Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that, on paper, should not stress modern hardware. Yet, the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT reveals a nuanced story about where bottlenecks form in a game with this specific rendering style. The data shows a combination that is exceptionally fast, but the scaling patterns across resolutions and settings indicate that the GPU carries most of the load, while the CPU’s substantial headroom ensures frame rates remain consistently high even at lower settings.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In the context of Inside, a game that is not known for heavy simulation or AI workloads, this CPU is likely overkill. The benchmark results confirm this: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 280.2 FPS, which is a frame rate so high that the CPU’s single-thread performance (scoring 4643 in Cinebench R23 single-core) becomes the primary enabler rather than a constraint. The processor’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help maintain consistent frame pacing, but the data suggests that even lower-tier CPUs could approach these numbers.

The CPU’s percentile ranking of 93 against all CPUs indicates it is in the top tier, and its nearest rivals show how close the field is. The Intel Core i5-14600K scores 0.4% higher on average, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is 0.6% behind. This margin is negligible in gaming, meaning the 14600KF is effectively at parity with its closest competitors. For Inside, the CPU’s role is to never be the limiting factor, and the measured FPS at 1440p Low (199.9 FPS) versus 1080p Low (280.2 FPS) shows a 40% drop, which is a GPU-driven change, not a CPU one. The CPU is simply delivering frames as fast as the GPU can render them, and at lower resolutions, it ensures that the GPU is the sole boundary.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is a RDNA 2.0 GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock of 2589 MHz and game clock of 2359 MHz are high for this class, but the memory bandwidth is the more critical factor for a game like Inside, which uses a dark, atmospheric art style that can be demanding on fill rate and memory throughput. The GPU’s pixel rate of 165.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 331.4 GTexel/s are sufficient to push high frame rates, but the 8 GB VRAM is not a concern here, as Inside is a lightweight title by modern standards.

The GPU’s percentile ranking of 71 against all GPUs places it above average, but its nearest rivals show a tight cluster. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti is 0.1% ahead, while the AMD Radeon R9 M395X is 0.4% ahead, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is 0.9% behind. This suggests the RX 6600 XT is positioned in a performance class where small architectural differences matter. In Inside, the GPU’s role is to handle the rendering of the game’s distinctive silhouetted environments and lighting effects. At 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 57.7 FPS, which indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU is unlikely to struggle at any resolution. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 API ensure compatibility, but the measured data shows that the GPU’s raw throughput dictates the upper limits of performance.

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

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU dominance. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo averages 135.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p Ultra drops that to 96.5 FPS, a 28.6% reduction, and then to 4K Ultra, it falls to 57.7 FPS, a further 40.2% reduction from 1440p. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, where the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames, but the GPU’s rendering workload increases exponentially with pixel count. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo hits 280.2 FPS, which is nearly double the 4K Low result of 124.4 FPS. This 55.6% drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings confirms that even with minimal graphical load, the GPU’s pixel throughput is the limiting factor.

Interestingly, the gap between High and Ultra settings is relatively small. At 1080p, High yields 137.5 FPS, while Ultra yields 135.2 FPS, a difference of only 1.7%. At 4K, the gap widens slightly: High gives 65.4 FPS, while Ultra gives 57.7 FPS, a 11.8% difference. This suggests that Ultra settings introduce a modest but not overwhelming additional GPU workload, likely related to shadow quality or post-processing effects. The resolution scaling data strongly implies that the Intel Core i5-14600KF is never the bottleneck, as the FPS drops align with GPU-bound behavior. The CPU’s performance is so far ahead of the GPU’s needs that it effectively becomes a bystander, waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combo, the Intel Core i5-14600KF with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, ranks 1202 out of 1671 tested combinations in Inside. This places it in the 72nd percentile of all combos, which is a strong showing, but not at the very top. The ranking suggests that while this pairing is capable of high frame rates, there are many other combinations—likely featuring higher-end GPUs—that achieve even better results. The rank is surprising given the CPU’s top-tier status and the GPU’s above-average performance, but it underscores that for Inside, the GPU matters more than the CPU in determining the final ranking.

