Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer from 2016, and the measured results for the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 show a wide range of performance depending on how the game is configured. The data reflects a system that can easily handle the game’s demands at standard resolutions, but the experience becomes more nuanced at 4K and with the highest settings. This analysis walks through the measured frames per second (FPS) data, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and how the combination ranks against other tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo in Inside?

A: The highest average frame rate is 245 FPS, which was measured at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates the game is exceptionally light on the hardware at this configuration.

Q: How does the combo perform at the most demanding settings tested?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 53 FPS. This is the lowest average FPS recorded in the dataset, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality at 4K.

Q: Is the frame rate stable at Medium settings across different resolutions?

A: Yes, the data includes minimum and maximum FPS values for the Medium preset at all three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average is 196 FPS with a range of 166 to 225 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average is 141 FPS with a range of 120 to 162 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average is 88 FPS with a range of 75 to 102 FPS.

Q: How does this specific CPU and GPU combination rank among all tested combos for Inside?

A: The combo ranks 2290 out of 2887 tested combinations in this game. This places it in the lower portion of the overall ranking, despite the high frame rates achievable at lower settings.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the components in this combo?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H has a launch MSRP of $375. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 has a launch MSRP of 249 USD.

Q: Is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings consistent across all resolutions?

A: No, the performance scaling is not uniform. At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 245 at Low to 117 at Ultra, a reduction of 128 FPS. At 3840x2160, the average drops from 111 at Low to 53 at Ultra, a reduction of 58 FPS. The relative cost of Ultra settings is higher at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary driver of visual output for this combo. Its specifications include 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2317 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These specifications are directly relevant to the measured FPS in Inside, where higher resolutions and settings demand more memory bandwidth and processing power.

The benchmark data shows that the GPU’s capabilities are more than sufficient for the game at lower settings. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 245 FPS, which is likely beyond the refresh rate of most displays. Even at 2560x1440 with Low settings, the average is 176 FPS. This suggests the GPU is not the limiting factor at these configurations, and the game’s simple art style allows for high frame rates with minimal load.

However, the GPU’s limits become apparent at higher settings and resolutions. The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is just 53 FPS. This is a significant drop from the 88 FPS average at Medium settings on the same resolution. The data indicates that the RTX 5050 can handle the game at 4K, but only when settings are reduced. The jump from Medium to High at 4K results in a 33 FPS drop (from 88 to 55), and the jump to Ultra results in another 2 FPS drop (from 55 to 53). This shows that the GPU is working much harder to process the increased detail and effects at the highest presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 2290 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. This rank is in the 21st percentile of all tested systems, meaning that roughly 79% of the other combinations deliver better performance in this specific game. This is an important context for interpreting the FPS numbers. While the system can produce very high frame rates at lower settings, its overall standing suggests that other hardware configurations are capable of even higher performance, particularly at the most demanding settings.

The rank is determined by the combined performance of both the CPU and GPU. While the RTX 5050 is a capable mobile GPU, it is positioned in the lower half of the performance spectrum for this game. The CPU also contributes to the overall ranking. The benchmark data for the CPU shows it is placed in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, but its average benchmark score of 27507 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and the Intel Core i5-12600K. This suggests the CPU is not a major differentiator in this ranking, and the GPU is the more significant factor in the combo’s overall position.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The average FPS ranges from 117 at Ultra settings to 245 at Low settings. The Medium preset yields an average of 196 FPS with a minimum of 166 and a maximum of 225. This shows that even at Ultra settings, the system is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and at lower settings, it approaches the limits of many high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but predictably lower. The average FPS at Ultra is 84, and at High, it is 88. The Medium preset averages 141 FPS, with a range of 120 to 162 FPS. The Low preset delivers an average of 176 FPS. This resolution represents a good balance for the hardware, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while still maintaining high frame rates across all settings.

At 3840x2160, the system starts to show its limits. The average FPS at Ultra is 53, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target for many users. The High preset is not much better, with an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset is the first playable option at 4K, with an average of 88 FPS and a minimum of 75 FPS. The Low preset delivers an average of 111 FPS, which is excellent for 4K but sacrifices visual quality. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming requires a reduction to Medium settings to maintain a consistent 60+ FPS experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. With an average of 117 FPS, it provides the best visual quality while still delivering a frame rate that is more than double the standard 60 FPS target. The High preset is also a good option, with an average of 122 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Ultra is likely worth the small performance trade-off.

For 1440p displays, the High preset is recommended. It achieves an average of 88 FPS, which is comfortably above 60 FPS and provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset is also viable, with an average of 84 FPS, but the 4 FPS difference compared to High is minimal. The Medium preset offers a higher average of 141 FPS, which would be ideal for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, but it comes with a noticeable reduction in visual quality.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience without significant frame drops. The High and Ultra presets both average below 60 FPS, which can lead to a less fluid experience in a puzzle platformer where precise timing is important. The Low preset achieves 111 FPS on average, but the substantial drop in visual quality makes it a less desirable option compared to Medium.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 1, based on the Meteor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This processor is designed for mobile platforms, with a TDP of 28 W.

In the context of Inside, the CPU’s role is less demanding than the GPU’s. Inside is a puzzle platformer with a relatively simple 2.5D art style, meaning it does not require extensive physics calculations or complex AI. The benchmark data supports this, as the system achieves very high frame rates at lower settings, which would be limited by the CPU if it were a bottleneck. For example, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 245, which suggests the CPU can easily feed the GPU with enough data to maintain such high performance.

The CPU’s benchmark scores also provide context. Its multi-core score in Cinebench R23 is 12804.5, and its single-core score is 1647.5. These scores are respectable for a mobile processor, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. However, the nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and the Intel Core i5-12600K, have near-identical average benchmark scores (27535 and 27578, respectively, vs. the 125H’s 27507). This indicates that the CPU is not a standout performer but is also not a weak link in this combo. For a game like Inside, the CPU’s performance is more than adequate, and the GPU is the primary component determining the final frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear pattern of scaling as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 245 at 1080p to 176 at 1440p, a 28% decrease. From 1440p to 4K, the average drops from 176 to 111, a 37% decrease. This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the increased pixel count places more load on the RTX 5050.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is similar but the absolute numbers are lower. The average FPS drops from 117 at 1080p to 84 at 1440p (a 28% decrease) and then to 53 at 4K (a 37% decrease). The percentage decreases are nearly identical to the Low settings, which suggests that the resolution is the dominant factor in performance scaling, not the game’s visual settings. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at all settings, as the CPU’s performance is sufficient to keep up with the GPU’s demands across all resolutions.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 128 FPS (245 vs. 117). At 1440p, the difference is 92 FPS (176 vs. 84). At 4K, the difference is 58 FPS (111 vs. 53). This is a common pattern in GPU-bound games, as the cost of higher settings is relatively less significant at 4K, where the sheer number of pixels already puts a heavy load on the GPU. The overall takeaway is that the system is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck at 4K, especially when using higher quality presets.