Inside

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers a top-tier experience in Inside, a 2016 Puzzle Platformer. This combination ranks 3rd out of 2,887 tested combos, placing it in the 99.9th percentile of all systems. The data reveals a system with immense headroom, where the GPU is the primary scaling factor across resolutions, and the CPU's substantial core count ensures no bottleneck even at the highest frame rates.

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 from the Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. It operates at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts up to 5.80 GHz, with a 125W TDP. This is a desktop-class chip built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, featuring a large 36 MB shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core. The 24 cores are a mix of performance and efficiency cores, though the fact pack does not specify the exact split.

For a game like Inside, which is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer with a relatively simple visual style, the CPU demands are far lower than modern AAA titles. The game's release date of 2016 predates many of the multi-threaded optimizations seen in later engines. Consequently, the single-core performance of the 290K Plus becomes the dominant factor. The processor's single-core score of 7,303 in Cinebench R23 and 736 in Cinebench R15 are strong indicators of its ability to handle the game's physics and logic threads efficiently. In contrast, the multi-core score of 51,731 in Cinebench R23 is overkill for this title, but it ensures that any background tasks or supplementary threads will not interfere with frame pacing.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting component in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 442 FPS, which is a frame rate that would require exceptional single-thread IPC and memory bandwidth. The 290K Plus's support for dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s provides the necessary data throughput to feed the GPU at these extreme frame rates. The processor's PassMark single-thread score of 4,823 and its 96th percentile ranking against all CPUs further cement its position as a high-end part. Even in the most CPU-sensitive scenarios, this processor is unlikely to create a bottleneck, allowing the RTX 5090 D to operate at its full potential.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined performance of this system is exceptional. The combo holds a rank of 3 out of 2,887 tested configurations, placing it in the top 0.1% of all systems tested for Inside. This ranking reflects the sheer horsepower of both components. The CPU itself sits at the 96th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84,003. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, scores 83,807, a negligible 0.2% difference. This indicates that the 290K Plus is essentially tied with its predecessor in raw compute, but the margin over other rivals is more pronounced.

The GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D, is also a top-tier part, ranking in the 92nd percentile against all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 77,712 places it close to the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which scores 78,940 (a 1.6% difference), and slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, which scores 76,904 (a 1.1% difference). The RTX 5090 D's performance is clearly in the enthusiast tier, and its combination with the 290K Plus yields one of the fastest systems in the database for this game. The fact that this combo ranks 3rd overall, rather than 1st, implies that there are two other configurations with even higher FPS, likely featuring more specialized or overclocked parts that edge out this pairing in Inside's specific workload.

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

Analyzing the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with High settings, the system produces 340 FPS. Moving to 1440p at High settings, the frame rate drops to 255 FPS, a 25% reduction. At 4K High, the frame rate falls to 160 FPS, a further 37% reduction from the 1440p result. This consistent, significant drop with increasing resolution indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor in this configuration.

The data shows that the CPU has ample headroom. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across all resolutions, as the CPU's workload (game logic, draw calls) remains constant regardless of resolution. Instead, the FPS scales almost linearly with the number of pixels being rendered. At 1080p Low, the system hits 442 FPS, which is likely near the engine's or CPU's practical limit. However, the drop to 321 FPS at 4K Low (a 27% reduction) confirms that even at the lowest settings, the GPU's rendering workload is the deciding factor. The RTX 5090 D, despite its massive 32 GB VRAM and 1.79 TB/s memory bandwidth, is still taxed by the pixel throughput required at 4K, especially with the game's physics and particle effects enabled. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU is ready to deliver more frames but is waiting on the GPU to finish rendering each frame.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across various configurations. At 1920x1080, the system shows its peak performance. With Low settings, it averages 442 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 408 FPS, with a minimum of 347 and a maximum of 469. High settings produce 340 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 334 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 108 FPS, showing that the GPU can handle even the highest settings without dropping below the 300 FPS mark.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains stellar. Low settings average 396 FPS, while Medium settings average 365 FPS (min 310, max 420). High settings produce 255 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 243 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 153 FPS, indicating a more pronounced impact of settings on the GPU workload. The minimum FPS of 310 for Medium suggests that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains a high frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the system still delivers excellent performance, though the frame rates are lower. Low settings average 321 FPS. Medium settings average 256 FPS, with a minimum of 218 and a maximum of 295. High settings average 160 FPS, and Ultra settings average 153 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K is the most significant, with a 95 FPS drop at High settings. This indicates that the 4K resolution places a substantial load on the GPU, but the RTX 5090 D still manages to keep the game highly playable, even at Ultra settings.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the powerhouse behind this system's graphical performance. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. The GPU is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. It operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with a 575W TDP. The memory runs at 1750 MHz, or 28 Gbps effective.

