Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 is a combination where the processor vastly outpaces the graphics card in raw benchmark potential. The CPU sits in the 89th percentile among all processors tested, with an average benchmark score of 35355, placing it in the top tier of available hardware. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14400, which scores 35336 (a delta of 0.1%), and the Intel Core i7-13800H at 35416 (a delta of -0.2%). This processor is a 12-core, 20-thread part based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The 125W TDP and unlocked multiplier make it a flexible choice for builders, though in this specific game pairing, its immense compute resources are largely held back by the GPU.

The RX 580, in contrast, is an older Polaris 20 chip based on GCN 4.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14nm process. It holds a 53rd percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13559. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (scoring 13564, a delta of 0%), the GTX 950 (13549, delta 0.1%), and the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (13416, delta 1.1%). The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, with a boost clock of 1340 MHz. This is a capable 1080p card by modern standards, but its architecture lacks the raw throughput needed to push high frame rates at higher resolutions in this title.

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

The Core i7-12700KF brings a substantial amount of processing power to the table. With 12 cores and 20 threads, it is far more capable than what a puzzle platformer like Inside requires, even at high frame rates. The processor’s benchmark results reflect this headroom: it scores 28979 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 4091 in single-core, alongside a Geekbench multicore score of 13596 and a single-core score of 2526. The 3dmark suite shows scaling from 1043 in single-thread to 9983 in max-threads, indicating strong multi-threaded performance that is simply not stressed by this game’s workload.

In the measured results, the CPU is never the limiting factor. Even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU has the least work to do, the frame rate reaches 151.4 FPS. This suggests the CPU can easily feed frames well beyond what the RX 580 can render. The data shows that the processor’s high boost clock of 5.00 GHz and efficient Alder Lake architecture ensure that even the most demanding single-threaded tasks in the game are handled instantly. The CPU’s performance ceiling is so high relative to the GPU that any frame rate differences between settings are attributable to the graphics card, not the processor. The processor’s nearest rivals show it is within a fraction of a percent of the i5-14400 and i7-13800H, meaning it offers no meaningful advantage or disadvantage over those parts in this scenario; all are far beyond the GPU’s limits.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the definitive bottleneck in this pairing. Its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is sufficient for Inside’s modest texture requirements, but the card’s compute capabilities dictate the frame rates. The GPU’s boost clock of 1340 MHz, combined with its 2304 shading units and 32 ROPs, yields a pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 193.0 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 6.175 TFLOPS is the key figure for this game, and it shows in the measured data.

At 1080p, the RX 580 performs admirably. The data shows 151.4 FPS at Low settings, dropping to 118.1 FPS at Medium, 77.6 FPS at High, and 73.6 FPS at Ultra. The gap between Low and Medium is 33.3 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is only 4 FPS, indicating that the card hits a performance wall as settings increase. The GPU’s 53rd percentile ranking places it near the GTX 570 and GTX 950, which are contemporaries in performance, though the RX 580’s 8 GB VRAM gives it more headroom for texture-heavy scenes. The memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s is adequate for the game’s art style, which relies on atmospheric lighting rather than high-resolution textures. The data indicates that the GPU is the sole determinant of performance, with the CPU’s role being purely to avoid holding it back.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 77.6 FPS, which is a solid experience for a puzzle platformer where precise timing is less critical than visual atmosphere. However, the Medium preset at 118.1 FPS offers a smoother experience that is more likely to match a 120Hz display, while still retaining acceptable visual quality. The Low preset at 151.4 FPS is the only way to hit very high refresh rates, but it sacrifices the game’s moody lighting effects that are central to its design.

For 1440p, the recommendation shifts. The High preset drops to 56.3 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that benefits from smooth motion. The Medium preset at 87.1 FPS provides the best balance, offering a frame rate that is smooth on most 60Hz to 75Hz displays while maintaining visual fidelity. The Low preset at 107.7 FPS is viable for esports-style play, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. At 4K, the data shows the RX 580 struggles. The High preset yields 36.9 FPS, which is below the 40 FPS threshold many consider playable for this genre. The Medium preset at 53.2 FPS is the only reasonable choice, as it maintains playability while sacrificing some visual quality. The Ultra preset at 29.9 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below 30 FPS, causing visible stutter.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 1530 out of 1671 tested combos for Inside. This puts it in the bottom 8.5% of all pairings, which is a direct result of the GPU’s age and mid-range positioning. The data indicates that while the CPU is in the top 11% of processors, the GPU’s 53rd percentile ranking drags the overall combo down significantly. The rank suggests that most other tested systems, even those with weaker CPUs, outperform this pairing because they feature more modern GPUs.

The combo’s rank is not a reflection of the CPU’s capability, but rather the imbalance between the two components. Benchmark results show the CPU is competitive with the i5-14400 and i7-13800H, yet those processors would likely be paired with more powerful graphics cards in real-world systems. For this game, the data shows that the frame rate is entirely GPU-bound, so the CPU’s performance is irrelevant to the final ranking. Users looking at this combo should understand that the 1530th rank is a warning that the GPU will limit experience in Inside, and any upgrade path must focus on replacing the RX 580 rather than the processor.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which confirms the GPU is the limiting component. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 151.4 FPS at 1080p to 107.7 FPS at 1440p, a decrease of 43.7 FPS (28.9%). Moving to 4K Low yields 68.4 FPS, which is a further drop of 39.3 FPS from 1440p. This scaling is typical for a GPU with 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, as the pixel fill rate of 42.88 GPixel/s becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

The scaling at High settings is even more pronounced. At 1080p High, the card produces 77.6 FPS, which drops to 56.3 FPS at 1440p (a 21.3 FPS decrease) and then to 36.9 FPS at 4K (a 19.4 FPS decrease). The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 52.4%, indicating that the GPU is struggling to maintain throughput as the number of pixels quadruples. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not a factor in this scaling, as a processor with a 5.00 GHz boost clock and 12 cores would show minimal performance variance across resolutions if it were the bottleneck. The consistent FPS drops across all settings point to the RX 580’s memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s and its 32 ROPs as the primary constraints, making the GPU the clear target for any performance improvements.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF a good match for the AMD Radeon RX 580 in this game?

A: No, the data shows a severe imbalance. The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile of all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 53rd percentile. The measured FPS is entirely GPU-bound, so the CPU’s power is wasted in Inside.

Q: What is the highest playable frame rate I can achieve with this combo?

A: At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 151.4 FPS, which is the highest measured result. For a more balanced visual experience, 1080p Medium yields 118.1 FPS, which is smooth and retains quality.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Only at Low settings, where it achieves 68.4 FPS. At Medium settings, it drops to 53.2 FPS, and at High it falls to 36.9 FPS. Ultra settings at 29.9 FPS are not recommended due to stutter.

Q: How does the RX 580 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of performance?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 13559, which is nearly identical to the GTX 570’s 13564 (0% delta) and the GTX 950’s 13549 (0.1% delta). It is slightly ahead of the Radeon Pro 455, which scores 13416 (1.1% delta).

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in any way?

A: No, the data shows the opposite. The CPU’s single-thread score of 4091 in Cinebench R23 and 2526 in Geekbench are far above what is needed, and the FPS scaling across resolutions follows GPU limitations exactly.

Q: What does the combo’s rank of 1530 out of 1671 indicate?

A: It indicates that this pairing performs worse than 91.5% of all tested combos in Inside. This is due to the GPU’s age, as the CPU is in the top tier of performance and is not a factor in the game’s results.