Inside

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a peculiar set of results in Inside, a game that is far more demanding on the graphics side than its simple puzzle-platformer appearance suggests. The data indicates a system where the CPU is never the bottleneck, while the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions and quality presets. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, focusing on how the resolution and settings affect the experience, and what the numbers reveal about each component's role.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and steep performance drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. This pattern is the classic signature of a GPU-limited scenario, where the rendering workload grows faster than the graphics processor can handle. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 156 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low settings, the average drops to 112 FPS, a reduction of 44 FPS. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average falls further to 70 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings represents a 55% reduction in average frame rate, which is substantial and points directly at the Intel Arc B390 as the limiting factor.

The trend continues across all quality presets. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 78 at 1080p, to 56 at 1440p, and finally to 35 at 4K. At Ultra settings, the numbers are 74, 53, and 34 FPS respectively. The drop between 1440p and 4K is particularly severe at every preset, with the average FPS roughly halving in some cases. For instance, at Medium settings, the average at 1440p is 90 FPS, but at 4K it is 56 FPS, a 34 FPS difference. This non-linear scaling suggests that the GPU's memory bandwidth and raw compute power are being saturated as the pixel count increases.

What does this mean for the user? The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where this combo can consistently deliver high frame rates. At 1080p, even the Ultra preset manages an average of 74 FPS, which is playable. However, at 2560x1440, users will have to compromise on settings to get a smooth experience, as the High preset only yields 56 FPS on average. At 3840x2160, the performance is generally below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, with only the Low preset managing an average of 70 FPS. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo is only viable with significant graphical compromises, and even then, the frame rates are not consistently high.

The fact that the FPS drops so dramatically with resolution, regardless of the quality preset, is a strong indicator that the Intel Arc B390's rendering pipeline is the primary constraint. The CPU, with its high core count and boost clocks, is not the limiting factor here. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller performance delta between resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant. Instead, the observed scaling shows that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the increasing pixel throughput.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance limiter in this configuration. Its specifications, including a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, are paired with a memory configuration that is "System Shared". This means the GPU uses the system's main memory instead of dedicated VRAM, which has a bandwidth that is "System Dependent". This architecture is a significant factor in the measured results. The lack of dedicated video memory means that the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can be a major bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where more data needs to be moved.

The GPU's compute capabilities are modest, with an FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s. These are not high numbers for a modern discrete GPU, and they explain why the card struggles with the demands of 4K rendering. The GPU's benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This is a very low score, and its nearest rivals are old, low-end cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. The deltaPct values show the Arc B390 is only 1.3% and 2.7% faster than these cards, respectively, putting its raw performance in a very low tier.

The fact that the memory is "System Shared" and has "System Dependent" bandwidth is crucial to understanding the performance. In a game like Inside, which is not particularly demanding on texture memory, the shared memory setup might not be a huge issue at 1080p. However, as resolution increases, the amount of data that needs to be transferred between the GPU and system memory grows. This can lead to stutters and frame drops, which are reflected in the lower average FPS at 1440p and 4K. The 3DMark score of 1482 confirms that the GPU is not designed for high-end gaming, and the measured FPS in Inside aligns with this expectation.

The GPU's TDP is listed at 80 W, which is low, and it has no power connectors, indicating it is an integrated graphics solution (IGP). This is a critical detail. The Arc B390 is not a discrete card but a powerful integrated GPU, likely found in a laptop or a compact desktop. This explains its low performance ceiling. The data shows that while it can handle 1080p gaming at high frame rates in this specific title, its capabilities are severely limited at higher resolutions. The boost clock of 2500 MHz is high for an iGPU, but it cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated memory and the relatively low shader core count of 1536.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. The data shows an average of 70 FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings. However, at Medium settings, the average drops to 56 FPS, and at High and Ultra settings, it falls to 35 and 34 FPS, respectively. Only the Low preset provides a consistently playable experience at 4K.

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing in Inside?*

A: According to the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, the combo achieves an average of 156 FPS on Low, 125 FPS on Medium, 78 FPS on High, and 74 FPS on Ultra settings. All presets are above 60 FPS, making for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of raw GPU score?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446). It is also 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (1443). These are very small performance differences, indicating the Arc B390 is in the same low-performance class as these older cards.

*Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the main bottleneck in this system for Inside?*

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the bottleneck. The FPS scales significantly with resolution, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would be more consistent across resolutions. The CPU's benchmark scores are high, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 90, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. This shows a relatively stable frame rate, but the average is below the 60 FPS target for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14600K have integrated graphics that could be used instead?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14600K includes UHD Graphics 770. However, the measured FPS data is specifically for the combo with the Intel Arc B390. The UHD Graphics 770 would be significantly slower than the Arc B390, which is already in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 combo delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 156. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 125 FPS, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 144 FPS. At High settings, the average is 78 FPS, and at Ultra settings, it is 74 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, even the highest quality preset is playable, with an average above 70 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. The Low preset yields an average of 112 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium settings produce an average of 90 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 103 FPS. High settings drop the average to 56 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to 53 FPS. This indicates that at 1440p, users will need to stick to Low or Medium settings to maintain a frame rate that is consistently above 60 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are borderline, with averages that dip below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the limitations of the GPU become apparent. The Low preset is the only one that provides a playable experience, with an average of 70 FPS. Medium settings see the average drop to 56 FPS, with a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65 FPS. This suggests that even the Medium preset will have noticeable frame drops. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings average 34 FPS. These numbers are too low for a smooth gaming experience, making 4K resolution impractical for this combo unless the user is willing to accept a significant reduction in visual quality and frame rate.

The data also shows a clear pattern regarding settings. At each resolution, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is significant. At 1080p, the difference is 82 FPS (156 vs 74). At 1440p, the difference is 59 FPS (112 vs 53). At 4K, the difference is 36 FPS (70 vs 34). This shows that the performance cost of increasing quality settings is substantial, but the relative cost is lower at higher resolutions, as the GPU is already struggling with the pixel throughput. The Medium settings at 1080p (125 FPS) and 1440p (90 FPS) are the best balance of quality and performance for users with standard monitors.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Inside, the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2547 out of 2887 total combos. This puts it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU's low performance percentile. The rank of 2547 indicates that this combo is not well-suited for this game, despite the CPU being a high-end model. The performance is dragged down almost entirely by the Intel Arc B390.

This low rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's benchmark score. The Intel Arc B390 has a percentile rank of 9 against all GPUs, meaning it performs better than only 9% of all GPUs in the database. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 places it alongside very old and weak graphics cards. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-14600K is in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48618. This mismatch in performance between the CPU and GPU creates a system where the CPU is vastly more capable than the GPU, resulting in a combo that is severely unbalanced for gaming.

The rank of 2547 out of 2887 also means that there are 340 combos that perform worse than this one. While this might seem like a small consolation, it is important to note that the vast majority of other tested combos, even those with older or lower-end CPUs, likely perform better in Inside because they have more capable GPUs. The data shows that the GPU is the sole determinant of this combo's performance in this game. If a user were to pair the same Intel Core i5-14600K with a better graphics card, the combo rank would be significantly higher. The current rank is a clear indicator that the Intel Arc B390 is the weak link in this configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K plays a minimal role in the measured FPS for Inside. The CPU is a high-performance desktop processor with 14 cores and 20 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.30 GHz. It also has a substantial 24 MB of shared L3 cache. These specifications make it a very capable processor for gaming and productivity tasks, and its benchmark scores reflect this. It scores 24491 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2064 in single-core, and it is in the 90th percentile of all CPUs.

The data from the measured FPS shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution. The most compelling evidence is the resolution scaling. If the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, because the CPU's workload (game logic, physics, etc.) stays the same regardless of resolution. However, the FPS drops dramatically as resolution increases, which proves that the GPU is the limiting factor. For example, the average FPS at Low settings goes from 156 at 1080p to 112 at 1440p to 70 at 4K. This scaling is entirely due to the GPU's inability to keep up with the rendering demands.

The CPU's high single-thread score of 2064 in Cinebench R23 and its Passmark single-thread score of 4270 indicate that it can easily feed the GPU with data. In a puzzle platformer like Inside, the game is not particularly CPU-intensive. The 14 cores and 20 threads are far more than what is needed for this title. Even the CPU's integrated UHD Graphics 770 is not a factor, as the system is using the discrete (or IGP) Arc B390 for rendering. The CPU's role is to prepare frames and send them to the GPU, and its performance is more than sufficient for this task.

The comparison with its nearest rivals shows that the i5-14600K is competitive. It is only 0.2% slower than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 4345P in average benchmark score. The data indicates that the CPU's performance is not a factor in the low frame rates seen at 1440p and 4K. Users with this CPU can be confident that any performance issues in Inside are due to the GPU, not the processor. The CPU has more than enough headroom to handle the game's logic, and its high clock speeds ensure that it will not cause any frame pacing issues. The bottleneck is unequivocally the Intel Arc B390.