Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that, on the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 combination, demonstrates a profound reliance on the GPU’s raw throughput rather than the CPU’s substantial processing power. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is overwhelmingly capable, delivering playable performance even at 4K Ultra, while also exposing a clear performance ceiling dictated by the graphics card’s memory bandwidth and compute capabilities. The data indicates that this pairing is far more than sufficient for a smooth experience, offering headroom that most users will never fully exploit at standard refresh rates.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, confirming that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the definitive bottleneck in this configuration. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 309 FPS at 1920x1080 to 222 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 87 FPS. Pushing further to 3840x2160 yields 140 FPS, which is a 169 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline, representing a 54.7% reduction in performance. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where the increase in pixel count directly taxes the render output units and memory subsystem.

The scaling is even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 155 FPS at 1080p to 111 FPS at 1440p and finally to 70 FPS at 4K. This represents a 54.8% performance loss when moving from 1080p to 4K, nearly identical to the relative drop seen at Low settings. This consistency across presets strongly suggests that the limiting factor is not the complexity of the shaders or textures, but rather the sheer volume of pixels being processed. The RX 9060’s 288.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 128-bit bus are the likely constraints, as the fill-rate demand at 4K outpaces the card's ability to deliver data.

The transition from Medium to High at each resolution further highlights the GPU’s strain. At 1080p, the gap between Medium (247 FPS) and High (155 FPS) is 92 FPS, while at 4K, the gap narrows to 42 FPS (112 vs 70). This compression of frame rates at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is already saturated; as resolution increases, the relative cost of additional graphical effects diminishes because the pixel fill rate becomes the dominant cost. The CPU, a 14-core Arrow Lake processor with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, is never the limiting factor here, as evidenced by the massive frame rates at 1080p Low, which would require substantial single-thread performance to feed the GPU.

Settings Recommendations

For users prioritizing the highest refresh rates on a 1080p or 1440p display, the Low preset is the clear choice, delivering 309 FPS and 222 FPS respectively. These figures are far beyond the capabilities of most monitors, making even the Medium preset (247 FPS at 1080p, 178 FPS at 1440p) a more sensible option for those who want a balance between visual fidelity and performance. The data shows that Medium provides a 59.4% performance uplift over High at 1080p, while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds 240 Hz.

At 4K, the decision becomes more nuanced. The High preset delivers a solid 70 FPS average, which is playable for a puzzle platformer, but the Ultra preset drops to 66 FPS. The Medium preset, however, offers a substantial improvement at 112 FPS, which is a 60% increase over High and a 69.7% increase over Ultra. Given that the visual differences between Medium and High in a game with this art style are often subtle, the Medium preset at 4K is the optimal choice for a smooth, high-refresh experience. It provides a significant frame rate buffer that ensures consistent performance during the game’s more demanding scenes.

For those with high-refresh 1440p monitors, the High preset (111 FPS) is the recommended starting point. It provides a near-100 FPS experience that is well-suited for the genre. If a user’s monitor supports up to 165 Hz or higher, the Medium preset’s 178 FPS will be more appropriate. The Ultra preset, while offering the highest fidelity, only yields 106 FPS at 1440p, which is a marginal gain over High for a 4.7% performance cost. Ultimately, the data suggests that Medium or High are the "sweet spots" for this GPU, with Ultra offering diminishing returns.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 achieves a rank of 1615 out of 2887 combos for Inside. This places it in the 44th percentile of all tested systems, indicating a mid-table finish. While the performance is unequivocally high in absolute terms, the ranking reveals that many other combinations, likely featuring more powerful GPUs, can achieve even higher frame rates in this particular title. The rank is a reflection of the GPU’s position in the overall hierarchy, not a criticism of the playable experience.

