Inside

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the Intel Arc B570 delivers a highly playable experience in Inside, but the data reveals a clear performance hierarchy dictated by resolution and settings. This combination ranks in the 20th percentile of tested combos, indicating that while it is not at the top tier, it offers a robust frame rate profile for this puzzle platformer. The measured results show that the system is capable of extreme frame rates at 1080p, but requires settings adjustments to maintain smoothness at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, highlighting a shift in the bottleneck from the CPU to the GPU. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 120 FPS at 1920x1080 to 86 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 28.3%. The scaling continues to 4K, where the average drops further to 54 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 55% decrease in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, a significant margin that clearly indicates the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions.

This pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 240 FPS at 1080p to 172 FPS at 1440p, and then to 108 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result is still highly playable, but the 132 FPS difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low shows how much work the Intel Arc B570 is doing. The Medium preset shows a similar trend, with averages of 192 FPS at 1080p, 138 FPS at 1440p, and 87 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is likely able to feed frames quickly enough, but as the resolution increases, the GPU's rendering workload becomes the primary constraint.

The frame time consistency also degrades with resolution. At Medium settings, the 4K row shows a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS, creating a 26 FPS spread. In contrast, the 1080p Medium row has a much tighter spread, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 221 FPS. This widening variance at 4K indicates that the GPU is under heavier load, causing more significant frame pacing fluctuations. The scaling behavior makes it clear that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the user must rely on the High or Medium presets, as the Ultra preset averages just 52 FPS.

CPU Role

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 Inside, a game that is not typically demanding on multi-threaded workloads, this CPU provides ample headroom. The benchmark data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at any resolution, as the frame rates scale significantly with resolution changes. For instance, the jump from 120 FPS to 240 FPS at 1080p when switching from High to Low settings is a 100% increase, which is a GPU-side effect rather than a CPU limitation.

The CPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks places it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49394. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, scores 49228, a delta of just 0.3%, indicating they are virtually tied in overall processing power. This level of performance ensures that the CPU will not introduce frame pacing issues in a game like Inside, which relies more on consistent single-thread performance for game logic and physics. The strong single-core score of 4594 in Cinebench R23 suggests that the CPU can handle the game's primary thread with ease, leaving the GPU as the sole determinant of frame rate at higher resolutions.

Given that the frame rates at 1080p reach up to 240 FPS on Low settings, it is evident that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve such high numbers. The data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting factor in this configuration, as the performance scales almost linearly with resolution and settings changes. The CPU's role is to provide a stable platform, which it does effectively, allowing the GPU's performance to be the deciding factor in the overall experience.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2301 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the 20.3rd percentile of all configurations, meaning that about 80% of tested systems perform better in this game. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's position in the market, as the Arc B570 is a mid-range component. The GPU itself sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556, which is very close to its nearest rivals. For example, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, a delta of -0.1%.

The combo's rank is not a reflection of poor performance, but rather an indication that many other systems use more powerful GPUs. The data shows that the system is well-balanced for its class, as the CPU's high percentile (90th) does not compensate for the GPU's more modest ranking. In the context of Inside, the lower rank is acceptable because the game is not graphically intensive, and the measured frame rates are generally high. The rank suggests that while this combo will not top any charts, it provides a solid foundation for playing the game at high refresh rates on 1080p and 1440p displays, and at 60 FPS on 4K with the right settings.

The delta between the GPU and its nearest rivals is minimal, which means that swapping the Arc B570 for an RTX 3070 Mobile or an Arc A750 would likely result in very similar performance in this game. This indicates that the combo's rank is not an outlier but is representative of the performance class of the GPU. The CPU's contribution to the ranking is minimal, as it is unlikely to be a bottleneck in a game with such low CPU demands. Overall, the rank of 2301 provides a benchmark context, but the measured FPS data is more telling of the actual user experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional frame rates. On Low settings, the average FPS is 240, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. Medium settings yield an average of 192 FPS, with a minimum of 163 and a maximum of 221 FPS. High settings average 120 FPS, and Ultra settings average 114 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors, with even the Ultra preset comfortably exceeding 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. Low settings average 172 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings average 138 FPS, with a minimum of 117 and a maximum of 159 FPS. High settings average 86 FPS, and Ultra settings average 82 FPS. The 1440p results show that the system can handle high refresh rates at this resolution with lower settings, but for a smooth 60 FPS experience, the High and Ultra presets are still viable, albeit with less headroom.

At 3840x2160, the system's limits become apparent. Low settings average 108 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high refresh rates. Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100 FPS, providing a playable experience near 60 FPS. High settings average 54 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings average 52 FPS. The data shows that for a consistent 60 FPS at 4K, the Medium preset is the most reliable option, as the High preset dips below the target. The frame rate drop from Medium to High at 4K is 33 FPS, a significant difference that underscores the GPU's workload.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the defining component in this system's gaming performance. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, with a memory clock of 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). This configuration places the GPU in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. The GPU's performance in Inside is directly tied to its memory bandwidth and shading power, as evidenced by the scaling from 1080p to 4K.

The GPU's role as the bottleneck is clear when comparing the 1080p and 4K results. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 120 to 54, a 55% reduction. This is a typical pattern for a GPU that is being pushed to its limits. The 10 GB memory capacity is sufficient for Inside at all resolutions, as the game does not appear to be memory-constrained, given the consistent performance scaling. The GPU's compute power, rated at 11.52 TFLOPS FP32, is the primary driver of the frame rates, and the data shows that it is well-utilized.

The GPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% delta) and the Intel Arc A750 (-0.1% delta). In Inside, this means that users can expect performance similar to these cards. The GPU's 80 ROPs and 144 TMUs are likely the key factors in its ability to render the game's simple visuals at high speeds. The data indicates that the GPU is the sole determinant of the frame rate at resolutions above 1080p, and its performance characteristics align with its mid-range positioning.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K displays, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS, ensuring a stable and smooth experience that stays well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 4K averages 54 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stuttering. The Ultra preset at 52 FPS is not recommended for a consistent experience. The Low preset at 108 FPS is a viable option for users who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of quality and performance.

For 1440p displays, the High preset is the best choice for a balanced experience, averaging 86 FPS. This provides a smooth frame rate that is well-suited for most monitors. Users with high-refresh-rate 1440p displays (144Hz or higher) may prefer the Medium preset, which averages 138 FPS and provides a more significant performance headroom. The Ultra preset at 82 FPS is also viable, but the High preset offers a better combination of visual quality and performance, with a 4 FPS difference between the two.

At 1080p, the system is so powerful that any preset is usable. The Ultra preset averages 114 FPS, which is excellent for a high-quality experience. The High preset at 120 FPS is nearly identical in performance. For users with 240Hz monitors, the Low preset at 240 FPS will maximize the refresh rate, but the Medium preset at 192 FPS is a more balanced choice that still offers exceptionally high frame rates. The data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for most users, as it provides high frame rates across all three resolutions while maintaining a good level of visual detail. The performance gap between Medium and High is significant at 4K (33 FPS), making Medium the definitive recommendation for 4K gaming.