The combo’s rank of 1202 out of 1671 means that 469 other combos perform better, which is a significant number. This is likely due to the RX 6600 XT being a mid-range GPU, and many combos with RTX 3070-class or better GPUs will outclass it. However, the data also shows that this combo is not bottom-tier; it sits comfortably in the upper-middle range. The CPU’s high average benchmark score of 49367 and the GPU’s 27985 average score contribute to a balanced system, but the game’s results are skewed by the GPU’s limitations. In a game like Inside, where the CPU is not stressed, the combo’s rank is directly tied to GPU performance, and the RX 6600 XT’s 71st percentile ranking is a reasonable proxy for the combo’s overall position.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, the Ultra preset provides 135.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. The High preset at 137.5 FPS is nearly identical, offering a 1.7% improvement, but the visual differences are likely minimal. For gamers with 144Hz monitors, the Low preset at 280.2 FPS is the only way to fully utilize the refresh rate, but this sacrifices visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 223.4 FPS is a good middle ground, offering nearly double the frame rate of Ultra while still maintaining some graphical quality.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 104.2 FPS, which is excellent for most displays, and the Medium preset at 159.5 FPS is ideal for 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 96.5 FPS is still playable, but it is close to the 60 FPS mark and may not be worth the visual gain over High. At 4K, the High preset at 65.4 FPS is the best option for a smooth experience, as it stays above 60 FPS, while the Medium preset at 102.3 FPS offers a significant boost for those with 4K 120Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 57.7 FPS is below 60 FPS and is not recommended unless the user prioritizes maximum visual quality over frame rate. The data suggests that High is the sweet spot across all resolutions, balancing visual fidelity with performance.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14600KF a bottleneck in Inside?

A: No. The measured FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 280.2 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 57.7 FPS, which is a GPU-bound pattern. The CPU’s single-core score of 4643 in Cinebench R23 indicates it has more than enough headroom.

Q: How does the RX 6600 XT compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 27985, and it is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti and 0.9% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. This means the RX 6600 XT is within a few percentage points of its closest competitors, and the differences in Inside are likely negligible.

Q: What is the best setting for 4K gaming with this combo?

A: The High preset at 4K yields 65.4 FPS, which is just above 60 FPS and is the recommended choice for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset drops to 57.7 FPS, which is below 60 FPS, and the Low preset at 124.4 FPS is playable but sacrifices visual quality.

Q: Can this combo hit 240 FPS at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset, which produces 280.2 FPS. The Medium preset at 223.4 FPS also exceeds 240 FPS, while the High and Ultra presets are below that threshold at 137.5 FPS and 135.2 FPS, respectively.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: It ranks 1202 out of 1671 combos, placing it in the 72nd percentile. This is a strong result, but it indicates that many other combos with higher-end GPUs achieve better performance.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM on the RX 6600 XT a concern for Inside?

A: No. The measured data shows no VRAM-related issues, as the game is a 2016 puzzle platformer with modest texture requirements. The GPU’s 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient, and the FPS results are consistent across settings.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS varies significantly by settings. The Low preset achieves 280.2 FPS, which is the highest result in the entire dataset. Medium drops to 223.4 FPS, High reaches 137.5 FPS, and Ultra is slightly lower at 135.2 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is just 2.3 FPS, indicating diminishing returns from the highest preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low yields 199.9 FPS, Medium produces 159.5 FPS, High achieves 104.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 96.5 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is 7.7 FPS, which is larger than at 1080p, suggesting that Ultra settings have a more pronounced impact at higher resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. Low delivers 124.4 FPS, Medium gives 102.3 FPS, High drops to 65.4 FPS, and Ultra falls to 57.7 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra is 7.7 FPS, but the drop from Medium to High is a substantial 36.9 FPS, showing that High settings introduce a significant rendering cost at 4K. Overall, the data shows a consistent pattern: the CPU is never the limiting factor, and the RX 6600 XT’s performance degrades predictably as resolution and settings increase.