Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 produces a strong showing in Inside, a 2D puzzle platformer that relies more on raw frame throughput than complex physics. The measured data places this combination in the 2237th position out of 3716 tested combos, putting it in the upper 40% of all systems evaluated. That ranking is respectable, though not elite, and reflects a hardware pairing that delivers consistently high frame rates across all tested configurations. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of running the game smoothly at high refresh rates, with performance headroom that becomes apparent at lower resolutions and settings. The ranking percentile is not overwhelming, but the absolute FPS numbers are, which suggests that the position in the overall database is dragged down by systems with more powerful desktop components, rather than by any weakness in this mobile pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2237 out of 3716 indicates that this hardware combination sits slightly above the midpoint of all tested configurations for Inside. While the absolute frame rates are high, the relative position is tempered by the fact that many competing combos feature more powerful desktop GPUs or higher-end mobile parts. The data shows a system that is overperforming for its class, but the sheer number of combos ahead of it (1479) means that a top-tier placement was never realistic. The rank is more meaningful when viewed as a percentile: this combo outperforms roughly 60% of all tested systems, which is a solid result for a mobile processor and a mid-range GPU. The fact that the RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile for all GPUs and the Core Ultra 7 165H sits in the 84th percentile for all CPUs suggests that the processor is doing more heavy lifting in the database ranking than the graphics card, but in-game, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates.

The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database provide context for the processor's contribution. The Core Ultra 7 165H scores an average benchmark of 34083, which is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, 0.4% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4244P, and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X. These delta percentages are minuscule, indicating that the processor is not the bottleneck in this system, nor is it providing a significant advantage over similarly priced or positioned CPUs. In the context of Inside, this means that the CPU's 16 cores and 22 threads are more than sufficient to feed the GPU, and the frame rates achieved are almost entirely dependent on the RTX 4060's capabilities. The GPU benchmark data reinforces this, as the RTX 4060's average score of 17639 is only 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7790, 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 780M, and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 560. These are not the rivals one would expect for a modern GPU, which highlights that the RTX 4060's raw compute power is being compared against older or integrated parts, yet in this game, it delivers excellent results.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process node. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a shared 24 MB L3 cache. For a game like Inside, which is a 2D puzzle platformer with relatively simple AI and physics, the CPU is rarely the limiting factor. The data confirms this: at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 297 FPS, which is a massive frame rate that would be impossible if the CPU were struggling to keep up. The processor's high single-core performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1759, is more than adequate for the game's logic and rendering calls. The multi-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14551, is similarly robust, but the game likely only uses a few threads, making the 16-core count more of a marketing point than a practical advantage here.

The passmark physics score of 1806 is worth noting, as it suggests the processor can handle the game's collision detection and object interactions without issue. The data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution or setting tested. Even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is under maximum load, the system still manages 64 FPS, which is well above the playable threshold. The processor's 28 W TDP is low, but this does not translate into performance limitations in this title. The benchmark results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 165H is a capable gaming CPU for this genre, but its role is secondary to the GPU. The data compression score of 291161 and integer math score of 89415 are high, but they are irrelevant to gaming performance in Inside. The processor's real contribution is ensuring that the GPU never waits for data, and the high frame rates across all settings suggest that this is exactly what happens.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 297 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the peak performance point for this hardware pairing in Inside.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the system delivers an average of 67 FPS on High settings and 64 FPS on Ultra settings. On Medium settings, it averages 107 FPS, and on Low settings, it averages 134 FPS. The 4K performance is strong, with even the most demanding preset staying above 60 FPS.

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

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 297 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 64 FPS. This resolution-dependent scaling indicates that the RTX 4060 is the bottleneck, while the Core Ultra 7 165H has ample headroom.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce an average of 213 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 102 FPS. This is a 111 FPS difference, representing a 52% drop in frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Does the combo support high refresh rate monitors at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080, the system averages 148 FPS on High settings, 237 FPS on Medium, and 141 FPS on Ultra. All of these are above 120 FPS, making the combo suitable for 144Hz displays, especially on Medium or High presets.

Q: How does the combo's ranking compare to its raw performance?

