Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 pairing delivers a surprisingly robust experience in Inside, a game whose minimalist aesthetic belies a demanding rendering load at higher settings. The data shows this combo is capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p and solid 60+ FPS at 1440p, though 4K requires dialing back settings. The CPU’s strong single-threaded performance keeps frame pacing consistent, while the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and RDNA 2 architecture prove sufficient for this title’s art style, even at maximum presets.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K smoothly?*

A: Yes, but not at max settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 55, which is playable but not ideal. Dropping to High yields 58 FPS average, while Medium pushes it to 93 FPS, and Low reaches 116 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, Medium settings are the recommended ceiling.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144Hz+ monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 122 FPS at Ultra and 129 FPS at High, with Medium hitting 206 FPS and Low reaching 257 FPS. This means 1080p Ultra easily saturates a 144Hz display. At 2560x1440, you’ll need to use Medium (148 FPS) or High (92 FPS) to get above 90 FPS, but Ultra drops to 88 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 6600’s VRAM hold up in this game?

A: The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. For Inside, this is more than adequate. Even at 4K Ultra, the game does not appear to exceed this capacity, as evidenced by the playable 55 FPS average, though the lack of min FPS data for Ultra suggests potential stutter risk.

*Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this GPU in Inside?*

A: The data suggests no. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085 is strong, and the combo rank of 2223 out of 2887 indicates balanced performance. The GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as shown by the FPS scaling with settings.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 2560x1440, Low settings produce an average of 185 FPS, while Ultra produces 88 FPS. That is a 97 FPS gap, meaning Ultra is about 52% slower than Low. For competitive or fast-paced sections, Low or Medium is preferable, but for atmospheric exploration, Ultra’s visual fidelity may justify the frame rate drop.

Q: Does this game benefit from the CPU’s multi-core performance?

A: Not significantly. Inside is a puzzle platformer that relies more on single-threaded performance and GPU throughput. The CPU’s PassMark multithread score of 37816 is high, but its single-thread score of 4516 is what matters most here. The 3 nm Arrow Lake architecture ensures that frame times remain stable, but adding more cores would not improve FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 ranks 2223 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the 23rd percentile from the top, meaning roughly 77% of tested systems deliver higher average FPS in this title. The ranking reflects the GPU’s mid-range positioning; the RX 6600 falls in the 63rd percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU sits in the 89th percentile among all CPUs.

The delta between the CPU and GPU percentiles highlights a potential imbalance. The processor is a top-tier performer, but the graphics card holds the system back in GPU-bound scenarios like 4K Ultra. However, the combo rank is not poor; it indicates that the system is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the CPU’s strength prevents any bottleneck. The data shows that this pairing is more than adequate for the game’s demands, as even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS remains above 50, which is playable for a slow-paced puzzle game.

The nearest rival GPUs to the RX 6600 include the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 (0% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile (-0.1% delta), showing that the RX 6600 is positioned between older workstation cards and modern laptop GPUs. For Inside, this translates to consistent performance, but not top-tier 4K capability.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600, based on the Navi 23 chip with RDNA 2.0 architecture, is the primary driver of FPS in Inside. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivers 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is sufficient for the game’s texture-heavy environments. The GPU’s boost clock of 2491 MHz and game clock of 2044 MHz provide the raw compute power, with 1792 shading units and 64 ROPs handling pixel output at a rate of 159.4 GPixel/s.

At 1920x1080, the GPU is the star. Low settings yield 257 FPS, and even Ultra hits 122 FPS, showing that the RX 6600 has ample headroom for this resolution. Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU begins to feel the load: Ultra drops to 88 FPS, but Medium recovers to 148 FPS. The data suggests that the 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor at these resolutions, as the game’s art style does not require massive texture buffers.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limits are clear. Ultra averages 55 FPS, and High is only marginally better at 58 FPS. The lack of min FPS data for these modes suggests the frame time variance is acceptable, but the 93 FPS at Medium shows that reducing settings unlocks 4K playability. The GPU’s DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) ensures compatibility with modern rendering paths, and its PassMark G3D score of 15096 places it in the 63rd percentile, reinforcing its mid-range status.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a clear picture of performance scaling.

