Inside

Inside is a light, stylized puzzle platformer from 2016, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 shows a system that is dramatically overqualified for the task, delivering playable frame rates even at extreme resolutions. The measured results indicate that the primary performance ceiling in this title is the GPU, though the CPU's high core count and boost clocks ensure it never becomes a bottleneck. The data reveals a clear scaling pattern: as resolution increases, frame rates drop proportionally, confirming that the rendering load is the limiting factor rather than physics or game logic.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a very predictable and steep decline in performance as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 144 FPS at 1080p to 104 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 40 FPS, and then further down to 65 FPS at 4K. This represents a 55% decrease in performance from 1080p to 4K, which is a substantial scaling penalty that points directly at the GPU as the primary workload carrier. The RTX 5060, with its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus and 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, is being tasked with filling an increasing number of pixels, and the data shows it struggles to maintain high frame rates at the highest resolution.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at the Low preset, where the average frame rate at 1080p is 288 FPS, dropping to 207 FPS at 1440p and 130 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is roughly 55%, nearly identical to the High preset's scaling. This consistency across different quality settings is a strong indicator that the bottleneck is purely resolution-driven pixel throughput, not shader complexity or texture memory. When settings are lowered, the GPU has more headroom to push raw pixels, but the resolution wall remains, and the frame rate still falls off a cliff at 4K.

At the Medium preset, we see a similar trend with 230 FPS at 1080p, 166 FPS at 1440p, and 104 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the lowest overall performance, with 137 FPS at 1080p, 99 FPS at 1440p, and 62 FPS at 4K. The fact that the Ultra preset at 4K still manages to hold above 60 FPS is notable, but the data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at a certain level regardless of resolution, but the continuous downward slope in the data proves the opposite.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40642 and a single-core score of 5737. The data also shows it ranks in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 63173. This places it in the top tier of mobile processors, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13790F, which is only 0.1% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, which is 0.2% behind.

In the context of Inside, a game that is not known for being CPU-intensive, this processor is far more powerful than necessary. The game's puzzle platformer genre typically relies on simple physics and collision detection, which do not scale well with high core counts. The 20 cores and 20 threads are essentially idle during gameplay, as the engine is likely using only a handful of threads for game logic and rendering commands. The high boost clock of 5.30 GHz, however, does help ensure that any single-threaded tasks are completed with minimal latency, which is beneficial for maintaining consistent frame pacing.

The passmark single-thread score of 4500 is solid, and the passmark physics score of 2978 suggests that the CPU can handle any physics calculations the game throws at it without breaking a sweat. However, the benchmark results indicate that the CPU's role in this particular game is minimal. The measured FPS data shows no signs of CPU-induced stuttering or frame drops, even at the lowest resolution where the GPU is most likely to be underutilized. At 1080p Low, the system hits 288 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate of most displays, and the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor at that point.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the workhorse in this configuration, and the benchmark data shows it is the component that determines the playable experience in Inside. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a memory clock of 1750 MHz and an effective bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz, and it has 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The RTX 5060's average benchmark score is 26331, placing it in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon 860M at 0.3% behind and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT at 1.2% ahead.

For a game like Inside, which has a stylized, monochromatic art style, the GPU's raw compute power is more than sufficient. The 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is overkill for the game's simple shaders and lighting effects. However, the 8 GB of VRAM could be a concern at higher resolutions if the game were more texture-heavy, but the measured data shows that the GPU handles all settings and resolutions without any signs of memory pressure. The 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth is also more than enough for the game's asset streaming, as evidenced by the consistent frame rates.

