Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer with a deliberately somber, atmospheric presentation, and its modest graphical demands mean that modern hardware often runs it at extremely high frame rates. The benchmark data for the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination reveals a system that is dramatically overqualified for the task, delivering playable and often exceptionally smooth performance even at 4K resolution. The analysis below breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, interprets the roles of the CPU and GPU, and places this combo within the broader database of tested configurations.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This is a high-end desktop part, and its benchmark scores reflect that positioning: it achieves a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620. In synthetic tests, it scores 35122 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4958 in single-core, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 19620 and a single-core score of 2429. These figures place it in the top tier of processors, with nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (0.6% slower) and the AMD EPYC 7313P (0.8% slower).

For a game like Inside, which is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer with relatively simple 3D environments, the CPU demands are minimal. The game's logic, physics, and rendering calls are far from being a stress test for a processor with 28 threads. The data supports this: at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 387 FPS, which is a frame rate so high that it is almost certainly limited by the GPU or the game engine's frame pacing rather than the CPU. The i7-14700F's high single-core performance (4958 in Cinebench R23 single-core) ensures that even the most demanding game logic is handled with immense headroom. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) provide ample bandwidth for any data the game needs to feed to the GPU.

The core count is largely irrelevant for Inside, but the clock speed is not. The boost clock of 5.40 GHz is a key factor in maintaining extremely high frame rates without any bottleneck. Even at 1080p, where the CPU has the most relative influence, the processor is never the limiting factor. The benchmark results show that the system scales almost perfectly with resolution, which is the signature of a CPU that is not constraining performance. The 65W TDP is also noteworthy, as it indicates this level of performance is achieved without excessive power draw, though this is a secondary observation compared to the raw performance on offer.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is a mid-to-high-range graphics card based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1435 MHz, a game clock of 2171 MHz, and a boost clock of 2544 MHz. Its 3456 shading units and 96 ROPs deliver a theoretical FP32 performance of 35.17 TFLOPS. In the database, this GPU holds a 67th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22549. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (1.5% slower) and the RTX 5060 Mobile (0.5% slower), showing it competes with older high-end and newer mid-range parts.

For Inside, the GPU is the primary driver of performance, but the game's visual style—characterized by muted colors, simple textures, and limited draw distances—does not push the GPU hard. The 12 GB of VRAM is far more than the game requires, even at 4K Ultra settings. The memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s is also more than sufficient for the game's asset streaming. The key metric here is the GPU's ability to maintain high fill rates, and the RX 7700 XT excels at this. At 1080p Low, it achieves 387 FPS, which reflects its raw rasterization power. Even at 4K Ultra, it manages 83 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

The boost clock of 2544 MHz is critical for this performance. The card is able to sustain high frequencies under load, and the benchmark results show that it scales well across resolutions. The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor in this combo, but only at the highest settings and resolutions. At 1080p and 1440p with lower settings, the frame rates are so high that the game engine's own limitations or the CPU's frame delivery might become the bottleneck, but the GPU is never the cause of a poor experience.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales with resolution. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 193. Moving to 1440p High, it drops to 139 FPS, a reduction of 54 FPS (approximately 28%). At 4K High, the average FPS is 87, which is a further drop of 52 FPS (approximately 37%) from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU is not the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 1440p, as the CPU load would remain similar.

The data for the Low settings reinforces this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the system hits 387 FPS. This is an extraordinarily high frame rate, and it suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at an enormous rate. At 1440p Low, the FPS drops to 278, and at 4K Low, it drops to 175. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 28%, and from 1440p to 4K is about 37%, which mirrors the High settings scaling. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter across all settings, and the CPU has sufficient headroom to avoid becoming a constraint.

The most telling data point is the 4K Medium result, which shows an average FPS of 140 with a minimum of 119 and a maximum of 161. This is a wide spread, but the average is still very high. The fact that the system can maintain over 140 FPS at 4K Medium, while the 4K High setting drops to 87 FPS, suggests that the GPU is sensitive to the specific visual features that change between Medium and High. The resolution scaling is not linear, but the overall trend is clear: the system is GPU-bound, and the CPU's role is to provide a solid foundation without limiting the GPU's output.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is ranked 1168 out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the top 31.4% of all configurations in the database. While this might seem modest for a system with such powerful components, it is important to consider the context of the game. Inside is an older, lightweight title, and many of the combos ranked above this one likely feature higher-end GPUs (such as the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX) that can push even higher frame rates at 4K.

