Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti combination delivers a playable yet heavily constrained experience in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. While the CPU provides ample headroom, the GPU consistently acts as the performance ceiling, especially at higher resolutions. The benchmark data shows a configuration that is capable of smooth 1080p play at lower settings but struggles to maintain fluidity at 4K.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, supported by 24 MB of shared L3 cache. For a puzzle platformer like Inside, the CPU's role is less about raw multi-threaded throughput and more about maintaining consistent frame pacing and handling game logic without becoming a bottleneck.

The benchmark scores for this CPU indicate substantial processing power. In Cinebench R23, it scores 32,924 in multi-core and 4,648 in single-core tests. Its PassMark single-thread score is 4,394, and its multi-thread score is 38,706. These figures place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, signifying that it is a high-end desktop part. The data indicates that this processor is not the limiting factor in this specific game's frame rates.

Given the relatively simple rendering demands of a 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer, the CPU's high single-core performance is more than sufficient to handle the game's physics and logic. The measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings shows that frame rates are overwhelmingly dictated by the GPU. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 109 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 52 FPS. This 57 FPS spread is a direct result of GPU load, not CPU capability. The CPU's performance is essentially static headroom; it is never the component that prevents the frame rate from rising.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The database ranks this specific CPU-GPU pairing at 2,837 out of 2,887 tested combinations for Inside. This places it in the bottom 1.7% of all recorded system configurations, indicating a severe performance mismatch for modern standards, despite the game's age. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's age and performance class, which is far below the average of other tested systems.

The GPU's own percentile versus all GPUs is 25, meaning it performs better than only a quarter of the graphics cards in the database. Its average benchmark score is 4,193, which places it in direct competition with mobile and entry-level parts. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M330 (with a deltaPct of 0.6) and the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M (with a deltaPct of 1). These are not desktop gaming powerhouses; they are typically found in older laptops and professional workstations. This context clarifies that the combo's low rank is primarily due to the GPU's position in the performance hierarchy, which anchors the entire system's gaming capability.

The CPU, by contrast, is a top-tier performer. Its average benchmark score of 48,995 puts it in the 90th percentile, with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (deltaPct of -0.5) and the Intel Core i5-14600K (deltaPct of 0.8). The extreme disparity between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's low percentile is the defining characteristic of this configuration. The combo rank of 2,837 is a direct consequence of this imbalance, highlighting that the system's overall gaming performance is capped by its weakest link.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, confirming the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 109 FPS. This drops to 78 FPS at 1440p Low, a 28% decrease, and further to 49 FPS at 4K Low, a 55% decrease from 1080p. This scaling is classic GPU-bound behavior; the CPU is capable of feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them, so the frame rate is directly proportional to the pixel count.

The trend is consistent across all settings. For High settings, the frame rate falls from 54 FPS at 1080p to 39 FPS at 1440p, and then to 25 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly severe, representing a 36% reduction in average FPS. This steep decline at the highest resolution indicates that the GTX 1050 Ti's 4 GB of VRAM and 112.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth are being saturated, leading to a significant performance penalty.

The data strongly suggests that the CPU is not involved in this scaling. If the CPU were the limiting factor, frame rates would remain relatively flat regardless of resolution. Instead, we see a near-linear relationship between pixel count and frame time, which is the definitive signature of a GPU-limited scenario. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is effectively waiting for the GTX 1050 Ti to finish its work at every resolution tested.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Inside?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the most viable resolution. At 1080p with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS, which is above the typical playable threshold. At higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K, average frame rates drop significantly, making smooth gameplay difficult to maintain.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48,995. This is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which scores 49,228, showing a negligible performance difference of -0.5%. It also edges out the Intel Core i5-14600K, which scores 48,618, by a margin of 0.8%.

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

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the definitive limiting factor. The GPU's average benchmark score of 4,193 is in the 25th percentile, while the CPU is in the 90th percentile. The measured FPS shows a dramatic drop with increasing resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck, while the CPU's high performance metrics suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the GPU's performance ranking compared to other graphics cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti falls into the 25th percentile of all GPUs in the database. Its average score of 4,193 places it very close to the AMD Radeon R5 M330, which scores 4,170, and the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, which scores 4,151. This shows it is an entry-level part by current standards.

*Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS in Inside?*

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with lower settings. The combo reaches 109 FPS at 1080p Low and 87 FPS at 1080p Medium. At 1080p High, it drops to 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. At any resolution above 1080p, the average frame rate never reaches 60 FPS.

Q: How does the frame rate vary between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the difference is substantial. Low settings produce an average of 78 FPS, while Medium settings yield 62 FPS. High settings drop to 39 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 37 FPS. This indicates that the GPU struggles to handle the increased visual complexity of higher presets at this resolution.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is built on the Pascal architecture with the GP107 chip, manufactured on a 14 nm process. It features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1291 MHz and a boost clock of 1392 MHz. With 768 shading units and a fill rate of 44.54 GPixel/s, its specifications are modest by modern standards, which is reflected in its 25th percentile performance ranking.

These specifications directly explain the measured FPS results. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for a game like Inside at 1080p, but the limited memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings. The performance drop from 1080p Medium (87 FPS) to 1440p Medium (62 FPS) and then to 4K Medium (39 FPS) illustrates how the GPU's memory subsystem struggles as the data load increases. The GPU's low FP32 performance of 2.138 TFLOPS also contributes to its inability to maintain high frame rates at demanding settings.

The GPU's benchmark results further contextualize its performance. Its PassMark G3D score is 6,340, and its DirectX 12 score is a very low 26, indicating poor performance in modern graphics APIs. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 18,129 and Vulkan score of 10,001 are similarly unimpressive. These numbers show that while the GTX 1050 Ti was a capable entry-level card in its time, it is now outclassed by even integrated graphics solutions in some cases, making it the primary reason for the combo's low frame rates in Inside.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The optimal experience for this combo is clearly at 1080p with Medium settings. The data shows an average FPS of 87, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience that is well above the playable threshold of 30 FPS and close to the 60 FPS target for most users. It is a significant improvement over High settings, which average only 54 FPS, and offers better visual quality than Low settings, which average 109 FPS but do not fully utilize the hardware.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more difficult. Medium settings yield an average of 62 FPS, which is acceptable, but the minimum of 53 FPS suggests occasional stutters. High settings drop to 39 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for a platformer requiring precision. Low settings at 1440p (78 FPS) are the safest bet for a consistent frame rate, but they sacrifice visual fidelity.

4K is not a viable option for a smooth experience. Even at Low settings, the average FPS is only 49, and at Medium, it drops to 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS. Ultra settings at any resolution produce frame rates in the low 20s to 30s, which is below the standard for comfortable gameplay. Therefore, the recommendation is to prioritize 1080p Medium for the best balance of visual quality and performance, with 1440p Low as a secondary option if higher resolution is preferred.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080 (1080p):

The data shows that this resolution offers the widest range of playable settings. At Low settings, the average FPS is 109. Medium settings produce an average of 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 54 FPS. Ultra settings result in the lowest average for this resolution, at 52 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p):

Performance at 1440p drops significantly across all presets. The Low setting yields an average of 78 FPS. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 FPS and a maximum of 72 FPS. High settings produce an average of 39 FPS, and Ultra settings average 37 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent reduction of roughly 28-30% in average FPS across all settings.

3840x2160 (4K):

The GTX 1050 Ti is clearly overburdened at 4K. Low settings average 49 FPS. Medium settings average 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 25 FPS, and Ultra settings are nearly unplayable at 23 FPS. The difference between 1440p and 4K is a stark 37-40% decrease in average FPS, highlighting the GPU's memory bandwidth limitations.