Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the Intel Arc B370 integrated graphics presents a unique case for a title like Inside, a 2016 puzzle platformer that is not graphically demanding by modern standards. The benchmark data for this combination reveals a system that is fundamentally limited by its GPU solution, which shares system memory and operates at a relatively low power envelope. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, contextualizing the results against other tested combinations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that drop reveals the underlying hardware bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 141 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops the average to 101 FPS, a reduction of approximately 28%. Pushing further to 4K at Low settings yields 64 FPS, which is another 37% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline with each pixel count increase indicates that the rendering pipeline is saturated well before the CPU becomes a factor.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At High settings, the transition from 1080p (70 FPS) to 1440p (51 FPS) represents a 27% drop, while the move from 1440p to 4K (32 FPS) is a 37% loss. The data suggests that the system moves from a playable state at 1080p High to a borderline experience at 4K High. The most telling comparison is between the Low and Ultra presets at each resolution. At 1080p, the Ultra preset (67 FPS) is less than half the speed of the Low preset (141 FPS). At 4K, the Ultra preset (30 FPS) falls to just under half of the Low preset's 64 FPS.

These numbers point directly to the GPU as the limiting component. The Intel Arc B370, with its "System Shared" memory and 25 W TDP, is being tasked with an increasing pixel workload. The CPU, a 10-core Arrow Lake part, is unlikely to be the bottleneck in a 2D side-scroller, even at 1080p. The consistent ~2x performance gap between Low and Ultra settings across all resolutions confirms that the fill-rate and shading demands of the higher presets are what crush the integrated graphics, not the processor's ability to feed it data.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. Its specifications are modest, with 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units. The clock speeds are listed with a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2400 MHz. Critically, the memory configuration is "System Shared" with "System Dependent" bandwidth, meaning it relies on the main system's DDR5 memory accessed via a dual-channel bus rated at 102.4 GB/s for the CPU.

This shared memory architecture is a significant factor in the measured results. The GPU's performance is directly tied to the speed and latency of the system RAM, which is also being used by the CPU. In a game like Inside, which features a dark, atmospheric art style with heavy use of alpha effects and lighting, the demand on memory bandwidth and fill rate can be substantial. The GPU's theoretical pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding presets, as evidenced by the 30 FPS average at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's benchmark presence is minimal, with a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184. This places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, a ranking that underscores its position as an entry-level integrated solution. Its nearest rivals in this benchmark are legacy parts like the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta). The data shows that the Arc B370's raw compute capability is on par with GPUs from over a decade ago, which explains its struggle with higher resolutions in modern gaming contexts, even for a lighter title.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the specific benchmark database for Inside, this configuration of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2654 out of 2887 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested for this game. The rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations; the CPU is a modern, capable part, but the integrated graphics hold the entire system back.

The CPU's own benchmark scores suggest it is not the primary source of this low ranking. The Core Ultra 5 225 achieves an average benchmark score of 36938, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in CPU benchmarks are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2% delta), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093, -0.4% delta). This indicates that the processor is more than capable of handling the game's logic and physics. However, the combo ranking demonstrates that in practice, the GPU is the decisive factor, dragging what could be a high-performing CPU into a low-performing gaming system.

The disparity between the CPU's high percentile (85th) and the combo's low rank (2654th of 2887) is stark. It shows that the system is extremely unbalanced for gaming. A user with this CPU would typically expect a much better gaming experience, but the Arc B370's performance ceiling, comparable to a Radeon HD 5770, makes it unsuitable for anything beyond light or older titles at lower resolutions. The data suggests that for Inside, this combo is effectively a CPU showcase held back by its integrated GPU.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings to use for the best experience. At 4K, the only playable option is the Low preset, which achieves 64 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 51 FPS, which might be acceptable for some, but the High (32 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) presets are not smooth enough for a responsive platformer. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, Low settings are the only choice.

