Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer with modest system demands, and the measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB shows a configuration that scales predictably across the three tested resolutions. The combo sits at rank 2511 out of 2887 tested combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the database, yet the framerates achieved remain highly playable across most settings, indicating that this pairing is more than adequate for the game's visual style and physics-based puzzles. The following analysis breaks down how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the results, what the resolution scaling reveals about the bottleneck, and which settings deliver the best experience based strictly on the measured FPS data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and consistent pattern: as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, average framerates drop by roughly half, which is the expected behavior for a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces 199 FPS, while at 2560x1440 the same settings yield 143 FPS (a 28% reduction), and at 3840x2160 the average falls to 90 FPS (another 37% reduction from the 1440p figure). This scaling curve is steep but not alarming, indicating that the RTX 3050 4 GB is the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises, while the Core Ultra 5 245 has ample headroom to feed the GPU even at the highest resolution.

The pattern holds across all four settings presets. For High settings, the averages are 99 FPS at 1080p, 71 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K. Medium settings show 159 FPS, 114 FPS, and 72 FPS respectively, while Ultra settings produce 95 FPS, 68 FPS, and 43 FPS. The relative drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent at roughly 54-57% for every preset, which strongly suggests that the render resolution is the dominant variable and that neither the CPU's 14 cores nor its 5.10 GHz boost clock are creating a bottleneck at any setting. The data shows that this is a GPU-limited scenario across the board, with the RTX 3050 4 GB's 128-bit memory bus and 192.0 GB/s bandwidth becoming progressively more strained as the framebuffer demands grow at 4K.

A notable observation is the gap between Low and Medium settings at each resolution. At 1080p, Low achieves 199 FPS while Medium drops to 159 FPS, a 20% penalty. At 1440p, the gap is 143 to 114 FPS (also a 20% penalty), and at 4K it is 90 to 72 FPS (a 20% penalty). This consistent 20% delta between Low and Medium indicates that the Medium preset introduces a fixed additional workload, likely related to shadow resolution or post-processing effects, which scales linearly with pixel count. In contrast, the gap from Medium to High is smaller (159 to 99 FPS at 1080p, a 38% drop), and from High to Ultra is marginal (99 to 95 FPS at 1080p), suggesting that the Ultra preset adds only minor effects that do not heavily tax the GPU.

The framerate floor is also informative. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum FPS values: 135 at 1080p, 97 at 1440p, and 61 at 4K. These minimums are all well above the 30 FPS threshold typically considered the minimum for playable platformers, and even the 4K minimum of 61 FPS indicates that the GPU never stutters severely. The absence of min/max data for other presets in the FACT PACK limits deeper analysis, but the available minimums for Medium suggest that the RTX 3050 4 GB maintains consistent frame pacing without catastrophic drops, which is crucial for a game that requires precise timing in its puzzle sequences.

CPU Role

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 by TSMC, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. In the context of Inside, which is a puzzle platformer that does not heavily utilize multi-threading, the CPU's role is primarily to maintain a high single-threaded performance to drive game logic and physics, while the GPU handles the rendering. The benchmark data shows a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and a multi-core score of 32924, placing the CPU at the 90th percentile among all tested processors, which is exceptionally strong for a desktop part.

However, the measured FPS results indicate that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this game. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the combo reaches 199 FPS, which is likely close to the game's engine limit or the GPU's maximum output at that settings level. The fact that framerates drop uniformly with resolution, rather than flattening out at a CPU-imposed ceiling, confirms that the Core Ultra 5 245 has more than enough compute headroom. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth are more than sufficient for a game like Inside, which has a small memory footprint and simple physics calculations.

