Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics delivers a playable, though hardly spectacular, experience in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. The data measured for this combination shows a system where the GPU is the dominant constraint, with frame rates scaling predictably with resolution and settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across all tested configurations, contextualizes the results against the hardware’s own benchmark profiles, and offers practical guidance based solely on the provided figures.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with a thermal design power of 125 W. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The processor also integrates Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units, though the discrete GPU in this system is the Arc B390.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 60860, and its single-thread score is 4823. The average benchmark score across all tests is 84003, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 83807 (0.2% behind), while the AMD EPYC 4584PX scores 83090 (1.1% behind), and the AMD EPYC 9135 scores 82980 (1.2% behind). The AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 85072, which is 1.3% ahead of the 290K Plus.

For a game like Inside, which is a 2D puzzle platformer with relatively modest computational demands, this CPU is overwhelmingly overqualified. The measured frame rates across all resolution and settings combinations never exceed 108 FPS at 1080p Low, which suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor. Even at the lowest frame rate measured, 36 FPS at 4K Ultra, the CPU has ample headroom. The data indicates that the game’s performance is governed by the GPU, not the processor. The CPU’s high single-thread score of 7303 in Cinebench R23 and 4823 in PassMark single-thread tests would easily handle any physics or logic calculations Inside requires, but the measured FPS figures show no evidence of CPU bottlenecking, as the frame rates drop consistently with increased GPU load.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 3 nm process. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operations pipelines, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory is system-shared, with a bus width and bandwidth described as system-dependent. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, and the FP32 compute performance is 7.680 TFLOPS. The GPU has a TDP of 80 W and is classified as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no dedicated power connectors.

In the only benchmark listed, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the Arc B390 scores 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463 (1.3% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M with 1460 (1.5% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM with 1446 (2.5% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 with 1443 (2.7% behind). This places the Arc B390 at the very low end of the GPU performance spectrum, which is consistent with its integrated nature.

The measured FPS in Inside reflects this GPU limitation. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 108, which is the highest measured value. As the settings increase to Medium, the average drops to 91 FPS, then to 81 FPS at High, and finally 72 FPS at Ultra. The GPU’s shared memory architecture means it relies on system RAM, and its boost clock of 2500 MHz is the primary driver of performance. The data shows that the Arc B390 can handle Inside at playable frame rates, but the margin is thin at higher settings and resolutions. The GPU’s 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs is directly reflected in the measured results, where the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 4K even on Low settings (55 FPS average).

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 to 3840x2160, the frame rates drop consistently across every settings preset. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 108 at 1080p, to 82 at 1440p, to 55 at 4K. That represents a 24.1% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 33.0% drop from 1440p to 4K. At Medium settings, the averages are 91, 68, and 46 FPS for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K respectively, with corresponding drops of 25.3% and 32.4%. At High settings, the averages are 81, 61, and 41 FPS, showing drops of 24.7% and 32.8%. At Ultra settings, the averages are 72, 54, and 36 FPS, with drops of 25.0% and 33.3%.

The consistency of these percentage drops across all settings presets is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rates to remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU workload would not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the frame rates drop by roughly a quarter when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and by another third when moving from 1440p to 4K. This is a classic signature of GPU-bound performance, where the number of pixels being rendered directly impacts the frame rate.

The Arc B390’s limited compute power, as evidenced by its 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate, becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K, the GPU must process over four times as many pixels as at 1080p, and the measured frame rates reflect this. The 55 FPS at 4K Low is the only 4K configuration that approaches playability, while the 36 FPS at 4K Ultra is clearly below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The resolution scaling data firmly establishes that the GPU is the bottleneck in this system, and that the CPU has no influence on the performance ceiling in Inside.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and the user’s tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. At 1920x1080, all four settings presets produce average FPS above 70. The Low preset yields 108 FPS, Medium yields 91 FPS, High yields 81 FPS, and Ultra yields 72 FPS. For a smooth experience on a standard 60 Hz monitor, any of these presets would suffice, but the Medium preset at 91 FPS provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The High preset at 81 FPS is also acceptable, while the Ultra preset at 72 FPS is the most visually demanding but still playable.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 82 FPS, Medium produces 68 FPS, High produces 61 FPS, and Ultra produces 54 FPS. For 60 FPS gameplay at this resolution, the Low preset is the safest choice, as it provides the highest margin above the target. The Medium preset at 68 FPS is also viable, but the High preset at 61 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 54 FPS falls below 60 FPS. The data shows that the Medium preset is the best compromise at 1440p, offering 68 FPS with better visual fidelity than Low.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset produces 55 FPS, Medium produces 46 FPS, High produces 41 FPS, and Ultra produces 36 FPS. None of these configurations reach 60 FPS, so the user must accept a lower frame rate or reduce the resolution. The Low preset at 55 FPS is the only 4K configuration that is close to playable, but even this is below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 46 FPS and the High preset at 41 FPS are playable but noticeably less smooth, while the Ultra preset at 36 FPS is the least desirable.

