Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer that scales exceptionally well across resolutions, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti shows a configuration that is firmly GPU-limited at 4K but becomes increasingly CPU-bound as resolution drops. The measured FPS spread from 4K to 1080p reveals a system that can push well beyond the refresh rate of most displays at lower resolutions, while still maintaining smooth gameplay at the demanding end of the spectrum.

Resolution Scaling

The performance trajectory across the three tested resolutions illustrates a classic scaling pattern, with the most significant jumps occurring at the Low preset. At 4K Low, the combo delivers an average of 179 FPS, which climbs to 285 FPS at 1440p Low, and then leaps to 397 FPS at 1080p Low. This represents a 122% increase in frame rate from 4K to 1080p, a massive jump that indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor at these settings. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p is particularly steep, with a 112 FPS gain, suggesting the graphics card is being progressively unburdened, allowing the processor's capabilities to shine.

At the High preset, the scaling is more moderate but still substantial. The 4K High average of 90 FPS rises to 143 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 198 FPS at 1080p. The jump from 1440p to 1080p is 55 FPS, which is a clear sign that the GPU is still doing significant work at 1440p. The Ultra preset follows a similar pattern, with 85 FPS at 4K, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 189 FPS at 1080p. The consistency of the scaling across High and Ultra suggests that these presets are primarily taxing the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity, while the CPU has ample headroom.

The Medium preset, which includes min and max FPS data, provides additional insight. At 4K Medium, the average is 143 FPS with a minimum of 122 and a maximum of 165. Dropping to 1440p Medium yields an average of 228 FPS, with a min of 194 and max of 263. At 1080p Medium, the average reaches 317 FPS, with min and max of 270 and 365 respectively. The scaling here indicates that even at Medium settings, the GPU remains the primary bottleneck at 4K, but the frame rate variance narrows as resolution drops, suggesting the CPU is taking over as the limiting component at 1080p. The data shows that this pairing is well-balanced for high-refresh gaming, with the CPU capable of feeding the GPU effectively at all but the most extreme frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti secures a combo rank of 799 out of 2887 tested combos in Inside. This places the system in the top 27.7% of all configurations tested for this game, which is a solid position for a pairing that mixes a high-end CPU with a mid-to-high-end GPU. The CPU itself is a powerhouse, as evidenced by its 96th percentile ranking against all CPUs, but the GPU's 75th percentile ranking against all GPUs tempers the overall combo result.

The data suggests that the combo rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's performance ceiling rather than the CPU's considerable potential. This is a classic bottleneck scenario where the RTX 3070 Ti is the limiting factor in this pairing. While the CPU is performing at a level comparable to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, with a negligible 0.2% difference in average benchmark score, the GPU is more closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile, which is only 0.1% ahead in average score. This indicates that the processor is far from being the constraint in the system, and the overall ranking is largely determined by the graphics card's capabilities in this specific title.

The rank of 799 out of 2887 is respectable, but it is not a top-tier result. This is expected given the GPU's age and position in the market. The RTX 3070 Ti is an end-of-life product, and its performance in a game like Inside, which is not particularly demanding, is still sufficient for a smooth experience at high refresh rates. The combo ranking shows that while this CPU is capable of much more, the GPU holds the system back from reaching the upper echelons of the performance charts.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti plays the decisive role in this configuration's gameplay performance, and its specifications directly explain the observed frame rates. The GPU is built on the Ampere architecture using Samsung's 8 nm process, featuring 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 608.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for the textures and effects in Inside, but the capacity is a factor to consider at higher resolutions, even if the game itself is not memory-hungry.

The GPU's clock speeds are set at a base of 1575 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz. These clocks, combined with the 6144 shading units and 96 ROPs, produce a pixel rate of 169.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 339.8 GTexel/s. These figures are directly reflected in the 4K performance, where the GPU's raw throughput is the primary determinant of the average FPS. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system averages 85 FPS, which is a demanding workload that pushes the GPU to its limits. The jump to 4K High, which averages 90 FPS, shows a modest improvement, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional effects are not heavily taxing the GPU.

