Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the AMD Radeon 890M delivers a playable experience in Inside, but the data reveals a clear performance ceiling dictated by the integrated GPU. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates across resolutions and settings, contextualizes the combo’s standing among tested configurations, and examines the specific roles of the CPU and GPU in shaping the final output.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable but steep decline as resolution increases, highlighting the Radeon 890M as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 139 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 100 FPS, a reduction of 39 frames. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 63 FPS, which is less than half of the 1080p result. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, indicating that the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity are the limiting factors rather than the CPU.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 50 at 1440p to 31 at 4K, a 38% reduction. For a game like Inside, which is a 2D puzzle platformer with a minimalist aesthetic, this degree of scaling suggests the integrated GPU is being pushed to its limits by the sheer pixel count, not by complex geometry or physics. The 4K Ultra preset only manages 30 FPS average, which is borderline for smooth gameplay and confirms that this resolution is not viable for a consistent experience.

The drop from 1080p to 1440p is less severe but still significant. At Medium settings, the average goes from 111 FPS at 1080p to 80 FPS at 1440p, a 28% decrease. The data suggests that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, where the GPU can maintain high frame rates across all presets. The 1440p results are playable but require dropping to Medium or Low settings to stay above 60 FPS. The 4K results are only playable at Low settings, and even then, the 63 FPS average leaves little headroom for demanding scenes.

This scaling behavior indicates that the limiting component is definitively the GPU. The CPU’s role is secondary, as evidenced by the consistent frame rate drops that correlate directly with pixel count increases. The Radeon 890M’s performance is tied to its system-shared memory and its position in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, which aligns with the observed mid-range performance.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Inside?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 139, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K resolution in Inside?*

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it averages 63 FPS. At Medium settings, it averages 50 FPS, and at High and Ultra settings, it drops to 31 and 30 FPS respectively, which is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Radeon 890M compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Radeon 890M has an average benchmark score of 9210. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Vega 8, has a score of 9221, which is 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 is 0.7% higher, and the GTX 465 is 0.9% higher. The GTX 850M is 1% higher.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combos for this game?

A: The combo ranks 3486 out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the bottom portion of the database for Inside.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between 1080p and 4K at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 111. At 4K Medium, it drops to 50 FPS, a difference of 61 frames per second.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 68 and the maximum is 92, with an average of 80 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank in Inside is 3486 out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the 6th percentile of all tested configurations. This is a low ranking, indicating that the majority of other CPU-GPU pairings deliver higher frame rates in this title. The data shows that while the combo is functional for 1080p gaming, it falls behind most other systems in the database.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU’s performance ceiling. The Radeon 890M sits in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 9210. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Vega 8, which scores 9221 (0.1% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, which scores 9273 (0.7% higher). These small deltas suggest that the 890M is comparable to entry-level discrete GPUs from several generations ago, but the integrated nature and system-shared memory limit its effectiveness in higher resolutions.

The CPU’s ranking is comparatively better. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27507. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, scores 27535, a delta of -0.1%. This indicates the CPU is a mid-to-high-range part, but its capabilities are underutilized in this game due to the GPU bottleneck. The disparity between the CPU’s 79th percentile ranking and the combo’s 6th percentile ranking in-game underscores that the Radeon 890M is the limiting factor.

The low combo rank suggests that for users prioritizing Inside performance, this configuration is not competitive. However, the game is a 2D puzzle platformer, and the absolute FPS numbers at 1080p are sufficient for a smooth experience. The rank is a relative measure, and the absolute performance data should be weighed against the user’s resolution and settings preferences.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 139 FPS. Medium settings yield 111 FPS, with a minimum of 94 and a maximum of 127. High settings drop to 69 FPS, and Ultra settings average 66 FPS. All presets at this resolution are above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p the most viable resolution for this combo.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 100 FPS. Medium settings average 80 FPS, with a minimum of 68 and a maximum of 92. High settings average 50 FPS, and Ultra settings average 47 FPS. The Medium preset is the highest setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS at this resolution. High and Ultra presets dip below this threshold, which may cause visible stuttering in fast-moving scenes.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 63 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. Medium settings average 50 FPS, with a minimum of 43 and a maximum of 58. High settings average 31 FPS, and Ultra settings average 30 FPS. At this resolution, only the Low preset is viable for consistent gameplay, and even it has limited headroom.

