Inside

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers exceptional performance in Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer. The data shows a combination that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures that even at 1080p, frame rates remain extremely high. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions, settings, and the specific roles of the graphics card and processor.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Inside reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 409 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops this to 367 FPS, a decrease of 42 FPS. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls to 314 FPS, which is 95 FPS lower than the 1080p result. This scaling indicates that the RTX 5090 D is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions; the workload becomes more demanding on the GPU’s pixel processing capabilities, reducing overall throughput.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. For example, on High settings, the average FPS moves from 315 at 1080p, to 255 at 1440p, and finally to 160 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, with the 4K High result representing roughly half the frame rate of the 1080p High result. This suggests that while the GPU is immensely powerful, the sheer pixel count at 4K (3840x2160) presents a significant challenge that scales nearly linearly with the increase in resolution.

Interestingly, the gap between 1080p and 1440p is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K. For instance, on Medium settings, the 1080p average is 378 FPS, the 1440p average is 339 FPS (a 39 FPS drop), but the 4K average is 256 FPS (an 83 FPS drop from 1440p). This non-linear scaling is typical for games where the GPU’s fillrate and memory bandwidth become more critical at higher resolutions. The data strongly suggests that at 1080p and even 1440p, the system is approaching a ceiling where the CPU can feed frames fast enough, but at 4K, the GPU’s raw compute and memory throughput are the dominant constraints.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant component in this configuration for Inside. Its role is defined by its massive memory subsystem and high clock speeds. The GPU features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. For a game like Inside, which is a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer, this bandwidth is more than sufficient, but it contributes to the high frame rates seen at 4K. The GPU’s architecture is Blackwell 2.0, built on a 5 nm process, with a boost clock of 2407 MHz. These clocks allow for rapid shading and pixel processing, which is evident in the 4K Low result of 314 FPS.

The GPU’s benchmark scores further contextualize its performance. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 44065, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (deltaPct of -1.6) and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (deltaPct of -2.4), indicating that the RTX 5090 D is positioned near the top of the performance stack. However, in Inside, the GPU's role is less about pushing complex 3D geometry and more about maintaining high fill rates at high resolutions. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the combo maintains 153 FPS, which is well above typical display refresh rates.

The GPU’s VRAM capacity of 32 GB is not a limiting factor in this game, as Inside is not a VRAM-intensive title. The bottleneck is purely the GPU’s shading and rasterization throughput. The transition from Low to Ultra settings at 4K reduces the average FPS from 314 to 153, a 51% decrease, showing that the visual settings have a direct and significant impact on the GPU’s workload. This indicates that the RTX 5090 D is being fully utilized, with its performance scaling directly with the graphical demands of the game.

FAQ

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

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 160 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the data suggests the system is still largely GPU-bound, but the CPU’s high single-core performance prevents it from being a significant limiting factor. The 1080p Low average of 409 FPS is the highest measured, but this is still below what the CPU’s benchmark scores would suggest is possible, indicating the GPU is the primary constraint.

Q: How much faster is 1080p compared to 4K on Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 310, while at 4K Ultra, it is 153. The 1080p result is more than double the 4K result, specifically 157 FPS higher.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for any configuration?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 218 FPS, which occurs at 4K with Medium settings. This is the only configuration where a minimum FPS is provided, indicating a stable experience.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D have enough memory for this game?

A: Yes, the 32 GB of GDDR7 memory is far more than sufficient for Inside. The game’s performance is not limited by VRAM capacity, but by the GPU’s processing power.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among tested configurations?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 28th out of 2887 tested combos for Inside.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination ranks 28th out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the top 1% of all configurations tested. This high ranking is a direct result of the GPU's dominance in this title, as the game’s simple 2D visuals are more dependent on raw pixel throughput than on complex CPU calculations. The rank reflects the combined capability of both components, but the data suggests the GPU is the primary driver of this performance.

The CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700KF, has an average benchmark score of 70163, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (deltaPct of 0.2) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (deltaPct of 0.9), showing it is competitive with top-tier processors. However, in Inside, the CPU’s contribution is less about multi-core muscle and more about maintaining a high single-thread frame rate. The GPU, with a Passmark G3D score of 44065, is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, and its performance is the main reason this combo achieves such a high rank.

The ranking of 28th suggests that there are 27 other combinations that perform slightly better in this specific game. These likely involve the same or similar GPU with a marginally faster CPU, but the differences are likely small. The data shows that this combo is exceptionally well-suited for Inside, delivering frame rates that far exceed the requirements of a standard 60 Hz or 144 Hz display. The high rank reflects the RTX 5090 D’s ability to handle the game’s rendering demands at any resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF plays a supporting role in Inside, but its contribution is still critical for achieving the highest frame rates. The CPU has 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. For a game like Inside, which is not heavily threaded, the single-thread performance is what matters most. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score is 6235, and its Passmark single-thread score is 4480, indicating excellent per-core performance.

The CPU’s benchmark scores show it is a high-end processor. It achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167, which is a strong result, but this multi-core strength is not fully utilized by Inside. The game’s engine is likely limited to a few threads. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 409 FPS. This is likely near the CPU’s limit for frame generation in this game, as the GPU is not heavily stressed at this resolution and settings. If the CPU were a weaker model, the 1080p frame rates would likely be lower.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (deltaPct of 0.9) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (deltaPct of -1), have similar average benchmark scores. This indicates that the i7-14700KF is not the absolute fastest CPU, but it is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 5090 D in Inside. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache also helps reduce memory latency, which can be beneficial for frame pacing. In summary, the CPU ensures that the GPU is never starved of data, allowing the RTX 5090 D to operate at its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 409 FPS, Medium averages 378 FPS with a minimum of 321 FPS and a maximum of 435 FPS, High averages 315 FPS, and Ultra averages 310 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is minimal, only 5 FPS, suggesting that the Ultra preset may not offer a significant visual improvement over High for this game.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very high. Low averages 367 FPS, Medium averages 339 FPS (minimum 288, maximum 389), High averages 255 FPS, and Ultra averages 243 FPS. The drop from 1080p is noticeable but not drastic, with the Ultra preset losing 67 FPS compared to its 1080p counterpart. The Medium preset at 1440p still delivers a minimum FPS of 288, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the performance is still impressive but shows the expected decline. Low averages 314 FPS, Medium averages 256 FPS (minimum 218, maximum 295), High averages 160 FPS, and Ultra averages 153 FPS. The most significant drop occurs when moving from Medium to High, a 96 FPS decrease, indicating that the High preset introduces a substantial increase in rendering complexity. The Ultra preset only marginalizes this further, with a 7 FPS difference from High. The minimum FPS of 218 at 4K Medium is the lowest recorded in the entire dataset, but it still ensures a fluid experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 1080p display, all presets deliver well over 300 FPS. The Ultra preset at 310 FPS is perfectly playable and likely offers the best visual fidelity without any performance concerns. The difference between High and Ultra is negligible, so choosing Ultra is recommended for the best experience.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers 243 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. The Medium preset offers 339 FPS, but the visual upgrade to High or Ultra is likely worth the slight reduction in frame rate. Since even the Ultra preset at 243 FPS is far above the refresh rate of most 1440p monitors (typically 144 Hz or 165 Hz), selecting Ultra is the best choice for maximum visual quality without compromising smoothness.

At 4K, the situation requires more consideration. The Low preset at 314 FPS is overkill for any display, but the Ultra preset at 153 FPS is still excellent. However, the data shows a large performance cliff between Medium (256 FPS) and High (160 FPS). If a player has a 144 Hz 4K monitor, the High preset at 160 FPS is sufficient. If targeting a 240 Hz 4K display, the Medium preset at 256 FPS would be necessary to fully utilize the refresh rate. Given that the Ultra preset only offers a 7 FPS improvement over High, it is not recommended to sacrifice the 96 FPS difference from Medium to High for that marginal gain. The Medium preset provides a balanced experience, but for most users, High offers the best combination of visual quality and performance at 4K.