Inside

Inside is a 2016 puzzle platformer that remains a demanding showcase due to its atmospheric lighting and physics-based interactions. For the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H paired with the AMD Radeon 8060S, the benchmark data indicates a configuration that handles the game with considerable authority across all tested resolutions, though the performance ceiling is clearly defined by the GPU’s capabilities rather than the CPU. The measured frame rates show a system that is more than adequate for smooth gameplay, with the primary trade-offs occurring between visual fidelity and raw frame rate output.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and AMD Radeon 8060S secures a combo rank of 1600 out of 2887 tested combinations in Inside. This places the pairing in the upper-middle portion of the database, indicating that while it is not the absolute top-tier setup for this specific title, it significantly outperforms a majority of other tested configurations. The rank suggests a balanced pairing where neither component becomes a severe bottleneck, but the overall score is influenced by other, more powerful combos that achieve higher frame rates at maximum settings.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 35670 places it in the 85th percentile among all tested processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 with a score of 35719 (a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core 7 250H with a score of 35728 (a 0.2% difference). The data shows the Core Ultra 9 185H is effectively performance-equivalent to these competitors, with deltas of less than one percent. This suggests that in a game like Inside, which is not heavily multithreaded, the CPU’s 16 cores and 22 threads provide ample headroom, and the processor is unlikely to be the limiting factor in frame rate generation.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon 8060S achieves an average benchmark score of 55757, placing it in the 87th percentile among all GPUs. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which scores 55698, a mere 0.1% difference. The data also shows it outperforming the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 by 0.6% and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X by 1.7%. This indicates that the Radeon 8060S is a high-performing integrated GPU, capable of competing with dedicated discrete graphics cards. For Inside, this GPU strength translates directly into high frame rates, as the game’s rendering engine scales well with raw GPU compute and pixel throughput.

The combo’s overall rank of 1600 reflects the synergy of a top-tier mobile CPU and a strong integrated GPU. While the CPU’s performance is largely academic for this title, the GPU’s 87th percentile standing is the primary driver of the frame rates observed. The rank implies that users can expect a fluid experience at high settings, but those seeking the absolute highest frame rates at 4K Ultra may find the configuration near its limits, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8060S is the decisive component in this configuration’s Inside performance. Its memory configuration is designated as "System Shared," meaning it utilizes the system’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is also labeled as "System Dependent," which indicates that performance can vary based on the system’s RAM speed and configuration. This is a crucial detail, as the GPU’s ability to feed its 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs is tied to the memory subsystem’s efficiency. In practice, the shared memory architecture allows for flexible allocation, but it also means that the GPU’s performance is intrinsically linked to the CPU’s memory controller and the installed DDR5 memory.

The GPU’s clock speeds are notably high for an integrated part, with a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2900 MHz. This high boost clock is a significant factor in the observed frame rates, as it allows the GPU to rapidly process the relatively simple geometry and lighting effects in Inside. The pixel rate of 185.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 464.0 GTexel/s further support the GPU’s ability to handle high resolutions. The FP32 performance of 14.85 TFLOPS provides the raw compute necessary for the game’s physics simulations and post-processing effects. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 309 FPS, which suggests the GPU is far from saturated at lower resolutions, and the CPU is providing enough throughput to keep the render pipeline full.

The GPU’s support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6 ensures full compatibility with the game’s rendering paths. The RDNA 3.5 architecture on the 4 nm process node delivers the efficiency needed to sustain high clocks within a 55 W TDP. The performance relative to its rivals is telling: it is essentially tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, a dedicated desktop card with its own memory, and it surpasses the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 in this specific benchmark aggregate. This indicates that the Radeon 8060S is not just a capable iGPU; it is a legitimate high-performance graphics solution, making it the primary reason the combo achieves such high frame rates in Inside.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank for Inside?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and AMD Radeon 8060S combination ranks 1600 out of 2887 tested combos for this game, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Radeon 8060S has an average benchmark score of 55757, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55698) and 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (56083).

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 309 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 70 on High settings and 67 on Ultra, while the CPU’s high benchmark scores indicate it has significant headroom.

