Inside

Inside, the puzzle-platformer from Playdead, presents a unique performance profile. This benchmark analysis focuses on the Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, using measured FPS data to understand how the game scales. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but which can deliver exceptional frame rates at 1080p, making the specific combination of components highly dependent on the target display.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the severity of the drop depends heavily on the graphics settings. At the "Low" preset, the frame rate scales almost linearly with pixel count. The system achieves 218.9 FPS at 1920x1080, drops to 159.9 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 27% reduction), and then falls to 100.7 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 37% reduction from 1440p). This indicates that at low settings, the rendering pipeline is still able to push a massive number of frames, with the GPU remaining the primary constraint even as pixel count rises.

The scaling becomes more complex with higher graphical presets. Moving from "Low" to "High" at 1080p reduces performance from 218.9 FPS to 107.2 FPS, a significant 51% drop. However, the performance hit from increasing resolution is less severe in absolute terms. At "High" settings, the frame rate goes from 107.2 FPS at 1080p to 80.6 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 51.9 FPS at 4K. This suggests that while resolution is a factor, the increased shading and texture work from higher presets is already saturating the GPU's capabilities.

The data indicates that 4K resolution is only truly playable at the "Low" preset, where the GTX 1660 Ti can maintain an average of 100.7 FPS. At "Medium" settings, 4K performance drops to 80.1 FPS, which is still smooth. However, at "High" and "Ultra" settings, 4K performance falls to 51.9 FPS and 48.7 FPS respectively, indicating the GPU is the limiting component. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at "Ultra" settings (75.3 to 48.7 FPS) shows the GPU is being pushed to its limits, with the 6 GB VRAM and 192-bit memory bus likely contributing to the bottleneck at this extreme configuration.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the primary driver of the performance differences seen across settings. This Turing-architecture GPU, built on a 12 nm process, operates with a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. These specifications position the GPU as a solid 1080p performer, but the data shows it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding presets.

The GTX 1660 Ti’s benchmark scores place it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13925. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 570X, scores 13871, a negligible 0.4% difference. This close competition highlights that the GTX 1660 Ti is a mid-range part. The game's performance data reflects this, as it can handle the "Ultra" preset at 1080p with 106.5 FPS, but the 4K "Ultra" result of 48.7 FPS shows the GPU's limits. The difference between the "Low" and "Ultra" presets at 4K (100.7 vs. 48.7 FPS) is a 52 FPS gap, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's fillrate and memory bandwidth being overwhelmed by the higher resolution and more complex effects.

The GPU's memory configuration is a crucial factor. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K with high-detail textures, it can become a limiting factor. The 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is ample for lower resolutions, but the 4K pixel throughput demands more. This is evident in the "High" and "Ultra" 4K results, where the frame rate drops below 60 FPS, indicating that the GPU is not just processing more pixels, but also potentially swapping textures in and out of the relatively limited VRAM.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this system in Inside?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 218.9, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the "Low" settings preset.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Inside?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K with "Low" settings, it averages 100.7 FPS. However, at the "Ultra" preset, the average drops to 48.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its closest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti's average benchmark score is 13925. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 570X, has an average score of 13871, which is a 0.4% difference.

Q: What is the performance impact of switching from "Low" to "Ultra" settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 218.9 on "Low" settings to 106.5 on "Ultra" settings, a substantial 112.4 FPS reduction.

Q: Is there a significant frame rate difference between the "High" and "Ultra" presets at 1440p?

A: The difference is moderate. At 2560x1440, the "High" preset averages 80.6 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset averages 75.3 FPS, a difference of 5.3 FPS.

Q: What does the CPU's benchmark data suggest about its role in this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K is a top-tier CPU, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its high multi-core and single-core scores indicate it is unlikely to be a bottleneck in a game like Inside, which relies more on GPU performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how the system handles Inside across different resolutions and quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of delivering high refresh-rate gameplay. The "Low" preset achieves an average of 218.9 FPS, while "Medium" and "High" presets deliver 175.9 and 107.2 FPS, respectively. The "Ultra" preset still manages a very smooth 106.5 FPS, making 1080p the sweet spot for this GPU with any settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. The "Low" preset remains very playable at 159.9 FPS. "Medium" settings produce 129.2 FPS, and "High" settings yield 80.6 FPS. The "Ultra" preset at 1440p results in an average of 75.3 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS target for most gamers.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. The "Low" preset is the only one that provides a high refresh rate experience, averaging 100.7 FPS. "Medium" settings drop to 80.1 FPS, which is still acceptable. However, "High" (51.9 FPS) and "Ultra" (48.7 FPS) presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that 4K gaming in Inside with this GPU requires turning down the graphical fidelity.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core, 28-thread processor from the Raptor Lake architecture. It features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. These specifications make it a powerhouse for multi-threaded applications, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44534. However, for a game like Inside, the single-thread performance is also critical, and the CPU's Geekbench single-core score of 2932 ensures it can handle game logic without bottlenecking the GPU.

The benchmark data shows the i7-14700K is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70074. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700KF, scores 70104, a 0% difference, indicating they are virtually identical in performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X scores 70420, which is only 0.5% higher. This places the CPU in a performance tier that far exceeds the demands of a puzzle-platformer like Inside.

Given the measured FPS results, the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration. The consistent frame rate drops observed when increasing resolution or settings are classic signs of a GPU bottleneck. The i7-14700K's high IPC and core count ensure that even at 218.9 FPS (1080p Low), the CPU has ample headroom to feed the graphics card. The data suggests that the CPU's role is to provide a stable frame delivery platform, which it does with authority, allowing the GTX 1660 Ti to be the sole determinant of performance. The 125W TDP and support for DDR4/DDR5 memory also ensure the system has the bandwidth and power necessary to support the GPU's demands.