Inside

# Inside — Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX + AMD Radeon 8050S

The measured frame rates for Inside with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and AMD Radeon 8050S reveal a combination that scales predictably across resolutions, with the GPU acting as the primary constraint at higher settings. This pairing sits in the 73rd percentile of all tested combos for this game, ranking 2105 out of 2887 total configurations. The data shows a puzzle platformer that is far from demanding, yet the performance curve still tells a clear story about where the bottleneck shifts as pixel count and graphical fidelity increase.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling, though the magnitude of the drop is heavily influenced by the chosen preset. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 cuts average FPS from 275 to 124, a reduction of 55%. This is a substantial hit, but the absolute numbers remain so high that the game stays comfortably playable even at 4K. The 2.2x pixel count increase from 1080p to 4K results in a 2.2x frame rate reduction at Low settings, indicating near-perfect scaling with no other limiting factor.

Moving to Medium settings, the same resolution jump sees average FPS fall from 220 to 100, a 55% drop that closely mirrors the Low settings pattern. The minimum frame rates also scale accordingly, with 1080p Medium showing 187 FPS minimums versus 4K Medium's 85 FPS minimums. This consistency suggests the GPU is the dominant constraint across all resolution points at these settings, with the CPU having ample headroom to feed the renderer.

High settings introduce a more interesting dynamic. The 1080p to 1440p transition drops FPS from 138 to 99, a 28% reduction, while the 1440p to 4K step falls from 99 to 62, a 37% reduction. This non-linear scaling hints that the GPU is becoming increasingly stressed as resolution climbs, with the 4K High result of 62 FPS representing the first point where the combo approaches the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset amplifies this trend: 1080p Ultra delivers 131 FPS, 1440p Ultra drops to 94 FPS, and 4K Ultra bottoms out at 59 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that falls below 60 FPS, suggesting that this is the outer limit of what this combination can sustain.

The data implies that Inside is not a particularly demanding title for this hardware. Even at 4K High, the combo maintains 62 FPS average, which is remarkable for an integrated-class GPU solution. The Radeon 8050S, being an IGP with shared system memory, shows its strength in this lightweight title. The scaling pattern across resolutions indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at all measured points, with no evidence of CPU or memory bandwidth bottlenecks appearing even at the lowest resolution and settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 8050S is built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture using a 4nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 308 mm². It operates with a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2800 MHz, delivering 11.47 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GPU features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, along with 32 ray tracing cores. Its memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning the VRAM size, type, bus width, and bandwidth are all dependent on the host system's DDR5 memory rather than dedicated graphics memory.

The shared memory architecture is a critical factor in understanding Inside's performance. Since the GPU uses system memory, the effective bandwidth is "System Dependent" per the specifications, which could theoretically create a bottleneck in memory-intensive scenarios. However, the benchmark results suggest that Inside does not stress this aspect of the hardware. The game's relatively simple 2D side-scrolling visuals, despite its atmospheric lighting and physics effects, do not require the massive memory bandwidth that modern 3D titles demand. The measured frame rates, reaching as high as 275 FPS at 1080p Low, indicate that the GPU's compute and fill rate capabilities are more than sufficient for this workload.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 62108. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M, which scores 61896 (a 0.3% difference), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 at 63693 (-2.5% delta). This positioning suggests the 8050S is a capable mobile-class GPU that punches above its integrated nature. In Inside specifically, the 4K Ultra result of 59 FPS shows the GPU hitting its practical ceiling, while the 4K High result of 62 FPS indicates that one step down in settings provides a comfortable margin above playable thresholds.

