Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that, on paper, should not challenge modern hardware. Yet, the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 reveals a fascinating scaling curve that tells a story about where the limits of this specific laptop configuration lie. The data indicates a system capable of extreme frame rates at lower resolutions, but one that shows a distinct performance cliff as the pixel count climbs, shifting the bottleneck from the processor to the graphics card in a predictable and quantifiable manner.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a TDP of 28 W. This configuration is clearly designed for high-end mobile workloads, offering a substantial amount of parallel processing power. Its cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 24 MB of L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743, placing it in the 83rd percentile among all tested CPUs.

For a game like Inside, which is not a multi-threaded powerhouse, the single-core performance is often more indicative of the gameplay experience. The 155H's single-thread score of 3468 in Passmark suggests it has the headroom to feed frames to the GPU efficiently at 1080p and 1440p. However, the data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios tested. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 314 FPS, while at Ultra settings, it drops to 159 FPS. This 155 FPS drop when increasing graphical fidelity strongly implies that the workload is shifting to the GPU, as the CPU's task of preparing frames remains relatively constant across these settings changes. The CPU's robust multi-core score of 8754 in Cinebench R20 and 2450 in R15 indicates it has plenty of overhead for any background tasks or physics calculations the game might require, ensuring that the GPU is rarely starved for data. The processor's average benchmark score of 32697 puts it in a dead heat with rivals like the Intel Core i5-14600T, which scores 32707, a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which scores 32662, a 0.1% delta. This performance parity confirms that the 155H is a very capable mid-to-high-end mobile chip, but its influence on the final frame rate in Inside diminishes as resolution and settings increase, leaving the GPU to dominate the performance equation.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the undisputed performance driver in this configuration. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and the AD104 chip, it features 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. Its memory subsystem consists of 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1920 MHz and boosts to 2475 MHz. This is a desktop-class GPU that has been paired with a mobile CPU, creating an interesting dynamic. Its Passmark G3D score of 26927 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 place it in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37648.

The GPU's influence is most clearly seen in the resolution scaling. At 1080p, the RTX 4070 is clearly able to render frames faster than the CPU can request them, as evidenced by the 314 FPS at Low settings. The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is ample for a game of this era, ensuring that texture streaming and memory allocation are not bottlenecks. However, the performance differential between settings and resolutions points to the GPU being the primary constraint at higher loads. For instance, at 4K, the average FPS at High settings is 75, while at Low settings it is 150. This 75 FPS difference is a direct consequence of the GPU's fill rate and shading power being taxed by the increased pixel count. The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (37628 avg score, 0.1% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507 avg score, 0.4% delta), but also the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38135 avg score, -1.3% delta), which suggests the desktop 4070 is performing in the upper echelon of mobile and older desktop parts. The data shows that the RTX 4070 is the component that dictates the maximum achievable frame rate in this pairing, especially as the visual load increases.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales with resolution. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160 shows a consistent and expected decline in average frame rates across all settings. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 166 at 1080p to 120 at 1440p, and finally to 75 at 4K. This represents a 27.7% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 37.5% drop from 1440p to 4K. This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS as resolution increases, because the CPU's workload (draw calls, physics) remains constant while the GPU struggles more. Instead, the FPS falls proportionally with the increase in pixel count (from 2.07 million pixels at 1080p to 3.69 million at 1440p, a 1.78x increase, and to 8.29 million at 4K, a 4x increase from 1080p). The FPS at High settings drops by a factor of 1.38 from 1080p to 1440p, and by a factor of 2.21 from 1080p to 4K. This non-linear drop highlights the GPU's memory bandwidth and shading capacity being saturated. The Low settings tell a similar story, with FPS dropping from 314 at 1080p to 239 at 1440p and 150 at 4K. The fact that the system can hit 314 FPS at 1080p Low proves the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at very high rates, but the GPU cannot maintain that throughput when the pixel workload increases. This analysis confirms that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the definitive bottleneck in this system for Inside, particularly at resolutions above 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Inside?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 314, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the performance at 4K Ultra compare to 4K Low?