The data shows a clear tiering: 1080p is fully playable across all settings, 1440p is playable up to Medium settings, and 4K is only playable at Low settings. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings at each resolution—94 at 1080p, 68 at 1440p, and 43 at 4K—indicate that frame pacing remains stable even when the average drops, which is a positive sign for the game’s optimization.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 890M is an integrated GPU based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process. It features 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The boost clock is rated at 2900 MHz, and the base clock is 400 MHz. The GPU has 16 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The GPU’s memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the CPU’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width and bandwidth are listed as "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This is a critical limitation, as the GPU’s performance is tied to the system’s memory speed and capacity. In Inside, this shared memory architecture contributes to the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions, where the demand for memory bandwidth increases.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reflect its mid-range positioning. It scores 8076 in Passmark G3D and 4157 in Passmark GPU Compute. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 590. The Geekbench OpenCL score is 37254, and the Vulkan score is 40808. These numbers place the GPU in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 9210.

The GPU’s performance in Inside is consistent with its benchmark profile. At 1080p, it can push high frame rates for a 2D game, but at 4K, the pixel fill rate becomes the bottleneck. The 4K Ultra preset’s 30 FPS average is a direct result of the GPU’s limited ROP count and texture rate, which are tasked with processing four times the pixels of 1080p. The GPU’s TDP is rated at 15 W, which is typical for an integrated part, but it also means the cooling solution and power delivery are constrained within the mobile platform.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This preset delivers an average of 111 FPS, with a minimum of 94 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without any noticeable dips. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution average 69 and 66 FPS respectively, which are also playable but offer diminishing returns for the additional GPU load.

For users with a 1440p display, the Medium settings preset is the recommended choice. It averages 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS, which is sufficient for a consistent experience. The Low preset at 1440p averages 100 FPS, but the visual quality trade-off may not be worth the extra frames. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution average 50 and 47 FPS respectively, which fall below the 60 FPS threshold and are not recommended for fast-paced sections.

At 4K, the Low settings preset is the only viable option, averaging 63 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 50 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower moments but risks stuttering during transitions. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not recommended, as they average 31 and 30 FPS respectively, which is below the playable threshold for most users.

The data suggests that the Medium settings preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, it provides a high frame rate buffer. At 1440p, it stays above 60 FPS. At 4K, it is the only preset that comes close to a playable frame rate, though it still falls short of the ideal target. Users prioritizing frame rate over visuals should consider the Low preset at 1440p or 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The CPU features 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

The CPU’s benchmark scores indicate strong multi-threaded performance. It scores 12804.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7161 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. In Passmark, it scores 21100 in multi-threaded tests and 3399 in single-threaded tests. These results place the CPU in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27507. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, scores 27535, a delta of -0.1%, indicating near-parity in overall CPU performance.

In Inside, the CPU’s role is largely secondary due to the GPU bottleneck. The game is a 2D puzzle platformer with simple physics and limited AI, so the CPU’s 14 cores and 18 threads are not heavily taxed. The single-threaded performance is adequate for the game’s logic, and the multi-threaded performance is largely irrelevant for this title. The CPU’s high memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s helps feed the integrated GPU’s system-shared memory, but this is still insufficient to overcome the GPU’s pixel throughput limits at higher resolutions.

The CPU’s boost clock of 4.50 GHz ensures that it can handle any sudden spikes in processing demand without becoming a limiting factor. However, the measured FPS data shows that the frame rate scales directly with resolution, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration; the Radeon 890M is. This is confirmed by the CPU’s high percentile ranking (79th) compared to the combo’s low in-game rank (3486th of 3716), which highlights the GPU’s dominance in determining the final frame rate.