The clock behavior is worth noting. With a boost clock of 2800 MHz, the 8050S runs at relatively high frequencies for an integrated part, likely contributing to its strong showing in this game. The pixel rate of 179.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 358.4 GTexel/s provide the raw throughput needed to handle Inside's visual effects, including its distinctive lighting and shadow work, without significant frame time spikes. The minimum FPS data at Medium settings (85 FPS at 4K, 135 FPS at 1440p, 187 FPS at 1080p) shows consistent frame pacing with no severe drops, indicating the GPU maintains stable performance under sustained load.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Inside at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes. At 4K High settings, the combo delivers 62 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. Even at 4K Ultra, it manages 59 FPS, just barely below that line. For a comfortable margin, 4K Medium provides 100 FPS average.

Q: How does the Radeon 8050S compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The 8050S has an average benchmark score of 62108, placing it 0.3% above the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (61896) and 2.5% below the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 (63693). It also trails the AMD Radeon RX 7600M by 2.6% (63775) and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT LP by 2.7% (63830).

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

A: At 1440p, the combo delivers between 94 FPS (Ultra) and 198 FPS (Low), making it an excellent sweet spot. 1080p offers higher frame rates (131-275 FPS) but the visual difference from 1440p may not justify the additional performance for a puzzle platformer.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting component at all measured resolutions and settings. The consistent scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, with frame rates dropping proportionally to pixel count increases, points to GPU-bound performance. The CPU has significant headroom, as evidenced by its 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: How does the Ultra 9 275HX compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The Ultra 9 275HX has an average benchmark score of 67469, placing it 0.3% below the Intel Xeon w5-3525 (67673) and 0.5% below the AMD EPYC 4484PX (67822). It also trails the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX by 0.6% (67868) but sits 0.7% above the Intel Xeon 6515P (67006).

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1080p Medium is 220, with a minimum of 187 FPS and a maximum of 253 FPS. This represents one of the best balance points between visual quality and performance in the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and AMD Radeon 8050S combination ranks 2105 out of 2887 tested combos for Inside, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the distribution. This ranking might seem surprising given the hardware's individual strengths, but it reflects the competitive landscape of tested configurations rather than any deficiency in this specific pairing.

The CPU component is notably strong. The Ultra 9 275HX sits in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 67469. Its nearest rivals are all professional-grade workstation processors: the Intel Xeon w5-3525, AMD EPYC 4484PX, and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX, all of which score within 0.6% of the Ultra 9. This places the mobile Intel chip in rarefied company, suggesting that CPU performance is not a limiting factor for this combo in Inside.

The GPU, while solid, is less dominant in its percentile ranking. The Radeon 8050S sits in the 89th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 62108. Its rivals are a mix of workstation and mobile parts, with the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M being the closest competitor at just 0.3% higher performance. This is a respectable showing for an integrated GPU, but it explains why the combo's overall ranking in Inside is not higher — the game is heavily GPU-bound, and the 8050S, while capable, does not match the performance of dedicated discrete GPUs that other combos in the database employ.

The rank of 2105 out of 2887 (approximately 73rd percentile) suggests that there are many tested configurations that achieve higher frame rates in this game. However, it is important to consider the context: Inside is an older title (released in 2016) that is not particularly demanding, so even mid-range dedicated GPUs from that era or later would likely outperform this integrated solution. The Ultra 9 275HX's strong CPU scores do not translate to a higher in-game ranking because the game's performance is almost entirely dictated by GPU capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the measured frame rates span a wide range depending on settings. Low settings produce the highest average at 275 FPS, followed by Medium at 220 FPS (with a minimum of 187 and maximum of 253), High at 138 FPS, and Ultra at 131 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 55 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is only 7 FPS, indicating diminishing returns from High to Ultra at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern persists but with lower absolute numbers. Low delivers 198 FPS average, Medium drops to 158 FPS (minimum 135, maximum 182), High comes in at 99 FPS, and Ultra at 94 FPS. The delta between High and Ultra remains small at 5 FPS, while the gap between Low and Medium is 40 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results compress further. Low still manages 124 FPS, Medium drops to 100 FPS (minimum 85, maximum 115), High falls to 62 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 59 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra shrinks to just 3 FPS, while the gap between Low and Medium is 24 FPS. Notably, the 4K Ultra result of 59 FPS is the only measured configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it the marginal case in the entire dataset.