1920x1080: This is the sweet spot. Low settings produce an average of 257 FPS, which is exceptionally high. Medium hits 206 FPS with a minimum of 175 and maximum of 237, indicating fluid frame pacing. High averages 129 FPS, while Ultra drops to 122 FPS. All presets are above 120 FPS, making this resolution ideal for high refresh rate monitors.

2560x1440: Performance remains strong. Low averages 185 FPS, while Medium reaches 148 FPS with a range of 126-170 FPS. High settles at 92 FPS, and Ultra is 88 FPS. The drop from Medium to High is steep (56 FPS), suggesting that High enables more demanding effects that significantly impact the GPU. For a locked 60 FPS experience, High is viable, but Medium offers a substantial margin.

3840x2160: This resolution challenges the GPU. Low averages 116 FPS, which is impressive. Medium averages 93 FPS with a range of 79-107 FPS, showing some variance but remaining playable. High averages 58 FPS, and Ultra is 55 FPS. The transition from Medium to High causes a 35 FPS drop, indicating that High and Ultra are not optimized for 4K on this hardware. The data suggests that 4K is best reserved for Medium settings or lower.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: Medium settings provide the best balance of visual quality and performance, while Ultra offers diminishing returns. The minimum FPS data for Medium (79 FPS at 4K, 126 FPS at 1440p, 175 FPS at 1080p) shows that even the worst-case frame times remain above 60 FPS at all resolutions, ensuring a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, with its 14 cores and 14 threads, is a powerhouse that easily keeps up with the RX 6600 in Inside. The CPU’s architecture, Arrow Lake-S on a 3 nm process, features a boost clock of 5.00 GHz and a base clock of 3.40 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 scores of 14769 (multi-core) and 2085 (single-core) place it in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, making it a top-tier processor.

In Inside, the CPU’s role is to ensure that frames are delivered without stutter. The game is not heavily threaded, so the single-core performance is paramount. The PassMark single-thread score of 4516 is excellent, and this translates to consistent frame pacing across all settings. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps with data access, while its dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth ensures that the system memory does not bottleneck the GPU.

The nearest CPU rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% higher average score) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (-0.1% lower), showing that the Ultra 5 235 holds its own against both mobile and desktop parts. For Inside, this means that the CPU is never the limiting factor. The data shows that FPS scales directly with GPU settings, not CPU load, confirming that the processor has ample headroom.

The 65W TDP and Intel Socket 1851 compatibility make this a practical choice for a gaming rig, though the CPU’s performance is far beyond what this game requires. The PassMark physics score of 2570 suggests strong computational throughput, but in practice, the CPU’s high boost clock is what delivers the smooth 257 FPS at 1080p Low.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on your display’s resolution and refresh rate.

For 1920x1080 displays: Use Ultra settings. The average of 122 FPS exceeds most 120Hz monitors, and the visual fidelity is worth the minor FPS drop from High (129 FPS). If you have a 144Hz or higher refresh rate, Medium (206 FPS) or Low (257 FPS) will fully utilize the display, but Ultra provides a cinematic experience without sacrificing playability.

For 2560x1440 displays: Medium settings are the sweet spot. The 148 FPS average with a minimum of 126 FPS ensures smooth gameplay on 144Hz monitors. High settings (92 FPS) are acceptable for 60Hz displays, but the 56 FPS drop from Medium is significant for the visual upgrade. Ultra (88 FPS) is only recommended if you prioritize visuals over frame rate and have a 90Hz or lower refresh rate.

For 3840x2160 displays: Medium settings are mandatory for a good experience. The 93 FPS average with a minimum of 79 FPS is playable on 60Hz displays, and the visual quality is still high. High (58 FPS) and Ultra (55 FPS) are borderline, with frame times that may cause noticeable judder in fast-moving scenes. Low settings (116 FPS) are an option for a buttery-smooth 4K experience, but the graphical downgrade may be too severe for a game that relies on atmosphere.

General guidance: The Medium preset offers the best balance of performance and quality across all resolutions. It consistently delivers the highest minimum FPS (79 FPS at 4K, 126 FPS at 1440p, 175 FPS at 1080p), ensuring no frame drops below 60 FPS. For a puzzle platformer like Inside, where reaction time is less critical than immersion, prioritizing a stable frame rate over maximum detail is advisable. The data clearly shows that Medium is the “safe” choice, while High and Ultra are for users with lower refresh rate displays or a preference for visual fidelity.