Control

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 pairing delivers a highly capable Control experience, though the data reveals a clear split between 4K and lower resolutions. At 3840x2160, the combination is limited, while at 2560x1440 and 1920x1080, it provides ample performance headroom across nearly all presets. The measured FPS data, which is confirmed as measured rather than estimated, shows this system sits comfortably within the playable range for the majority of gaming scenarios, with the primary caveat being the demanding Ultra preset at 4K resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results for Control show distinct performance tiers across the three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its strongest performance, with the Low preset achieving an average of 148 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 121 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery. High settings produce an average of 93 FPS, while the Ultra preset still maintains a robust 81 FPS average. This resolution shows no signs of strain, with even the most demanding settings remaining well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected scaling impact. The Low preset averages 112 FPS, while Medium settings produce an 80 FPS average with a measured range spanning from 68 FPS minimum to 92 FPS maximum. High settings deliver 71 FPS on average, and the Ultra preset exactly meets the playability threshold with a 61 FPS average. The data indicates that 1440p Ultra is the boundary case for this combination, as it just clears the 60 FPS mark but leaves little margin for demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the performance picture changes dramatically. The Low preset achieves a 76 FPS average, which is the only playable option at this resolution. Medium settings drop to a 54 FPS average, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, showing notable frame time variance. High settings average 48 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to 41 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is substantial, representing a 22 FPS difference, which suggests that the rendering load at this resolution significantly impacts the GPU's ability to maintain smooth frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1756 out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the upper-middle portion of the database. This ranking reflects a balanced pairing where neither component dramatically bottlenecks the other, but the overall performance is not near the top tier of tested systems. The CPU itself sits at the 72nd percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database are the AMD EPYC 7643 with an average score of 18697, representing a negligible 0.1 percent difference, and the Intel Core i7-1355U at 18730, which is 0.3 percent ahead. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, 0.7 percent higher, while the Intel Core i3-14100F trails at 18519, a 0.9 percent deficit.

The GPU component, the AMD Radeon RX 7700, holds the 58th percentile among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15852. Its competitive positioning shows the AMD Radeon R9 370X at 15862, essentially tied with a 0.1 percent difference. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, which is 1 percent higher, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 at 15679 is 1.1 percent lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti achieves 16129, putting it 1.7 percent ahead of the RX 7700 in average GPU benchmark scores. This GPU ranking indicates that while the RX 7700 is a competent performer, it faces stiff competition from both newer and more established cards in the benchmark database.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals how the balance of responsibility shifts between the CPU and GPU in Control. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an 148 FPS average on Low settings, which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU sufficiently at this resolution. However, the transition from Low to Ultra at 1080p only reduces performance from 148 FPS to 81 FPS, a 45 percent decrease, indicating that the GPU is handling the increased graphical load effectively without the CPU becoming a limiting factor.

At 2560x1440, the pattern continues with a 112 FPS average on Low settings dropping to 61 FPS on Ultra, representing a 46 percent reduction. The fact that the Ultra preset at 1440p still clears 60 FPS suggests that both components are working in harmony, with the GPU bearing the primary burden of the increased pixel count while the CPU maintains adequate frame pacing.

The 3840x2160 results tell a different story. The Low preset at 76 FPS drops to 41 FPS on Ultra, a 46 percent reduction that mirrors the lower resolutions. However, the absolute numbers reveal that the GPU becomes the dominant constraint at 4K. The jump from Low to Medium at 4K costs 22 FPS, which is a larger absolute drop than the 8 FPS difference between Low and Medium at 1440p. This indicates that at 4K, the RX 7700's rendering capabilities are the primary bottleneck, and the CPU's role diminishes as the GPU struggles to maintain frame rates above the playability threshold.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this PC can run Control, but the experience varies significantly by resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, all four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with the Ultra preset achieving an 81 FPS average. This makes 1080p gaming fully viable at maximum settings with headroom to spare. At 2560x1440, the system also clears 60 FPS across all presets, though the Ultra preset at 61 FPS is the marginal case. The 1440p Ultra experience is playable, but users should expect occasional dips near the threshold in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more restrictive. Only the Low preset, with a 76 FPS average, maintains playable performance. Medium settings at 54 FPS, High at 48 FPS, and Ultra at 41 FPS all fall below the 60 FPS playability threshold. For 4K gaming, users must accept Low settings to achieve a smooth experience, which represents a significant visual compromise. The verdict by resolution confirms that this combination is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for those willing to sacrifice graphical fidelity.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that only the Low preset at 3840x2160 achieves a playable average of 76 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 54 FPS, 48 FPS, and 41 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming with this hardware?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 achieves a 61 FPS average, which clears the playability threshold. This makes Ultra the highest quality setting that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: How does the RX 7700 compare to the RTX 3060 Ti in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129, which is 1.7 percent higher than the RX 7700's score of 15852. This places the two cards very close in overall performance metrics.

Q: Is the i5-12400 a bottleneck for the RX 7700 in Control?

A: The benchmark data indicates that the CPU performs at the 72nd percentile among all processors, and the FPS scaling across resolutions shows the GPU becoming the limiting factor at 4K. The CPU appears sufficient for the GPU's needs at all tested settings.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1080p with High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves a 93 FPS average, which provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS playability threshold and allows for smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the Medium preset at 1440p offer good frame time consistency?

A: The Medium preset at 2560x1440 has a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 92 FPS, with an average of 80 FPS. This 24 FPS range suggests generally consistent performance with no severe frame drops.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the only preset that maintains playable performance is Low, which achieves a 76 FPS average. This is the recommended setting for 4K gaming, as all other presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers a 61 FPS average, making it the most demanding playable option. This provides the best visual quality while still clearing the playability threshold, though users seeking more headroom can opt for High at 71 FPS or Medium at 80 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an 81 FPS average, representing the highest quality playable setting. The system has substantial performance reserves at this resolution, with even the most demanding preset maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. For users prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, 1080p Ultra is the optimal configuration, while those wanting higher frame rates can explore the Medium preset at 105 FPS or Low at 148 FPS.