Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers extreme performance in Inside, ranking in the top 1.6% of all tested combinations. The data shows this combo is capable of obliterating the game's 60 FPS target at every resolution and setting, with the lowest recorded average frame rate being 140 FPS at 4K Ultra. This pairing is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the processor’s strong single-threaded performance ensures that even at 1080p, the frame rates remain exceptionally high, making this a top-tier setup for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic shift in system bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces 318 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops this to 234 FPS, a 26.4% decrease, and then to 3840x2160, the frame rate falls to 147 FPS, a further 37.2% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 4090 is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, with the processor having ample headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. With Low settings, the frame rate drops from 413 FPS at 1080p to 370 FPS at 1440p (a 10.4% decrease) and then to 293 FPS at 4K (a 20.8% decrease from 1440p). The percentage drop is much smaller at Low settings because the GPU is less stressed, allowing the CPU to become more of a factor, though the absolute numbers remain staggeringly high.

At Medium settings, the combo achieves 381 FPS at 1080p, 342 FPS at 1440p, and 235 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is a 10.2% reduction, while the 1440p to 4K step is a 31.3% reduction. The Ultra preset shows a similar pattern: 309 FPS at 1080p, 222 FPS at 1440p, and 140 FPS at 4K. These figures demonstrate that even at the most demanding settings, the system never comes close to struggling, but the GPU's workload is clearly the deciding factor in frame rate scaling.

The data suggests that for a game like Inside, which is a puzzle platformer, the visual fidelity at 4K Ultra is the ideal way to play, as the 140 FPS average is still far above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors. The resolution scaling shows that the RTX 4090 is the component that dictates performance ceilings here, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is more than sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck, even at 1080p where CPU load is typically highest.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 4K with High settings?

A: The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with High settings is 147 FPS, indicating a very smooth experience at this demanding resolution.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p compare to 4K at Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 342. When the resolution is increased to 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 235, a significant reduction of 107 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the primary limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops of 26-37% when moving from 1440p to 4K show the GPU working harder, while the CPU's strong single-core performance keeps 1080p frame rates exceptionally high.

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

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 413 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The fastest preset at 1080p is Low, followed by Medium at 381 FPS.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a playable experience at 4K?

A: Yes, the data shows a 140 FPS average at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. While this is the lowest average FPS in the dataset, it is still a very high frame rate that provides a fluid and responsive experience.

Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 45th out of 2887 tested combinations, placing it in the top 1.6% of all systems benchmarked for this game, which indicates exceptional performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. In a game like Inside, which is not heavily threaded, the processor's high boost clock and strong single-core performance are the most critical attributes. The CPU's benchmark scores reflect this, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085, which is a strong result.

The processor's role in this pairing is to ensure it does not bottleneck the RTX 4090. The data suggests it succeeds admirably. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 413 FPS, which is an extremely high frame rate that often stresses CPU capabilities. The fact that the combo still achieves this number indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 provides enough processing power to keep up with the GPU's output at lower resolutions.

While the CPU has a multi-core Cinebench R23 score of 14769, this is less relevant for Inside’s performance. The game's logic and physics are typically handled by a few threads, making the 5.00 GHz boost clock more impactful. The CPU's performance percentile of 89 vs all CPUs confirms it is a high-end part, but its value here is in its ability to maintain high frame rates without being a limiting factor.

The 14 cores and 14 threads (which means no hyperthreading) are more than adequate for the game. The cache structure, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache, also helps with data access speeds. The benchmark results indicate that for this specific title, the CPU is not the bottleneck; the RTX 4090's raw rendering power is what determines the final frame rate, particularly as resolution scales up. The processor simply provides a stable, high-performance foundation for the GPU to operate at its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings.

Starting at 1920x1080, the lowest average FPS recorded is 309 with the Ultra preset. The High preset achieves 318 FPS, while Medium reaches 381 FPS and Low hits 413 FPS. The Medium preset also had a recorded minimum FPS of 324 and a maximum of 439, showing some variance but still maintaining an incredibly high floor.

At 2560x1440, performance remains exceptionally high. The Ultra preset averages 222 FPS, High averages 234 FPS, and Medium averages 342 FPS. The Low preset peaks at 370 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution shows a min/max of 291/393 FPS, indicating a slightly wider range than at 1080p, but still a very stable experience.

Moving to 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its workload. The Ultra preset still manages an average of 140 FPS, while High yields 147 FPS. Medium settings produce a solid 235 FPS average with a minimum of 200 FPS, and Low settings reach 293 FPS. The data shows a clear step-down in performance as the pixel count increases, but the absolute numbers are still high enough for a flawless experience on most displays.

The data shows that the most demanding setting (4K Ultra) is still nearly 2.5 times faster than a standard 60 FPS target. The least demanding setting (1080p Low) achieves over 400 FPS, which is beneficial for esports-style competitive play or for users with very high refresh rate monitors, though Inside is not a competitive title. The consistency across presets is also notable, with the only reported minimum FPS values (for Medium settings) still being well above 200 FPS in all cases.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 45th out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the 98.4th percentile, meaning it outperforms nearly all other system configurations in the database. This high ranking is a direct result of the RTX 4090's immense power, which is the dominant factor in this game's performance.

The ranking is particularly impressive considering the processor is not a top-tier enthusiast chip. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has a CPU average benchmark score of 46062, which puts it in a close grouping with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, +0.1% delta), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, -0.1% delta), and the AMD EPYC 4364P (45970, +0.2% delta). These rivals have near-identical average scores, showing that the CPU's compute performance is on par with many other high-end options.

However, the GPU is in a different league. The RTX 4090's average benchmark score is 60347, with a percentile of 88 vs all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60326, 0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (60140, +0.3% delta), but these are likely not gaming-focused cards. The fact that this combo lands at rank 45 shows that the RTX 4090 is the primary driver of the high position, as the CPU's performance, while strong, is not the top in its class.

The combination of a high-end CPU and the flagship GPU creates a system that is more than capable of handling Inside's modest graphical demands. The rank of 45 out of 2887 confirms that users of this setup are getting a top-tier experience that will be difficult to match with other hardware configurations in this database.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the Ultra preset at 3840x2160 is the clear recommendation. The data shows an average of 140 FPS, which is far above the threshold for smooth gameplay. Since Inside is a puzzle platformer with a distinct art style, maximizing visual quality is the priority, and the system has more than enough power to do so without sacrificing fluidity.

If the user has a monitor with a refresh rate higher than 140Hz, the High preset at 4K offers a 147 FPS average, a slight increase over Ultra with presumably minor visual differences. For those aiming for very high frame rates at 1440p, the High preset at 2560x1440 provides a 234 FPS average, which is ideal for 144Hz or 240Hz displays. The Low preset at 1080p yields the highest frame rate (413 FPS), but this is unnecessary for this genre.

The Medium preset serves as a balanced option, offering a 235 FPS average at 4K and 342 FPS at 1440p. However, given the headroom available, there is no reason to choose Medium over High or Ultra. The data indicates that the system can handle the highest settings with ease, so users should opt for the maximum visual quality their monitor's resolution allows.

In summary, the optimal configuration is 4K Ultra. The 140 FPS average ensures a seamless and visually stunning experience. If a higher frame rate is desired for a specific high-refresh-rate monitor, stepping down to the High preset at 4K or 1440p provides a significant boost in FPS while still maintaining high visual fidelity. The Low preset is not recommended as it provides no tangible benefit in this game, given the already high performance at higher settings.