Inside

Inside, the deliberate 2D puzzle-platformer from Playdead, presents an interesting benchmark scenario for the Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. The data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher settings, while the processor's headroom becomes apparent only when graphical load is reduced. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data to characterize the performance envelope of this specific combination.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and clearly illustrates the graphics card's constraints. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 132.4 FPS at 1920x1080 to 98.9 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 59.2 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 55% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, indicating that even at the lowest graphical preset, the GPU is struggling to maintain higher frame rates as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern shifts when moving to Medium settings. Here, the average FPS at 1080p is 105.5, dropping to 79 at 1440p, and then to 46.5 at 4K. The relative drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper than from 1080p to 1440p, suggesting that memory bandwidth and fillrate limits of the GTX 1650 are being approached. The 4K Medium result is 56% lower than the 1440p Medium result, whereas the 1440p Medium result is only 25% lower than 1080p Medium.

At High and Ultra settings, the scaling becomes more linear but the absolute numbers are low. High settings yield 69.5 FPS at 1080p, 51.1 FPS at 1440p, and 30.8 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings produce 65.6 FPS at 1080p, 46.9 FPS at 1440p, and 30.1 FPS at 4K. The narrowing gap between High and Ultra at 4K (30.8 vs 30.1 FPS) indicates that the GPU is saturated; additional settings have diminishing returns because the rendering pipeline is already fully loaded. The data suggests the i9-14900K is not the bottleneck in any of these scenarios, as the frame rate scales consistently with resolution and settings, a classic sign of GPU limitation.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a 4 GB GDDR5 card with a 128-bit memory bus and 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1485 MHz with a boost clock of 1665 MHz. These specifications, combined with 896 shading units, define its performance ceiling. In the context of Inside, which is not a graphically intensive title by modern standards, the GPU still becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings.

The 4 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for this game, as even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 30.1, indicating that memory capacity is not causing a catastrophic failure, but rather the raw compute and memory bandwidth are insufficient for higher frame rates. The card's average benchmark score is 8713, placing it in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, scores 8746, a delta of -0.4%, showing that the GTX 1650 is performing as expected for its class.

The GTX 1650 has a 75 W TDP and requires no power connectors, suggesting it is a low-power solution. This is reflected in its performance, as the data shows it cannot consistently hit 60 FPS at 1440p on Medium settings (79 FPS) but falls below that threshold at 4K on the same preset (46.5 FPS). The card's boost clock of 1665 MHz is modest, and the results indicate that this combination is firmly in the entry-level performance tier, despite being paired with a flagship CPU.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with Low achieving 132.4 FPS, Medium at 105.5 FPS, High at 69.5 FPS, and Ultra at 65.6 FPS. For a smooth experience at 1080p, Medium settings are the best choice, as they offer a substantial jump in visual quality over Low while maintaining over 100 FPS average. High settings are also viable, but the drop to 69.5 FPS is noticeable, and Ultra provides only a marginal improvement over High with a lower average frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the recommendation shifts. Low settings achieve 98.9 FPS, which is excellent. Medium settings drop to 79 FPS, which is still smooth, but High falls to 51.1 FPS and Ultra to 46.9 FPS. For 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot, balancing visual fidelity with a frame rate that remains above the 60 FPS threshold. Choosing High or Ultra at this resolution risks dipping into the 40-50 FPS range, which may be noticeable in a game that relies on precise timing and atmospheric tension.

At 3840x2160, the options are limited. Low settings produce 59.2 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. Medium drops to 46.5 FPS, and both High and Ultra hover around 30 FPS (30.8 and 30.1, respectively). The data suggests that 4K is only feasible with Low settings, and even then, the average frame rate is borderline. For a consistent experience, users should consider 1440p Medium as the highest quality preset that maintains acceptable performance across the board.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks 1583 out of 1671 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the bottom 5% of all configurations, which is consistent with the GPU's low percentile ranking (43rd) and the overall performance data. The CPU is not the limiting factor; the i9-14900K scores in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79824. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7413, scores 80041, a delta of -0.3%, indicating the CPU is performing near the top of its class.

The disparity between the CPU's high rank and the combo's low rank highlights the GPU bottleneck. The GTX 1650, with an average benchmark score of 8713, is holding back the system. In a game like Inside, which is not CPU-intensive, the 24 cores and 32 threads of the i9-14900K are largely idle, while the GPU struggles to render frames. The combo rank of 1583/1671 is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations, not a statement about the CPU's capability. Users with this pairing would see no benefit from upgrading the CPU; the bottleneck is unequivocally the graphics card.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K 60 FPS?

A: No. The measured data shows the maximum average FPS at 3840x2160 is 59.2 on Low settings. All other presets (Medium, High, Ultra) fall below 50 FPS, with High and Ultra averaging around 30 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p?

A: Medium settings at 1920x1080 provide the best balance, averaging 105.5 FPS. This is a significant improvement over Low (132.4 FPS) in visual quality while maintaining a high frame rate. High (69.5 FPS) and Ultra (65.6 FPS) are playable but offer diminishing returns.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K bottlenecking the GTX 1650?

A: No. The CPU is in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 43rd percentile. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component, not the CPU.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rival?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 8713. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, scores 8746, a delta of -0.4%, meaning the GTX 1650 is essentially on par with that mobile part.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, High settings average 51.1 FPS, while Ultra averages 46.9 FPS. The difference is 4.2 FPS, showing that Ultra provides only a slight visual improvement at a noticeable performance cost.

Q: Is 4 GB of VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: Yes. The card does not run out of memory, as evidenced by playable (though low) frame rates at 4K Ultra (30.1 FPS). The limitation is the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth, not its 4 GB VRAM capacity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for this combo in Inside:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

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

| 3840x2160 | High | 30.8 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 59.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 46.5 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 30.1 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 51.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 98.9 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 79 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 46.9 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 69.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 132.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 105.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 65.6 |

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the only configuration exceeding 120 FPS, while 1440p Low remains above 90 FPS. The transition to 4K necessitates Low settings to approach 60 FPS, and any higher preset at 4K results in sub-50 FPS performance. The i9-14900K's capabilities are entirely untapped in this scenario, as the GTX 1650's 2.984 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth define the system's ultimate ceiling.