Control

Can Intel Core i3-12100F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 run Control? The short answer is yes, but only at specific settings and resolutions. The recorded data shows this combination is fully playable at 1080p across High, Medium, and Low presets, and at 1440p only on Low. At 4K, no preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, making that resolution a non-starter for smooth gameplay. The pairing is a solid mid-range option for 1080p gaming, but it runs out of headroom quickly as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results for this combination are recorded across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data shows a clear pattern: performance scales predictably with resolution and settings, with the most demanding configuration being 4K Ultra.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are uniformly below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Low preset delivers an average of 55 FPS, which is the best 4K result recorded. Medium drops to 39 FPS average, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 45. High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 30 FPS. No 4K configuration reaches 60 FPS, so the data indicates this resolution is not viable for smooth play.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves considerably. Low settings produce an average of 81 FPS, which clears the playable threshold with room to spare. Medium settings average 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 and a maximum of 66, putting it just shy of the 60 FPS mark. High averages 51 FPS, and Ultra averages 45 FPS. Only the Low preset at 1440p delivers consistently smooth performance.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combination hits its stride. Low settings deliver a strong 107 FPS average. Medium averages 76 FPS, with a minimum of 65 and a maximum of 88, comfortably above the threshold. High averages 68 FPS, which clears 60 FPS as well. Ultra is the only 1080p preset that falls short, averaging 59 FPS. The data shows that High is the best playable preset at 1080p, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance.

The frame time data, where available, shows consistent behavior. The Medium preset at 1080p has a 65 FPS minimum, indicating the frame rate does not dip below the playable threshold even in demanding scenes. At 1440p Medium, the minimum of 49 FPS shows occasional dips below 60, which explains why it is not listed as a playable setting. At 4K Medium, the 33 FPS minimum reflects the heavy load on both components.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this combination at rank 2950 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This puts it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is consistent with the measured FPS results. The rank reflects that while the combo handles 1080p well, it struggles at higher resolutions compared to more powerful pairings.

The percentile data for the individual components provides context for this ranking. The Intel Core i3-12100F sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms a majority of processors in general benchmarks. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs. The CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU in this pairing, which suggests the graphics card is the limiting factor in demanding scenarios.

The combo rank of 2950 out of 3720 indicates that many other tested combinations deliver better performance in Control specifically. This is expected for a mid-range pairing, as the game's rendering demands favor systems with more graphics horsepower. The rank does not mean the combo is inadequate; rather, it shows that a large number of tested systems achieve higher frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 1080p?

A: Yes. The recorded data shows playable frame rates at High (68 FPS average), Medium (76 FPS average), and Low (107 FPS average). Ultra averages 59 FPS, which falls just below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the highest resolution and settings combination that clears 60 FPS?

A: The best playable result is at 1920x1080 with High settings, averaging 68 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset is playable, averaging 81 FPS.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: No. All 4K presets fall below 60 FPS. The best 4K result is Low at 55 FPS average, followed by Medium at 39 FPS, High at 35 FPS, and Ultra at 30 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, scores 13492 with a 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, which is 0.3% lower. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, 0.7% higher, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, 1.1% lower.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 scores 15283, a 0% delta. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, 0.1% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, 0.8% lower.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 1440p?

A: Low is the only playable preset at 2560x1440, with an average of 81 FPS. Medium averages 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals to the Intel Core i3-12100F are closely matched in average benchmark score. The Intel Core 3 N355 performs essentially identically, with a 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 is 0.3% slower, while the Intel Core 5 120UL is 0.7% faster. The Intel Core i7-1250U is 1.1% slower. These processors would deliver nearly the same CPU-bound performance in Control, meaning any of them paired with the RTX 2060 would produce similar frame rates in scenarios where the CPU is the limiting factor.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 are all within 0.8% of its average score. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 matches it with a 0% delta. The AMD Radeon 680M is 0.1% slower, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is 0.6% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is 0.8% slower. These GPUs would behave almost identically to the RTX 2060 in Control, producing comparable frame rates at each resolution and preset. Users with any of these GPUs paired with a similar CPU should expect the same playability profile: solid 1080p performance, limited 1440p options, and no viable 4K play.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU's relative strength, sitting at the 68th percentile, is sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p, where the combo achieves its best results. As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the frame rates drop significantly across all presets, indicating that the GPU's rendering workload becomes the dominant factor.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 107 at 1080p to 81 at 1440p, a 26 FPS decrease, and then to 55 at 4K, another 26 FPS decrease. This linear drop is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the averages are 68 at 1080p, 51 at 1440p, and 35 at 4K, showing a similar pattern of roughly 16 FPS drops per resolution step. The consistent scaling indicates the CPU is not introducing a bottleneck at any tested resolution.

The settings scaling within each resolution further illustrates the GPU's role. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 48 FPS (107 to 59). At 1440p, the difference is 36 FPS (81 to 45). At 4K, the difference is 25 FPS (55 to 30). The shrinking gap at higher resolutions shows that the GPU is already saturated by the resolution itself, leaving less headroom for quality settings to impact performance. The CPU, with its strong single-thread performance, keeps up with the GPU's demands throughout the tested range.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 can run Control, but the playable range is clearly defined by the recorded data. At 1920x1080, the combination clears 60 FPS on High, Medium, and Low presets, with High offering the best visual quality at 68 FPS average. Ultra narrowly misses the threshold at 59 FPS average. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset is playable, delivering 81 FPS average. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS, so 4K is not a viable option for smooth gameplay.

For users targeting 1080p, this combo is a reliable choice. The High preset provides a good balance of visual fidelity and performance, and the Medium preset offers a comfortable margin above the threshold. For 1440p, the Low preset is the only way to maintain smooth frame rates, which may require a visual quality compromise. 4K gaming is not recommended with this hardware, as even the lowest settings fail to reach the playable threshold. The data indicates that this pairing is best suited for 1080p gaming, with limited headroom for higher resolutions.