Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer from 2016, and this particular pairing of an Intel Core i5-14600K with an AMD Radeon RX 6600 produces a broad spread of frame rates depending on how you configure it. The data shows a system capable of very high refresh rates at 1080p, but one where the graphics card becomes the primary constraint as resolution climbs. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across the tested resolutions and settings, interpreting what the numbers mean for the balance between the CPU and GPU.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it draws a 125 W TDP. The CPU has a 24 MB shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, though for gaming the discrete RX 6600 handles the rendering.

Benchmark results place this CPU in the 93rd percentile of all processors tested. Its multi-threaded performance is substantial, as indicated by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 15846. Single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4642 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4270. Relative to its nearest rivals, the i5-14600K is essentially neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, trailing by just 0.2% in average benchmark score, and it is 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-14600KF. It also posts a 1% lead over the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H.

For a game like Inside, which is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer, the CPU's role is less about raw multi-core muscle and more about maintaining consistent frame pacing. The high single-thread performance and boost clock of 5.30 GHz are beneficial for the game's physics and logic updates. The measured frame rates show that even at 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 256.6 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The data indicates that the i5-14600K provides ample headroom for this title, ensuring that the GPU, rather than the processor, will typically dictate the maximum achievable frame rate.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1626 MHz, with a boost clock of 2491 MHz and a game clock of 2044 MHz. It has 1792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operations pipelines. The card is rated at a 132 W TDP and requires a single 8-pin power connector.

In the broader GPU landscape, the RX 6600 sits in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 25235, which places it within a tight cluster of rivals. It is functionally tied with the AMD Radeon 890M (0% delta) and sits 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, while being 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6700M and 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. The GPU's DirectX 12 performance is measured at 51 in Passmark, with a Passmark G3D score of 15096.

For Inside, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM is more than sufficient, as the game's art style does not demand large texture pools. The measured data shows that the RX 6600 scales predictably with settings. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 58.1 FPS, which is right at the edge of smooth gameplay. The GPU's performance at lower resolutions is far less strained, with 1080p Ultra producing 122.2 FPS. The data clearly shows that the RX 6600 is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings, as the CPU has plenty of leftover capacity.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K, which indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the system averages 131.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops this to 92.8 FPS, a reduction of approximately 29%. At 4K High, the average falls further to 58.8 FPS, which is about 55% lower than the 1080p result. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

The same trend is visible across all settings. At Ultra settings, the frame rate goes from 122.2 FPS at 1080p, to 87.5 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 58.1 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly sharp, with a loss of about 33% of the frame rate. This pattern suggests that the RX 6600's 8 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed heavily at 4K, especially with higher detail levels. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the system hits 256.6 FPS, and even 1440p Low reaches 187.9 FPS, indicating that the CPU can easily feed the GPU at lower loads.

The data points to a system where the CPU is never the limiting factor in this game. Even at the lowest resolution and settings, the frame rates are exceptionally high, which would not be possible if the CPU were struggling. The scaling pattern is a textbook example of GPU-bound performance, where the i5-14600K provides a stable foundation and the RX 6600 determines the ceiling based on resolution and settings.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target display resolution. For 1080p, all settings are playable, but the Medium preset offers the best balance. It delivers 204.7 FPS, which is a significant jump from the 131.2 FPS of High, and it is only slightly below the 256.6 FPS of Low. The jump from Medium to High costs about 36% of the frame rate, while the visual difference in a game like Inside is often subtle. For 1080p, Medium is the recommendation for high refresh rate monitors, as it comfortably exceeds 144 Hz.

At 1440p, the Medium preset again stands out. It produces 149.6 FPS, which is above 144 Hz, making it ideal for smooth gameplay. High settings drop to 92.8 FPS, which is still playable but not as fluid. Ultra at 1440p yields 87.5 FPS, which is a marginal gain over High in terms of frame rate, but the extra visual fidelity may not be worth the 42% performance drop from Medium. For 1440p, Medium is the clear choice for maintaining a high refresh rate experience.

At 4K, the situation changes. Ultra settings drop to 58.1 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target for smooth play. High settings fare slightly better at 58.8 FPS. Medium settings, however, jump to 95.2 FPS, which is a substantial improvement and provides a much more comfortable margin above 60 FPS. Low settings hit 115.4 FPS, but the visual quality reduction is likely too severe for a game that relies on atmosphere. For 4K, Medium is the recommended preset, as it offers a playable and smooth frame rate without sacrificing the game's moody visuals entirely.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 ranks 1318 out of 1671 total combos for Inside. This places the system in the lower portion of the rankings, at roughly the 79th percentile. The rank indicates that while this is not a top-tier configuration for the game, it is far from the bottom. The ranking is influenced by the RX 6600's position in the GPU hierarchy, as the CPU is a high-end part.

The combo's rank reflects the fact that the GPU is the limiting component. Many higher-ranked combinations likely feature more powerful graphics cards that can push higher frame rates at 4K Ultra settings. The i5-14600K's strong benchmark scores, such as its 93rd percentile ranking among CPUs, do not translate into a high combo rank for this game because the GPU holds it back. The data shows that the CPU is capable of much more, but the RX 6600 caps the overall performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance for this combination. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high. With Low settings, the average is 256.6 FPS. Medium settings yield 204.7 FPS. High settings produce 131.2 FPS. Ultra settings result in 122.2 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings give an average of 187.9 FPS. Medium settings drop to 149.6 FPS. High settings are measured at 92.8 FPS. Ultra settings are the lowest of the group at 87.5 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more demanding. Low settings still manage an average of 115.4 FPS. Medium settings are at 95.2 FPS. High settings drop to 58.8 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with an average of 58.1 FPS.

The data shows that the system can handle 4K but only at lower settings for a consistently smooth experience. The 1080p and 1440p results show that the pairing is well-suited for high refresh rate gaming at those resolutions, provided the settings are kept at Medium or below to maintain frame rates above 144 FPS.