Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer from 2016 that places minimal demand on modern hardware, and the measured results for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 confirm this. This combination produces frame rates that are exceptionally high across all tested resolutions and settings, indicating that the game is thoroughly GPU-bound only at the most extreme settings and resolution. The data provided offers a clear picture of how this specific combo scales, and the analysis below breaks down the measured FPS to understand the role of the CPU, GPU, and the optimal settings for a smooth experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured average FPS data reveals a classic scaling pattern as resolution increases, with the most dramatic drop occurring between 1080p and 4K. At 1920x1080, the combo achieves an average of 333 FPS on Low settings, which falls to 159 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low is 239, and on Ultra it is 114. At 3840x2160, the performance drops further, with Low settings yielding 150 FPS and Ultra dropping to 72 FPS. This represents a steep decline from the 1080p figures, highlighting the increasing load on the GPU as pixel count quadruples.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a reduction in frame rate of roughly 28% on Low settings (from 333 to 239 FPS) and about 28% on Ultra settings (from 159 to 114 FPS). This is a substantial decrease, but the absolute numbers remain high enough to be considered far beyond the threshold for smooth gameplay. The transition from 1440p to 4K is even more punishing, with Low settings dropping by 37% (from 239 to 150 FPS) and Ultra settings dropping by 37% (from 114 to 72 FPS). The consistency of the percentage drop across settings suggests that the limiting factor is purely the GPU's rendering workload.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the system is likely not fully utilizing the GPU's capabilities, as even the most demanding preset, Ultra, produces an average FPS higher than the 144Hz refresh rate common on many monitors. The frame rates at this resolution, particularly on Low and Medium settings (333 and 266 FPS), are so high that they suggest the CPU is providing ample headroom and the GPU is not the bottleneck. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear, but the pattern is clear: the higher the resolution, the more the GPU becomes the primary constraint. The 4K Ultra result of 72 FPS is the only data point that approaches a standard 60 FPS target, indicating that the GPU is finally being pushed to its limits. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens with resolution, from a difference of 174 FPS at 1080p to a difference of 78 FPS at 4K, further confirming that the GPU's workload is the dominant factor at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a 16-core, 16-thread mobile processor based on the Panther Lake architecture with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. In the context of a puzzle platformer like Inside, the CPU's role is typically minimal, as the game's physics and logic are not particularly complex. The benchmark results for this CPU show a strong single-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2200.5 and a multi-core score of 18911. This indicates a capable processor, but the game's frame rates are more likely dictated by the GPU.

The measured FPS data supports the conclusion that the CPU is not the bottleneck at any resolution or setting. At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 333 is extraordinarily high, and even if the CPU were to limit performance, it would not be a practical concern for gameplay. The fact that the frame rate scales down as resolution increases, while the CPU workload remains relatively constant, points to the GPU being the limiting component. The CPU's 16 threads are more than sufficient for the game's requirements, and its high boost clock of 5.10 GHz ensures that any single-threaded tasks are handled with ease. The processor's performance percentile of 88 compared to all CPUs places it in the upper tier, and its average benchmark score of 44466 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, which has a score of 44573 and a delta of -0.2%.

The data suggests that the CPU's role in this specific game is to provide a stable platform without introducing any frame pacing issues or stutters. The measured average FPS values are consistently high, and there are no apparent signs of CPU limitation, such as frame rate drops that do not correlate with resolution changes. The game's reliance on the GPU is further evidenced by the fact that the most significant FPS drops occur when moving to 4K, a resolution where the CPU's workload is largely unchanged. Therefore, while the Core Ultra X9 388H is a powerful processor, its impact on this game's performance is indirect, primarily ensuring that the GPU can operate without being held back.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how different settings presets affect performance at each resolution. The primary goal for a smooth experience in a puzzle platformer is to maintain a consistent frame rate, and the data shows that even the most demanding presets are playable. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 159 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset offers a higher average of 266 FPS, with a minimum of 226 FPS, ensuring a very stable experience. Given the high frame rates, the Ultra preset is recommended for 1080p to maximize visual quality without sacrificing performance.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to an average of 114 FPS, which is still excellent. The Medium preset provides an average of 192 FPS with a minimum of 163 FPS, offering a significant performance buffer. The High preset, at 120 FPS, is also a strong choice. The data indicates that the Ultra preset at 1440p is the best balance for those with 120Hz or 144Hz monitors, as the 114 FPS average is close to that refresh rate. If a higher frame rate is desired, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a near-doubling of performance compared to Ultra while maintaining a high level of visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the performance landscape changes. The Ultra preset yields an average of 72 FPS, which is acceptable but may not be ideal for those sensitive to frame rate fluctuations. The High preset offers a slightly higher average of 75 FPS, making it a better option than Ultra for 4K gaming, as it provides a marginal performance gain. The Medium preset, with an average of 120 FPS and a minimum of 102 FPS, is the recommended choice for 4K, as it delivers a significantly smoother experience while still offering good visual quality. The Low preset at 4K achieves 150 FPS, but the visual compromise is substantial. Therefore, the Medium preset at 4K is the sweet spot, providing a frame rate that is more than double the standard 60 FPS target while maintaining solid visual detail. For the best experience per the measured rows, the Ultra preset at 1080p, Medium at 1440p, and Medium at 4K offer the best combination of visual quality and performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1889 out of 3716 combos for Inside. This places it in the 50th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is an average-performing combo for this specific game. The rank is determined by the measured FPS across various settings and resolutions, and the data shows that while the absolute frame rates are high, other combinations likely achieve even higher scores.

