Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer with a deliberately stark, monochrome visual style, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 shows a system that is overwhelmingly powerful for this title. The measured performance across all settings and resolutions is exceptionally high, with the lowest average frame rate recorded at 93 FPS in 4K Ultra. This indicates that the combination of the 20-core Arrow Lake processor and the RDNA 4.0 graphics card provides a massive surplus of performance, making the game's engine the primary limiting factor rather than the hardware itself. The data suggests a completely fluid experience regardless of the graphical configuration chosen.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. Its base clock is 2.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it features a 30 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU's benchmark scores are substantial, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs tested. In the context of Inside, a game that is not known for demanding physics or complex AI, this processor's capabilities are far beyond what is necessary to maintain high frame rates. The data confirms this, as the average FPS at 1080p Low hits 430, a figure that is almost certainly bottlenecked by the game's engine or the frame render pipeline, not the CPU's processing power.

The processor's performance relative to its nearest rivals in the database further underscores its strength. The data shows the Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, which is only 0.3% lower than the AMD EPYC 4464P and 0.7% higher than the AMD EPYC 7343. It also outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F by a margin of 0.3%. These are all high-end server and desktop parts, and the Ultra 7 265's position among them shows that its multi-threaded and single-threaded capabilities are top-tier. For a game like Inside, which was released in 2016, the single-thread performance is the most critical aspect, and the Passmark single-thread score of 4689 is more than sufficient to handle the game's logic without creating a bottleneck. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is effectively a non-factor in performance, allowing the GPU to dictate the final output.

The data also shows that the CPU's role is not just about raw speed but also about consistency. With 20 cores and 20 threads, the processor can handle any background tasks without impacting the game's frame pacing. However, the game itself is unlikely to use more than a few threads, so the vast majority of the CPU's potential is left untapped. The high clock speeds of 5.30 GHz are more relevant, ensuring that the primary game thread is processed as quickly as possible. This is reflected in the high minimum FPS figures recorded at the Medium settings, where the 1080p resolution shows a minimum of 294 FPS, indicating that even in more complex scenes, the CPU maintains a very high performance floor. The processor's 65W TDP also suggests it can sustain these high clocks without thermal throttling, further ensuring stable performance during extended play sessions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this CPU and GPU combination in Inside?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded in the measured data is 430 FPS, which was achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 compare to its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD EPYC 4464P's score of 64823. This places the two processors at a statistical dead heat in terms of overall performance.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU act as the primary bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is 93 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 1080p Ultra score of 206 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as the resolution increases, since the CPU's performance is likely sufficient to handle the lower-resolution frame rates.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 311 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 148 FPS. This represents a performance reduction of over 50% when moving from the lowest to the highest graphical settings.

Q: Is the AMD Radeon RX 9070's performance more similar to a modern card or an older one based on the benchmark data?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23877, which is 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z and 1.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile. This suggests its raw compute performance is in a similar tier to these older, high-end cards, despite its newer architecture.

Q: Is there a measurable frame rate difference between the Medium and High settings at any resolution?

A: Yes, at every resolution, the High setting delivers a lower average frame rate than the Medium setting. For example, at 3840x2160, Medium averages 157 FPS while High averages 98 FPS, showing a clear performance cost for the increased visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates show a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At the Low settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 430 FPS at 1920x1080 to 311 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 196 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 54% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, which is a direct consequence of the increased pixel count demanding more from the GPU. The performance scaling is not linear, but it is consistent, indicating that the GPU is being progressively more loaded as the resolution increases.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced at higher settings. At the Ultra preset, the average frame rate drops from 206 FPS at 1080p to 148 FPS at 1440p, and then to 93 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings is a 55% reduction in performance. This suggests that while the CPU is more than capable of handling the game's logic at any resolution, the AMD Radeon RX 9070's workload increases significantly with pixel count. The data indicates that the limiting component shifts from being almost entirely CPU-bound at 1080p Low to being firmly GPU-bound at 4K Ultra, where the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the deciding factors.

Looking at the difference between resolutions, the frame rate reduction from 1440p to 4K is more significant than from 1080p to 1440p. For instance, at Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 346 at 1080p to 249 at 1440p, a 28% decrease. However, the drop from 1440p to 4K is from 249 to 157, a 37% decrease. This non-linear scaling is typical, as the pixel count increases by a larger factor when moving to 4K (3840x2160 has 2.25 times the pixels of 2560x1440). The benchmark results indicate that for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, even the Ultra preset is sufficient, as it averages 93 FPS, but for maximum refresh rates, lower settings would be necessary.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination has a combo rank of 559 out of 2887 tested combinations in the database for this game. This places it in the top 20% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given the age of the game and the power of modern hardware. The rank demonstrates that this system is capable of delivering performance that is higher than the vast majority of other combinations tested, but it is not at the very top, likely due to the game's engine limiting the maximum achievable frame rate on even the most powerful hardware.

