Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 reveals a system with massive performance headroom. The measured FPS across all resolutions and settings is exceptionally high, indicating that this hardware combination is far more powerful than the game’s requirements. The data suggests that the primary bottleneck is rarely the CPU or GPU, but rather the game’s engine limits or the chosen settings, especially at lower resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is a 14-core, 14-thread mobile processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and its 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps feed the cores with data. In the context of Inside, a 2D puzzle platformer, the CPU’s role is often less demanding than in 3D titles, but the data shows it is more than capable of handling the game's logical and physics calculations.

The processor’s benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34731 and a single-core score of 4903. Its average benchmark score of 52073 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Comparing it to its nearest rivals, it is essentially tied with the AMD EPYC 8124P, which has an average score of 52121 (a delta of -0.1%), and it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which scores 51947. The Intel Core i7-14700 is 0.4% ahead of this chip, while the Intel Core i9-13900F is 0.7% behind, making this processor a highly competitive mid-range mobile part.

For the game’s results, the CPU’s high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 494, is likely a key factor. Inside’s gameplay often involves physics interactions and puzzle logic that may not be heavily multi-threaded. The 14 cores and 14 threads ensure that there is ample parallel processing power for any background tasks, but the 5.10 GHz boost clock is what likely drives the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 422 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor at all. The PassMark single-thread score of 4683 further confirms its strength in tasks that rely on a single core, which is typical for a game of this genre.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a mobile GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. It has a base clock of 2205 MHz and a boost clock of 2505 MHz, with 9728 shading units and 76 RT cores. Given that Inside is not a graphically intensive title by modern standards, this GPU is significantly overqualified for the task.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reflect its high-end positioning. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 6567, and its PassMark G3D score is 34457, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 54247 is nearly identical to its direct successor, the RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209 (a delta of 0.1%). It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X and 2.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB. This data shows that the RTX 4080 is a top-tier mobile graphics solution, and its performance in this game is expected to be exceptional.

The GPU’s 16 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth are far more than what Inside requires. The game’s art style uses simple textures and lighting, so the GPU’s fill rate and pixel rate (280.6 GPixel/s) are more relevant. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra settings, the GPU manages an average of 91 FPS, which is a clear indicator that the game is not pushing the GPU to its limits. The high memory clock of 22.4 Gbps effective ensures that even if the game were to load larger textures, the bandwidth would not be a constraint. In this context, the GPU's role is to render the game effortlessly, with the frame rate being limited by the game engine or the CPU at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data demonstrates a classic scaling pattern, but with unusually high absolute numbers. At 1080p, the frame rates are extraordinarily high, ranging from 201 FPS on Ultra to 422 FPS on Low. Moving to 1440p, the frame rates decrease but remain very high, from 144 FPS on Ultra to 303 FPS on Low. At 4K, the frame rates drop more significantly, from 91 FPS on Ultra to 191 FPS on Low.

Analyzing the scaling from 1080p to 4K, the drop is substantial. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 211 at 1080p to 152 at 1440p and then to 95 at 4K. This is a 55% reduction from 1080p to 4K. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 201 FPS at 1080p to 144 FPS at 1440p and then to 91 FPS at 4K, a 55% reduction as well. This indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases, which is expected.

However, the key insight is that even at 4K Ultra, the system maintains an average of 91 FPS. The fact that the frame rate does not drop below 60 FPS at any measured setting suggests that the system is not heavily GPU-bound until 4K. At 1080p and 1440p, the frame rates are so high that the CPU is likely the limiting component, or the game’s engine is hitting a frame rate cap. The transition from High to Ultra settings at each resolution results in a smaller FPS drop than the transition from Medium to High, which suggests that the Ultra preset may include effects that are more demanding but still well within the GPU’s capabilities. The data implies that for this game, the limiting component is the game’s engine optimization or the CPU’s single-thread speed at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the primary limiter at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this system in Inside?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 422 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in overall benchmark performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has an average benchmark score of 52073. It is 0.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and 0.7% faster than the Intel Core i9-13900F, while being 0.1% slower than the AMD EPYC 8124P and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i7-14700.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 4080 and the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209, making the RTX 4080 0.1% faster in this metric.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the system maintain a frame rate above 100 FPS?