The GPU's role is most clearly defined by the resolution scaling data. At 1080p, the RTX 5060 is able to deliver 288 FPS at Low settings, which indicates that the GPU is not fully saturated at that resolution and settings combination. As resolution increases, the GPU becomes more utilized, and the frame rates drop accordingly. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is clearly working hard to maintain an average of 62 FPS, which is the lowest measured result in the dataset. This shows that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance in this game, and the CPU is merely along for the ride.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this system performs across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 288 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. The Medium preset drops to 230 FPS with a minimum of 196 FPS and a maximum of 265 FPS, showing a stable range. The High preset delivers 144 FPS, and the Ultra preset rounds out the 1080p results with 137 FPS. All of these averages are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p a resolution where the system has significant headroom.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are noticeable but still maintain high playability. Low settings average 207 FPS, Medium averages 166 FPS with a minimum of 141 FPS and a maximum of 191 FPS, High averages 104 FPS, and Ultra averages 99 FPS. The 1440p results show that the system is still capable of driving high refresh rate monitors, even at the Ultra preset which stays just under 100 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 141 FPS is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates that even the lowest frame rates are comfortably above 144 Hz.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. Low settings average 130 FPS, which is still very playable, but the Medium preset drops to 104 FPS with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. High settings average 65 FPS, and Ultra settings average 62 FPS. The 4K results show that the system can handle 4K gaming, but only at the cost of either lower settings or accepting a frame rate that hovers around 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 62 FPS, is right at the edge of what many consider the minimum for smooth gameplay, and the lack of a min FPS value for that setting suggests the data may not fully capture potential drops.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the benchmark data shows that at 3840x2160, the system averages 65 FPS on High settings and 62 FPS on Ultra settings, both of which are above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Inside with this hardware?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440, the system delivers an average of 104 FPS on High settings and 99 FPS on Ultra, making it an excellent choice for high refresh rate gaming without sacrificing visual quality.

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

A: The resolution scaling data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor. As resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, frame rates drop by approximately 55%, while the CPU's high single-thread and multi-thread scores suggest it is not being fully taxed.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331, which is 0.3% behind the AMD Radeon 860M and 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, according to the nearestRivals data.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this system?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 288 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the system maintain a consistent frame rate at Medium settings?

A: The data shows that at Medium settings, the system has a minimum of 89 FPS at 4K, 141 FPS at 1440p, and 196 FPS at 1080p, indicating a stable and consistent performance range.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For players with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset at 137 FPS is the best choice, as it provides the highest visual quality while still delivering frame rates that exceed most 120 Hz monitors' capabilities. The High preset at 144 FPS is also a strong option for those who want a small performance buffer, but the visual difference between High and Ultra in a game like Inside is likely minimal given its stylized art direction.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset at 99 FPS is the recommended choice for those with a 100 Hz or lower refresh rate monitor, as it delivers the best visual experience without dropping below the 60 FPS threshold. However, for gamers with a 144 Hz display, the High preset at 104 FPS is a more balanced option, as it provides a 5 FPS improvement over Ultra while still maintaining high visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 166 FPS is the best option for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, as it offers a significant performance boost while still looking polished.

For 4K gaming, the data suggests that the High preset at 65 FPS is the sweet spot, as it provides a playable frame rate while maintaining good visual quality. The Ultra preset at 62 FPS is technically playable but leaves very little headroom, and any demanding scene could cause frame drops. The Medium preset at 104 FPS is the best choice for 4K if you want to ensure a smoother experience, but it comes at the cost of reduced visual fidelity. Overall, the data indicates that the High preset is the most balanced choice across all resolutions, offering a good mix of performance and quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1864 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the hardware's individual benchmark scores, but it reflects the fact that Inside is not a demanding game, and many older or less powerful combos can achieve similar frame rates. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking and the GPU's 72nd percentile ranking do not translate into a top-tier ranking for this specific title, as the game's simple graphics and low system requirements mean that even mid-range hardware can produce high frame rates.

The combo's rank of 1864 out of 2887 suggests that there are 1023 other tested combinations that perform better in this game, likely due to more powerful GPUs that can push higher frame rates at 4K or maintain higher averages at lower resolutions. The RTX 5060's 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are not limiting factors in this game, but its overall performance is still outclassed by higher-end GPUs in the database. The data shows that while this combo is perfectly capable of playing Inside at high frame rates, it sits in the middle of the pack when compared to other systems, which reflects the game's low hardware requirements rather than a reflection of the components' quality.