A: The combo is ranked 2237 out of 3716, which is in the upper 40% of all tested systems. However, the raw frame rates are excellent, suggesting the ranking is influenced by the presence of more powerful desktop combos rather than any weakness in this mobile pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. On Low settings, the average frame rate is 297 FPS, which is a phenomenal result for a mobile GPU. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 237 FPS, with a minimum of 202 FPS and a maximum of 273 FPS, showing that the frame pacing is consistent even under load. High settings produce an average of 148 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 141 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is minimal, only 7 FPS, which suggests that the Ultra preset adds visual features that have a modest impact on performance. The 1080p results show that this combo is ideal for high refresh rate gaming, with even Ultra settings staying comfortably above 120 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales as expected. Low settings average 213 FPS, Medium settings average 171 FPS with a minimum of 145 FPS and a maximum of 196 FPS, High settings average 107 FPS, and Ultra settings average 102 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant but not drastic, with the Low preset losing 84 FPS and the Ultra preset losing 39 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that the GPU is starting to work harder, but the system remains playable on all presets, with even Ultra staying above 100 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 145 FPS is particularly noteworthy, as it shows stable performance that would be excellent for a 144Hz monitor at this resolution. High and Ultra are also viable, but the frame rates hover just above the 100 FPS mark, which is still smooth for a puzzle platformer.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed to its limits. Low settings average 134 FPS, Medium settings average 107 FPS with a minimum of 91 FPS and a maximum of 123 FPS, High settings average 67 FPS, and Ultra settings average 64 FPS. The 4K results show a clear bifurcation: Low and Medium are highly playable, while High and Ultra are just above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset's minimum of 91 FPS is impressive, indicating that the 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for the game's textures at this resolution. The transition from Medium to High is steep, with a 40 FPS drop, which suggests that the High preset enables effects that are particularly demanding on the RTX 4060. Ultra is only 3 FPS slower than High, meaning that the visual difference between the two is likely minimal but the performance cost is similar.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data reveals how the system's performance degrades as pixel count increases. From 1080p to 1440p, the average frame rate across all settings drops by approximately 28%. For example, on Low settings, the frame rate goes from 297 FPS to 213 FPS, a 28% reduction. On Medium, it goes from 237 FPS to 171 FPS, a 28% reduction. On High, it goes from 148 FPS to 107 FPS, a 28% reduction. On Ultra, it goes from 141 FPS to 102 FPS, a 28% reduction. This consistent scaling indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the frame rate drop is directly proportional to the increase in pixel count. The CPU is not introducing any bottlenecks, as the scaling is predictable and uniform.

From 1440p to 4K, the scaling is more pronounced. On Low settings, the frame rate drops from 213 FPS to 134 FPS, a 37% reduction. On Medium, it drops from 171 FPS to 107 FPS, a 37% reduction. On High, it drops from 107 FPS to 67 FPS, a 37% reduction. On Ultra, it drops from 102 FPS to 64 FPS, a 37% reduction. The larger drop at 4K is expected because the pixel count more than doubles from 1440p, and the GPU's memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s becomes a limiting factor. The data shows that the RTX 4060 has enough bandwidth for 1440p gaming but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K on demanding presets. The resolution scaling confirms that this is a GPU-bound scenario, with the Core Ultra 7 165H providing all the necessary CPU performance without any measurable impact on frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and refresh rate preferences. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 141 FPS is the best choice for users with a 144Hz monitor, as it delivers the highest visual quality while staying above 120 FPS. For users with a 240Hz monitor, the Medium preset at 237 FPS is the better option, as it provides a significant frame rate boost with a moderate visual quality reduction. The High preset at 148 FPS is a middle ground, but the 7 FPS improvement over Ultra is negligible, making Ultra the better choice for most users. At this resolution, the system has enough headroom to run the game at maximum settings without compromising smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 171 FPS is the recommended choice for high refresh rate gaming, as it offers a smooth experience with a minimum of 145 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 107 FPS and 102 FPS, respectively, are also viable for 100Hz monitors, but they do not provide the same level of fluidity. The Low preset at 213 FPS is unnecessary, as the visual quality is too poor for a game like Inside that relies on atmosphere. For 1440p, Medium strikes the best balance between visual fidelity and performance. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 107 FPS is the clear winner, as it is the only preset that provides a high refresh rate experience at 4K. The Low preset at 134 FPS is also fast, but the visual compromises are too severe. High and Ultra at 67 FPS and 64 FPS are playable but do not offer the same smoothness, so Medium is the recommended preset for 4K displays.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a mobile GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process node. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with 3072 shading units and 24 RT cores. In Inside, the GPU is the dominant component, as evidenced by the resolution scaling data. The frame rate drops are directly correlated with the increase in pixel count, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game at all tested settings, as even at 4K Ultra, the system does not drop below 60 FPS, indicating that memory capacity is not a bottleneck. The GPU's FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS is more than enough for a 2D puzzle platformer, and the data confirms that the RTX 4060 is overqualified for this title.

The GPU benchmark results show that the RTX 4060 has an average score of 17639, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which is 0.2% faster, and the AMD Radeon 780M, which is 0.3% slower. These comparisons are misleading in the context of Inside, as the game's low graphical complexity means that even older GPUs can achieve high frame rates. The RTX 4060's real strength is its efficiency, as it delivers excellent 1080p and 1440p performance while maintaining a 115 W TDP. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, but this is not a weakness, as the game is still playable at all settings. The pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s are high enough to handle the game's art style without any issues. The RTX 4060's role in this combo is to provide the raw frame throughput, and the measured FPS data indicates that it does so admirably across all tested configurations.