Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers a highly capable experience in Inside, a puzzle platformer where frame pacing and consistency matter more than raw particle counts. The measured data shows this pairing is capable of extreme performance at lower resolutions, while still maintaining playable frame rates at 4K with adjusted settings. This analysis examines the CPU and GPU contributions, compares the combo against the broader test pool, and provides detailed settings guidance based strictly on the measured results.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12th Gen Alder Lake desktop processor with 12 cores and 20 threads, operating at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Built on Intel’s 10 nm process, this CPU features a hybrid architecture with a 25 MB shared L3 cache and per-core L2 cache of 1.25 MB. For a game like Inside, which is a 2D puzzle platformer with limited AI and physics simulation, the CPU’s workload is not particularly demanding, but the high boost clock and substantial thread count ensure that frame delivery is never bottlenecked by processor limitations.

The benchmark data supports this interpretation. In synthetic tests, the i7-12700K scores 19,784 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,850.5 in single-core, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs. Its 3DMark results show a max-thread score of 9,979, with a single-thread score of 1,043. These figures indicate strong per-thread performance, which is directly relevant to game logic and render thread submission. For Inside, the game’s simple object interactions and deterministic animations mean that even a modest CPU could maintain high frame rates; the i7-12700K’s capabilities far exceed the likely requirements.

When comparing to its nearest rivals, the i7-12700K’s average benchmark score of 35,287 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-13600T (35,305, -0.1% delta), the Intel Core i7-12700KF (35,365, -0.2% delta), and the Intel Core i7-13700T (35,403, -0.3% delta). The performance deltas are negligible, all within 0.4%. This means that in CPU-bound scenarios, swapping between these processors would yield no perceptible difference in Inside. The measured FPS data confirms that at 1080p, where CPU load is proportionally higher, the i7-12700K still delivers a 240 FPS average at Low settings, suggesting the CPU is not a limiting factor even in the most frame-rate-demanding configuration tested.

The integrated UHD Graphics 770 is present on this chip, but it is irrelevant for gaming with a discrete GPU installed. The CPU’s support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory, dual-channel, offers flexibility, though no memory bandwidth figures are provided to correlate with game performance. The 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier position this as a high-performance desktop part, but for Inside, the practical outcome is that the CPU provides a stable, high-frequency foundation that allows the GPU to operate without frame-time hitches from processor stalls.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is the primary driver of visual output in this configuration, featuring the BMG-G21 chip on TSMC’s 5 nm process with 19,600 million transistors. It has 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU runs at a fixed 2500 MHz base and boost clock, with memory at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). This memory configuration is more than adequate for Inside, a game with modest texture sizes and no open-world streaming demands.

The Arc B570’s compute resources include 2,304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, with 18 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s and texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance at 11.52 TFLOPS. These specs place the GPU in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20,556. In DirectX 11 testing via PassMark, it scores 118, while DirectX 12 scores 72, and Vulkan scores 96,844 in Geekbench. For Inside, which is not graphically intensive, these numbers are far above the threshold needed for smooth gameplay at high settings.

The nearest GPU rivals are all within a narrow performance band: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20,534, +0.1% delta), the Intel Arc A750 (20,582, -0.1% delta), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X (20,662, -0.5% delta). The Arc B570’s deltaPct values are all under 0.5%, indicating that in pure GPU compute, these cards are effectively tied. However, in game-specific scenarios, driver optimizations and architectural differences can matter. The measured FPS data shows that the Arc B570 is capable of 240 FPS at 1080p Low, but drops to 54 FPS at 4K High, suggesting that at higher resolutions, the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become more significant constraints.

The 10 GB VRAM is ample for Inside at any resolution, as the game’s art style uses limited high-resolution textures. The 380.0 GB/s bandwidth ensures that even at 4K, texture fetches do not bottleneck the render pipeline. The GPU’s dual-slot design and 150 W TDP require a 450 W power supply, but these are external factors that do not influence measured performance. In summary, the Arc B570 provides sufficient raw throughput for Inside at 1080p and 1440p with high frame rates, while 4K performance is dependent on settings reduction.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this combo in Inside?*

A: The highest measured average FPS is 240 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that reaches the 240 FPS mark, indicating a ceiling likely tied to the game’s engine or the test methodology.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 52. This is the lowest measured average across all tested configurations, making it the only setting where the frame rate falls below 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 82 (Ultra) to 172 (Low). Given that the CPU’s synthetic scores are high and the FPS scales significantly with settings, the GPU is the primary limiter at this resolution, especially as settings increase.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1080p Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 192, with a minimum of 163 and a maximum of 221. This provides a smooth, high-refresh-rate experience that exceeds the capabilities of most 1080p monitors.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to its closest rival, the Intel Arc A750?

A: The Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20,556, which is 0.1% lower than the Arc A750’s 20,582. In practical terms, the performance difference is negligible, and any FPS variations in Inside would be within run-to-run variance.

Q: Does the combo rank high among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2301 out of 2887 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of the pool, but this rank reflects the entire system, and for a game like Inside, the actual FPS results are high enough to be considered excellent for the target resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame for this Intel Core i7-12700K + Intel Arc B570 pairing is 2301 out of 2887 tested combos, placing it in the 20th percentile of all systems tested for Inside. This rank might seem low given the high FPS numbers, but it is important to contextualize it. The rank is relative to all combos, which includes systems with far more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX that achieve hundreds of FPS at 4K. The Arc B570 is a mid-range GPU, and the i7-12700K is a high-end CPU from a previous generation, so the combination sits in the mid-to-lower tier of the overall ranking.

