Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti delivers strong performance in Control, with all tested resolutions and presets clearing the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data shows a system capable of high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and solid 4K performance, though the CPU’s four-core design creates a notable bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this combo each have nearby hardware that would produce broadly similar results in Control. For the Intel Core i3-12100F, the nearest rivals by average benchmark score are the Intel Core 3 N355, which scores 13492 (a 0% delta), and the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452 (0.3% higher). The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594 (-0.7% delta), while the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351 (1.1% delta). These four processors sit within a 1.8% performance band of each other, meaning any of them would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. The i3-12100F’s average benchmark score of 13494 places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, so it is a mid-tier performer rather than a high-end part.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070 Ti’s nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile (avg score 45152, -0.8% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (45384, -1.3%), the NVIDIA RTX A6000 (44075, 1.6%), and the Intel Arc A730M (45592, -1.7%). The 4070 Ti’s average benchmark score is 44795, placing it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. This means the RTX 4070 Ti is a high-end part relative to the broader GPU market, but its closest competitors span a narrow 3.3% performance range. For Control specifically, swapping in any of these four GPUs would likely change frame rates by only a few percent, assuming the CPU remains the same.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU depending on resolution. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 226 FPS on Low settings, 161 FPS on Medium, 143 FPS on High, and 124 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is 102 FPS, which is substantial. However, the scaling pattern suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at this resolution. The jump from Low to Medium costs 65 FPS (226 to 161), while the jump from High to Ultra costs only 19 FPS (143 to 124). This diminishing return pattern indicates that the GPU is not being fully utilized at 1080p, as the i3-12100F’s four cores and eight threads struggle to feed frames fast enough.

At 2560x1440, the picture changes. Low settings yield 171 FPS, Medium 121 FPS, High 108 FPS, and Ultra 94 FPS. The total spread from Low to Ultra is 77 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p. The relative cost of each preset tier is more consistent here, suggesting the GPU is becoming more of a factor. At 3840x2160, the system produces 115 FPS on Low, 82 FPS on Medium, 73 FPS on High, and 63 FPS on Ultra. The spread from Low to Ultra is 52 FPS, and the scaling is nearly linear: each preset step costs roughly 15-20 FPS. This pattern indicates the RTX 4070 Ti is the primary driver at 4K, with the CPU bottleneck largely disappearing.

The data shows that the GPU matters more at higher resolutions. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is 52 FPS, whereas at 1080p it is 102 FPS. This 50 FPS difference in scaling range directly reflects the CPU’s inability to keep up at lower resolutions. For players targeting 1080p, the i3-12100F is the limiting component; for 4K gaming, the RTX 4070 Ti’s raw throughput dominates the equation.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 on Ultra settings is 63 FPS average, which clears the 60 FPS playability threshold. The verdict data lists Ultra as the best playable setting at 4K.

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: All four presets at 2560x1440 are playable. Ultra settings yield 94 FPS average, so the system can run the highest preset with 34 FPS of headroom above the threshold.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p versus 4K?

A: At 1920x1080, the low-to-ultra FPS spread is 102 FPS (226 to 124), indicating CPU limitation. At 3840x2160, the spread narrows to 52 FPS (115 to 63), showing the GPU becomes the dominant factor as resolution increases.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 Ti overkill for 1080p gaming in Control?

A: The data suggests so. At 1080p on Low settings, the system hits 226 FPS, and even on Ultra it maintains 124 FPS. The CPU likely caps performance well below what the GPU could deliver at this resolution.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded across all tested configurations?

A: The only min FPS values provided are for Medium settings: 70 FPS at 4K, 103 FPS at 1440p, and 136 FPS at 1080p. No min FPS is listed for Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested hardware combinations for Control?

A: This system ranks 496th out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the top 13.3% of all configurations tested for this game.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control at all three tested resolutions with every preset. The verdict data lists High, Low, Medium, and Ultra as playable settings at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080. The best settings at each resolution are Ultra, with average FPS of 63 at 4K, 94 at 1440p, and 124 at 1080p. All results clear the 60 FPS threshold, and the 4K Ultra result of 63 FPS provides only 3 FPS of headroom, making it the most demanding configuration. At 1440p Ultra, the 94 FPS average gives 34 FPS of margin, while 1080p Ultra at 124 FPS offers 64 FPS of headroom. The system is fully capable of running the game at maximum quality across all resolutions, though 4K Ultra is close to the playability line.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ranks 496th out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the 86.7th percentile of all configurations tested. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU’s 68th percentile standing and the GPU’s 84th percentile standing. While the GPU is clearly the stronger component, the CPU’s mid-tier performance drags the overall ranking down, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU bottleneck is most pronounced. At 4K, the combo performs closer to what the GPU alone would suggest, but the 1080p results are limited by the i3-12100F’s four-core architecture.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average FPS of 63. At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best settings, delivering 94 FPS average. At 1920x1080, Ultra achieves 124 FPS average. In all three cases, Ultra is the highest preset tested, and the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at every resolution. The margin above 60 FPS is 3 FPS at 4K, 34 FPS at 1440p, and 64 FPS at 1080p. Players who want additional headroom can step down to High, which offers 73 FPS at 4K, 108 FPS at 1440p, and 143 FPS at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160:

• Low: 115 FPS average (no min/max provided)
• Medium: 82 FPS average, 70 FPS min, 94 FPS max
• High: 73 FPS average (no min/max provided)
• Ultra: 63 FPS average (no min/max provided)

2560x1440:

• Low: 171 FPS average (no min/max provided)
• Medium: 121 FPS average, 103 FPS min, 140 FPS max
• High: 108 FPS average (no min/max provided)
• Ultra: 94 FPS average (no min/max provided)

1920x1080:

• Low: 226 FPS average (no min/max provided)
• Medium: 161 FPS average, 136 FPS min, 185 FPS max
• High: 143 FPS average (no min/max provided)
• Ultra: 124 FPS average (no min/max provided)

The only configurations with min/max data are the Medium presets. At 4K Medium, the frame rate dips to 70 FPS at minimum and peaks at 94 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 103 to 140 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the range is 136 to 185 FPS. These ranges indicate that even the most variable preset keeps the minimum above the 60 FPS threshold. For all other presets, the average FPS is the only metric available, but the averages show a consistent pattern: each resolution step down from 4K to 1440p to 1080p increases performance by roughly 30-50% at every preset level. The 4K Ultra average of 63 FPS is the only result within 10% of the playability threshold, making it the single most demanding configuration tested.