Q: Does the CPU’s performance affect the frame rates?

A: The Core Ultra 9 185H scores in the 85th percentile of all CPUs and is nearly identical to its rivals, with deltas of -0.1% to -0.7%. Given the high frame rates observed even at 1080p, the CPU is not a bottleneck in this title.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory configuration?

A: The GPU uses "System Shared" memory with a "System Dependent" bandwidth, meaning it relies on the system’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, which can influence performance based on system RAM.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional frame rates. On Low settings, it averages 309 FPS, which is more than sufficient for any high-refresh-rate monitor. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 247 FPS, with a minimum of 210 FPS and a maximum of 284 FPS, still providing a very smooth experience. High settings yield 155 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 147 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the GPU is powerful enough to maintain high frame rates even at the highest quality presets, with only a 52% performance drop from Low to Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high, but the GPU begins to feel the load. Low settings average 222 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings average 178 FPS, with a minimum of 151 FPS and a maximum of 205 FPS. High settings produce 111 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 106 FPS. The data shows a more pronounced scaling from Low to Ultra, with a 52% reduction in average FPS, similar to the 1080p scaling. The 1440p results indicate that the GPU can handle the increased pixel count while still providing playable frame rates at all settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 140 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings average 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 128 FPS, which is a solid experience. However, High settings drop to 70 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 67 FPS. This represents a significant reduction in performance compared to lower resolutions. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is steep, and the data indicates that for 4K gaming, users will need to compromise on settings to maintain higher frame rates, as the 67 FPS at Ultra is below the 70+ FPS threshold often desired for smooth gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K provides insight into the system’s bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 309 at 1080p to 222 at 1440p and then to 140 at 4K. This represents a 28% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a 55% decrease from 1080p to 4K. This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the increased pixel count directly impacts the render time. The CPU, with its high performance and multiple cores, is not the limiting factor here, as the frame rates are not plateauing due to CPU limitations.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar but slightly different. The average FPS is 247 at 1080p, 178 at 1440p, and 112 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28%, and from 1080p to 4K is 55%. This consistency across settings suggests that the GPU’s workload scales linearly with resolution, which is expected for a game like Inside that relies on pixel shading and fill rate. The minimum FPS at Medium settings also shows a clear trend: 210 at 1080p, 151 at 1440p, and 95 at 4K, indicating that the lower percentiles are also being impacted by the resolution.

At High settings, the average FPS drops from 155 at 1080p to 111 at 1440p and 70 at 4K. This is a 28% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 55% drop from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with the other settings, reinforcing that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The data indicates that the Radeon 8060S, despite its high performance, cannot maintain the same relative frame rates as the resolution increases. The limiting component is clearly the GPU’s execution units and memory bandwidth, which are stressed by the higher pixel load. The CPU’s role is minimal, as it has ample headroom to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s resolution and performance priorities. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 147 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a high-quality visual experience. The performance difference between High (155 FPS) and Ultra (147 FPS) is minimal, so enabling Ultra for the best visual fidelity is recommended. The Medium preset offers 247 FPS, but the visual downgrade from Ultra is likely noticeable, so it is only necessary for those seeking extreme refresh rates beyond 240Hz.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the recommended balance. It achieves an average of 111 FPS, which is smooth and responsive. The Ultra preset drops to 106 FPS, which is still playable, but the performance gain from High to Ultra is not worth the potential frame rate dips in more demanding scenes. The Medium preset offers 178 FPS, but High provides a better visual experience with a performance hit that is acceptable for most users. For those with 144Hz monitors, High is the sweet spot, as it stays above the refresh rate in most instances.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the best recommendation. It delivers an average of 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience. The High preset drops to 70 FPS, which is playable but may feel less fluid in fast-moving sections. The Ultra preset at 67 FPS is the least desirable, as it sits near the edge of the playable threshold. The Low preset offers 140 FPS, but the visual quality compromise is significant. Therefore, Medium is the optimal choice for 4K, as it provides a high frame rate while maintaining acceptable visual fidelity. For users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, High is a viable option, but the data suggests that Medium offers the best overall experience for 4K on this hardware.