Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is a combination that delivers high refresh-rate performance in Inside, a game that is far more forgiving on hardware than most modern titles. The data shows this pairing ranks at 2117 out of 2887 tested combos for this specific game, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all configurations tested. This is a solid result, indicating that while there are many faster combos, this system is firmly in the upper tier for handling this puzzle platformer, capable of delivering smooth gameplay at high resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2117 out of 2887 might initially seem mid-pack, but it's crucial to contextualize this within the game's performance ceiling. Inside is not a demanding title, and the benchmark data shows that even at 4K Ultra, this combo manages an average of 59 FPS. This means the absolute performance is high enough to saturate most displays. The rank is influenced by the fact that many higher-end, newer, and much more expensive combinations can push frame rates into the 300s and beyond at lower resolutions, where the CPU and GPU are barely taxed. In relative terms, this combo is not bottlenecked in a way that causes poor playability; rather, it sits below the extreme enthusiast setups that achieve hundreds of frames per second.

Looking at the individual components' standings helps explain the combo's position. The CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, is a top-tier processor. It performs in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 93785. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are server-class chips like the Intel Xeon 6520P (scoring 93786, a 0% delta) and the AMD EPYC 4564P (scoring 95183, a -1.5% delta). This indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor. The GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, is less dominant in the current landscape. It sits in the 59th percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 16361. Its nearest rivals, like the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (scoring 16351, a 0.1% delta) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (scoring 16408, a -0.3% delta), show it is competitive with a specific performance bracket, but it is far from the top. Therefore, the combo's rank is largely dictated by the GPU's mid-range standing, while the CPU provides ample headroom. The result is a system that is far more capable than the GPU alone might suggest, especially in a game like Inside that doesn't heavily tax graphics hardware.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This kind of core count and clock speed is massive overkill for a game like Inside, which is a 2D puzzle platformer with relatively simple physics and logic. The data supports this: the CPU's single-thread performance is excellent, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2439, and its multi-core performance is equally impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253. In this game, the CPU is likely to be idle most of the time, waiting for the GPU to render frames.

The practical upshot is that the CPU's performance is a non-factor in this specific game. The benchmark results for this combo are a pure reflection of the GPU's capabilities. The massive 36 MB of shared L3 cache and the 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are more than sufficient to feed the GPU's requests. The CPU's role is to ensure that frame times are consistent and that there are no stutters or hitches, which its high single-thread score guarantees. It provides a performance ceiling so high that the game's engine will never be the bottleneck. This is the ideal scenario for a GPU that is not top-of-the-line; it ensures the GPU is always the limiting factor, allowing it to work at its maximum potential. The data shows this clearly, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 62 FPS. At Ultra settings, it drops slightly to 59 FPS, which is still playable. For a smoother experience at 4K, using Medium settings yields an average of 99 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS.

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

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with a Passmark multithread score of 68574. Given the game's age and genre, the CPU has far more performance headroom than the GPU, which is in the 59th percentile. The frame rates scaling with resolution and settings is a classic indicator of a GPU bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo perform at 1080p compared to 1440p?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 137. Moving to 2560x1440 with the same High settings, the average FPS is 99. The difference is significant and shows that the GPU is being taxed more as the resolution increases, but both are well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 144Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: To hit a 144Hz target at 2560x1440, you would need to use Low settings, which achieve an average of 198 FPS. Medium settings at this resolution average 158 FPS with a minimum of 134 FPS, which will be close to a 144Hz refresh rate but may occasionally dip below it.

Q: How does the RX 5700 XT compare to other GPUs in its performance class?

A: The RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 16361. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, which scores 16351 (a 0.1% delta), meaning the RX 5700 XT is essentially on par with it. It also trades blows with the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, which scores 16408 (a -0.3% delta for the RX 5700 XT).