At 1440p, the options are more flexible. The Low preset delivers 101 FPS, ensuring a very smooth experience. The Medium preset achieves 81 FPS, which is still excellent and offers a visual upgrade. The High preset drops to 51 FPS, which may be playable but introduces a noticeable reduction in fluidity. The Ultra preset at 48 FPS is not recommended for a game that requires precise timing. The sweet spot at 1440p is the Medium preset, balancing a high frame rate with better visual fidelity.

At 1080p, the system has enough headroom to run higher presets. The Low preset hits 141 FPS, Medium reaches 113 FPS, and High achieves 70 FPS. The Ultra preset yields 67 FPS. Given that the game is a puzzle platformer, frame pacing is more important than raw FPS. The Medium preset at 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS provides a very stable experience. The High preset at 70 FPS is also viable. For most users, the Medium preset at 1080p offers the best combination of visual quality and performance stability, with the High preset being a good alternative for those prioritizing visuals over a higher refresh rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B370 combination in Inside.

1920x1080:

• Low: 141 FPS average.
• Medium: 113 FPS average, with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 130 FPS.
• High: 70 FPS average.
• Ultra: 67 FPS average.

2560x1440:

• Low: 101 FPS average.
• Medium: 81 FPS average, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS.
• High: 51 FPS average.
• Ultra: 48 FPS average.

3840x2160:

• Low: 64 FPS average.
• Medium: 51 FPS average, with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS.
• High: 32 FPS average.
• Ultra: 30 FPS average.

This breakdown shows a clear hierarchy. The 1080p results are all playable, with even the Ultra preset exceeding 60 FPS. The 1440p results show a significant drop, particularly at High and Ultra presets, which fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The 4K results are only acceptable at the Low preset. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset at each resolution shows that frame drops are present; at 4K, the minimum of 43 FPS is significantly below the average, indicating potential stutter in more demanding scenes.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, which can boost up to 4.90 GHz. The cache configuration includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB of L3 cache. This is a modern, powerful desktop CPU that scores well in synthetic benchmarks, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655.

For Inside, the CPU's role is less critical than the GPU's. The game's mechanics, physics, and logic are not heavily multi-threaded. The PassMark multi-thread score of 30459 and the single-thread score of 4412 are more than sufficient for this title. The CPU's high boost clock of 4.90 GHz ensures that any single-threaded operations, such as game logic updates, are handled quickly. The data suggests that the CPU is never the bottleneck; even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is producing 141 FPS, the CPU is likely still waiting on the GPU to render frames.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals reinforces this point. Its average benchmark score of 36938 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945). In gaming, the difference between these two CPUs would be negligible. However, the gaming experience is defined by the GPU. The Core Ultra 5 225's capabilities are effectively wasted in this configuration, as the Arc B370 cannot translate the CPU's processing power into high frame rates at higher resolutions. The CPU is a top-15% performer, but the system's gaming performance is in the bottom 8%, highlighting a severe mismatch.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a smooth experience?

A: According to the data, 1080p Medium offers 113 FPS average with a minimum of 96 FPS, providing a stable and smooth experience. At 1440p, the Medium preset is also viable at 81 FPS average. For 60+ FPS at 4K, the Low preset is the only option, achieving 64 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 perform compared to its closest rivals?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B370 scores 1184. This is within 1% of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), indicating it performs at a level similar to these much older discrete GPUs.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a bottleneck for this game?

A: No. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4412, are high. The measured FPS scaling with resolution and settings indicates the GPU, not the CPU, is the limiting factor.

Q: Why is the overall combo rank so low?

A: This configuration ranks 2654 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. The low rank is due to the Intel Arc B370's performance, which falls in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, holding back the 85th-percentile CPU.

Q: What are the CPU's closest performance rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225's average benchmark score of 36938 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945, 0% delta). It is also closely matched with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093, -0.4% delta).

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 141 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 67 FPS. This represents a performance drop of more than half when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.