Inside

Inside is a 2D puzzle platformer from 2016, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the Intel Arc B570 shows a system that is heavily skewed toward CPU performance. The Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This high core count and boost capability place the CPU in the 93rd percentile among all tested processors, indicating it is far more powerful than what a game like Inside would typically require. The Arc B570, by contrast, sits in the 65th percentile for GPUs, making it the more likely constraint in this pairing. The data shows a clear pattern: at lower resolutions, the system delivers extremely high framerates, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, particularly at the highest settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a desktop processor with 20 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that is typically aimed at heavy multitasking and productivity workloads rather than gaming. Its base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz provide a wide frequency range, allowing it to scale from efficient low-load operation to high single-thread performance when needed. In the context of Inside, which is a puzzle platformer with relatively simple physics and geometry, the CPU is unlikely to be the bottleneck at any resolution. The benchmark results confirm this: even at 1080p Low, where the load on the CPU is proportionally highest, the system achieves an average of 240 FPS. This suggests that the CPU has ample headroom, and the game’s logic and rendering calls are being processed without any measurable delay from the processor side.

The CPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 42,216 points in multi-core and 5,960 points in single-core, while in PassMark’s multithread test it reaches 49,682 points. These numbers place it well above the average for all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in the overall benchmark database include the AMD EPYC 4464P, which scores 64,823 points (a delta of -0.3% relative to the Ultra 7 265), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which scores 64,438 points (a delta of +0.3%). The fact that the Ultra 7 265’s average benchmark score of 64,640 is nearly identical to these server-class or near-identical variants indicates that its performance is consistent and not artificially limited in any way. For Inside, this means the CPU is effectively a non-factor; the data shows no scenario where FPS drops can be attributed to processor limitations, as even the most demanding 4K Ultra settings (52 FPS average) would require the GPU to render four times the pixels of 1080p, not more CPU work.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is a mid-range graphics card built on the Xe2-HPG architecture, with a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for a game like Inside, which does not have large texture sets or complex shaders. The GPU also has 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, giving it a peak FP32 throughput of 11.52 TFLOPS. In the benchmark database, the Arc B570 scores 14,195 in PassMark’s G3D test and 2,649 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (average score 20,534, delta +0.1%) and the Intel Arc A750 (average score 20,582, delta -0.1%), indicating that the B570 performs at a level comparable to a previous-generation laptop GPU or an older desktop card.

In Inside, the GPU’s role becomes dominant at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits 240 FPS, but this drops to 192 FPS at Medium and 120 FPS at High. The pattern is consistent: each step up in settings reduces the average FPS, and the gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is from 240 FPS to 114 FPS. This is a GPU-driven scaling, as the CPU has been shown to have headroom. The Arc B570’s 10 GB VRAM is likely not a limiting factor at these settings, as the game is not memory-hungry, but the raw shading and fill rate capabilities are what govern the framerate. The pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s are modest figures, and the data suggests that the GPU is working near its limits at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS falls to 52.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected pattern of decreasing performance as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop varies significantly by settings. At Low settings, the system averages 240 FPS at 1080p, 172 FPS at 1440p, and 108 FPS at 4K. This represents a 28% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 37% drop from 1440p to 4K. At Medium settings, the averages are 192 FPS at 1080p, 138 FPS at 1440p, and 87 FPS at 4K, with drops of 28% and 37% respectively. The High settings show a similar relative decline: 120 FPS at 1080p, 86 FPS at 1440p, and 54 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, the averages are 114 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K.

The consistency of these percentage drops (roughly 28% from 1080p to 1440p, and 37% from 1440p to 4K) across all settings is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the scaling would be less linear, with smaller differences between resolutions as the CPU became saturated. Instead, the data shows that doubling the pixel count from 1080p to 4K (a 4x increase) results in roughly a 2.2x reduction in FPS at Low settings (from 240 to 108) and a 2.2x reduction at Ultra (from 114 to 52). This is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload scales with pixel count. The fact that the 4K Medium setting still achieves 87 FPS, while 4K Ultra drops to 52 FPS, further underscores that the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity are the determining factors, not the CPU or any memory bandwidth limitation.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 overkill for this game?

