Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a fascinating study in bottleneck dynamics within the puzzle-platformer Inside. This is a title with modest graphical demands, and the measured frame rates across resolutions reveal that the system is rarely constrained by the GPU, with the CPU's strong single-thread performance taking the lead in driving extreme frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates the shifting balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo delivers an average of 270 FPS. This high ceiling suggests the CPU is doing the heavy lifting, as the GPU has very little work to do. Moving to 2560x1440 on Low, the average drops to 192.5 FPS, a significant 28.7% decrease. This scaling continues to 4K, where the Low preset yields 121.6 FPS, another 36.8% drop from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the graphics card is becoming more of a limiting factor as pixel count increases, though the frame rates remain exceptionally high.

The story is similar but with different magnitudes at higher graphical loads. At High settings, the transition from 1080p (132.1 FPS) to 1440p (97.3 FPS) represents a 26.3% reduction, and then to 4K (58.6 FPS) a further 39.8% reduction. The 4K High result is the first instance where the system dips below the 60 FPS threshold, showing that the Arc B580's capabilities are being tested when both resolution and visual fidelity are at their highest. The scaling pattern suggests that the CPU remains a strong partner, but the GPU's 12 GB of memory and 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth are fully engaged at 4K Ultra, which ultimately produces a 60.4 FPS average.

The data indicates that this is a highly capable combo for the game. The fact that 4K Low (121.6 FPS) is faster than 1080p Ultra (127.8 FPS) is telling. It shows that the game's Ultra preset introduces a significant graphical load that impacts the GPU far more than a 4x increase in resolution on the Low preset. This points to the Ultra preset's effects being particularly demanding on the Arc B580's 2560 shading units, while the resolution scaling is a more linear progression of load on the render output pipelines.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware configurations, this pairing of the Core i7-12700K and Arc B580 achieves a combo rank of 1290 out of 1671 for Inside. This places it in the 77th percentile of tested combos, meaning it outperforms a significant majority of other systems in this specific title. This high ranking reflects the synergy between the components, especially given that the GPU alone sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs.

The CPU's performance is a notable contributor. The Core i7-12700K's average benchmark score of 35684 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. It sits within a tight cluster of rivals, with its nearest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, scoring only 0.3% higher. Similarly, the Intel Core i7-13700T is just 0.6% behind, and the Intel Core i5-14500HX trails by 0.7%. The i7-12700K's 12 cores and 20 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, provide a robust foundation for high frame rates, likely preventing any significant CPU bottleneck that could drag down the combo's ranking.

The Arc B580, while not a top-tier card by average benchmark score, is also a strong performer. Its average score of 23021 places it just 0.7% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 in the database's benchmarks. This suggests that in many scenarios, the Intel card can trade blows with a well-established competitor. For a game like Inside, which relies on 2.5D rendering and physics, the CPU's strong showing appears to be the key factor in achieving the high combo rank, allowing the B580 to flex its capabilities without being held back.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K with the High preset?*

A: Yes, but it is a borderline case. The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with High settings is 58.6 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. For a perfectly smooth experience, dropping to the Medium preset, which yields 100.2 FPS, would be more comfortable.

Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to a popular rival like the RTX 4060 based on the data?

A: The benchmark data shows they are very closely matched. The Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, which is only 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060's score of 23181. The performance difference is practically negligible in this context.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings?

A: The extreme frame rate of 270 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings strongly suggests the CPU is the primary limiting factor. At this resolution and preset, the graphics card has minimal work to do, and the system's performance ceiling is defined by the processor's ability to feed frames.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 60 FPS experience on this hardware?

A: For a locked 60 FPS experience, 2560x1440 with the Ultra preset offers an average of 92.5 FPS, providing plenty of headroom. Even the demanding 4K Ultra preset just barely achieves this goal with an average of 60.4 FPS, but there is less margin for error.

Q: How significant is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers an average of 192.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 92.5 FPS. This represents a 52% reduction in frame rate from Low to Ultra, highlighting the significant graphical cost of the highest settings.

Q: Does the system's performance scale linearly with resolution?

A: No, the scaling is not linear. For example, at Medium settings, the frame rate drops by 26% when moving from 1080p (212.6 FPS) to 1440p (157.3 FPS), but only by 36.3% moving from 1440p to 4K (100.2 FPS). The scaling curve flattens as resolution increases, a sign that the GPU is becoming the more dominant bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, the Medium preset is the most compelling choice across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, it delivers an average of 212.6 FPS, which is a massive 62.7% improvement over the Ultra preset's 127.8 FPS while still offering a noticeable visual upgrade over Low. At 2560x1440, Medium provides 157.3 FPS, which is still far beyond the requirements of any high refresh rate monitor. Even at 3840x2160, the Medium preset's 100.2 FPS average is a fantastic result, providing a completely smooth experience on a 4K display.

The High preset is also a viable option for those who want better shadows and effects, but the data shows it comes at a significant cost. At 1080p, High (132.1 FPS) is 37.9% slower than Medium (212.6 FPS). The Ultra preset, while offering the best image quality, is only recommended for 1080p and 1440p displays where the frame rates (127.8 and 92.5 FPS, respectively) are still playable. For 4K, the Ultra preset's 60.4 FPS average is essentially the floor for a playable experience. Given the game's aesthetic, the jump from Medium to High or Ultra is unlikely to provide a game-changing visual benefit, making Medium the sweet spot for performance per frame.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data presents the measured average frame rates for the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Arc B580 combination in Inside.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 270 FPS, showcasing the system's massive headroom at this resolution.
• Medium: An average of 212.6 FPS is measured, a strong result that remains highly fluid.
• High: The average drops to 132.1 FPS, which is still well above standard display refresh rates.
• Ultra: The most demanding preset at this resolution yields an average of 127.8 FPS, providing a smooth high-fidelity experience.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The system produces an average of 192.5 FPS, indicating the CPU is still driving performance well.
• Medium: An average of 157.3 FPS is recorded, a great result for high refresh rate 1440p gaming.
• High: The average frame rate is 97.3 FPS, which is a comfortable result for a 1440p display.
• Ultra: The average drops to 92.5 FPS, maintaining a high level of smoothness even at maximum settings.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average frame rate is 121.6 FPS, an impressive figure for 4K resolution.
• Medium: An average of 100.2 FPS is measured, demonstrating the B580's capability at this resolution.
• High: The average drops to 58.6 FPS, falling just short of a consistent 60 FPS target.
• Ultra: The most demanding settings at 4K produce an average of 60.4 FPS, a borderline playable result.