A: At 4K Ultra, the system averages 72 FPS, while at 4K Low, it averages 150 FPS. This indicates a significant performance cost for the Ultra preset, which is more than double the frame rate of the Low preset.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main limiting factor at 2560x1440?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1440p High, the system achieves 120 FPS, but at 1440p Low, it jumps to 239 FPS. This 119 FPS gap shows that the GPU is heavily taxed by the visual settings, while the CPU has sufficient headroom to deliver frames.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Medium and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 266 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 159 FPS. The Ultra preset is 40% slower than Medium, showing a clear trade-off for higher graphical fidelity.

Q: Does the system maintain a playable frame rate at 4K with the High preset?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 75 FPS, which is well above the standard 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the combo's performance rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1461 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination, broken down by resolution and settings preset.

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: 314 FPS
• Medium: 266 FPS (min: 226, max: 306)
• High: 166 FPS
• Ultra: 159 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: 239 FPS
• Medium: 192 FPS (min: 163, max: 220)
• High: 120 FPS
• Ultra: 114 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: 150 FPS
• Medium: 120 FPS (min: 102, max: 138)
• High: 75 FPS
• Ultra: 72 FPS

The data shows a consistent hierarchy: Low > Medium > High > Ultra at every resolution. The gap between High and Ultra is relatively small, often only a few FPS, while the jump from Medium to High is substantial. For example, at 1440p, the difference between High (120 FPS) and Ultra (114 FPS) is just 6 FPS, but the difference between Medium (192 FPS) and High (120 FPS) is 72 FPS. This pattern suggests that the Ultra preset offers marginal visual gains for a significant performance hit, while the High preset provides a more balanced experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players using a 1080p display, the Medium preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 266 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor. The High preset at 166 FPS is also excellent, and the Ultra preset at 159 FPS remains highly playable, offering the highest visual quality without dropping below the 144 FPS threshold for most high-end displays.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is again the standout performer, averaging 192 FPS. This provides a great balance for 144Hz monitors. The High preset at 120 FPS is also a strong option for 120Hz displays, and it offers better visual fidelity than Medium. The Ultra preset at 114 FPS is still smooth but begins to show diminishing returns. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset at 120 FPS is the clear winner, as it provides a high frame rate that is playable on 120Hz displays. The High preset at 75 FPS is a solid choice for 60Hz displays, offering better visuals than Medium. The Ultra preset at 72 FPS is nearly identical to High in performance but offers the maximum visual quality, making it a viable option for those who prioritize graphics over a high refresh rate.

Overall, the Medium preset offers the best performance-per-visual-quality trade-off across all resolutions, consistently delivering frame rates that are significantly higher than High or Ultra. The High preset is the best choice for those who want a balance of visual fidelity and high refresh rates, while the Ultra preset is best reserved for 4K displays where the frame rate is still playable, or for players who value absolute graphical detail over raw speed.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of all tested hardware combinations for Inside, this configuration of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is positioned solidly in the upper half of the performance spectrum. It holds a rank of 1461 out of 2887 total combos, placing it in the 49.4th percentile of all tested systems. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the raw power of the RTX 4070, but it reflects the fact that Inside is not a demanding game, and many older or more specialized CPUs can achieve similar frame rates when paired with a capable GPU.

The ranking indicates that while this combo is fast, it is not at the very top of the leaderboard. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as its performance is on par with processors like the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, which have deltas of 0% and 0.1% respectively. The GPU's performance is also not the sole determinant, as it sits close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, which has a delta of -1.3%. This suggests that the system's overall rank is a product of the balanced, yet not extreme, performance of both components. The fact that the combo is not in the top 50% of all configurations is likely due to the inclusion of many desktop systems with higher-end CPUs and GPUs, which can produce even higher frame rates in this low-demand title. For a mobile CPU paired with a desktop GPU, this result is respectable, showing that the RTX 4070 is being utilized effectively, but the overall rank highlights that for a game like Inside, the performance ceiling is often set by the GPU's ability to push frames at high refresh rates, and this combo is very capable but not the absolute fastest.