Comparing to nearest rivals in the database, the Core Ultra 5 245's average benchmark score of 48995 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49196, a -0.4% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49228, a -0.5% delta), while slightly ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (48698, +0.6%) and the Intel Core i5-14600K (48618, +0.8%). This places the CPU in a performance tier where any of these processors would deliver virtually identical results in Inside, since the game is not demanding enough to differentiate between such closely matched parts. The data suggests that the CPU's 14 cores are largely idle during gameplay, with the game likely utilizing only a handful of threads for its deterministic puzzle logic and character animation.

The CPU's integrated graphics, Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, are irrelevant for this discrete GPU configuration, but the processor's PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes ensures that the RTX 3050 4 GB's PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is fully utilized without bandwidth constraints. The 65 W TDP also indicates that the CPU runs cool and efficient, which is beneficial for sustained gaming sessions, though the data does not include thermal or power measurements to confirm this.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Inside?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 199, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only setting that breaks the 200 FPS barrier, though 1440p Low comes close at 143 FPS.

Q: Is this combo capable of running Inside at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 90, which is very smooth. At 4K with Medium settings, the average drops to 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS. However, at 4K High and Ultra, the averages fall to 45 and 43 FPS respectively, which may feel less fluid for a platformer requiring precise jumps.

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

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995, which is within 1% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49196, -0.4% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49228, -0.5% delta). It is slightly ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (48698, +0.6% delta) and the Intel Core i5-14600K (48618, +0.8% delta).

Q: Which settings preset provides the most consistent framerate based on the data?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum FPS values, showing 135 FPS at 1080p, 97 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. These minimums indicate stable frame pacing with no severe drops, making Medium the best-documented preset for consistency.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. Framerates scale almost linearly with resolution, dropping from 199 FPS at 1080p Low to 90 FPS at 4K Low, which is a 55% reduction. If the CPU were the limiting factor, framerates would plateau at a certain level regardless of resolution, which is not observed.

Q: What is the overall rank of this combo among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2511 out of 2887 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 13% of the database. This low rank is primarily due to the RTX 3050 4 GB's modest performance relative to other GPUs, despite the strong CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest framerates across all settings. Low settings achieve an average of 199 FPS, Medium hits 159 FPS with a minimum of 135 and a maximum of 183, High reaches 99 FPS, and Ultra tops out at 95 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 40 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 60 FPS, and High to Ultra is only 4 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset adds negligible visual improvements over High while incurring a small performance cost, making High the more efficient choice at 1080p if maximum framerate is desired.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop to 143 FPS for Low, 114 FPS for Medium (with a minimum of 97 and maximum of 131), 71 FPS for High, and 68 FPS for Ultra. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p results in a 28% reduction for Low, a 28% reduction for Medium, a 28% reduction for High, and a 28% reduction for Ultra. This uniform drop confirms that the GPU is the limiting component, as the relative performance cost of higher resolution is identical regardless of settings. The Medium preset at 1440p still maintains a minimum of 97 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most monitors.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 90 FPS for Low, 72 FPS for Medium (with a minimum of 61 and maximum of 83), 45 FPS for High, and 43 FPS for Ultra. The 4K Medium preset is the only 4K configuration with documented minimums, and the 61 FPS minimum is surprisingly high, indicating that the GPU can handle the workload without stuttering even at this demanding resolution. However, High and Ultra at 4K fall below 50 FPS, which may introduce noticeable judder in a game that relies on smooth motion for its atmospheric storytelling. The 4K Low preset at 90 FPS is a viable option for players prioritizing framerate over visual fidelity.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is based on the GA107 chip, built on Samsung's 8 nm process, with 2048 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. It features 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores, though Inside does not utilize ray tracing, so these are largely unused. The GPU's base clock is 1545 MHz with a boost clock of 1740 MHz, and it has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is the most likely constraint at higher resolutions, as 4 GB of VRAM can become saturated with larger framebuffers and higher-resolution textures.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU's performance degrades gracefully as resolution increases, which is typical for a card in the 50th percentile of all GPUs. The 4 GB memory capacity is sufficient for Inside at 1080p and 1440p, where the game's relatively simple art style does not demand excessive texture memory. At 4K, the GPU still manages to produce playable framerates on Low and Medium settings, but the drop to 43-45 FPS on High and Ultra suggests that the memory bandwidth is being stretched thin. The 192.0 GB/s bandwidth is modest by modern standards, and the 128-bit bus limits the effective throughput needed for 4K rendering.