*Q: Will the 8 GB of VRAM be a problem in Inside?*

A: No. The measured data shows high performance at all settings and resolutions, including 4K Ultra with an average of 59 FPS. The game is not VRAM-intensive, and the 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on the RX 5700 XT is ample for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo shows a clear and predictable performance curve across resolutions and settings. The game scales well, and the numbers indicate that the GPU is the primary driver of performance. Starting at the highest resolution, 3840x2160 (4K), the data shows the following:

• 3840x2160, Ultra: The average FPS is 59. This is the most demanding configuration and just misses the 60 FPS target for a perfectly smooth experience.
• 3840x2160, High: The average FPS increases to 62, a modest gain of 3 FPS over Ultra, indicating that the Ultra preset is not significantly more demanding than High.
• 3840x2160, Medium: The average FPS jumps to 99, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS. This is a significant improvement and provides a very comfortable margin above 60 FPS.
• 3840x2160, Low: The average FPS reaches 124, showing the game's scalability at 4K.

Moving down to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance increases are substantial, making this resolution the sweet spot for high refresh rate gaming:

• 2560x1440, Ultra: The average FPS is 94, which is a strong result and easily playable on a 60Hz or 90Hz display.
• 2560x1440, High: The average FPS increases to 99, matching the 4K Medium setting's average.
• 2560x1440, Medium: The average FPS climbs to 158, with a minimum of 134 FPS. This is where the combo starts to deliver high-refresh-rate performance.
• 2560x1440, Low: The average FPS reaches 198, a phenomenal result that will fully utilize a 144Hz or even 165Hz monitor.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the performance is extremely high, and the CPU's power becomes more apparent as the GPU has less work to do per frame:

• 1920x1080, Ultra: The average FPS is 131, which is excellent.
• 1920x1080, High: The average FPS is 137, a slight increase over Ultra.
• 1920x1080, Medium: The average FPS reaches 220, with a minimum of 187 FPS. This is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors.
• 1920x1080, Low: The average FPS is 275, proof of the game's optimization and the combo's capability at this resolution.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the defining component for this combo's gaming performance. It is based on the Navi 10 chip, which uses the RDNA 1.0 architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's core clocks are a base of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. These specifications, while not top-tier in 2024, are more than adequate for a game like Inside.

The data shows that the GPU's performance is the deciding factor in the frame rates. For example, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 59, which is a direct result of the GPU's pixel throughput and shading power. The GPU's 9.754 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 121.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are sufficient to handle the game's visual style. The 64 ROPs ensure that the final image is processed efficiently. The GPU's performance is consistent with its 59th percentile ranking, meaning it is an average-to-mid-range card. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, has a nearly identical average score, confirming that this level of performance is a known quantity. The fact that it is an end-of-life product doesn't change its ability to run this game well. The results show that the GPU provides a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, and a playable experience at 4K, especially when settings are adjusted.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend entirely on your display and performance targets. For a 60Hz display at 4K, the High preset is the best choice, as it provides an average of 62 FPS, just above the refresh rate. The Ultra preset is not worth the performance cost, as it only drops the average to 59 FPS with no clear visual benefit mentioned in the data. If you want a safety margin, the Medium preset at 4K is excellent, delivering an average of 99 FPS.

For users with a 144Hz monitor at 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point. It delivers an average of 158 FPS and a minimum of 134 FPS. While the minimum FPS is below the 144Hz target, it is still very high and will provide a mostly smooth experience. If you are sensitive to frame drops, the Low preset at 1440p will guarantee you stay well above the refresh rate, with an average of 198 FPS.

For 1080p gaming, the combo is so powerful that you can comfortably use the Ultra preset, which averages 131 FPS. This is an ideal configuration for a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor. If you have a 240Hz display, using the High preset (137 FPS) or Medium preset (220 FPS) will give you the best chance of hitting those high frame rates. In summary, the best experience is a balance of visual quality and frame rate. For most users, targeting 144Hz at 1440p with Medium settings offers the best combination of smoothness and image quality, while 4K users should stick to High settings for a locked 60 FPS experience.