A: The system maintains an average of over 100 FPS at all settings for 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, it averages 95 FPS on High and 91 FPS on Ultra, which is below 100 FPS but still very high.

Q: Does the GPU or CPU become the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K, as frame rates drop significantly compared to 1440p, from 303 FPS to 191 FPS at Low settings, indicating increased GPU load.

Q: What is the system's rank among all tested combos for this game?

A: The system ranks 631 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside, placing it in the top 22% of all configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend on the user’s refresh rate and preference for frame rate consistency. For 1080p and 1440p displays, the High preset offers an excellent balance. At 1080p High, the system averages 211 FPS, while at 1440p High, it averages 152 FPS. These are excellent frame rates for any display, and the High preset will provide a better visual experience than Low or Medium without a significant performance cost.

For 4K displays, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 95 FPS, which is a solid experience for a puzzle platformer. The Ultra preset is also viable, with an average of 91 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Ultra is often subtle in a game like Inside, and the 4 FPS difference is negligible. The Medium preset at 4K delivers 152 FPS, but this comes at the cost of visual fidelity. The Low preset at 4K, while hitting 191 FPS, is not recommended for a game that relies on atmosphere and lighting, as it may strip away essential visual elements.

The data indicates that the Ultra preset is not worth the performance hit on lower resolutions. At 1080p, Ultra averages 201 FPS versus High’s 211 FPS, which is a minor difference, but at 4K, the gap is also only 4 FPS. The High preset appears to be the sweet spot, providing high frame rates and likely most of the visual features. For users with high refresh rate monitors (e.g., 240Hz), the Low or Medium presets at 1080p will allow the system to push frame rates above 300 FPS, but this may not be necessary for a game that is not a fast-paced competitive shooter.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four settings. Here is the exact breakdown:

At 1920x1080:

• Low: Average 422 FPS.
• Medium: Average 337 FPS, with a minimum of 287 FPS and a maximum of 388 FPS.
• High: Average 211 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 201 FPS.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: Average 303 FPS.
• Medium: Average 243 FPS, with a minimum of 206 FPS and a maximum of 279 FPS.
• High: Average 152 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 144 FPS.

At 3840x2160:

• Low: Average 191 FPS.
• Medium: Average 152 FPS, with a minimum of 130 FPS and a maximum of 175 FPS.
• High: Average 95 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 91 FPS.

The data shows a clear trend: frame rates drop as resolution increases, and they also drop as settings increase from Low to Ultra. The Medium preset consistently provides a substantial boost over High, while the jump from High to Ultra is much smaller. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings show that the system is stable, with no major frame drops. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the minimum is 287 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 130 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience. The lack of min/max data for other settings prevents a full analysis of frame time consistency, but the average values are consistently high.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination ranks 631 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside. This places it in the 78th percentile of all configurations, meaning it outperforms the majority of systems tested. However, it is important to note that this rank is relative to all combos, which may include higher-end desktop processors and GPUs. For a mobile system, this is a very strong result.

The rank suggests that while this combo is powerful, there are many other configurations that achieve higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful desktop CPUs or GPUs. The average benchmark score of the CPU is 52073, and the GPU is 54247, but the combo’s in-game rank is influenced by how these components interact with the game’s engine. Given that Inside is not a demanding title, the rank is likely more dependent on the CPU’s single-thread performance and the GPU’s raw power, both of which are high. The data implies that this combo is in the upper echelon of mobile systems, and for a game like Inside, it delivers an exceptional experience, with frame rates that far exceed the needs of a 60Hz or even 144Hz display. The fact that it ranks in the top 22% indicates that there is still headroom for other, more exotic hardware, but for most users, this system will be overkill for Inside.