Inside

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti presents a fascinating case study for Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer. The data reveals a system with immense headroom, where performance scaling across resolutions and settings tells a clear story about which component is doing the heavy lifting. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS numbers to understand the dynamic between the Alder Lake processor and the Ampere graphics card.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is crucial for a game like Inside that relies heavily on single-threaded performance. The processor's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 provide a robust foundation for feeding the GPU.

Benchmark data shows the CPU's single-thread capabilities are strong, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2255. These figures are essential because Inside's gameplay, which involves physics-based puzzles and a continuous side-scrolling camera, does not typically scale well across many cores. The high boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that the game's primary thread has ample processing power.

However, the multi-threaded scores are equally impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838 and a Passmark multithread score of 34092. This indicates that while the game may not use all 20 threads, the CPU is far from being a bottleneck in any scenario. The processor's percentile vs. all CPUs is 85, placing it in the top tier of available processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-13700T and the Intel Core i5-13600T, are separated by a negligible delta of only -0.1% and 0.2% respectively, suggesting that the 12700KF's performance is tightly clustered with other high-end chips.

For Inside, the CPU's role is primarily to maintain a stable frame delivery. The data from the measured FPS suggests that even at 1080p with Low settings, where the GPU workload is lightest, the CPU is able to push frame rates to an average of 364 FPS. This high ceiling indicates that the processor is not limiting the experience; instead, it provides a wide berth for the GPU to operate at its own pace. The combination of high single-core clocks for the game's logic and substantial multi-core resources for background tasks ensures a smooth, stutter-free experience.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in Inside, and at what settings?

A: The highest average frame rate is 364 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance compare to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, which is only 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i7-13700T's score of 35403, making them essentially equivalent in overall performance.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth, and how might it affect gameplay?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti features a 384-bit memory bus with GDDR6X memory, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s, which allows for rapid texture loading and high-resolution rendering.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 98, while at 1080p with Low settings, it reaches 364 FPS. This significant drop indicates that the GPU's rendering workload is the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested system configurations for this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination ranks 729th out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the top 20% of all systems tested in Inside.

Q: Does the game benefit more from the CPU's single-thread or multi-thread performance?

A: Given the game's release in 2016 and its puzzle platformer genre, single-thread performance is more critical. The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and high boost clock of 5.00 GHz are likely the key drivers for maintaining high frame rates in the game's core logic.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of how the system scales and where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 364 FPS. Moving to 1440p with the same Low settings, the average drops to 327 FPS, a reduction of approximately 10%. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls further to 206 FPS, which is a 43% decrease from the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. At lower resolutions, the CPU can feed frames quickly, but as the pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity become the limiting factors. The RTX 3080 Ti, with its 10,240 shading units and 112 ROPs, is a powerful card, but the demands of 4K rendering are substantial.

Looking at the High settings across resolutions, the trend continues. At 1080p High, the average is 228 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 164 FPS; and at 4K High, it falls to 103 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 37%, which is a significant margin. This suggests that the GPU is working near its limits at 4K, even with a capable processor like the 12700KF.

The data implies that the CPU has ample headroom. The difference between 1080p Low and 1080p Ultra is 146 FPS (from 364 to 218 FPS), which indicates that the GPU is responsive to settings changes. However, the difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low is 158 FPS, showing that resolution has a more pronounced impact than settings, confirming the GPU as the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The processor's high core count and clock speeds ensure it is never the bottleneck, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of performance as resolution scales.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 364, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. Medium settings reduce the average to 336 FPS, with a minimum of 286 FPS and a maximum of 387 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 228 FPS, and Ultra settings yield an average of 218 FPS. The minimal variance between High and Ultra (10 FPS) suggests that the game's Ultra preset adds little visual benefit for the performance cost.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages remain high but show a clear step down. Low settings produce an average of 327 FPS, while Medium settings average 263 FPS, with a minimum of 223 and a maximum of 302 FPS. High settings average 164 FPS, and Ultra settings average 156 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is substantial (99 FPS), indicating that the High preset introduces significant graphical effects that impact the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly challenged. Low settings average 206 FPS, and Medium settings average 165 FPS, with a minimum of 140 and a maximum of 190 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 103 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 98 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 108 FPS, highlighting the GPU's diminishing returns at this resolution. The minimum FPS of 140 at 4K Medium indicates that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains playable frame rates, though the average is significantly lower than at 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 729th out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places the system in the top 19.6% of all configurations, which is a strong showing given the game's age and the variety of hardware tested. The rank reflects the system's ability to deliver high frame rates across all settings and resolutions, as demonstrated by the measured FPS data.

Given that the game is from 2016, many modern high-end systems can achieve high frame rates, but the fact that this combo ranks in the top fifth indicates it is well above average. The RTX 3080 Ti's 83rd percentile vs. all GPUs and the CPU's 85th percentile vs. all CPUs suggest that both components are in the upper echelon of performance. The combination of a top-tier processor and a high-end graphics card ensures that the system is not held back by either component.

The rank also implies that there are systems with even higher performance, likely featuring more recent GPUs or CPUs. However, for a game like Inside, which does not require the latest hardware to run well, this combo's rank of 729 reflects its balanced and capable nature. The data shows that the system is overqualified for the game, providing frame rates that far exceed the 60 FPS target on any settings preset.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is an excellent choice, offering an average of 336 FPS with a minimum of 286 FPS. This ensures a buttery-smooth experience with a substantial improvement over Low settings, while still maintaining a high frame rate headroom. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 218 FPS, is also viable and provides the best visual quality without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is again the sweet spot, averaging 263 FPS with a minimum of 223 FPS. This provides a crisp image with a high frame rate. The High preset at 1440p averages 164 FPS, which is still excellent for most displays, but the jump to Ultra only yields a 5% decrease (to 156 FPS) with minimal visual gains, making Medium the more efficient choice.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the best balance, averaging 165 FPS with a minimum of 140 FPS. This is the only 4K preset that maintains an average above 100 FPS, ensuring a responsive experience. The High preset at 4K averages 103 FPS, which is playable, but the Ultra preset drops to 98 FPS, approaching the 60 FPS threshold. Given the data, Medium at 4K is the recommended preset to fully leverage the GPU's capabilities while maintaining high frame rates.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is a high-end graphics card built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip on an 8 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. This memory configuration is more than sufficient for Inside, which has modest texture requirements, ensuring that the GPU never runs out of memory and can stream assets quickly.

The GPU's clocks are set at a base of 1365 MHz and a boost of 1665 MHz, with memory running at an effective 19 Gbps. These clock speeds, combined with 10,240 shading units and 320 TMUs, allow the card to process the game's 2D side-scrolling graphics with ease. The high pixel rate of 186.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 532.8 GTexel/s are key to maintaining high frame rates at high resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores reflect its strength. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 26896 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 170037, placing it in the 83rd percentile vs. all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 with a delta of 2%, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 with a delta of 0.8%, showing that the 3080 Ti remains competitive against newer cards.

In Inside, the GPU's performance is directly tied to the resolution and settings. The data shows that at 1080p, the GPU is not taxed, allowing the CPU to drive frame rates to 364 FPS. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rates drop accordingly. The 12 GB of VRAM is more than adequate, preventing any potential bottlenecks. The GPU's robust specifications ensure that it is the limiting factor only at 4K, where its performance is still impressive, maintaining an average of 98 FPS at Ultra settings.