However, a rank of 1168 out of 3716 is not a poor result; it indicates that this combo is well above the median. The data shows that the system is capable of delivering a 4K Ultra experience at 83 FPS, which is a strong achievement. The combo's rank is likely dragged down by the fact that some other combos can achieve 4K Ultra at over 100 FPS, but for the vast majority of games, this would be a top-tier setup. The rank also reflects the GPU's 67th percentile standing, which is good but not exceptional.

The performance relative to the combo's individual components is what matters most. The CPU is in the 91st percentile, and the GPU is in the 67th percentile, but the combo's rank in this specific game is 1168/3716. This suggests that Inside is not particularly demanding on the GPU, and the CPU's high percentile is not fully utilized. The combo is balanced, but the game does not challenge it. In a more demanding title, this combination would likely rank higher relative to other combos, as the CPU's strength would become more relevant.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, all settings are playable. Low settings deliver 387 FPS, which is excessive for any display. High settings deliver 193 FPS, and Ultra delivers 184 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is only 9 FPS at 1080p, so Ultra is the recommended choice for the best visual quality without a significant performance penalty. The Medium preset, at 309 FPS, offers a middle ground, but the jump to High is only a 116 FPS reduction while providing better visuals.

At 1440p, the recommendations shift. High settings deliver 139 FPS, and Ultra delivers 132 FPS. The difference is again small (7 FPS), so Ultra is the best choice for maximum quality. Medium delivers 222 FPS, which is higher than High, but the visual improvement from Medium to High is worth the 83 FPS drop for most users with a 144Hz monitor. Low settings at 278 FPS are overkill and would not be recommended unless the user has a 240Hz+ display and prioritizes frame rate over everything else.

At 4K, the decision is more nuanced. Ultra settings deliver 83 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and perfectly playable on a 60Hz or 120Hz display. High settings deliver 87 FPS, only 4 FPS more than Ultra, making Ultra the clear winner for visual fidelity. Medium settings deliver 140 FPS, which is a significant jump, but it comes at the cost of reduced visual quality. For a game like Inside, where the atmosphere and art direction are the core experience, Ultra is the recommended preset. The 4K Medium result with a minimum FPS of 119 shows that even if the user prefers higher frame rates, the system has the headroom to maintain a smooth experience.

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

The following table summarizes the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and setting combination. For the Medium settings, minimum and maximum FPS are also available.

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

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

| 1920x1080 | Low | 387 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 309 | 263 | 356 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 193 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 184 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 278 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 222 | 189 | 256 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 139 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 132 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 175 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 140 | 119 | 161 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 87 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 83 | - | - |

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution reduces the frame rate by a similar proportion across settings. The Medium settings at each resolution show a stable minimum FPS, indicating that the system does not experience severe frame drops under load. The difference between High and Ultra is consistently small (9 FPS at 1080p, 7 FPS at 1440p, and 4 FPS at 4K), which suggests that Ultra is a better choice for visual quality. The Low settings are only useful for extreme frame rate chasing, as the game already runs smoothly on higher presets.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 83 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, making it a playable experience for a smooth 60Hz or 120Hz display.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6505P, scores 53701, which is 0.2% faster. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X scores 53288, which is 0.6% slower.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rates scale significantly with resolution (387 FPS at 1080p Low to 175 FPS at 4K Low), which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU has enough headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves an average of 139 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 132 FPS. The difference is only 7 FPS, making Ultra the recommended choice for better visuals.

Q: How does the RX 7700 XT compare to the RTX 2080 in average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT has an average benchmark score of 22549. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22895, which is 1.5% faster. The RTX 5060 Mobile scores 22435, which is 0.5% slower.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 4K Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 119, with an average of 140 and a maximum of 161. This indicates that the system maintains a high frame rate even during demanding scenes.