Inside

Inside is a restrained puzzle-platformer that rarely stresses high-end hardware, but the measured frame rates for the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combo reveal a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and presets. The data indicates this pairing is more than capable of delivering smooth gameplay, though the specific bottlenecks shift predictably as pixel count and graphical fidelity increase. Benchmark results show an average of 281 FPS at 1080p Low, demonstrating that the system has substantial headroom for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K produces a dramatic and expected collapse in frame rates, illustrating the growing dominance of the GPU as the primary limiting component. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 141 FPS at 1920x1080, to 101 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 63 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 55% drop in performance from 1080p to 4K, a scaling pattern typical of a game where the graphics card, not the processor, governs high-resolution output. The RTX 2060 SUPER, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus, is being pushed progressively harder as the render load expands.

The scaling is even more pronounced at the Low preset. The system delivers 281 FPS at 1080p, which falls to 202 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 127 FPS at 4K. The percentage decline from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is roughly 55%, nearly identical to the High preset drop. This consistency suggests that the frame rate decline is primarily a function of pixel throughput rather than specific graphical features, as even the lowest settings cannot escape the raw computational cost of rendering four times the pixels. The 4K Low result of 127 FPS still remains comfortably above the 60 FPS target, indicating that the GPU has enough headroom for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming only at minimal fidelity.

Analyzing the Medium preset provides the only complete data set with minimum and maximum frame rates, offering insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the average is 225 FPS with a minimum of 191 and maximum of 259 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 162 FPS, with a minimum of 137 and maximum of 186 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 102 FPS, with a minimum of 86 and maximum of 117 FPS. The spread between minimum and maximum remains relatively tight across all three resolutions, suggesting that the RTX 2060 SUPER maintains stable frame pacing without severe stutters, even when the average frame rate is pushed down by the 4K resolution.

The Ultra preset shows the most significant scaling penalty. At 1080p, the average is 134 FPS, which is only slightly lower than the High preset's 141 FPS. However, at 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 96 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 60 FPS. The difference between the High and Ultra presets grows with resolution, indicating that the additional effects enabled at Ultra have a disproportionate impact at higher pixel counts. The 4K Ultra result of 60 FPS is precisely at the standard refresh rate target, but the absence of a minimum frame rate value in the data leaves questions about potential dips below this threshold.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2308 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1850.5, is far more than sufficient for a puzzle-platformer like Inside. The game's workload is unlikely to stress the processor, and the data confirms that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution or setting tested.

The processor's multi-threaded capabilities, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and a Passmark multithread score of 34404, are largely irrelevant for this title. Inside is not a game that scales well with many cores, and the performance difference between the High and Low presets at the same resolution is entirely attributable to the GPU workload. At 1080p Low, the system produces 281 FPS, which is likely near the engine's frame rate limit or the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with draw calls, but the RTX 2060 SUPER is still the primary driver of performance differences.

The fact that the frame rate scales linearly with resolution and settings, without any signs of CPU-induced plateaus, confirms that the i7-12700K is never the limiting factor. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU load is minimal, the processor's high single-thread speed allows the RTX 2060 SUPER to run at its full potential. The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample bandwidth for the game's data, and the 10 nm Intel process node ensures efficient operation. The processor's 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35287, places it well above the requirements for this game, making it a purely enabling component rather than a performance constraint.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The benchmark data shows an average of 141 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which indicates a smooth experience on standard 144Hz monitors.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the measured results show 63 FPS at 4K High and 60 FPS at 4K Ultra, with 102 FPS at 4K Medium and 127 FPS at 4K Low. The system can exceed 60 FPS at 4K, but only at lower settings.

Q: Is there a significant difference between High and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The data indicates a moderate difference. High settings produce an average of 101 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 96 FPS at 2560x1440, a 5% reduction in performance for the higher preset.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for this system?

A: The only minimum frame rate values provided are for the Medium preset. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 191 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 137 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 86 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, which places it slightly below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159, deltaPct -0.4) and AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18189, deltaPct -0.5), but above the AMD Radeon RX 460 (18373, deltaPct -1.5) and Intel Arc A770M (18383, deltaPct -1.6).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K at Low settings?

A: The average frame rate drops from 281 FPS at 1920x1080 to 127 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 55% decline in performance when moving to 4K resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings for this configuration depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, the data suggests that even the Ultra preset is viable, with an average of 134 FPS. This is sufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming, though players seeking maximum frame rates above 240 FPS would need to drop to Low settings, which yield 281 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a balanced 225 FPS with a minimum of 191 FPS, ensuring consistent frame delivery for competitive play.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice for a balance of visual quality and performance, delivering 101 FPS. The Ultra preset at 96 FPS is also playable, but the marginal visual improvement over High may not justify the 5% performance loss. Players with 144Hz monitors should stick with High or Medium settings, as the Medium preset provides 162 FPS with a minimum of 137 FPS, which is more likely to maintain a stable refresh rate. The Low preset at 202 FPS is overkill for most displays and sacrifices too much visual fidelity.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the only sensible option for a smooth experience, producing 63 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to exactly 60 FPS, which is right at the edge of standard display refresh rates, but the lack of minimum frame rate data makes this a riskier proposition. The Medium preset at 102 FPS is the best choice for 4K displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, as it provides a significant margin above 60 FPS. The Low preset at 127 FPS is also viable for high-refresh-rate 4K, but the visual compromise is substantial. Across all resolutions, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and measured performance, with the Medium preset serving as a fallback for higher refresh rates.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for Inside, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER holds a specific position that reflects its mid-range to upper-mid-range status. The combo is ranked 2556 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the 31st percentile of all systems. This ranking indicates that while the setup is certainly capable of running the game well, there are many other combinations that achieve higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs or newer processor architectures.

The ranking is influenced primarily by the GPU's performance, as the RTX 2060 SUPER sits in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 18093. The CPU, on the other hand, is in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, making it the stronger component of the pairing. The discrepancy between the CPU and GPU percentiles suggests that the processor has significant headroom, and the system's in-game ranking is likely held back by the graphics card's capabilities. The nearest rivals to the GPU, such as the RTX 3060 Mobile and AMD Radeon Pro 5700, are within 0.5% of its average score, indicating that the RTX 2060 SUPER is competitive with these parts.

The combo's rank of 2556 out of 3716 means that roughly 31% of tested systems perform worse and 69% perform better in this specific game. This places the system in the lower half of the distribution, which is expected given the age of the GPU relative to newer releases. However, the actual measured frame rates at common resolutions, such as 141 FPS at 1080p High and 101 FPS at 1440p High, demonstrate that the system is far from inadequate for Inside. The ranking is a relative measure against all combinations, many of which include flagships, and does not detract from the practical performance observed in the data.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the exact average frame rates measured for this configuration, with additional minimum and maximum values where available.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Minimum FPS | Maximum FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 281 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 225 | 191 | 259 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 141 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 134 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 202 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 162 | 137 | 186 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 101 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 96 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 127 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 102 | 86 | 117 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 63 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 60 | — | — |

The data reveals a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions, with Low settings always providing the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The Medium preset is the only one with complete minimum and maximum frame rate data, showing a frame time variance that increases with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between the minimum and maximum is 68 FPS, which widens to 49 FPS at 1440p and 31 FPS at 4K. This narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is working closer to its limits, reducing the variability in frame delivery. The performance drop from Low to Ultra settings is substantial at every resolution, with the largest absolute difference at 1080p (147 FPS) and the smallest at 4K (67 FPS), further confirming that the GPU becomes the bottleneck as pixel count rises.