The Medium settings rows are the only ones that include minimum and maximum FPS data, providing insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the spread between minimum and maximum is 66 FPS (187-253). At 1440p Medium, the spread is 47 FPS (135-182). At 4K Medium, the spread narrows to 30 FPS (85-115). This tightening of the frame rate range as resolution increases suggests that the GPU becomes more consistently loaded at higher resolutions, with fewer opportunities for frame rate spikes.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data suggests that Medium settings offer the best balance of visual quality and performance across all three resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 220 FPS average with a minimum of 187 FPS, providing a huge margin above any display refresh rate. At 1440p, Medium still achieves 158 FPS average with a 135 FPS minimum, comfortably exceeding 120 Hz displays. Even at 4K, Medium maintains 100 FPS average with an 85 FPS minimum, which is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay on standard 60 Hz panels.

High settings are viable but show significant diminishing returns. At 1080p, High delivers 138 FPS, which is still excellent, but the jump from High to Ultra only adds 7 FPS (131 FPS at Ultra). At 1440p, High provides 99 FPS, which is adequate for 60 Hz displays but below the 144 Hz threshold that many gamers target. At 4K, High falls to 62 FPS, which is barely above the 60 FPS line and leaves little headroom for frame time spikes.

Ultra settings are best avoided at higher resolutions. At 4K, Ultra produces 59 FPS, which is technically below the 60 FPS standard. While this is unlikely to be a significant issue in a slow-paced puzzle platformer like Inside, the visual difference between High and Ultra is minimal (3 FPS at 4K) while the performance cost is measurable. The data suggests that Ultra is the least efficient preset in terms of performance per visual quality gained.

For the best experience, the recommendation is 1440p Medium or 4K Medium, depending on the display resolution. The 1440p Medium result of 158 FPS average provides excellent smoothness with the option to enable higher refresh rates, while 4K Medium at 100 FPS offers a superior visual experience on 4K displays without sacrificing smoothness. If maximum visual fidelity is the priority, 1080p Ultra at 131 FPS is the highest settings configuration that maintains a triple-digit frame rate. Low settings are unnecessary for this game, as even Medium provides well above playable frame rates at all resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 3nm process. It features a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a TDP of 55W. The CPU includes 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache, totaling 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. It supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

In Inside, the CPU's role is minimal due to the game's low computational demands. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the limiting factor at all measured points, which means the Ultra 9 275HX has significant headroom. This is evident from the frame rate scaling: if the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at lower resolutions and settings, but instead they continue to scale linearly with GPU load.

The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce its capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35589 and single-core score of 2204 place it among the top tier of processors. The Geekbench multicore score of 20795 and single-core score of 2458 further confirm its strength. The PassMark multithread score of 55759 and single-thread score of 4713 show balanced performance across both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. In a game like Inside, which likely uses only a handful of threads for gameplay logic and physics, the Ultra 9's single-core performance is more than adequate.

The CPU's 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 67469, places it in the same performance class as workstation processors like the Intel Xeon w5-3525 and AMD EPYC 4484PX. This is remarkable for a mobile processor, but it does not translate into higher frame rates in Inside because the game simply does not demand that level of CPU performance. The 24 cores and 24 threads are largely idle during gameplay, with the game's physics and logic systems likely utilizing only a fraction of the available processing resources.

The memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s is shared with the GPU, which uses system memory for its frame buffer. In Inside, this shared memory configuration does not appear to create a bottleneck, as frame rates remain high even at 4K. The game's relatively modest memory requirements, combined with the CPU's robust memory controller, keep data flowing efficiently between the CPU, GPU, and system memory. The result is a combination where the CPU provides ample performance headroom, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of frame rates across all measured configurations.