Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that, on the surface, would seem trivial for a modern high-end desktop configuration. The measured data for the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination, however, reveals a fascinating scaling curve that tells a clear story about where the performance ceiling lies across common resolutions and presets. The benchmark results show a system that is overwhelmingly capable at 1080p and 1440p but begins to show the first signs of graphical load at 4K Ultra, with framerates that remain exceptionally high but demonstrate a predictable shift in the bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is not linear; it is heavily dependent on the quality preset. At the Low setting, the average framerate falls from 368.7 FPS at 1080p to 233.8 FPS at 4K, a reduction of approximately 36.6%. This relatively modest decline suggests that at Low settings, the limiting factor is largely the CPU, as the GPU has ample headroom to render frames quickly even at higher resolutions.

When we move to the High preset, the scaling shifts dramatically. The average framerate at 1080p is 258.1 FPS, which drops to 181.5 FPS at 1440p and further to 115.7 FPS at 4K. This represents a 55.2% drop from 1080p to 4K. The Ultra preset shows a similar trend, with 244.4 FPS at 1080p falling to 177 FPS at 1440p and finally to 109.3 FPS at 4K. The data indicates that as settings increase, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint, particularly at the 4K resolution where the pixel count quadruples.

The Medium preset offers an interesting middle ground. It produces 338.7 FPS at 1080p, which is lower than Low but higher than High. At 4K, it averages 185.1 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K for Medium is a 45.4% reduction. This suggests that the Medium preset balances the load between CPU and GPU more evenly, but the GPU still takes on a greater share of the work as resolution climbs. The overall pattern is clear: for a game like Inside, the i7-12700K and RTX 4070 SUPER combination is CPU-bound at lower resolutions and settings, but transitions to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K with High or Ultra presets.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average framerate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average framerate is 368.7 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the 1440p Ultra performance compare to the 4K Ultra performance?

A: At 2560x1440 Ultra, the combo averages 177 FPS. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average drops to 109.3 FPS, a decrease of 67.7 FPS or roughly 38.2%.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K a bottleneck for this GPU in Inside?

A: The data suggests that at 1080p with Low settings, the CPU is the primary limiter, as the framerate caps at 368.7 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the GPU becomes the limiting component, with the framerate dropping to 109.3 FPS.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between the Low and Ultra presets at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields 329.4 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 177 FPS. This is a difference of 152.4 FPS, indicating a significant performance cost for higher visual fidelity.

Q: Does the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB of VRAM appear to be a limiting factor?

A: The benchmark results do not indicate a VRAM limitation. The framerates remain high and consistent across resolutions, suggesting that the 12 GB memory buffer is sufficient for Inside's graphical demands.

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

A: The combo ranks 174th out of 1671 tested combinations, placing it in the top 10.4% of all systems for this specific game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER features a 12 GB GDDR6X memory buffer on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. These specifications are more than sufficient for a puzzle platformer with the visual complexity of Inside. The measured data confirms that the GPU's primary role is to handle the increased pixel throughput at higher resolutions and settings.

The framerate deltas between presets highlight the GPU's workload scaling. At 1080p, the difference between Low (368.7 FPS) and Ultra (244.4 FPS) is 124.3 FPS, a 33.7% reduction. At 4K, this difference is more pronounced, with the gap between Low (233.8 FPS) and Ultra (109.3 FPS) being 124.5 FPS, a 53.2% reduction. This shows that the GPU's shading units, texture mapping units, and ROPs are being pushed harder at higher settings, impacting the final framerate.

The RTX 4070 SUPER's 80 ROPs and 224 TMUs are directly responsible for the fill-rate and texture filtering capabilities. While these are not taxed as heavily as in a modern AAA title, the scaling from 4K Low to 4K Ultra demonstrates a clear GPU-bound scenario. The performance percentile of 84th among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 42576 indicates a high-end part, which aligns with the observed framerates that remain above 100 FPS even in the most demanding tested configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete matrix of average framerates across three resolutions and four settings.

At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptional across the board. The Low preset leads with 368.7 FPS, followed by Medium at 338.7 FPS. High settings yield 258.1 FPS, and Ultra settles at 244.4 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is significant at 80.6 FPS, suggesting a major graphical feature is enabled between those two presets.

At 2560x1440, the framerates remain extremely high. Low settings produce 329.4 FPS, which drops to 294.1 FPS on Medium. The High preset averages 181.5 FPS, while Ultra achieves 177 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at this resolution is minimal at 4.5 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset offers little additional visual benefit for the performance cost compared to High.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. The Low preset still manages a very playable 233.8 FPS. Medium follows at 185.1 FPS. High settings drop to 115.7 FPS, and Ultra is the lowest at 109.3 FPS. The gap between Medium and High at 4K is 69.4 FPS, mirroring the 1080p result and reinforcing that the High preset is a significant performance step down from Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for Inside, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER holds a rank of 174 out of 1671 tested combos. This places the system in the top 10.4% of all configurations tested for this game, which is a strong result given the game's age and its relative simplicity.

The CPU itself, the i7-12700K, has an average benchmark score of 35684 and sits in the 89th percentile compared to all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and the Intel Core i5-14500HX, with the i7-12700K trailing the Ryzen by 0.3% and leading the i5 by 0.7%. These are marginal differences, showing that the CPU is highly competitive at its performance tier.

The GPU, the RTX 4070 SUPER, has an average benchmark score of 42576 and sits in the 84th percentile. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A6000, which is 0.2% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE, which is 0.3% faster. The data suggests that this GPU is a solid mid-to-high-end performer, and when paired with the i7-12700K, it produces the top-tier framerates observed in Inside.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and refresh rate.

For 1920x1080 displays, all settings are viable. Even the Ultra preset, which averages 244.4 FPS, exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors. The Low preset at 368.7 FPS offers the highest possible framerate for competitive or high-refresh-rate scenarios, but the Medium preset at 338.7 FPS provides a better balance of visual quality and performance without a significant loss in frame rate.

For 2560x1440 displays, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point, averaging 294.1 FPS. The High preset, at 181.5 FPS, is still excellent for 144Hz displays and offers improved visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 177 FPS provides a marginal improvement over High and remains well above 144 FPS, making it a viable choice for users with 144Hz monitors who prioritize maximum image quality.

For 3840x2160 displays, the choice is more constrained. The Low preset at 233.8 FPS is the most performant option, ideal for 240Hz 4K panels. The Medium preset at 185.1 FPS is the best balance for 144Hz 4K displays, offering a significant visual upgrade over Low while still maintaining a high framerate. The High preset at 115.7 FPS is playable on 120Hz displays but shows a noticeable drop. The Ultra preset at 109.3 FPS is the least recommended, as the performance cost from High to Ultra is high, and the visual difference in a game like Inside is likely minimal.