The CPU’s own standing is strong, with a percentile of 90 against all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 48995 places it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which is a mere 0.5% faster, and the Intel Core i5-14600K, which is 0.8% slower. This indicates that the processor is a high-performing part that is not holding back the system. In contrast, the GPU’s percentile is 59, and its average benchmark score of 16014 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which is 0.7% faster. This GPU-centric bottleneck explains why the combo’s overall rank (1615) is lower than the CPU’s individual ranking; the system’s performance in Inside is gated by the RX 9060’s capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset shows a clear and predictable hierarchy of performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset leads with an average of 309 FPS, followed by Medium at 247 FPS, High at 155 FPS, and Ultra at 147 FPS. The Medium preset also records a minimum of 210 FPS and a maximum of 284 FPS, showing a stable frame time distribution even under load. The 1080p results are exceptional, with even the most demanding settings providing a fluid experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down proportionally. Low yields 222 FPS, Medium 178 FPS (with a min of 151 and max of 204), High 111 FPS, and Ultra 106 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 28-29% across all presets, a consistent penalty for the 78% increase in pixel count. The 1440p High and Ultra results remain well above 100 FPS, confirming that this resolution is a strong target for the RX 9060.

At 3840x2160, the impact of the 4K resolution is fully realized. Low produces 140 FPS, Medium 112 FPS (with a min of 95 and max of 128), High 70 FPS, and Ultra 66 FPS. The most significant drop is observed between Medium and High, a 42 FPS loss, which suggests that the High preset introduces effects that are particularly taxing on the GPU’s memory subsystem. The Ultra preset’s 66 FPS is the only average below 70 FPS, but it remains playable. The data confirms that 4K is viable, but only at Low or Medium settings for a consistently high refresh rate.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the decisive component in this system’s gaming performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. This bandwidth is a critical factor, as the frame rate drops at 4K High and Ultra suggest a texture and fill-rate limit. The GPU’s boost clock of 2990 MHz and game clock of 2400 MHz are high for the architecture, but the card’s performance in this title is more closely tied to its 64 ROPs and 112 TMUs, which handle the pixel and texture processing that is heavily utilized in a 2.5D platformer.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 16014 places it just behind the RTX 3060 Ti, a comparison that is useful for setting expectations. The RDNA 4.0 architecture, built on a 4 nm process, provides a solid foundation, but the 128-bit memory interface is a limiting factor for high-resolution gaming. The measured results in Inside show that while the card can push high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, its performance at 4K is more modest. The 4K Medium result of 112 FPS vs the 4K High result of 70 FPS highlights that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is the primary constraint; reducing the texture and shader complexity at Medium allows the card to operate more efficiently. This is a clear sign that for this game, the GPU’s memory system is the key to unlocking higher performance, rather than its compute shaders.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K with a high refresh rate?

A: Yes, but with some compromises. The data shows a 112 FPS average at 4K Medium settings, which is excellent for a 120 Hz display. High and Ultra settings drop to 70 FPS and 66 FPS respectively, which are still playable but not ideal for high-refresh gaming.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 a bottleneck for the RX 9060 in Inside?

A: No. The frame rates at 1080p Low (309 FPS) and Medium (247 FPS) are extremely high, indicating that the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU. The performance scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound workload, as the 14-core processor’s strong single-thread performance is more than adequate for this title.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The RX 9060’s average benchmark score is 16014. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is 0.7% faster, the AMD Radeon R9 370X is 1% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is 1% slower. This places the RX 9060 in a tight performance cluster around these cards.

Q: What is the best setting to use for a 1440p monitor with a 144 Hz refresh rate?

A: The High preset at 1440p delivers an average of 111 FPS, which is close to the 144 Hz target. If you want to ensure you are always above the refresh rate, the Medium preset’s 178 FPS average provides a much larger buffer and is a safer choice for consistent smoothness.

Q: Does the game favor the CPU or the GPU in this configuration?

A: The game is heavily GPU-bound. The evidence is the significant frame rate drop when moving from 1080p to 4K (e.g., from 309 FPS to 140 FPS at Low settings). The CPU’s performance is effectively constant across these resolutions, confirming that the graphics card is the limiting component.

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

A: The only recorded minimum frame rates are for the Medium preset. At 1080p, the minimum is 210 FPS; at 1440p, it is 151 FPS; and at 4K, it is 95 FPS. No minimum data is available for the other presets in the measured dataset.