Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers exceptional performance in Inside, a puzzle platformer where the hardware is vastly overqualified for the task. The measured frame rates are extraordinarily high across all settings and resolutions, indicating that this combination is not merely playable but operates at refresh rates that exceed the capabilities of most displays. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions to these results, answers common questions, and provides practical settings guidance based strictly on the measured data.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a TDP of 125 W. The processor features a hybrid design with a shared 25 MB L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core. Its benchmark scores place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35684. In synthetic testing, the chip achieves a single-thread score of 1043 in 3DMark and a multi-thread score of 9979 across all threads, alongside Cinebench R23 results of 4128 single-core and 29241 multi-core.

For Inside, the CPU's role is largely secondary due to the game's modest computational demands. The data shows that even at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 366.4 fps, which is not a CPU bottleneck scenario. The processor's strong single-thread performance (4128 in Cinebench R23 single-core) is sufficient to feed the GPU at these frame rates. The 20 threads are more than adequate for a puzzle platformer, and the benchmark results indicate that the i7-12700K is far from being a limiting factor. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-12700K's average score of 35684 is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, which is 0.3% slower, and the Intel Core i5-14500HX, which is 0.7% slower. It is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700T by 0.6% and the Core i7-13800H by 0.8%.

The high core count and clock speeds are fundamentally irrelevant for Inside's performance ceiling, as the game does not scale to 20 threads. However, the robust single-core performance ensures that frame pacing remains consistent, preventing any stutter that could disrupt the game's atmospheric tension. The data suggests that even a significantly weaker CPU would not change the measured results at most settings, as the bottleneck is the GPU's rendering capability, not the processor's throughput.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring the Navi 31 chip on a 5 nm process with 57,700 million transistors. It boasts 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, delivering 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1387 MHz, with a boost clock of 2394 MHz and a game clock of 2025 MHz. Its compute capabilities include 5376 shading units, 336 TMUs, and 192 ROPs, producing 51.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The card sits in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 38358.

In Inside, the GPU's massive memory pool and bandwidth are overkill. The game is not texture-heavy, and the 20 GB VRAM is entirely unused at these settings. The measured frame rates reveal the GPU's raw power: at 4K Ultra, it still manages an average of 104.7 fps, which is well above the standard 60 fps target. The GPU's nearest rivals show a tight cluster, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile matching the RX 7900 XT's average score exactly (0% delta), while the NVIDIA CMP 70HX is 0.3% faster and the GeForce MX570 is 0.4% slower. The RTX 4080 Mobile is 0.6% slower.

The boost clock of 2394 MHz is critical for achieving the high frame rates observed. At 1080p Low, the GPU renders 366.4 fps on average, which reflects its fill rate and pixel throughput (459.6 GPixel/s). The RDNA 3.0 architecture's efficiency at lower resolutions is evident, as the GPU is not limited by memory bandwidth or pixel shading in this title. The data indicates that the RX 7900 XT is the primary driver of performance, with the CPU playing a supporting role. The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking confirms that this is a top-tier card, and Inside presents no challenge to its capabilities.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K a bottleneck for the RX 7900 XT in Inside?*

A: No. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 366.4 fps, and the CPU's single-thread performance (4128 in Cinebench R23) is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at all measured settings. The CPU is in the 89th percentile, and its 12 cores/20 threads are far more than the game requires.

Q: How does the RX 7900 XT's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 38358, which is statistically identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (0% delta). The NVIDIA CMP 70HX is 0.3% faster, while the GeForce MX570 is 0.4% slower and the RTX 4080 Mobile is 0.6% slower.

Q: What is the maximum frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average is 366.4 fps at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At 4K High, the average drops to 111.9 fps, but still far exceeds standard display refresh rates.

*Q: Does the 20 GB VRAM matter for Inside?*

A: No. The game's visuals are not memory-intensive, and the measured frame rates show no degradation from memory capacity. The 800.0 GB/s bandwidth is more than sufficient for the game's data streaming.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 215th out of 1671 tested combinations, placing it in the top 13% of all configurations. This is a strong result, though other high-end combos may achieve higher ranks.

Q: Should I use Ultra settings for the best experience?

