Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a surprisingly well-balanced combination for Control, capable of delivering smooth gameplay across most settings and resolutions. The data shows a system that is clearly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the quad-core processor keeps up admirably at 1080p, ensuring that the high-end graphics card is not left waiting. For a game that emphasizes atmospheric physics and intense action, this combo provides a solid foundation, though the most demanding preset at 4K will require a slight compromise.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average frame rate of 97.2 FPS. This is the clear sweet spot for this resolution; the hardware has enough headroom to run the game at its highest visual fidelity while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the playable threshold of 60 FPS. The gap between Ultra and the next step down, High at 110.8 FPS, is relatively modest, but the Ultra preset is firmly within reach.

Moving to 2560x1440, the most demanding playable preset is also Ultra, averaging 75.5 FPS. This is a strong result, showing that the RX 6800 XT has enough raw power to handle the increased pixel count of 1440p without forcing a reduction in visual quality. The performance drop from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra is significant at roughly 22%, but the absolute frame rate remains comfortably above 60 FPS, making this an excellent resolution for this combination.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The Ultra preset drops to 49.1 FPS, which is below the playable 60 FPS threshold. The most demanding preset that still clears 60 FPS is High, which averages 60.9 FPS. This is a very tight margin, indicating that 4K gaming is possible but leaves little room for error. The Medium preset offers a bit more headroom at 62.9 FPS, but High is the best visual quality option that stays playable reliably, according to the data.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 1232nd out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. This places it in the top third of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given the relatively modest processor. The ranking reflects that while the CPU is not a top-tier part, the GPU's substantial performance carries the combo to a competitive position. The data suggests that this is a significantly better pairing than many others, as it sits above the median of all tested configurations. The high rank reflects the RX 6800 XT's capability in this title, as it is able to compensate for the i3-12100F's more limited core count in a game that appears to scale well with GPU horsepower.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on Ultra settings at 1440p?*

A: Yes. At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 75.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 4K resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 49.1 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at this resolution is High, with 60.9 FPS.

Q: What is the highest quality preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 97.2 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that not only clears but far exceeds the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 89.3 FPS, which is significantly higher than the Ultra preset's 49.1 FPS. This represents a performance increase of about 82%.

Q: Does this pairing rank highly among all tested combos for this game?

A: Yes, it ranks 1232nd out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the top third of all systems tested in the database for Control.

Q: Is there a big difference in frame rate between High and Ultra at 1440p?

A: Yes, the difference is noticeable. High settings average 84.5 FPS, while Ultra averages 75.5 FPS. The drop is about 12%, but both are comfortably playable.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware would deliver a comparable experience. The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494. Its closest competitor is the Intel Core 3 N355, which scores nearly identically at 13492 (a 0% difference). The Intel Core i5-9500 is also very close, with a score of 13452, just 0.3% lower. On the other side, the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, which is 0.7% higher, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, 1.1% lower. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would be nearly indistinguishable from the i3-12100F in this game, meaning the choice between them would come down to platform features rather than gaming performance.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT has an average score of 48477. The NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile is a close rival with a score of 47743, which is 1.5% lower. The Intel Arc A550M scores 49737, making it 2.5% higher. Interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 both score higher, at 49957 and 50001 respectively, each about 3% above the RX 6800 XT. This indicates that while the RX 6800 XT is a strong performer, there are several alternatives that would provide a very similar frame rate in Control, with the RTX 5070 Ti and RX Vega 64 offering a slight edge.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU in Control. At 1920x1080, the game is heavily GPU-bound. The difference between the Low preset (176.4 FPS) and the Ultra preset (97.2 FPS) is enormous, showing that the graphics card is the primary bottleneck. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with enough data, and the i3-12100F's single-thread performance appears sufficient to avoid holding back the RX 6800 XT at this resolution, as evidenced by the very high frame rates even at Low settings.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU's workload becomes even more demandingney. The frame rates drop across all presets, confirming that the GPU is still the limiting factor. The scaling from Low (136.4 FPS) to Ultra (75.5 FPS) is still significant, but the overall performance is lower than at 1080p, which is the expected result of rendering more pixels. The CPU continues to keep up, as there is no indication of a CPU-side bottleneck that would flatten the frame rates across different presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is definitively the dominant component. The performance gap between Low (89.3 FPS) and Ultra (49.1 FPS) narrows in percentage terms but remains large in absolute numbers. This is classic GPU-bound behavior. The data shows that the i3-12100F is not a limiting factor in this pairing; the RX 6800 XT's performance scales predictably with resolution, indicating that the CPU has ample headroom. In short, the GPU is the component that dictates performance in Control at all resolutions, while the CPU provides a stable, capable foundation without becoming a bottleneck.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Control with excellent performance in most scenarios. The data confirms that the system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at 1920x1080 on the Ultra preset, averaging 97.2 FPS. At 2560x1440, it also achieves a smooth experience on Ultra, with an average of 75.5 FPS. For 4K gaming at 3840x2160, the system is still viable, but you must dial back from Ultra. The High preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, averaging 60.9 FPS. While the Ultra preset at 4K is not playable at 49.1 FPS, the High preset offers a great balance of visual quality and performance. Overall, this is a capable system for Control, offering high-refresh-rate gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, and solid 60 FPS gaming at 4K with a modest settings adjustment.