Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 form a pairing where the GPU vastly outperforms the CPU in raw benchmark terms. For Control, the measured data shows this combo delivering well above the 60 FPS threshold at every resolution and quality preset tested. The CPU carries a launch MSRP of $97, while the GPU has a launch MSRP of 999 USD. The game was released in 2019, and the data set includes average frame rates for three resolutions and four settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 134.8 FPS on Low, 92.8 on Medium, 84.8 on High, and 73.8 on Ultra. The progression is monotonic: each higher preset reduces the average. Even at the most demanding Ultra setting, the frame rate remains comfortably above 60 FPS. The 4K Low result of 134.8 FPS is particularly notable, showing that the GPU has substantial headroom even at this resolution when visual demands are lowered.

At 2560x1440, the averages climb to 198 FPS on Low, 143.7 on Medium, 127.1 on High, and 106.5 on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, but all settings deliver high frame rates. The 1440p Low result of 198 FPS is nearly triple the 60 FPS playable threshold, and even Ultra remains well above 100 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the averages reach 228 FPS on Low, 184.2 on Medium, 162.5 on High, and 146 on Ultra. The 1080p results are the highest of the three resolutions, as expected, and even the lowest preset exceeds 200 FPS. The 1080p Ultra average of 146 FPS is more than double the playable threshold, indicating that the combo is not stressed at this resolution.

The data does not include minimum or maximum frame rates, so only averages are available for analysis. Across all resolutions, the ordering of presets is consistent: Low > Medium > High > Ultra. The relative performance drop from Low to Ultra is similar across resolutions, though the absolute numbers are higher at lower pixel counts.

CPU and GPU Roles

The GPU's average benchmark score is 56083, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU's average benchmark score is 13494, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. This suggests the RTX 5080 is a much stronger component relative to its peers than the i3-12100F. The CPU has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the GPU features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and a 256-bit bus. The GPU's memory bandwidth is 960.0 GB/s, a figure that contributes to its high throughput in texture-heavy scenes.

The frame rate scaling across resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 228 FPS, a figure so high that the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 73.8 FPS, a clear sign that the GPU is under heavy load. The consistent drop from 1080p to 4K across all presets points to GPU-bound behavior at higher pixel counts. For example, the 1080p Low average is 228, while the 4K Low average is 134.8; the reduction is substantial, and it aligns with the increased pixel count.

The CPU's lower relative standing does not prevent high frame rates in this game. Even at 1080p Ultra, the average is 146 FPS, which exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors. The data implies that the i3-12100F is sufficient for Control, while the RTX 5080 provides the headroom for high resolutions and settings. The CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads are likely enough for the game's threaded workload, though the benchmark data does not provide per-thread usage. The GPU's 84 RT cores and 336 tensor cores also suggest strong support for any ray-traced or DLSS features, though the measured FPS numbers do not specify which features were enabled.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The i3-12100F's closest rival in average benchmark score is the Intel Core 3 N355, which has a deltaPct of 0, meaning identical performance. The Intel Core i5-9500 is 0.3% slower, the Intel Core 5 120UL is 0.7% faster, and the Intel Core i7-1250U is 1.1% slower. These CPUs would likely produce similar frame rates in Control, though actual game performance can vary with driver and game optimizations. The deltaPct values indicate that the i3-12100F sits in a tight cluster of CPUs with nearly equal average scores, so any of these alternatives would behave almost identically in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon 8060S is 0.6% slower than the RTX 5080, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 0.7% slower, the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 2.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE is 2.2% faster. Any of these GPUs would place the combo in a similar performance tier for Control. The RX 9070 GRE is the only rival that outperforms the RTX 5080 in average benchmark score, but the margin is small enough that real-world frame rates would be nearly indistinguishable. The other three rivals are all slightly slower, yet still within a few percent, meaning the overall gaming experience would be comparable.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the i3-12100F and RTX 5080 ranks 197th out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. This is a strong showing, placing the combo well within the upper portion of the ranking. The high rank is likely driven by the GPU's exceptional performance, while the CPU's modest score does not drag the overall result down significantly. With 3720 total combinations, a rank of 197 indicates that this pairing outperforms the vast majority of tested systems for Control. The ranking reflects the measured average FPS across all presets and resolutions, and the combo's ability to maintain high frame rates even at 4K Ultra contributes to its position.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Control. At every resolution and preset, the average frame rate exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest preset, Ultra, achieves 73.8 FPS at 3840x2160, 106.5 FPS at 2560x1440, and 146 FPS at 1920x1080. All tested settings are playable, and the combo has enough performance to run the game at maximum quality across all three resolutions. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and every measured average is above it, with the lowest being 73.8 FPS at 4K Ultra. This means the user can confidently set the game to Ultra at any resolution without worrying about frame rate drops below the playable mark.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 73.8 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best, averaging 106.5 FPS. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 146 FPS. Since Ultra is the highest available preset and remains above 60 FPS in every case, it is the recommended setting for all resolutions. There is no need to lower any quality option to achieve playable performance; the combo is strong enough to handle maximum settings everywhere.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the average frame rate is 73.8 FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra.

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

A: Ultra, with an average of 106.5 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 197th out of 3720.

Q: Which CPU is closest in performance to the Intel Core i3-12100F?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has a deltaPct of 0, meaning identical average benchmark score.

Q: Which GPU is the closest rival to the RTX 5080?

A: The AMD Radeon 8060S is 0.6% slower in average benchmark score.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Low?

A: 228 FPS.