The RTX 3070 Ti's FP32 performance of 21.75 TFLOPS is a key metric for understanding its capability in modern games. However, for a title like Inside, which is a 2D side-scroller with 3D rendering, the computational load is not as extreme as in a large open-world title. The GPU's performance percentile of 75 places it above the majority of graphics cards, and its nearest rivals include the RTX 2080 Ti, which it outperforms by 0.5%. This suggests that the card is still a capable performer for this genre, even if it is no longer at the forefront of the market. The GPU's role in this combo is to provide a solid foundation for high-refresh gameplay, and the measured FPS data confirms that it does so effectively, particularly at 1440p and below.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across all resolution and settings combinations. At 4K, the system delivers an average of 90 FPS on High settings, which is a smooth experience for a puzzle platformer. The Low preset at 4K produces a staggering 179 FPS average, while the Medium preset yields 143 FPS with a min of 122 and a max of 165. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to an 85 FPS average, which is still playable but shows the ceiling of the GPU's performance at this resolution.

Moving to 1440p, the performance improves significantly. The High preset averages 143 FPS, which is a 53 FPS increase over the 4K High result. The Low preset at 1440p hits 285 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 228 FPS with a min of 194 and a max of 263. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 136 FPS, which is a 51 FPS improvement over the 4K Ultra result. This resolution strikes an excellent balance between visual fidelity and frame rate, with the system comfortably exceeding 60 FPS even on the most demanding preset.

At 1080p, the system's performance is exceptional. The High preset averages 198 FPS, the Low preset hits 397 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 317 FPS with a min of 270 and a max of 365. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 189 FPS, which is a remarkable result for a game of this type. The data shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of driving high-refresh monitors to their limits, even with the most demanding settings. The minimum frame rates at 1080p Medium are notably high, indicating stable performance without significant dips. Overall, the measured FPS breakdown shows a system that is capable of delivering a premium experience at any resolution, with 1440p being the sweet spot for balancing visual quality and performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The system achieves an average of 85 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

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's average score of 83807.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations in Inside?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti combination ranks 799th out of 2887 tested combos.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti has a memory bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s, utilizing 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system records a minimum of 194 FPS and a maximum of 263 FPS, with an average of 228 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 1080p, as the CPU has significant headroom, evidenced by the frame rates scaling dramatically as resolution drops.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's display and performance goals. For users with a 4K display, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it provides an average of 90 FPS, which is sufficiently smooth for the genre. The Ultra preset at 4K, averaging 85 FPS, offers only a marginal visual improvement over High for a slight performance cost, making it a less attractive option. The Medium preset at 4K, which averages 143 FPS, is an excellent alternative for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, as it delivers a significantly higher average FPS while maintaining a minimum of 122 FPS.

For 1440p displays, the High preset is the standout recommendation, delivering an average of 143 FPS. This provides a great balance of visual quality and performance, easily taking advantage of high-refresh monitors. The Ultra preset at 1440p, averaging 136 FPS, is also a strong choice for those who want the best visuals without sacrificing the high frame rate. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 228 FPS, is overkill for most displays but would be ideal for competitive play or 240Hz monitors. The Low preset at 1440p, averaging 285 FPS, is unnecessary for most users, as the visual compromise is too great.

At 1080p, the system is powerful enough to run the Ultra preset at an average of 189 FPS, making it the clear choice for users with 1080p high-refresh displays. The High preset, averaging 198 FPS, is nearly identical in performance and could be used if minor visual differences are not a concern. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 317 FPS, which is well beyond the refresh rate of most monitors, making it a waste of performance unless using a 360Hz panel. The Low preset at 397 FPS is the best option for users with extremely high refresh rate displays, but the visual sacrifices are significant. In summary, the data indicates that High settings at 4K, High or Ultra at 1440p, and Ultra at 1080p offer the best overall experience, balancing visual fidelity with the high frame rates that this hardware is capable of producing.