For Inside, the GPU's role is central to the frame rate scaling observed. The game's visual style, while not demanding by modern standards, still requires significant pixel shading and fill rate. The RTX 5090 D's 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs provide immense pixel throughput, which is reflected in the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The 32 GB VRAM is far more than Inside requires, but it ensures that there is no memory pressure, allowing the GPU to focus on processing. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 44,065 and its 92nd percentile ranking highlight its position in the market.

The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The 4K Ultra setting yields 153 FPS, which is still an excellent result, but the drop from 1080p Ultra (334 FPS) shows a 54% reduction in performance. This is a direct consequence of the increased pixel count. The GPU's compute capabilities, including its 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 performance, are sufficient to maintain high frame rates, but the sheer number of pixels at 4K requires more time to process. The RTX 5090 D's performance in Inside is so high that the game is effectively GPU-bound at all resolutions, with the CPU's role being to keep up with the GPU's output.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Inside with this CPU and GPU combo?*

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 at High settings provides an excellent balance, with an average of 255 FPS. This is well above the refresh rate of most high-end monitors, and the visual quality remains high. 4K at High settings is also viable, with 160 FPS, but the 1440p experience offers a smoother frame rate.

*Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system for Inside?*

A: The data clearly shows the GPU is the primary bottleneck. As resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the frame rate drops significantly (e.g., from 340 FPS to 160 FPS at High settings). If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain similar across resolutions. The CPU's high single-core performance ensures it can keep up with the GPU's output.

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

A: The 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84,003, which is 0.2% higher than the 285K's score of 83,807. This difference is negligible, indicating that the two processors offer nearly identical performance in this context.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low setting averages 321 FPS, while the Ultra setting averages 153 FPS. This represents a 168 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra settings almost halve the frame rate due to the increased graphical workload.

*Q: Does the RTX 5090 D have enough VRAM for Inside?*

A: The RTX 5090 D has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory. Inside is a 2016 title with modest graphics requirements, so the 32 GB is more than sufficient. The data shows no performance penalties related to memory, as the GPU is operating well within its memory limits.

*Q: Is this system overkill for Inside?*

A: The data shows that this system achieves 160 FPS at 4K High and 334 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which are exceptionally high frame rates for this game. While the hardware is powerful, it provides a highly responsive and smooth experience, especially on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data suggests that players can comfortably choose higher settings without sacrificing playability. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset yields an average of 334 FPS, which is still an outstanding result. There is no reason to lower the settings at this resolution, as the RTX 5090 D has ample performance. The difference between Low and Ultra is only 108 FPS, so opting for the highest visual quality is the best choice.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 243 FPS, which remains exceptionally smooth. The High preset at 255 FPS offers a marginal 12 FPS improvement, but the visual fidelity of Ultra is worth the slight reduction in frame rate. Given that the minimum FPS for Medium is 310, the system is unlikely to dip below 200 FPS even in the most demanding scenes, so Ultra is recommended for the best experience.

At 3840x2160, the choice becomes more nuanced. The Ultra preset averages 153 FPS, which is still above the 144 Hz refresh rate of many gaming monitors. However, the High preset at 160 FPS offers a 7 FPS improvement, and the Medium preset at 256 FPS provides a substantial boost. For a game like Inside, which is a puzzle platformer, the visual differences between High and Ultra are likely subtle. Therefore, the High preset is a solid recommendation for 4K, as it maintains a high frame rate while delivering excellent visual quality. For those seeking the absolute highest frame rates, the Low preset at 321 FPS is available, but it sacrifices significant visual fidelity. The data indicates that the High preset at 4K offers the best balance of performance and image quality, ensuring a fluid and visually pleasing experience.