The combo's rank of 1889 out of 3716 means that 1827 other combinations performed better in this game. This is not a reflection of the hardware's weakness, but rather a signal of the game's low system requirements. Many older or lower-end GPUs can achieve high frame rates in Inside, which compresses the performance difference between high-end and mid-range hardware. The RTX 4070 is a capable GPU, with an average benchmark score of 37648 and a percentile rank of 81 among all GPUs. However, in a game like Inside, the GPU's headroom is not fully utilized, and the performance is often limited by other factors.

The nearest rivals for the GPU, such as the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 with a delta of 0.4% and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile with a delta of -1.3%, show that the RTX 4070 is in a tightly contested performance tier. However, for this game, the distinction between these GPUs is minimal, as the game is not demanding enough to separate them clearly. The combo's mid-pack ranking is therefore more indicative of the game's broad accessibility rather than a shortcoming of the hardware. The data suggests that for a more demanding title, this combo would rank significantly higher, but for Inside, it falls in the middle of the pack.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, with 5888 shading units and 64 ROPs. These specifications indicate a high-performance GPU capable of handling modern games at high settings. In the context of Inside, the GPU's role is to render the game's 2.5D environments and lighting effects, which is not a particularly heavy workload.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully stressed, as evidenced by the high frame rates across all settings. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 174 FPS (333 vs 159), which is a significant gap but still results in playable frame rates. At 1440p, the gap narrows to 125 FPS (239 vs 114), and at 4K, it narrows to 78 FPS (150 vs 72). This trend confirms that the GPU's rendering workload increases with resolution, and the performance scales accordingly.

The RTX 4070's 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Inside, as the game's textures and geometry are not memory-intensive. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s is also not a bottleneck at any tested resolution. The data suggests that the GPU is capable of delivering exceptionally high frame rates, but its performance is capped by the game's engine at lower resolutions. The GPU's benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 26927 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 174152, indicate that it is a strong performer. However, in this game, the GPU's capabilities are not fully exercised until 4K resolution is used, where the Ultra preset finally brings the average FPS down to 72. This shows that the RTX 4070 has ample headroom for less demanding titles, and its role in this combo is to ensure that the game runs flawlessly at any resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 159 FPS.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the GPU is the limiting factor, as the frame rate drops significantly from lower resolutions while the CPU workload remains relatively constant.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for Inside?

A: The combo ranks 1889 out of 3716 tested combinations, placing it in the middle of the pack.

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

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 163 FPS, with a maximum of 220 FPS.

Q: What is the performance difference between the GPU and its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 4070's average benchmark score is 37648, which is 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which has a score of 37507.

Q: Does the game's performance scale significantly between Low and Ultra at 4K?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 150 on Low to 72 on Ultra, a difference of 78 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with lower resolutions and lower settings yielding higher frame rates.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|:--- |:--- |:--- |

| 3840x2160 | High | 75 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 150 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 120 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 72 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 120 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 239 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 192 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 114 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 166 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 333 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 266 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 159 |

At 3840x2160, the High preset achieves an average of 75 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 150 FPS. The Medium preset provides a stable 120 FPS average, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding only 72 FPS. For 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 120 FPS, the Low preset 239 FPS, and the Medium preset 192 FPS, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 220 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution achieves 114 FPS. At 1920x1080, the High preset produces 166 FPS, the Low preset 333 FPS, and the Medium preset 266 FPS, with a minimum of 226 FPS and a maximum of 306 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p attains 159 FPS. These numbers confirm that the combo performs exceptionally well across all configurations, with the only potential concern being the 4K Ultra setting, which still manages to stay above the 60 FPS threshold.