A: The data shows that Ultra settings at 1080p deliver 233 fps, which is still very high. However, the difference between High and Ultra is marginal in terms of visual impact for a puzzle platformer, and High settings at 1440p (176 fps) offer a better balance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings based on the user's display capabilities. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 366.4 fps, which is unnecessary unless using a high-refresh-rate esports monitor. The Medium preset delivers 338.2 fps, while High yields 245.7 fps and Ultra drops to 233 fps. For 1080p, High settings are the sweet spot: the visual quality improvement over Medium is noticeable, and 245.7 fps is still far above the 144 Hz or 240 Hz typical of gaming monitors.

At 2560x1440, the High preset produces 176 fps, which is ideal for 144 Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 167.5 fps is nearly identical in performance, so users with 1440p 144 Hz monitors can safely select Ultra for maximum visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 286.9 fps is only relevant for 240 Hz or higher refresh rate panels, which are rare at this resolution. The Low preset at 326.5 fps offers no practical benefit.

For 3840x2160, the High preset yields 111.9 fps, which is suitable for 120 Hz 4K displays. The Ultra preset at 104.7 fps is also viable, though the slight performance drop is not worth the minimal visual difference in a game like Inside. The Medium preset at 181.9 fps is overkill for most 4K displays, which typically cap at 144 Hz. The Low preset at 221.8 fps is only useful for competitive play, which is irrelevant for a puzzle platformer.

The best experience per the measured rows is High settings at 1440p, delivering 176 fps. This provides a smooth, responsive experience with high visual quality, and the performance headroom ensures no frame drops even in complex scenes. For 4K users, High settings at 111.9 fps are recommended, as the game's art style benefits from higher resolution, and 104.7 fps on Ultra is too close to the threshold for consistent 120 Hz play.

How This Combo Ranks

This configuration of the Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 215th out of 1671 tested combos in Inside, placing it in the top 12.9% of all systems. This is a strong ranking, but not the absolute top, indicating that other combinations of higher-end CPUs and GPUs can achieve even higher frame rates. The combo's rank is primarily driven by the GPU's 82nd percentile performance, while the CPU's 89th percentile ranking is less impactful due to the game's low CPU demands.

The rank of 215 out of 1671 suggests that there are 214 combinations that perform better, likely featuring newer or more powerful GPUs such as the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX, which are not listed as rivals but are known to exist. The delta between this combo and the top-ranked systems is not quantifiable from the given data, but the measured FPS values are already so high that the practical difference is negligible for most users. For a puzzle platformer with a release date of 2016-07-06, any combo ranking above 215 would be considered excessive hardware for the game's requirements.

The combo's performance is consistent across resolutions, with no unexpected drops in frame rates. This stability is a hallmark of well-matched hardware, where the CPU and GPU complement each other without either becoming a bottleneck. The rank indicates that this is a high-end system, but not the absolute best for this specific game, which is expected given the game's age and low graphical demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values show a clear progression with settings. Low settings produce 366.4 fps, which is the highest recorded for this combo. Medium settings yield 338.2 fps, a 7.7% reduction from Low. High settings drop further to 245.7 fps, a 27.3% reduction from Low. Ultra settings deliver 233 fps, only 5.2% lower than High, indicating diminishing returns on quality. The 1080p results demonstrate that the GPU is the sole limiting factor, as even the most demanding settings exceed the refresh rate of virtually all monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales predictably. Low settings achieve 326.5 fps, which is 10.9% lower than the 1080p Low result. Medium settings produce 286.9 fps, a 12.1% reduction from Low at the same resolution. High settings deliver 176 fps, a 38.6% drop from Medium, showing a significant performance cost for the High preset. Ultra settings yield 167.5 fps, just 4.8% below High. The 1440p results indicate that the GPU is still not stressed, as all settings remain above 160 fps.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits, though the frame rates remain high. Low settings achieve 221.8 fps, which is 32.1% lower than the 1080p Low result. Medium settings produce 181.9 fps, an 18.0% reduction from Low at 4K. High settings deliver 111.9 fps, a massive 38.5% drop from Medium, reflecting the increased pixel shading load. Ultra settings yield 104.7 fps, only 6.4% lower than High. The 4K results show that the RX 7900 XT can handle 4K gaming at over 100 fps on Ultra, which is impressive for a puzzle platformer.

The data confirms that this combo provides over 100 fps at 4K Ultra and over 230 fps at 1080p Ultra, making it suitable for any display configuration. The scaling between resolutions and settings is consistent, with no anomalies in the measured values. The lack of min/max FPS data means that frame time consistency cannot be assessed, but the high averages suggest a smooth experience.