The data suggests that the best experience for this system is at 1080p with the Medium or High preset, where the frame rates range from 81 to 91 FPS, providing a smooth and visually appealing experience. For users who prioritize higher resolutions, the 1440p Medium preset at 68 FPS is a reasonable choice, but the 4K options are all below 60 FPS and should be avoided if smooth gameplay is a priority.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS measured for this system in Inside?*

A: The highest average FPS is 108, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: At 4K resolution, which settings preset produces the highest average FPS?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low settings preset produces the highest average FPS at 55, followed by Medium at 46, High at 41, and Ultra at 36.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX, and 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9135. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is 1.3% higher than the 290K Plus.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs based on its benchmark score?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a percentile ranking of 9, meaning it performs better than only 9% of all GPUs, based on its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482.

*Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in Inside based on the measured data?*

A: The GPU is the limiting component. The frame rates drop consistently with resolution increases, which is a sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU has ample headroom, as evidenced by its high benchmark scores, but the measured FPS figures are constrained by the Arc B390’s low performance.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 68, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78.

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

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B390 combination in Inside is as follows.

At 1920x1080, the Low settings preset produces an average FPS of 108. The Medium preset produces an average of 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77 and a maximum of 104. The High preset produces an average of 81 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 72 FPS. These are the only configurations at this resolution that reach or exceed 72 FPS, with the Low preset being the only one to exceed 100 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low settings preset produces an average FPS of 82. The Medium preset produces an average of 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 and a maximum of 78. The High preset produces an average of 61 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 54 FPS. At this resolution, the Low preset is the only one that exceeds 80 FPS, while the Medium preset remains above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low settings preset produces an average FPS of 55. The Medium preset produces an average of 46 FPS, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. The High preset produces an average of 41 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 36 FPS. None of these configurations reach 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls below 40 FPS.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently provides a minimum FPS figure, which is 77 at 1080p, 58 at 1440p, and 39 at 4K. The High and Ultra presets do not have minimum or maximum FPS data listed, only averages. The data shows a clear progression: higher resolutions and higher settings both reduce the average FPS, with the impact of resolution being more pronounced than the impact of settings. For instance, moving from Low to Ultra at 1080p reduces the average FPS from 108 to 72, a drop of 36 FPS. Moving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings reduces the average FPS from 108 to 55, a drop of 53 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the Intel Arc B390 is ranked 3624 out of 3716 tested combos in Inside. This places it in the bottom 2.5% of all systems tested for this game. The rank is determined by the measured FPS data, which shows that this combo struggles to achieve high frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

The low rank is primarily attributable to the Intel Arc B390’s weak GPU performance. The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all older NVIDIA entry-level cards like the GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710. In comparison, the CPU’s performance is excellent, with a 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 84003. However, the CPU’s strength does not translate to better frame rates in Inside because the game is GPU-bound, as demonstrated by the resolution scaling data.

The combo rank of 3624 out of 3716 indicates that this system is at the very low end of performance for Inside. The measured FPS figures confirm this: the best-case scenario is 108 FPS at 1080p Low, which is playable but not exceptional. At 4K, the maximum average FPS is 55, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The rank reflects the fact that the Arc B390’s integrated nature and low compute power cannot keep up with even modest gaming demands at higher resolutions.

Compared to the 92 other combos that rank below this one, the 290K Plus + Arc B390 system would likely offer similar or slightly better performance, given that the CPU is not a bottleneck. However, the vast majority of tested combos (3623 of them) outperform this system in Inside. The data suggests that users seeking better performance would need a more powerful discrete GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom to support higher frame rates. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s limitations, and the measured FPS data provides no indication that the CPU is holding back performance.