Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 delivers exceptional performance in Inside, a title that is far more demanding on the GPU than the CPU at higher resolutions. The data indicates a combination capable of extreme frame rates, with the CPU providing ample headroom across all tested configurations.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a TSMC 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which are the primary drivers for its strong single-threaded performance. The processor features a substantial cache hierarchy, including 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 36 MB L3 cache, which helps feed data to the cores efficiently. Memory bandwidth is rated at 115.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface, and the chip supports ECC memory, which is notable for a desktop part.

In the context of Inside, a puzzle platformer, the CPU’s role is to maintain a stable frame pipeline, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 433 FPS, which is a figure that heavily relies on the CPU’s ability to process game logic and draw calls rapidly. The 24 cores provide massive parallel processing capability, but the game’s single-threaded nature is better served by the high boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and single-core score of 2439 demonstrate its raw throughput, while the Passmark single-thread score of 5068 indicates strong per-core performance that translates directly to high frame rates in lightly threaded scenarios.

The CPU sits in the 96th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 93785. Its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the Intel Xeon 6520P (matching at 93786, 0% delta), the AMD EPYC 4564P (95183, -1.5%), the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615, -1.9%), and the AMD EPYC 4565P (95764, -2.1%). This places the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in elite company, though the EPYC rivals are server-class parts with different power characteristics. For Inside, the practical takeaway is that the CPU has enough headroom to push frame rates well beyond the refresh rates of most displays, as evidenced by the 433 FPS low-settings result at 1080p.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 48 chip, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It packs 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s, which is ample for the textures and effects in Inside. The GPU’s boost clock is rated at 2520 MHz, with a game clock of 2070 MHz and a base clock of 1330 MHz. The memory operates at an effective speed of 20.1 Gbps. With 3584 shading units, 224 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, the card is capable of massive parallel output, and its pixel rate of 322.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 564.5 GTexel/s are direct indicators of its fill-rate capabilities.

In this game, the GPU becomes the dominant performance factor as resolution and settings increase. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: at 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 433 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 93 FPS. This indicates that while the GPU is very fast, the highest settings at 4K still present a significant workload. The 16 GB VRAM is never a constraint in Inside, as even at 4K Ultra, the frame rates remain playable, and there is no evidence of memory-related stuttering in the average FPS figures. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 25381 places it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23877. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z (23736, 0.6% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6800S (24063, -0.8%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile (23628, 1.1%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (24170, -1.2%). This suggests the RX 9070 is competitive with those parts in general compute, but its actual game performance in Inside is very strong, particularly at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 552nd out of 2887 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the top 19% of all combinations tested, which is a strong showing for this specific pairing. The rank reflects the aggregate performance across all resolutions and settings, and it indicates that the system is well-balanced for this title, though there are many faster combos (likely featuring higher-end GPUs) that achieve better average frame rates at 4K Ultra.

The relatively high rank of 552, despite the excellent 1080p and 1440p results, is likely dragged down by the 4K Ultra performance, where the RX 9070 falls to 93 FPS. Many competing combos with more powerful GPUs (such as the RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX, which are not in the fact pack but are implied by the rank) would achieve higher scores at that resolution. However, for the vast majority of players, this rank is more than adequate, as the system delivers well over 100 FPS at 1440p High and over 200 FPS at 1080p High. The combo’s performance is consistent with the GPU’s 69th percentile standing, but the CPU’s high percentile ensures no bottleneck, allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 433 FPS on Low, 346 FPS on Medium, 217 FPS on High, and 206 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1080p also recorded a minimum of 294 FPS and a maximum of 398 FPS, showing a tight frame pacing. At 2560x1440, the averages are 311 FPS on Low, 249 FPS on Medium, 156 FPS on High, and 148 FPS on Ultra. The 1440p Medium preset shows a minimum of 212 FPS and a maximum of 287 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down as expected: 196 FPS on Low, 157 FPS on Medium, 98 FPS on High, and 93 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Medium preset recorded a min of 133 FPS and a max of 180 FPS. The data reveals that the gap between High and Ultra is relatively small at each resolution: at 1080p, the difference is only 11 FPS (217 vs 206); at 1440p, it is 8 FPS (156 vs 148); and at 4K, it is 5 FPS (98 vs 93). This suggests that the Ultra preset adds little in terms of visual fidelity for a modest performance hit. Conversely, the jump from Low to Medium is significant, with a 75 FPS drop at 1080p (from 433 to 346) and a 39 FPS drop at 4K (from 196 to 157), indicating that Medium introduces substantially more rendering work.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a predictable pattern that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary limiting component at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 433 at 1080p to 311 at 1440p (a 28% reduction) and then to 196 at 4K (a 55% reduction from 1080p). At High settings, the drop is from 217 at 1080p to 156 at 1440p (a 28% reduction) and then to 98 at 4K (a 55% reduction). At Ultra, the drop is from 206 at 1080p to 148 at 1440p (a 28% reduction) and then to 93 at 4K (a 55% reduction).

This consistent 28% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and 55% reduction from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The pixel count increases by 78% from 1080p to 1440p, and by 300% from 1080p to 4K, yet the frame rate does not drop proportionally, which indicates that the GPU has enough bandwidth and compute to handle the increased load without a linear falloff. The CPU is clearly not the bottleneck here, as the frame rates at 1080p are exceptionally high, and the scaling is smooth and consistent. If the CPU were the limiter, we would expect to see a plateau at lower resolutions, but the data shows that the GPU still has headroom even at 1080p Low, where it reaches 433 FPS. The fact that the FPS scales down so predictably with resolution confirms that the RX 9070 is the component that determines performance as resolution increases, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus provides ample support.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience is achieved with the High preset at 1440p. This configuration delivers an average of 156 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many monitors, and it provides a significant visual improvement over Medium (which runs at 249 FPS but with less detail). The difference between High and Ultra at 1440p is only 8 FPS (156 vs 148), so High offers nearly all the visual quality of Ultra with a slight performance advantage. For players with 4K displays, the High preset at 98 FPS is the optimal choice, as it stays above 60 FPS and the jump to Ultra (93 FPS) yields only a 5 FPS loss without a meaningful quality gain.

At 1080p, the High preset at 217 FPS is the best balance, as it provides a very high frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors (240 Hz), and the Ultra preset at 206 FPS is almost identical in performance. The Low and Medium presets are not recommended for the best experience because they sacrifice visual fidelity for frame rates that are already beyond what most displays can show. In summary, 1440p High is the sweet spot for this combo, delivering 156 FPS with strong visuals, while 4K High is a solid choice for those who prioritize resolution over ultra-high frame rates. The Medium preset at 4K (157 FPS) is also viable, but the visual uplift to High is worth the 59 FPS cost, given that 98 FPS remains highly playable.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Inside?*

A: The highest average frame rate is 433 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo delivers an average of 93 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the consistent frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K. The CPU provides ample headroom, allowing the GPU to reach its full potential.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 156 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 148 FPS, a difference of only 8 FPS.

*Q: Does the combo have enough VRAM for Inside at maximum settings?*

A: Yes, the GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is more than sufficient for the game’s requirements, as no memory-related performance drops are indicated in the data.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum frame rate recorded is 294 FPS, with an average of 346 FPS and a maximum of 398 FPS.