Inside

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers an exceptional performance tier for Inside, ranking in the top 3% of all tested configurations. With 24 cores and 32 threads, the CPU is a high-end desktop part built on the Raptor Lake architecture, featuring a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. For a puzzle platformer like Inside, which is not typically a multi-threaded workload, the CPU’s single-core performance is the primary driver, and its 6.00 GHz boost clock ensures that frame pacing remains consistent even in scenes with complex physics or dynamic lighting. The CPU’s benchmark scores reinforce this: a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2262.5 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2655 indicate that this processor can handle the game’s logic without becoming a bottleneck.

The CPU’s 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample memory for the game’s assets, while its support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory allows flexibility in system configuration. The data shows that the CPU’s multi-core performance, while not critical for Inside, is still relevant for background tasks; its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 95% of processors tested on this benchmark. In the context of this game, the CPU’s role is to provide a stable foundation, and with a Passmark single-thread score of 4697, it does so without issue. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i9-14900K is 0.3% behind the Intel Core i9-14900KF and 1.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 in average benchmark scores, indicating that it sits at the top of the desktop CPU hierarchy, though the margins are negligible for gaming purposes.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this pairing, and its 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM is more than sufficient for Inside at any resolution, including 4K. The GPU’s 256-bit memory bus provides a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s, which is critical for maintaining high frame rates at ultra-high resolutions. With a base clock of 2205 MHz and a boost clock of 2505 MHz, the RTX 4080’s Ada Lovelace architecture delivers substantial raw compute power, evidenced by its FP32 performance of 48.74 TFLOPS. The GPU’s 9728 shading units and 76 RT cores are overkill for a puzzle platformer, but they ensure that the game runs flawlessly even with all settings maxed out. The GPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 34457, place it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and it is effectively tied with its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, which is only 0.1% faster in average benchmark scores.

For Inside, the GPU’s role is to render the game’s atmospheric visuals, including its distinctive lighting and shadow effects, without any frame drops. The data shows that the RTX 4080 achieves an average of 133 FPS at 4K High settings, which is a strong result for a game that is not graphically demanding. The GPU’s 16 GB VRAM ensures that texture loading is never a bottleneck, even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 126. The RTX 4080’s performance scales linearly with resolution: at 1440p, the average FPS jumps to 211 on High settings, and at 1080p, it reaches 294 FPS on High settings. This indicates that the GPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration; instead, the game’s engine and CPU are the boundaries. The GPU’s 320 W TDP is high, but the data confirms that it delivers the performance expected from a flagship-tier card, making it a perfect match for the i9-14900K in this title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 101st out of 3716 tested combos for Inside, placing it in the top 2.7% of all systems benchmarked on this database. This rank confirms the pairing’s overall capability, but it is also influenced by the fact that Inside is a light game, meaning that even lower-end hardware can achieve high frame rates. The data shows that this combo outperforms 3615 other configurations, which is a clear indicator of its high-end status. However, the rank also suggests that there are 100 combos that perform better, likely featuring more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4090 or newer 50-series cards, which are not in this data set.

Relative to the CPU’s and GPU’s individual percentiles, this combo slightly underperforms expectations. The CPU is in the 95th percentile, and the GPU is in the 86th percentile, but the combo’s rank of 101 out of 3716 corresponds to a 97.3rd percentile, meaning that the combination is stronger than either component alone would suggest. This is because the game’s performance is primarily limited by the GPU, and the RTX 4080’s high average benchmark score of 54247, which is nearly tied with the RTX 4080 SUPER, ensures that the system can push high frame rates at all resolutions. The data indicates that this combo is well-balanced, with no single component bottlenecking the other, which is why it ranks so highly. In practical terms, this means that users can expect a consistent experience across all settings, with the only limitation being the game’s own engine cap at higher refresh rates.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a comprehensive picture of its performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates, starting with an average of 430 FPS on Low settings, which is the fastest measured in the entire data set. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 397 FPS, with a minimum of 337 FPS and a maximum of 456 FPS, showing a narrow frame time distribution. On High settings, the average is 294 FPS, and on Ultra, it falls to 280 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary limiter, as the GPU is capable of rendering far more frames than the game’s logic can process, but the frame rates remain exceptionally high.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales predictably. Low settings yield an average of 385 FPS, which is still incredibly smooth. Medium settings produce an average of 338 FPS, with a minimum of 287 FPS and a maximum of 389 FPS. High settings drop to 211 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 201 FPS. The data shows that the gap between High and Ultra at 1440p is only 10 FPS, suggesting that the visual fidelity gains from Ultra are minimal compared to the performance cost. At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, but the results remain impressive. Low settings achieve an average of 265 FPS, Medium settings drop to 212 FPS with a minimum of 181 FPS and a maximum of 244 FPS, High settings average 133 FPS, and Ultra settings average 126 FPS. The 4K Ultra result, while lower than lower resolutions, is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, making this combo ideal for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming in this title.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Inside with this combo for maximum smoothness?*

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 430 FPS, which is the highest measured. For a balance of quality and speed, 2560x1440 on High settings provides 211 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any monitor.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of overall benchmark performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097, which is 0.3% lower than the Intel Core i9-14900KF, but 1.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395. This places it at the top of the desktop CPU market.

*Q: Is the GPU’s 16 GB VRAM sufficient for 4K gaming in Inside?*

A: Yes, the 16 GB GDDR6X VRAM is more than enough. At 4K Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 126 FPS, and at 4K High settings, it reaches 133 FPS, indicating no VRAM-related performance issues.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings yield an average of 338 FPS, while High settings yield an average of 211 FPS. This represents a 37.5% decrease in frame rate when moving from Medium to High, but the visual improvements may justify the trade-off for some users.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 101st out of 3716 tested configurations, placing it in the top 2.7% of all systems. This is a high-end result, indicating that the hardware is well-suited for this game.

Q: Are there any settings where the minimum FPS drops below 60?

A: No. The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 181 at 4K Medium settings. All other settings and resolutions have minimums above 280 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience throughout.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s display and preference for visual quality. For users with a 1080p monitor, the High preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 294 FPS, which is more than enough for a 240 Hz display, while Ultra only drops to 280 FPS, making the difference negligible. At 1440p, the High preset is again the best choice, offering 211 FPS, which is ideal for 144 Hz monitors, while Ultra provides 201 FPS, a marginal decrease that does not justify the potential visual improvement. For 4K users, the High preset is the sweet spot, achieving 133 FPS, which is suitable for 120 Hz displays, while Ultra drops to 126 FPS, a 5.3% reduction that is hardly noticeable in a puzzle platformer.

The data suggests that the Low preset is unnecessary for this combo, as even at 4K Low, the system achieves 265 FPS, which is overkill for any display. The Medium preset offers a balanced experience, but the jump from Medium to High at 4K is substantial, with a 37% drop in FPS from 212 to 133, indicating that the High preset is the most efficient use of the hardware. Ultimately, the High preset at any resolution is the recommended setting for this combo, as it provides the best balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with the Ultra preset offering only marginal gains at a significant performance cost. The data confirms that this hardware is so powerful that even at the highest settings, the game remains playable, but the High preset ensures the smoothest experience without compromising the game’s atmospheric visuals.