Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is a highly capable combination for Control, ranking in the 64th percentile of all tested combos at position 1315 out of 3720. This pairing delivers a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, with the data showing that the RTX 3070 Ti is the dominant factor in performance. At 4K, the combo remains usable but requires a reduction in settings to maintain playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ranks 1315th out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the pairing in the upper-middle tier of all possible configurations, indicating that it offers a strong balance of CPU and GPU capability for this title. The benchmark data shows that while the CPU is not a top-tier part, it does not bottleneck the GPU in this game, allowing the graphics card to deliver most of its potential performance.

The RTX 3070 Ti sits in the 75th percentile of all GPUs, which is significantly higher than the CPU's 68th percentile ranking. This performance gap explains why the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates in Control. The CPU's average benchmark score is 13494, while the GPU's average score is 29945, demonstrating the substantial difference in raw processing power between the two components. When comparing to other combos, this specific pairing sits comfortably ahead of lower-tier CPUs paired with similar GPUs, but it does not reach the heights of combos featuring higher-end processors.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results clearly indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, while the CPU becomes more relevant at lower resolutions. At 3840x2160, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 38.9 FPS (from 84.9 to 46 FPS), showing that the GPU's workload scales dramatically with visual fidelity. This resolution pushes the RTX 3070 Ti to its limits, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up with the GPU's demands.

At 2560x1440, the scaling is less severe but still significant. The Low preset produces 123.5 FPS, while Ultra drops to 71.5 FPS, a difference of 52 FPS. The medium preset at 90 FPS shows that the GPU is still the primary constraint. However, at 1920x1080, the CPU's role becomes more apparent. The Low preset achieves 169.4 FPS, which is substantially higher than the 4K Low result, indicating that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough frames at this resolution. The Ultra preset at 1080p still delivers 95.1 FPS, showing that the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU even at higher settings.

The data suggests that the i3-12100F is sufficient for Control at all resolutions, but its four cores and eight threads may limit maximum frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. The GPU scaling between resolutions is more pronounced than the CPU scaling, confirming that the RTX 3070 Ti is the component that determines playability in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 resolution, the combo delivers an average of 56 FPS on High settings, which falls short of the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Low preset achieves 84.9 FPS, while Medium hits 62 FPS, just above the threshold. Ultra settings produce 46 FPS, which is not playable. This shows that 4K requires sacrificing visual quality to maintain smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, all settings are playable. Low produces 123.5 FPS, Medium delivers 90 FPS, High achieves 80.4 FPS, and Ultra reaches 71.5 FPS. The margin between Low and Ultra is 52 FPS, indicating that players have significant flexibility to choose between visual fidelity and frame rate. The 71.5 FPS at Ultra demonstrates that the combo can handle the highest settings at this resolution while still staying comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the combo performs exceptionally well across all settings. Low produces 169.4 FPS, Medium delivers 118.7 FPS, High achieves 107.3 FPS, and Ultra reaches 95.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 74.3 FPS, showing that the GPU has ample headroom even at the highest settings. This resolution provides the best experience, with Ultra settings delivering frame rates that are 58% higher than the playable threshold.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only with reduced settings. The Medium preset at 3840x2160 achieves 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings produce 56 FPS, which is not playable, and Ultra drops to 46 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gameplay?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 delivers 71.5 FPS, making it the most demanding setting that stays above the 60 FPS threshold. This provides the best visual quality while maintaining smooth performance.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU's role is more significant. The Low preset achieves 169.4 FPS, showing that the CPU can feed the GPU with high frame rates. The Ultra preset still delivers 95.1 FPS, indicating that the i3-12100F does not bottleneck the RTX 3070 Ti at this resolution.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 Ti more important than the CPU for this game?

A: Yes. The GPU ranks in the 75th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 68th percentile. The frame rate scaling between resolutions is more dramatic than any CPU-related limitation, confirming that the RTX 3070 Ti is the primary performance driver.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: The combo delivers an average of 107.3 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings. This is well above the playable threshold and provides a smooth experience for fast-paced action.

Q: Are there any settings at 4K that are not playable?

A: High and Ultra settings at 3840x2160 are not playable, producing 56 FPS and 46 FPS respectively. Only Low and Medium presets meet the 60 FPS requirement at this resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The RTX 3070 Ti's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile, which scores 29928, a negligible 0.1% difference from the 3070 Ti's 29945. This means that a system with the RTX 5070 Mobile would perform nearly identically to the RTX 3070 Ti in Control. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 scores 30095, which is 0.5% higher than the 3070 Ti, indicating that this GPU would deliver slightly better frame rates. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti scores 29783, which is 0.5% lower, suggesting marginally lower performance. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 scores 30433, which is 1.6% higher, making it the strongest performer among the listed rivals.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i3-12100F's nearest rivals are all within a 1.1% performance delta. The Intel Core 3 N355 scores 13492, which is essentially identical to the i3-12100F's 13494. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, which is 0.3% lower. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, which is 0.7% higher. The Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, which is 1.1% lower. These results indicate that any of these CPUs paired with the RTX 3070 Ti would produce very similar frame rates in Control, with the i7-1250U being the weakest of the group and the Core 5 120UL being the strongest.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which achieves an average of 62 FPS. This provides a balance between visual quality and performance, though players who prioritize frame rate over fidelity can opt for Low at 84.9 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset achieves 71.5 FPS, making it the best choice for players who want maximum visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates. This is the highest setting available and still provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 95.1 FPS, which is the best experience available. This setting provides maximum visual fidelity with frame rates that are significantly higher than the playable threshold, making it the ideal choice for 1080p gaming. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring compromises in visual settings to achieve smooth performance.