Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a robust Control experience across all tested resolutions, with the data indicating that the GPU provides substantial headroom even when paired with a modest quad-core processor. The measured frame rates show this combination is capable of high-refresh-rate play at 1080p and 1440p, while remaining comfortably playable at 4K with adjusted settings. The benchmark results place this combo at rank 774 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the top fifth of all tested systems for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo produces exceptional frame rates across all presets. The Low preset reaches an average of 209 FPS, while Medium delivers 145.6 FPS. High settings yield 131.6 FPS, and the demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 112.9 FPS. These numbers show the RX 7900 XT is far from saturated at this resolution, with the frame rate scaling closely with preset intensity rather than hitting a CPU-imposed ceiling.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. The Low preset averages 154.5 FPS, Medium drops to 110.9 FPS, and High delivers 99.2 FPS. Ultra settings at 1440p produce an average of 87.8 FPS, which represents a 22.2% reduction compared to the 1080p Ultra result. The scaling between these two resolutions suggests the GPU is beginning to take on more load but still has considerable reserve capacity.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates become more moderate but remain playable. The Low preset averages 105.9 FPS, Medium drops to 72.8 FPS, and High settings deliver 66.3 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold at 59.4 FPS average, making it the only tested configuration that fails to maintain the playable threshold. The transition from 1440p to 4K shows a dramatic increase in GPU load, with the High preset dropping from 99.2 FPS to 66.3 FPS, a 33.2% reduction.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is High, which delivers 66.3 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the playability threshold while preserving visual quality. The Ultra preset at this resolution averages 59.4 FPS, narrowly missing the 60 FPS target.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 87.8 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and allows gamers to experience the game at its highest visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. The margin of 27.8 FPS above the threshold provides headroom for demanding scenes.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings are the recommended choice, delivering an average of 112.9 FPS. This provides a high-refresh-rate experience with maximum visual quality, exceeding the 60 FPS threshold by a substantial 52.9 FPS margin.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU benchmarks place the Intel Core i3-12100F in proximity to several other processors. The Intel Core 3 N355 shows a delta of 0% with an average score of 13492, making it essentially identical in synthetic performance. The Intel Core i5-9500 trails by 0.3% with a score of 13452, while the Intel Core 5 120UL leads by 0.7% at 13594. The Intel Core i7-1250U is 1.1% behind at 13351. These alternatives would likely produce similar frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 660M, which is 0.5% behind in average score, and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile, also 0.5% behind. The AMD Radeon RX 570X trails by 0.9%, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT leads by 1.5% with a score of 13543. In GPU-bound situations, these cards would deliver comparable frame rates, though the RX 9070 XT would be slightly faster.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination run Control at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 59.4 FPS, which falls just below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High settings at 4K average 66.3 FPS and are the recommended maximum for this resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 deliver an average of 87.8 FPS, which is the highest quality preset that remains well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, frame rates scale from 209 FPS on Low to 112.9 FPS on Ultra, indicating the GPU is the primary performance driver. The quad-core i3-12100F does not appear to bottleneck the RX 7900 XT at this resolution.

Q: Is the RX 7900 XT significantly faster than its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The data shows the RX 7900 XT's average benchmark score is 13745, with the nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 660M, scoring 13812 for a 0.5% difference. The RX 9070 XT leads by 1.5% with a score of 13543.

Q: What frame rate can I expect with Medium settings at 4K?

A: Medium settings at 3840x2160 produce an average of 72.8 FPS, which provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 774 out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the top 20.8% of all tested systems.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals a clear shift in which component matters more. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all presets, with the Low preset hitting 209 FPS and Ultra at 112.9 FPS. The differences between presets at this resolution suggest the GPU is still the limiting factor, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed the graphics card at these frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the GPU load increases noticeably. The Ultra preset drops from 112.9 FPS at 1080p to 87.8 FPS, a 22.2% reduction. This indicates the GPU is becoming more stressed, though the CPU continues to provide sufficient frame delivery. The High preset at 1440p averages 99.2 FPS, suggesting the system is still GPU-bound.

The transition to 3840x2160 makes the GPU's dominance clear. The Ultra preset falls to 59.4 FPS, a 32.3% reduction from the 1440p result. The High preset at 4K averages 66.3 FPS, compared to 99.2 FPS at 1440p, a 33.2% drop. This substantial scaling demonstrates that the RX 7900 XT is the primary performance determinant at 4K, while the i3-12100F maintains adequate frame delivery even at lower resolutions where CPU load would be higher.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT achieves rank 774 out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. This places the system in the top 20.8% of all tested hardware pairs, indicating strong overall performance for this title. The ranking reflects the GPU's substantial contribution, as the RX 7900 XT's benchmark scores place it in the 55th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU sits in the 68th percentile among all CPUs.

The high rank relative to the individual component percentiles suggests the RX 7900 XT's capabilities are well-utilized in this game, and the i3-12100F does not significantly detract from the overall experience. The data indicates that this combo delivers playable frame rates at all tested settings except 4K Ultra, making it a versatile option for Control players who prioritize high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p or are willing to adjust settings for 4K play.