Control

The data for the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B390 combination in Control shows a clear, hardware-limited outcome. Across all tested resolutions, the system consistently fails to reach the 60 FPS threshold except at the very lowest settings at 1080p. The benchmark results indicate a GPU that is severely underpowered for this title, with the CPU rarely becoming the primary constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded average frame rates are all well below the playable threshold. High settings produce an average of 21 FPS, while Low settings reach 33 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 24 FPS, with recorded minimum and maximum values of 20 and 27 FPS respectively. Ultra settings are the most demanding, dropping the average to 18 FPS. None of these results approach the 60 FPS target, making 4K effectively unplayable for this combination.

Moving to 2560x1440, the results improve but remain insufficient for smooth gameplay. Low settings achieve an average of 50 FPS, which is the best result at this resolution. High settings average 31 FPS, Medium settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 27 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS, indicating that even the most favorable moments fall short of the 60 FPS mark. Every setting at this resolution fails to clear the playable threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system finally finds a playable configuration. Low settings produce an average of 65 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS target. High settings average 41 FPS, Medium settings average 46 FPS, and Ultra settings average 36 FPS. The Medium preset has a recorded minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS, which shows that even this middle-ground setting cannot sustain a consistent 60 FPS. Only the Low preset meets the threshold, and it does so with a modest margin.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Control at 1080p?

A: The highest average is 65 FPS, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration across all tested resolutions and settings that clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Can this system run Control at 1440p with playable frame rates?

A: No. All settings at 2560x1440 fail to reach 60 FPS. The best result is 50 FPS on Low settings, while High, Medium, and Ultra average 31, 35, and 27 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Ultra preset perform at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 18. This is the lowest recorded average in the entire dataset for this game.

Q: Is there any resolution where Medium settings are playable?

A: No. At every resolution, Medium settings fall below 60 FPS. The best Medium result is 46 FPS at 1080p, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS.

Q: What is the performance delta between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: The average FPS drops from 65 on Low to 36 on Ultra at 1920x1080. This represents a reduction of 29 FPS when moving from the least to the most demanding preset.

Q: Does the game ever hit 60 FPS at 1440p or 4K?

A: No. The data shows no recorded average, minimum, or maximum FPS at 2560x1440 or 3840x2160 that reaches 60 FPS. The closest is the 1440p Low setting average of 50 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results point to the Intel Arc B390 as the dominant bottleneck in this pairing. The GPU's average benchmark score places it in the 9th percentile among all tested graphics cards, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which are not competitive in modern gaming. The GPU's 1536 shading units and 24 ROPs, combined with a boost clock of 2500 MHz, deliver a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s. These specifications are insufficient for the demands of Control, especially at higher resolutions.

The Intel Core i5-12400, by contrast, is a far more capable component. Its average benchmark score of 18683 places it in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, and it sits close to rivals such as the AMD EPYC 7643 and the Intel Core i7-1355U. The CPU's multi-threaded performance, as shown by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989, is strong for a desktop part. However, the data shows that the GPU limits the system long before the CPU becomes a factor.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. At 1080p Low, the system produces 65 FPS. Dropping to 1440p Low reduces the average to 50 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 33 FPS. This pattern of steep declines with increased resolution is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is not the limiting factor because the frame rate drops proportionally with the pixel count, which is a direct result of GPU workload.

Comparing presets at the same resolution further reinforces the GPU bottleneck. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces the average from 65 to 36 FPS, a drop of 44.6%. This is a substantial performance penalty driven entirely by the GPU's inability to handle the increased visual complexity. The CPU's role remains consistent across these settings, as its workload does not change as dramatically as the GPU's.

The data suggests that the i5-12400 has ample headroom for this game, but the Arc B390 does not. Even at 1080p Ultra, where the CPU would need to feed more draw calls and physics calculations, the system only manages 36 FPS. This is well below what the CPU alone could deliver, indicating that the GPU is saturated and cannot render frames fast enough to utilize the CPU's full potential.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control, but only under very specific conditions. The verdict data for this combination is clear: at 3840x2160 and 2560x1440, there are no playable settings. Every preset at both resolutions fails to reach the 60 FPS threshold. At 1920x1080, the system clears the threshold only with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 65 FPS.

For users targeting 1080p gaming, the Low preset is the only viable option. The average of 65 FPS provides a margin above the 60 FPS target, but it is not a large one. The Medium preset, with an average of 46 FPS and a minimum of 40 FPS, would result in noticeable stutter and frame pacing issues. High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they average 41 and 36 FPS respectively.

For 1440p and 4K, the system is not suitable for this game. The best case at 1440p is 50 FPS on Low, which still falls short of the target. At 4K, even Low settings only reach 33 FPS. The hardware combination lacks the graphics processing power to deliver a smooth experience at these resolutions, and no settings adjustment can bridge the gap.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 3311 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the system in the lower 11% of all configurations in the database, which is consistent with the measured performance. The GPU is the primary reason for this low ranking, as its 9th percentile standing among all graphics cards drags down the overall result.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which has a benchmark score 1.3% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM, which is 2.5% higher. These are entry-level parts from previous generations, and their proximity to the Arc B390 in performance explains why the combo ranks so poorly. The CPU, by contrast, is a mid-range part that performs admirably, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations.

The ranking of 3311 out of 3720 means that a large majority of tested hardware combinations outperform this setup in Control. Users considering this pairing for the game should expect a subpar experience, particularly if they intend to play at resolutions above 1080p or with higher quality settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, there is no setting that achieves 60 FPS. The best available average is 33 FPS on Low, which is far below the playable threshold. No recommendation can be made for this resolution, as even the least demanding preset does not provide a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the situation is similar. There is no playable preset, and the best average is 50 FPS on Low. While this is closer to the target than the 4K results, it still falls short, and users would experience frame drops below 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Low, with an average of 65 FPS. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that meets the 60 FPS threshold. Users should stick to this preset for a consistent frame rate, as the next step up, Medium, averages only 46 FPS and would introduce stutter during intense gameplay sequences.