However, the rank does not tell the full story for this specific game. Inside is a puzzle platformer with a fixed 60 FPS animation target in its original design, and the measured data shows that this combo exceeds 60 FPS at all tested settings except 4K Ultra, where it hits 52 FPS. At 1080p, the combo achieves 114 FPS at Ultra and 240 FPS at Low, which are excellent results for a game of this type. The rank is dragged down by the fact that many other combos include much stronger GPUs, but for the target audience of this benchmark database, the practical experience is smooth and responsive.

The nearest CPU rivals (i5-13600T, i7-12700KF, i7-13700T) all have nearly identical average scores, so swapping the CPU would not change the rank meaningfully. Similarly, the GPU rivals (RTX 3070 Mobile, Arc A750) are within 0.5% in average score, meaning that any of these GPUs paired with the i7-12700K would produce very similar FPS results. The rank of 2301 is thus a reflection of the GPU’s mid-range positioning rather than any deficiency in the pairing for Inside specifically.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings provide playable frame rates, but the best experience for a high-refresh-rate monitor is Medium, which averages 192 FPS with a minimum of 163 FPS. This ensures no frame drops below the refresh rate of a 144Hz or 165Hz display, while also providing better visual quality than Low. Ultra at 1080p averages 114 FPS, which is still smooth but may cause drops on 144Hz displays in intense scenes.

At 2560x1440, High settings deliver an average of 86 FPS, which is suitable for 60Hz or 75Hz monitors. Medium at 1440p averages 138 FPS with a minimum of 117 FPS, making it the best choice for 120Hz or 144Hz displays, as it balances visual fidelity with a high frame rate ceiling. Low at 1440p reaches 172 FPS, but the visual quality reduction is likely unnecessary given that Medium provides a strong margin above 60 FPS. Ultra at 1440p drops to 82 FPS, which is acceptable for 60Hz displays but not ideal for higher refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the recommendations shift. High averages 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, while Medium averages 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS, ensuring a stable 60+ FPS experience. Low at 4K averages 108 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant. For 4K, Medium is the best overall choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a consistent frame rate above 74 FPS. Ultra at 4K averages 52 FPS, which is only suitable for displays with variable refresh rate if the user tolerates occasional dips below 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 114 (Ultra) to 240 (Low). The Medium preset averages 192 FPS with a minimum of 163 and a maximum of 221, while High averages 120 FPS. This resolution demonstrates the combo’s ability to drive high refresh rates, with only Ultra failing to exceed 120 FPS. The minimum FPS data is only available for Medium, but the 163 FPS floor indicates a stable frame delivery.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 82 (Ultra) to 172 (Low). High averages 86 FPS, while Medium averages 138 FPS with a minimum of 117 and a maximum of 159. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a reduction in FPS across all settings, but the percentages vary. For Low, the drop is from 240 to 172 FPS, a reduction of 68 FPS. For Medium, the drop is from 192 to 138 FPS, a reduction of 54 FPS. For High, the drop is from 120 to 86 FPS, a reduction of 34 FPS. For Ultra, the drop is from 114 to 82 FPS, a reduction of 32 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 52 (Ultra) to 108 (Low). High averages 54 FPS, while Medium averages 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100. The scaling from 1440p to 4K shows more significant drops. For Low, the drop is from 172 to 108 FPS, a reduction of 64 FPS. For Medium, the drop is from 138 to 87 FPS, a reduction of 51 FPS. For High, the drop is from 86 to 54 FPS, a reduction of 32 FPS. For Ultra, the drop is from 82 to 52 FPS, a reduction of 30 FPS.

The data reveals that the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is not linear. The largest percentage drops occur at Low and Medium settings, while High and Ultra show smaller absolute reductions. This suggests that at higher settings, the GPU is already working near its limits, so the resolution increase has a proportionally smaller impact on performance.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling analysis shows how FPS decreases as pixel count increases, providing insight into the limiting component. From 1080p to 1440p, the pixel count increases by 1.78x, but the FPS drops are not proportional. For Low settings, FPS drops from 240 to 172, a 28% reduction. For Medium, FPS drops from 192 to 138, a 28% reduction. For High, FPS drops from 120 to 86, a 28% reduction. For Ultra, FPS drops from 114 to 82, a 28% reduction. The consistent 28% drop across all settings suggests that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are scaling uniformly with resolution, indicating the GPU is the primary limiter.

From 1440p to 4K, the pixel count increases by 2.25x, and the FPS drops are more substantial. For Low settings, FPS drops from 172 to 108, a 37% reduction. For Medium, FPS drops from 138 to 87, a 37% reduction. For High, FPS drops from 86 to 54, a 37% reduction. For Ultra, FPS drops from 82 to 52, a 37% reduction. Again, the consistent 37% drop across settings reinforces that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the CPU’s performance is sufficient to maintain high frame rates even at lower resolutions.

The near-constant percentage drops for each resolution step indicate that the performance scaling is largely resolution-bound rather than settings-bound. This is typical for a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see smaller FPS drops at lower settings (where CPU load is relatively higher) and larger drops at higher settings (where GPU load dominates). The data shows the opposite pattern, with the same percentage drop regardless of settings, confirming that the Intel Arc B570 is the performance limiter in this configuration for Inside.

The implication is that users seeking higher FPS at 4K should reduce settings, but the gains are limited. Dropping from High to Medium at 4K increases FPS from 54 to 87, a 61% improvement, while dropping from Medium to Low increases FPS from 87 to 108, a 24% improvement. The diminishing returns suggest that Medium is the sweet spot for 4K, as it provides a 87 FPS average with a 74 FPS minimum, comfortably above 60 FPS. For 1440p, Medium is similarly optimal, offering 138 FPS with a 117 FPS minimum, which is ideal for high refresh rate displays. At 1080p, Medium’s 192 FPS average with a 163 FPS minimum is the best balance of visual quality and performance, though Low’s 240 FPS may appeal to competitive players with 240Hz monitors.