Inside

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti delivers a highly capable experience in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. The data shows that this combination is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the processor's substantial headroom allows for extreme frame rates at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data, contextualizes the CPU and GPU roles, and provides concrete settings recommendations.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this combo in Inside?*

A: The combination ranks 1460th out of 1671 tested combos in the database. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all tested configurations, though the measured frame rates are more than adequate for the game's genre.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in raw processing power?

A: The Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282. It sits within a tight performance band, being 0.1% slower than the Intel Core i7-13700KF, 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 4364P, and 0.4% faster than the Intel Core i9-12900F. Its percentile ranking against all CPUs is the 93rd.

Q: What is the performance tier of the GTX 1660 Ti relative to other GPUs?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 13925, placing it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 570X, which it trails by a negligible 0.4%.

Q: What is the best performance result recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 217.5 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is significantly higher than the 110.4 FPS recorded at the same resolution with High settings.

Q: How does the CPU's core configuration influence performance in this game?

A: The i7-13700K features 16 cores and 24 threads. Benchmark results show a strong scaling from 3dmark_2_threads score of 2262 to 3dmark_16_threads score of 10717, indicating robust multi-threading capabilities that prevent any processor bottleneck in this title.

Q: Does increasing resolution from 1080p to 2160p have a linear impact on performance?

A: No, the impact is steep. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 110.4 FPS at 1920x1080 to 78.5 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 50.4 FPS at 3840x2160. The drop is more pronounced than a simple linear scaling, highlighting the GPU's limitations.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The processor's benchmark scores indicate exceptional headroom for a game like Inside. The passmark_single_thread score of 4333 and the geekbench_singlecore score of 2850 demonstrate strong per-core performance, which is often critical for game logic and physics.

However, the data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration. The cinebench_r23_multicore score of 39000 and the passmark_multithread score of 45887 show that the processor has far more throughput than is required. This is evident in the measured FPS, where even at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches 217.5 FPS. The 3dmark_max_threads score of 12412, compared to the 3dmark_16_threads score of 10717, shows the processor's ability to utilize additional threads effectively, though Inside rarely demands such extreme multi-threading. The CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory contribute to its high average benchmark score of 47282, which is 93rd percentile among all CPUs.

The processor’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is remarkably close. The deltaPct against the Intel Core i7-13700KF is -0.1%, against the AMD EPYC 4364P it is 0.3%, and against the Intel Core i9-12900F it is 0.4%. These sub-1% differences mean that in gaming scenarios, the choice between these CPUs is virtually immaterial. In Inside, the CPU's role is to feed frames to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck, and the data confirms it does so with ease, allowing the GPU to be the primary determinant of frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is a Turing-architecture GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz. The GPU's performance profile, with an average benchmark score of 13925 and a 55th percentile ranking, places it as a mid-range part. The passmark_g3d score of 12871 and the geekbench_vulkan score of 58014 provide context for its raw graphics compute capabilities.

In Inside, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the GPU can output 217.5 FPS. However, at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the frame rate drops to 47.1 FPS. This 78% reduction in performance from the best-case scenario demonstrates the GPU's fill-rate and memory bandwidth constraints at higher resolutions. The 6 GB VRAM buffer, while sufficient for this game, is not the primary constraint; rather, it is the raw shader throughput and memory bandwidth.

The GPU's closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 570X, is only 0.4% faster in average benchmark scores, and the NVIDIA GTX 680 is 0.8% faster. This suggests that the GTX 1660 Ti is in a highly competitive performance tier. However, the data shows that for 4K gaming at high detail levels, this GPU is not sufficient to maintain a smooth 60 FPS experience, as the Ultra preset at 3840x2160 yields only 47.1 FPS. The GPU's performance is also reflected in its passmark_directx_11 score of 103, which, while not directly comparable to game FPS, indicates its DirectX 11 rendering capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ranks 1460th out of 1671 tested combos in Inside. This rank of 1460 places it in the bottom 12% of all tested configurations, which is surprising given the CPU's top-tier percentile. This disparity is explained by the GPU's mid-range standing. The i7-13700K is in the 93rd percentile of CPUs, while the GTX 1660 Ti is in the 55th percentile of GPUs.

The rank indicates that the combo's performance is primarily dictated by the GPU. While the processor can easily handle the game's logic and produce high frame rates at lower resolutions, the GPU cannot sustain those rates at higher resolutions and settings. The combo's rank is a holistic measure of its performance across all tested scenarios, and the GPU's limitations at 4K drag the overall ranking down significantly. It is a stark reminder that a high-end CPU cannot compensate for a mid-range GPU in graphically demanding resolutions. The data suggests that the CPU is effectively "wasted" in this pairing for this particular game, as it is never the limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent performance hierarchy across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields 217.5 FPS, which is the peak performance of the combo. This drops to 175.9 FPS on Medium, 110.4 FPS on High, and 103.7 FPS on Ultra. The gap between High and Ultra is relatively small at this resolution, suggesting diminishing returns for the extra settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. The Low preset achieves 155.9 FPS, Medium hits 124.5 FPS, High reaches 78.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 72.3 FPS. The transition from Medium to High at this resolution results in a significant 46 FPS drop, indicating that High settings introduce a substantial GPU load increase.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset still manages a playable 97.1 FPS, but Medium drops to 82.1 FPS. High settings yield 50.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 47.1 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 4K is only 3.3 FPS, showing that the GPU is fully saturated. The data shows a clear trend: the performance penalty for each increase in resolution is amplified at higher settings, and the GPU's inability to maintain 60 FPS at 4K on High and Ultra presets is evident.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience depends on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For users with a 1080p display, the High preset at 110.4 FPS provides an excellent balance of visual fidelity and smoothness, and the Ultra preset at 103.7 FPS is also viable if maximum visual quality is desired. The Low preset's 217.5 FPS is excessive for most displays and unnecessary for this puzzle platformer.

For 1440p displays, the Medium preset at 124.5 FPS is the recommended choice. It offers a significant visual improvement over Low while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The High preset at 78.5 FPS is also playable and will be preferred by users who prioritize visual detail over a higher frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset at 72.3 FPS is acceptable but does not provide a marked visual upgrade over High.

At 4K resolution, the data suggests that the High preset at 50.4 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 47.1 FPS is not ideal for a completely smooth experience. The Medium preset at 82.1 FPS is the best option for 4K, providing a smooth and visually respectable experience. Users with high-refresh-rate 4K displays will need to use the Low preset at 97.1 FPS, but for a puzzle platformer, the Medium preset is recommended as the best compromise between image quality and performance, ensuring a consistently fluid experience without the visual compromises of the Low preset.