The rank of 559 is a reflection of the system's ability to maintain high frame rates at demanding resolutions. With an average of 93 FPS at 4K Ultra, it is clear that this combo can handle the game's maximum visual settings without dropping below a playable threshold. However, the fact that the system does not rank higher suggests that there are other combinations in the database that can achieve even higher frame rates, possibly due to more efficient CPUs or GPUs for this specific workload, or perhaps due to the use of lower settings that push frame rates higher. The data shows that this combo is a high performer, but not the absolute best, which is a nuanced position for a top-tier CPU and GPU pairing.

The combo's percentile ranking, derived from its position at 559 out of 2887, indicates that it outperforms roughly 80% of all other tested combinations. This is a significant achievement and highlights the capability of the hardware. The fact that the data is measured, rather than estimated, adds credibility to this ranking. It confirms that in a real-world scenario, this system provides an excellent experience for Inside, with performance that is only bested by a relatively small number of other, likely more specialized or extreme, hardware configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are exceptionally high, starting at 430 FPS for Low settings, dropping to 346 FPS for Medium, 217 FPS for High, and 206 FPS for Ultra. The Medium settings also recorded a minimum FPS of 294 and a maximum of 398, showing a tight frame time distribution. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is almost always limited by the CPU or game engine, as even the Ultra preset exceeds 200 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high but show the expected decline due to the increased pixel load. The Low preset averages 311 FPS, Medium averages 249 FPS (with a min of 212 and max of 287), High averages 156 FPS, and Ultra averages 148 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra at this resolution is only 8 FPS, which is a smaller difference than at other resolutions. This suggests that the Ultra preset's additional effects are not as demanding at 1440p, or that the GPU is starting to become the limiting factor, reducing the relative impact of the CPU. The data shows that even at 1440p, the system is capable of driving high refresh rate monitors at the highest settings.

At 3840x2160, the performance is still impressive but begins to show the GPU's workload. The Low preset averages 196 FPS, Medium averages 157 FPS (with a min of 133 and max of 180), High averages 98 FPS, and Ultra averages 93 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 4K is a mere 5 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset is not significantly more demanding than High. The data shows a clear trend: as resolution increases, the gap between settings narrows, confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, and the CPU's performance is no longer the limiting factor. The minimum FPS of 133 at 4K Medium shows that the system maintains a high frame rate floor even under load.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 depends on the user's display and performance goals. For gamers with a 1080p 60Hz or 144Hz monitor, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 206 FPS. This provides a visual experience with all effects enabled while still maintaining a frame rate that is far above any standard refresh rate. The High preset at 1080p is also a solid choice, offering 217 FPS, but the additional visual fidelity of Ultra comes at a negligible performance cost of only 11 FPS.

For 1440p users, the Ultra preset is again the best choice for the vast majority of displays, as it averages 148 FPS. This is more than enough for a 144Hz monitor and provides the best visual quality. The High preset at 1440p averages 156 FPS, which is slightly higher, but the difference is minor. The data shows that either High or Ultra will provide an excellent experience at this resolution, with both being well above the 60 FPS threshold. If a user has a 240Hz monitor, they might consider the Medium preset, which averages 249 FPS, to take full advantage of the display's high refresh rate.

At 4K resolution, the recommendations shift slightly. The Ultra preset averages 93 FPS, which is great for a 60Hz or 120Hz display, but it does not fully utilize a 144Hz monitor. For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, the High preset, averaging 98 FPS, is a reasonable choice. However, the Medium preset, with an average of 157 FPS, is the best option for users with high refresh rate 4K displays, as it provides a frame rate that is high enough to benefit from a 144Hz panel while still looking significantly better than Low. The Low preset at 4K averages 196 FPS, but the visual compromise is substantial. The data suggests that the Medium preset at 4K offers the best experience for most users, as it provides a high frame rate without sacrificing too much graphical fidelity.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a powerful graphics card built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture, featuring the Navi 48 chip manufactured on a 4 nm process. It has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The card's boost clock is 2520 MHz, and it has 3584 shading units. Its synthetic benchmarks are strong, with a Passmark G3D score of 25381 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6290, placing it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. For Inside, a game with simple 2D-like visuals despite its 3D rendering, this GPU provides an immense amount of raw power.

The GPU's role in this game is primarily to render the simple geometry and lighting effects at high resolutions. The benchmark data shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor only at 4K resolution with high settings. At 1080p and 1440p, the frame rates are so high that the GPU is likely not fully utilized, and the performance is instead capped by the CPU or the game's engine. For example, the 430 FPS average at 1080p Low reflects the GPU's efficiency, but it is clear that the game engine cannot go much higher, regardless of the GPU's capabilities.

The comparison with its nearest rivals shows the RX 9070's performance profile. Its average benchmark score of 23877 is 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z and 1.1% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile, but it is 0.8% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6800S. This indicates that while the RX 9070 is a high-performing card, its raw compute performance is in a similar tier to these previous-generation models, despite its newer architecture and features like ray tracing. In Inside, which does not use ray tracing, the card's traditional rasterization performance is what matters, and the data confirms it is more than sufficient. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM is also a non-issue for this game, as its memory requirements are minimal. The card's high pixel rate of 322.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 564.5 GTexel/s are more than enough to handle the game's rendering demands at any resolution.