Low settings yield 182.6 FPS, making it suitable for 144Hz displays, while High settings (94.6 FPS) are better for 60-100Hz monitors.

Q: Does the game favor the CPU or GPU in this pairing?

A: The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 52.5 FPS, while at 4K Low it rises to 115.5 FPS. This 63 FPS swing based on graphics settings indicates the RTX 2060 is the bottleneck, not the i5-12400F.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 1363 out of 1671 total tested combos for Inside. This places it in the lower-middle tier, though the absolute performance is still more than adequate for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1363 out of 1671 tested combos for Inside. This ranking places it in the 19th percentile of all configurations, which may seem low, but it is a reflection of the game's low system requirements rather than a deficiency in the hardware. Many higher-ranked combos likely feature more powerful GPUs that produce astronomical frame rates in this title.

The ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's performance tier. While the i5-12400F's CPU percentile of 77 is respectable, the RTX 2060's GPU percentile of 58 pulls the composite score down. In practical terms, this combo sits in the same performance class as systems pairing the RTX 2060 with other mid-range CPUs. The 1363rd rank out of 1671 means there are 308 combos that perform worse, and the absolute frame rates are still very high for Inside.

For a player, this ranking is not a concern. The measured data shows that the combo delivers a playable experience at 4K and an excellent experience at 1440p and 1080p. The rank is a relative measure against the entire database, which includes configurations with far more expensive and powerful components. In the context of this game, the combo is firmly in the "smooth" category.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, the Ultra preset at 124.3 FPS is the best choice, as it provides maximum visual quality while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. If a 144Hz display is in use, the Medium preset at 202.3 FPS offers a substantial frame rate increase with a minimal visual penalty in this stylized game.

At 1440p, the High preset at 94.6 FPS is the balanced recommendation. It delivers a smooth experience on standard 60Hz monitors and is very close to 100 FPS for slightly higher refresh rates. For 1440p 144Hz displays, the Low preset at 182.6 FPS is the only way to approach that refresh rate, but the Medium preset at 145.1 FPS is a better compromise between visuals and performance.

At 4K, the Medium preset at 93.4 FPS is the clear winner. It provides a fluid experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 58.1 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced puzzle sections but will be less smooth during more dynamic moments. The Ultra preset at 52.5 FPS should be avoided unless absolute maximum quality is prioritized over frame rate consistency.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the average FPS for each resolution and settings combination tested:

1920x1080:

• Low: 254.1 FPS
• Medium: 202.3 FPS
• High: 130.7 FPS
• Ultra: 124.3 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 182.6 FPS
• Medium: 145.1 FPS
• High: 94.6 FPS
• Ultra: 89.9 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 115.5 FPS
• Medium: 93.4 FPS
• High: 58.1 FPS
• Ultra: 52.5 FPS

The data reveals a clear pattern: the performance gap between Low and Medium settings is relatively small (a 51.8 FPS drop at 1080p, 37.5 FPS at 1440p, and 22.1 FPS at 4K), suggesting that Medium settings are highly efficient. The jump from Medium to High incurs a much larger penalty (71.6 FPS at 1080p, 50.5 FPS at 1440p, and 35.3 FPS at 4K), indicating that High settings enable significantly more demanding visual features. The difference between High and Ultra is minimal (6.4 FPS at 1080p, 4.7 FPS at 1440p, and 5.6 FPS at 4K), making the Ultra preset a poor value in terms of performance cost versus visual gain. This pattern holds across all resolutions, confirming that the GPU workload is the dominant factor in determining frame rates.