Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer from 2016 that, on paper, should not stress modern hardware. Yet, the measured data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 reveals a significant bottleneck that scales dramatically with resolution. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, component roles, and settings behavior to explain why this specific combo ranks in the 8th percentile of tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, indicating that the integrated graphics solution is the primary limiting factor. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 results in a 54.6% performance loss, dropping from 141 FPS to 64 FPS. This is not a gradual curve; it is a cliff edge that suggests the GPU is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth as the pixel count quadruples.

At Medium settings, the same resolution scaling shows a 54.9% drop, from 113 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 4K. The pattern is consistent, with the 1440p results sitting almost exactly halfway between the two extremes. For instance, Medium settings at 2560x1440 produce 81 FPS, which is 28.3% lower than the 1080p result and 37.5% higher than the 4K result. This linear degradation in performance relative to pixel count is the signature of a system where the GPU is saturated, not the CPU.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the constraint at any resolution. The i7-12700KF has ample headroom, as indicated by its 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs and a multi-core score of 28,838 in Cinebench R23. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau or become inconsistent across resolutions. Instead, the FPS scales almost perfectly with the number of pixels being rendered, confirming that the Arc B370's integrated nature is the limiting factor. The jump from 30 FPS at 4K Ultra to 141 FPS at 1080p Low is a clear sign that users must trade visual fidelity for playable frame rates at lower resolutions.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 25 W TDP, and its performance profile reflects this. It features 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR4 or DDR5 memory for both capacity and bandwidth. This shared memory architecture is a critical weakness for a game like Inside, which, while not graphically intense by modern standards, still requires consistent memory throughput for texture streaming and frame buffer operations.

GPU benchmark data shows a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, with delta percentages between -0.2% and -0.7%. This places the Arc B370 in a performance tier that is roughly a decade old, which explains why it struggles with 4K resolutions in this puzzle platformer. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are theoretically sufficient for simple scenes, but the system-dependent memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck when filling a 3840x2160 frame buffer.

The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the determining factor in this combo. At 1080p, the GPU can maintain high frame rates, with Low settings hitting 141 FPS. However, the performance collapses at 4K, with Ultra settings dropping to 30 FPS. This is not a game-specific issue with the CPU but a fundamental limit of the IGP's raw throughput. The Arc B370's DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility ensure that it can run the game, but its physical limits are exposed when pixel count increases.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide a clear hierarchy for settings at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra is a 52.5% performance drop, from 141 FPS to 67 FPS. However, the Medium preset offers a balanced experience at 113 FPS, which is 68.1% faster than Ultra. Given the game's visual style, the jump from Medium to High (70 FPS) yields a 38.1% performance penalty, which is substantial for marginal visual gains. For a smooth experience on a standard 60 Hz monitor, Medium at 1080p is the optimal choice, providing a 96 FPS minimum frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. Low settings deliver 101 FPS, which is playable, but Medium drops to 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 FPS. High settings at 51 FPS are borderline for smooth gameplay, and Ultra at 48 FPS is not recommended. The data suggests that Medium is the highest playable preset at 1440p, as it maintains an average above 60 FPS. Pushing to High results in a 37.0% frame rate reduction, which is too steep for the visual complexity of Inside.

At 3840x2160, all presets struggle. Low settings achieve 64 FPS, which is the only playable option for a 60 Hz display. Medium drops to 51 FPS with a minimum of 43 FPS, which will introduce noticeable stutter. High and Ultra are effectively unplayable at 32 FPS and 30 FPS, respectively. Therefore, for 4K gaming, users must either accept Low settings or reduce the resolution. The data indicates that Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, balancing frame rate and visual quality without pushing the GPU into its performance cliff.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 3422 out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the 8th percentile of all configurations, which is a poor result for a system with a high-end CPU. The ranking underscores the profound imbalance of this pairing: a top-tier processor from 2021 is being hamstrung by an integrated GPU that was designed for low-power mobile or entry-level desktop use.

To contextualize this rank, consider the CPU's individual standing. The i7-12700KF is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35,365. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-13700T and the Intel Core i5-13600T, have near-identical scores with delta percentages of -0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. This indicates that the CPU is highly capable and not the source of the low combo rank.

Conversely, the GPU is in the 5th percentile, with a score of 1184. The nearest rivals are the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which have delta percentages of -0.5% and -0.7%. This disparity between the CPU's 85th percentile and the GPU's 5th percentile creates a bottleneck that drags the combo rank down to 3422. The data shows that this is not a balanced system for gaming; the GPU is the limiting factor in almost every scenario, and the CPU's power is left largely unused.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It has a 25 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 28,838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4,071 in single-core, indicating massive processing power. its 3DMark 16-thread score of 9,282 and max-thread score of 9,983 further demonstrate that multi-threaded workloads are not a challenge.

For Inside, the CPU's role is minimal. The game is a 2D puzzle platformer with simple physics and AI, which does not require significant single-thread or multi-thread performance. The measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most likely to be a limiting factor, the system achieves 141 FPS. This is a high frame rate that suggests the CPU is not struggling to feed the GPU with draw calls or process game logic.

The bottleneck is clearly not the CPU. The frame rate scaling with resolution is consistent and predictable, which would not be the case if the CPU were struggling. If the i7-12700KF were underpowered for the game, we would see frame rates cap out at a certain level regardless of resolution, or see significant frame time inconsistencies. The data shows no such pattern. Instead, the CPU's high benchmark scores, which place it above 85% of all CPUs, confirm that it has more than enough headroom for this puzzle platformer. The combo's poor rank is entirely attributable to the GPU's inability to keep pace with the CPU's output.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest measured average at 1920x1080 is 141 FPS, achieved at Low settings. The Medium preset delivers 113 FPS, while High and Ultra produce 70 FPS and 67 FPS, respectively.

Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best average is 64 FPS at Low settings. Medium drops to 51 FPS, and High and Ultra are at 32 FPS and 30 FPS, respectively.

Q: Which component is the primary bottleneck in this system for Inside?

A: The Intel Arc B370 GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU, the Intel Core i7-12700KF, is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile. The frame rate scales linearly with resolution, indicating GPU saturation.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%).

Q: What is the best settings preset for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1440p?

A: Medium settings are the highest preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS, with an average of 81 FPS and a minimum of 69 FPS. High settings drop to 51 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems for Inside?

A: The combo ranks 3422 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the 8th percentile of all configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings preset. Minimum and maximum values are only provided for the Medium preset in the data.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

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

| 1920x1080 | Low | 141 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 113 | 96 | 130 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 70 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 67 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 101 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 81 | 69 | 93 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 51 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 48 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 64 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 51 | 43 | 59 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 32 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 30 | N/A | N/A |

The data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. The Medium preset is the only one with measured frame time variance data, showing a spread of 34 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 16 FPS at 4K, indicating tighter frame pacing at higher resolutions but lower overall performance. For users prioritizing frame rate, Low at 1080p is the only preset that consistently delivers over 100 FPS. For visual quality, Medium at 1080p or Low at 1440p are the only viable options that maintain a playable frame rate above 60 FPS.