Control

The data for the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D in Control shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at typical gaming resolutions, with the CPU providing enough headroom to avoid bottlenecking even at 1080p. While the processor is a modest 4-core/8-thread part, the measured frame rates indicate that this combination delivers an exceptionally smooth experience across all tested settings and resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the measured average frame rates range from 83 FPS on the Ultra preset to 152 FPS on the Low preset. The High preset averages 96 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 108 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. The Ultra preset’s 83 FPS average is still well above the 60 FPS playability threshold, and the gap between the Low and Ultra presets at this resolution is 69 FPS, indicating that the GPU has ample performance headroom to absorb the increased rendering load.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the average frame rates scale upward significantly. The Low preset delivers 209 FPS, the Medium preset averages 160 FPS with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 184 FPS, the High preset reaches 142 FPS, and the Ultra preset maintains 124 FPS. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p is 85 FPS, showing that the GPU’s rendering capacity is still the dominant factor in determining performance.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the frame rates become extremely high. The Low preset hits 230 FPS, the Medium preset averages 202 FPS with a minimum of 172 FPS and a maximum of 233 FPS, the High preset achieves 188 FPS, and the Ultra preset maintains 163 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 67 FPS, which is smaller than the corresponding delta at 1440p, suggesting that the CPU begins to impose a more noticeable limit at the lowest resolution and highest frame rates.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the primary performance driver across all tested resolutions and presets. The scaling between 1080p and 4K at the same preset demonstrates this clearly: the Ultra preset drops from 163 FPS at 1080p to 83 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 80 FPS that aligns with the increased pixel count. Similarly, the Low preset falls from 230 FPS at 1080p to 152 FPS at 4K, a 78 FPS decrease. This consistent scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, where the graphics card’s throughput determines the frame rate.

The Intel Core i3-12100F’s role becomes more apparent at 1080p with lower presets, where frame rates exceed 200 FPS. At these levels, the CPU’s 4-core/8-thread configuration and its 3DMark 4-thread score of 2859 become more relevant, as the processor must feed the GPU with enough draw calls and physics calculations to sustain such high output. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the average FPS of 230 is only 21 FPS higher than the 209 FPS at 1440p Low, despite the 1440p resolution having 78% more pixels. This compressed scaling suggests that the CPU is approaching its limit at these extreme frame rates, though it does not cause the frame rate to drop below acceptable levels.

At 4K, the CPU’s influence diminishes further. The difference between 4K Low at 152 FPS and 4K Ultra at 83 FPS is driven almost entirely by the GPU’s rendering workload, as the resolution remains constant. The CPU’s single-thread performance, as indicated by its 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1674, is sufficient to keep pace with the GPU at every measured setting, as evidenced by the fact that even the lowest average frame rate of 83 FPS at 4K Ultra is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is the Ultra preset, which achieves an average of 83 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available in the test, and the measured result confirms that the combination can run the game at maximum visual fidelity at 4K without dropping below the playability threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also delivers the best performance-to-quality balance, with an average of 124 FPS. This is a substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold, providing headroom for demanding scenes or future driver optimizations. The Medium preset’s minimum of 136 FPS further reinforces that the system remains fluid even during frame time spikes.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 163 FPS, which is the highest average among all Ultra presets across the three resolutions. The 1080p Medium preset records a minimum of 172 FPS, indicating that even at lower quality settings, the frame pacing is exceptionally stable, with the maximum reaching 233 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can run Control at every resolution and preset combination measured in the benchmark suite. The verdict by resolution confirms that all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080, with average frame rates ranging from 83 FPS to 230 FPS. The most demanding setting, Ultra at 4K, still delivers an average of 83 FPS, which is 23 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

For users seeking the highest visual quality, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice at every resolution, as it remains above 60 FPS even at 4K. The data shows no scenario where the frame rate fails to meet the playability target, making this combination a high-performance option for Control across the board. The minimum frame rates recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution—92 FPS at 4K, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 172 FPS at 1080p—further confirm that the system does not experience severe frame drops under load.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for the Ultra preset at 4K?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 achieves an average of 83 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Does the combination maintain 60 FPS at all resolutions?

A: Yes, the verdict by resolution indicates that all settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080, with the lowest average being 83 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Q: How much does the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at the Low preset?

A: The Low preset averages 230 FPS at 1080p and 152 FPS at 4K, a decrease of 78 FPS.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum is 136 FPS and the maximum is 184 FPS.

Q: Which resolution shows the smallest difference between Low and Ultra presets?

A: At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 67 FPS, which is smaller than the 85 FPS difference at 1440p and the 69 FPS difference at 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data suggests the CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p Low, where the 230 FPS average is only 21 FPS higher than the 209 FPS at 1440p Low, indicating the processor is nearing its limit at very high frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Control, this Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D pairing ranks 57th out of 3720 total combos. This places it in the top 2% of all tested configurations, reflecting the GPU’s strong performance relative to the broader hardware landscape. The rank is particularly notable given the CPU’s modest specifications, as it demonstrates that the RTX 5090 D can deliver excellent results even when paired with a lower-end processor.

The high rank is consistent with the measured frame rates, which show the combination exceeding 60 FPS at all tested settings and resolutions. The percentile ranking for the GPU is 92, indicating that the RTX 5090 D outperforms 92% of all GPUs in the benchmark database, while the CPU’s percentile is 68, showing solid mid-range standing. This disparity in component percentiles highlights that the GPU is the primary contributor to the combo’s overall rank.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i3-12100F, based on average benchmark scores, include several processors with comparable overall performance. The Intel Core 3 N355 has an average score of 13492, a 0% delta from the i3-12100F’s 13494 average, making it a near-identical match in synthetic benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, a 0.3% delta, while the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, a -0.7% delta, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, a 1.1% delta. These alternatives would likely exhibit similar CPU-bound behavior in Control, though the i3-12100F’s 4-core architecture may differ in real-world gaming workloads.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT with an average score of 76904, a 1.1% delta from the RTX 5090 D’s 77712 average. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT scores 78940, a -1.6% delta, while the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB scores 79396, a -2.1% delta, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB scores 79605, a -2.4% delta. These GPUs would produce frame rates very close to those measured for the RTX 5090 D in Control, with the performance differences being within a few percentage points. Users with these alternative GPUs can expect similar playability across all resolutions and presets, though the exact frame rates may vary slightly due to driver and architecture differences.