The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.127 TFLOPS is adequate for a game of this era, and the 55.68 GPixel/s pixel rate and 111.4 GTexel/s texture rate are more than enough to handle the game's 2D-style rendering with 3D depth. The RTX 3050 4 GB's 90 W TDP is low, and its dual-slot design with a single 6-pin power connector makes it easy to install, though these physical characteristics do not directly impact the benchmark results. The GPU is marked as end-of-life, and its release date of January 2022 predates several newer generations, but for Inside specifically, it delivers a solid experience across the board.

The lack of nearest rival data for the GPU in the FACT PACK limits comparative analysis, but the percentile rank of 50 indicates that the RTX 3050 4 GB sits exactly in the middle of all tested GPUs. This is consistent with its position as an entry-level card that excels at 1080p gaming but struggles at higher resolutions with demanding settings. In Inside, however, even the most demanding 4K Ultra preset achieves 43 FPS, which confirms the game's efficient rendering engine rather than the GPU's raw power.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the ideal settings preset depends on the target resolution and the player's preference for framerate versus visual quality. At 1920x1080, High settings at 99 FPS offers an excellent balance, as the jump from High to Ultra only gains 4 FPS (95 to 99) while likely adding minimal visual improvements. The Medium preset at 159 FPS is the best choice for players with high-refresh-rate monitors, as it provides a significant boost over High while maintaining a minimum of 135 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay during fast-moving sequences.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings at 114 FPS is the recommended preset, as it is the only setting with documented minimums (97 FPS) and delivers a framerate that is smooth on most displays. High settings at 71 FPS is also viable, but the 43 FPS drop from Medium to High suggests that the visual upgrade is not worth the performance cost, especially in a game where responsive controls are critical. Ultra at 68 FPS is nearly identical to High and can be selected without significant penalty.

At 3840x2160, Low settings at 90 FPS is the recommended preset for a consistently smooth experience, as it is the only 4K setting that exceeds 60 FPS. Medium settings at 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS is also acceptable, but the 18 FPS drop from Low to Medium may be noticeable in motion. High and Ultra at 45 and 43 FPS respectively are not recommended for 4K, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider the minimum for a responsive platformer.

The data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, as it consistently provides the best balance of framerate and visual fidelity, and it is the only preset with recorded minimum FPS values, indicating that the developers optimized the game for this level of detail. Players who prioritize maximum framerate should choose Low settings, while those who want the best visual experience without sacrificing playability can opt for High at 1080p or 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB ranks 2511 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside, placing it in the 13th percentile of all configurations. This low rank is surprising given the strong CPU performance, but it is explained by the GPU's modest capabilities. The RTX 3050 4 GB is in the 50th percentile of all GPUs, and when combined with a CPU that is in the 90th percentile, the overall combo rank is dragged down by the GPU's limitations.

The rank indicates that 376 other tested combos perform worse than this configuration, which is a small number relative to the total, meaning that this pairing is near the bottom of the database. However, the actual gameplay experience does not reflect this low rank, as the measured FPS values are all above 43 FPS even at the most demanding settings. The rank is influenced by other combos that may use higher-end GPUs with similar CPUs, which naturally achieve higher framerates.

The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and the Intel Core i5-14600K, have nearly identical benchmark scores, suggesting that swapping the CPU would not meaningfully change the rank. The GPU is the primary differentiator, and a more powerful GPU would likely move this combo significantly higher in the rankings. For the game Inside specifically, the combo's rank of 2511 is a statistical outlier relative to its playable framerates, which highlights that raw benchmark scores do not always translate to real-world performance in older, less demanding titles.