A: Yes. The CPU has 20 cores and 20 threads with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The benchmark data shows no scenario where the CPU limits performance, as even at 1080p Low the system hits 240 FPS, which is likely at or near the display refresh rate limit.

Q: Can the Intel Arc B570 handle 4K gaming in Inside?

A: At 4K Low, the system averages 108 FPS, and at 4K Medium it averages 87 FPS. However, at 4K High the average drops to 54 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 52 FPS. So, 4K is playable at lower settings, but High and Ultra settings will result in framerates below 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for a smooth experience?

A: At 1440p, all settings are playable, with Low averaging 172 FPS, Medium 138 FPS, High 86 FPS, and Ultra 82 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, 1440p High or Ultra is the highest resolution that maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B570’s average benchmark score is 20,556. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20,534 (a delta of +0.1% relative to the B570), and the Intel Arc A750 scores 20,582 (a delta of -0.1%). This indicates the B570 performs nearly identically to these two GPUs.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution?

A: At 1080p, Low averages 240 FPS and Ultra averages 114 FPS, a difference of 126 FPS. At 1440p, Low averages 172 FPS and Ultra averages 82 FPS, a difference of 90 FPS. At 4K, Low averages 108 FPS and Ultra averages 52 FPS, a difference of 56 FPS.

Q: Does the system have enough VRAM for this game?

A: The Arc B570 has 10 GB of GDDR6 memory. Inside is a 2D puzzle platformer from 2016, and the benchmark data does not show any memory-related stutters or crashes. The VRAM is more than sufficient for the game’s requirements at all tested resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2301 out of 2887 tested combos in this game. This places it in the bottom 20% of all system configurations, which is surprising given the individual components’ benchmark scores. The CPU is in the 93rd percentile, and the GPU is in the 65th percentile, yet the combo rank is low. This discrepancy suggests that Inside is not a demanding title, and most other tested combos likely include more powerful GPUs or are paired with CPUs that are more balanced for gaming. The data indicates that the Arc B570 is the weak link in this pairing, as it is a mid-range GPU that struggles to maintain high framerates at 4K. The rank of 2301 means that 586 other combos performed worse, but the vast majority (2,301) of tested configurations delivered better results in this game. This is likely because Inside is a lightweight title, and even older or lower-end GPUs can achieve high FPS with a strong CPU, making the GPU’s mid-range position more impactful on the overall ranking.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired framerate. For 1080p, the system is capable of running the game at Ultra settings with an average of 114 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. For a higher refresh rate display, Medium settings at 1080p deliver 192 FPS, and Low settings reach 240 FPS, making these choices ideal for 144Hz or 240Hz monitors. At 1440p, Ultra settings average 82 FPS, which is still smooth, but High settings at 86 FPS offer a marginal improvement in stability. For a locked 60 FPS at 1440p, Medium settings provide 138 FPS, giving significant headroom. At 4K, the story changes: Low settings average 108 FPS, and Medium averages 87 FPS, both of which are playable. However, High settings drop to 54 FPS, and Ultra to 52 FPS, which are below the 60 FPS target. Therefore, for 4K gaming, Medium settings are the highest that maintain a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, while Low is the safest choice for a near-constant high framerate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers the highest framerates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 240. Medium settings reduce this to 192 FPS, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 221 FPS. High settings average 120 FPS, and Ultra settings average 114 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 126 FPS, showing a significant impact from settings on performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the framerates drop across the board. Low settings average 172 FPS. Medium settings average 138 FPS, with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 159 FPS. High settings average 86 FPS, and Ultra settings average 82 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 90 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p but still substantial.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. Low settings average 108 FPS. Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. High settings average 54 FPS, and Ultra settings average 52 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 56 FPS, and notably, the High and Ultra settings are nearly identical, suggesting that the GPU is saturated and additional settings have diminishing returns. The minimum FPS of 74 at 4K Medium indicates that even this setting can dip below the average, but it remains above 60 FPS. Overall, the data shows that the system is best used at 1080p or 1440p with High or Ultra settings for a balanced experience, or at 4K with Low or Medium settings for playable framerates.