Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 2006th out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems. This position reflects a combination that is clearly capable of running the game well at most settings, though it does have defined limits at the highest resolutions. The data indicates the RTX 4060 is the dominant factor in this pairing; the i3-12100F, while a competent modern quad-core, sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, whereas the GPU’s influence on frame rates is far more pronounced across the resolution and preset spectrum.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 2006 out of 3720 tested configurations (roughly the 46th percentile) suggests a system that is neither a top-tier enthusiast build nor a low-end entry. In practice, this means the pairing delivers solid, playable performance in Control, but it will not be pushing extreme frame rates at 4K Ultra. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU’s benchmark standing: the RTX 4060 scores 17639 in the aggregate benchmark suite, placing it at the 61st percentile among all GPUs. This is a mainstream-class graphics card with modern Ada Lovelace architecture, 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, and 3072 shading units.

The CPU’s contribution to this rank is secondary but not negligible. The i3-12100F, with 4 cores and 8 threads, achieves an average benchmark score of 13494, which puts it at the 68th percentile. In gaming workloads like Control, the CPU’s single-thread performance (a 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and Cinebench R23 single-core of 1674) is more relevant than its multi-thread capabilities. The data shows that at 1080p, where CPU overhead is higher, the combination still manages to exceed 130 FPS at Low settings, indicating the i3-12100F is not a bottleneck for this title at mainstream resolutions. The overall rank is a fair representation: a competent mid-range pairing that excels at 1080p and 1440p, with predictable falloff at 4K.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal that the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises, while the CPU’s impact is most visible at lower resolutions and higher frame rates. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial—137.5 FPS versus 77.8 FPS—a drop of 59.7 FPS (or about 43%). This scaling is driven by the GPU’s workload, but the CPU must keep up with the higher frame rates. The i3-12100F manages this well, as evidenced by the 137.5 FPS Low result, which is nearly double the 70.2 FPS achieved at 4K Low.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU’s burden increases. The average FPS at High settings falls to 68.2, which is 21.5 FPS lower than the 1080p High result of 89.7. This is a 24% reduction, showing that the RTX 4060 is being pushed harder. At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The High preset drops to 44.7 FPS, and even Medium only reaches 49.8 FPS. The CPU’s role at 4K is minimal; the i3-12100F is capable of feeding the GPU at these lower frame rates without being a constraint. The data shows that the performance ceiling at 4K is entirely determined by the RTX 4060’s raw throughput, not the CPU.

At 1080p, the CPU matters more. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a 59.7 FPS difference, but the CPU is still able to deliver 77.8 FPS at Ultra, proving it can handle the game’s logic and draw calls. For presets below Ultra, the CPU is not the bottleneck; the GPU scales predictably with resolution, and the CPU’s single-thread performance (a PassMark single-thread score of 3444) is sufficient to avoid limiting the GPU at 1080p and 1440p. In summary, the RTX 4060 dictates performance at 1440p and 4K, while the i3-12100F is adequate to support the GPU at 1080p and 1440p without becoming a significant constraint.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the i3-12100F is virtually indistinguishable from the Intel Core 3 N355, which has an average benchmark score of 13492 versus the i3’s 13494—a delta of 0%. In practical terms, these two CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Control. The Intel Core i5-9500 is also close, with a score of 13452 (0.3% lower), meaning it would behave almost exactly the same. The Intel Core 5 120UL is slightly faster at 13594 (-0.7% delta), so it might offer a marginal few FPS in CPU-bound scenarios, but the difference is negligible for this game. The Intel Core i7-1250U, at 13351, is 1.1% slower, which would translate to a sub-1 FPS difference in most cases.

For the GPU, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666 versus the RTX 4060’s 17639, a delta of -0.2%. This is a surprising comparison given the generational gap, but the aggregate scores place them at parity. In Control, the HD 7790 would deliver nearly identical average FPS, though it lacks the RTX 4060’s modern features like ray tracing and DLSS, which are not measured in this data. The AMD Radeon 780M is also close at 17588 (0.3% slower), and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551, 0.5% slower) and Pro 460 (17509, 0.7% slower) are similarly matched. For users with any of these GPUs, the expected performance in Control would be within a few frames per second of the RTX 4060, assuming the same CPU and settings.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Control, and it does so comfortably at 1080p and 1440p. The verdict data is clear: at 1920x1080, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with the best average FPS at Ultra being 77.8, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by a healthy margin. At 2560x1440, the High, Medium, and Low presets are playable, with High achieving 68.2 FPS average. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls just short at 58.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold but close enough that most users would find it acceptable. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, averaging 70.2 FPS. The Medium (49.8 FPS), High (44.7 FPS), and Ultra (37.1 FPS) presets all fail to reach 60 FPS, so 4K gaming requires dropping to Low settings.

The recommended configurations are as follows: for 1080p, use Ultra settings for the best visual experience while maintaining 77.8 FPS average. For 1440p, High settings at 68.2 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a good balance of visual quality and performance. For 4K, Low settings at 70.2 FPS is the only option that meets the 60 FPS standard, and even then, users should expect some dips below 60 FPS in intense scenes, as the average is only 10 FPS above the threshold. In summary, this combo is a strong 1080p performer, a solid 1440p choice, and a marginal 4K option when settings are reduced.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings deliver 137.5 FPS, Medium settings 102.9 FPS, High settings 89.7 FPS, and Ultra settings 77.8 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a drop of 59.7 FPS, with the largest single-step decrease occurring between Low and Medium (34.6 FPS). The gap between Medium and High is 13.2 FPS, and between High and Ultra is 11.9 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS data is available for any resolution, so the analysis relies on averages.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low 105.2 FPS, Medium 75.0 FPS, High 68.2 FPS, and Ultra 58.7 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a massive 30.2 FPS drop, while Medium to High is 6.8 FPS, and High to Ultra is 9.5 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only one that falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, with an average of 58.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low 70.2 FPS, Medium 49.8 FPS, High 44.7 FPS, and Ultra 37.1 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 20.4 FPS, Medium to High is 5.1 FPS, and High to Ultra is 7.6 FPS. Only the Low preset clears 60 FPS, and it does so with a 10.2 FPS margin.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on a 4K monitor?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it averages 70.2 FPS. Medium (49.8 FPS), High (44.7 FPS), and Ultra (37.1 FPS) all fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best setting to use at 1440p?

A: High settings provide the best playable experience, averaging 68.2 FPS. Ultra is not recommended as it drops to 58.7 FPS, just below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 in this game?

A: No, based on the data. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 77.8 FPS, and at 1440p High it hits 68.2 FPS. The CPU’s single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 score of 1674) is sufficient to avoid limiting the GPU at these settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to the AMD Radeon 780M in terms of overall GPU benchmark score?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639, while the Radeon 780M scores 17588, making the RTX 4060 0.3% faster. In practical terms, they would perform nearly identically in Control.

Q: Which settings are playable at 1080p?

A: All four presets are playable: Low (137.5 FPS), Medium (102.9 FPS), High (89.7 FPS), and Ultra (77.8 FPS). Ultra is the recommended setting for the best visual quality.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average is 37.1 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is well below the 60 FPS threshold and not recommended for playable performance.