Inside

Inside, a 2D puzzle-platformer from 2016, is not a typical stress test for high-end hardware. However, the measured frame rates for the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti reveal a configuration that is overwhelmingly powerful for this title, delivering extreme performance across all tested settings and resolutions. The data indicates that this combo ranks 519th out of 1671 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the 69th percentile of all systems, a strong result for a game with modest graphical demands.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread desktop processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on an Intel 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, features 24 MB of shared L3 cache, and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU scores 32889 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4643 points in single-core, while achieving a Geekbench multi-core score of 15636 and a single-core score of 2778. These results place the processor in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49367.

For a game like Inside, which is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer, the computational load is generally light on the CPU. The game's logic, physics, and rendering calls are not exceptionally demanding, meaning that even a modest processor could likely handle the workload. The i5-14600KF, with its high boost clock and strong single-thread performance, is therefore far beyond the necessary threshold for this title. The benchmark results support this, as the frame rates are exceptionally high and appear to be limited by the GPU at higher resolutions and settings, rather than the CPU. The processor's 14 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient, but the data suggests that the game's performance is not constrained by this component in any tested scenario.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined performance of this CPU and GPU in Inside places the system at rank 519 out of 1671 tested combinations. This rank signifies that the combo outperforms a majority of tested systems, though it is not at the very top of the leaderboard, which is expected given the game's age and the presence of more powerful, modern GPUs in the database. The RTX 3070 Ti, based on the Ampere architecture with 6144 shading units and 8 GB of GDDR6X memory, is a high-end card from the GeForce 30-series, but it is not the most recent flagship.

Looking at the individual components, the GPU holds a 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 30849. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6700, which is 0.8% slower, and the NVIDIA Quadro M5000, which is 0.9% slower. The CPU, on the other hand, is in the 93rd percentile, with its closest competitor being the AMD EPYC 4345P, which is 0.5% faster, and the Intel Core i5-14600K, which is 0.4% slower. The discrepancy between the high CPU percentile and the lower GPU percentile indicates that the graphics card is the more likely bottleneck in this pairing, a conclusion that is reinforced by the resolution scaling data.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend of performance scaling with resolution, which is a classic indicator of GPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 196.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 141.7 FPS, a decrease of 27.9%. At 4K, the average further falls to 92.8 FPS, which is a 52.8% reduction from the 1080p figure. This substantial drop as resolution increases demonstrates that the workload is scaling with pixel count, a hallmark of GPU limitation.

Similarly, at Low settings, the frame rate at 1080p is 393.2 FPS, which drops to 284.4 FPS at 1440p and then to 182.4 FPS at 4K. The fact that even at Low settings, where the CPU must handle a higher proportion of the frame-to-frame work, the performance still scales significantly with resolution suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a more consistent frame rate across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant. The data shows the opposite, indicating that the RTX 3070 Ti is the component that determines the upper limit of performance in this game.

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

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional performance. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 393.2 FPS. Increasing to Medium settings yields an average of 319.7 FPS. High settings produce an average of 196.6 FPS, while Ultra settings cap the results at an average of 188.9 FPS. Even at the most demanding setting, the frame rate remains well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors, indicating a highly playable experience.

At 2560x1440, performance remains very high. Low settings produce an average of 284.4 FPS. Medium settings follow with 229.7 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 141.7 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 133.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is significant, showing a 52.9% performance difference, but the minimum result of 133.9 FPS is still exceptionally smooth.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed harder. Low settings yield an average of 182.4 FPS. Medium settings provide 142.5 FPS. High settings average 92.8 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 86.6 FPS. While these 4K figures are lower than at other resolutions, they still represent a smooth gameplay experience, as the game is a slow-paced puzzle platformer that does not require extreme frame rates for competitive play.

FAQ

Q: What is the best setting to use for a 144Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves an average of 141.7 FPS, which is just below a 144Hz refresh rate. The Medium preset, with an average of 229.7 FPS, provides a comfortable margin above 144 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, it can. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 86.6 FPS, and the High preset averages 92.8 FPS. These are well above the 60 FPS standard for console gaming and will provide a fluid experience for a puzzle platformer.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 196.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 92.8 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 52.8% reduction in average frame rate.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor. This is evidenced by the significant frame rate drops as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's high percentile ranking and strong single-thread scores suggest it is not a constraint.

Q: Is there a large difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes, there is a substantial difference. At 1920x1080, Low settings average 393.2 FPS, while Ultra settings average 188.9 FPS. This is a performance difference of 204.3 FPS, or over 50% lower performance at Ultra compared to Low.

Q: How does this combo rank among other tested systems for Inside?

A: The combo is ranked 519th out of 1671 tested combinations. This places it in the upper echelon of systems, outperforming a significant majority of tested configs for this specific title.