Control

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a strong performance profile in Control, with benchmark results showing that the combination is capable of high frame rates across most common gaming resolutions. The data indicates a clear scaling pattern where performance degrades predictably as resolution increases, while the CPU and GPU each take on different levels of responsibility depending on the settings and resolution chosen. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, compares the hardware to nearby alternatives, and provides a clear verdict on what settings are required to maintain a playable experience above the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its highest performance ceiling. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 158.8, providing a massive headroom above the playability threshold. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 113.1 FPS, still a very fluid experience. High settings yield 103.8 FPS on average, and even at the most demanding Ultra preset, the system maintains an average of 85.9 FPS. This resolution shows no signs of struggle, with every preset comfortably exceeding the 60 FPS target.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance remains robust but the scaling becomes more evident. Low settings produce an average of 120.5 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. Medium settings deliver 83.7 FPS on average, while High settings see a slight reduction to 77 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution averages 63.9 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold. The data shows a consistent drop of roughly 20-30% compared to 1080p results, indicating that the GPU is beginning to feel the pressure of additional pixels.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 3070’s 8 GB memory and memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s are pushed much harder. Low settings average 79.5 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings drop to 58.4 FPS, falling below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 50.1 FPS, and Ultra settings further decline to 46.9 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, representing a 32.6 FPS difference, which highlights how sensitive the game is to pixel count and shader complexity at 4K.

The overall pattern shows that the combination is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can handle the highest presets with ease. At 4K, only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS, making it a viable option only for players willing to compromise on visual fidelity.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, placing it in the 72nd percentile among all tested CPUs. The nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, scores 18697, which is just 0.1% higher. This is effectively a statistical tie, meaning the i5-12400 and the EPYC 7643 would provide nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Control. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, a 0.3% delta, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, a 0.7% delta, both indicating negligible differences. On the lower side, the Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% lower than the i5-12400.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, placing it in the 61st percentile among all GPUs. The closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT with a score of 17083, a 0.7% delta. This suggests that the RX 7600 XT would deliver almost identical frame rates in Control, making it a direct alternative for users considering either card. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037 (1% lower) and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019 (1.1% lower), both of which are older architectures. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher, but this is a compute-oriented card not intended for gaming.

In practical terms, the i5-12400 and RTX 3070 combination sits in a performance tier where swapping to any of these rivals would result in frame rate differences of less than 2%. A user with the RX 7600 XT would see virtually the same FPS numbers in Control, while the CPU alternatives would only shift results by fractions of a percent.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the frame rates at Low settings (158.8 FPS) versus Ultra settings (85.9 FPS) show a difference of 72.9 FPS. This large gap indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor even at 1080p, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed the graphics card at lower settings. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 support this, as they are sufficient for high-FPS gaming.

At 2560x1440, the scaling from Low (120.5 FPS) to Ultra (63.9 FPS) shows a difference of 56.6 FPS. The GPU’s workload increases, but the CPU still keeps up, as evidenced by the fact that even the Ultra preset stays above 60 FPS. The data suggests that neither component becomes a hard bottleneck at this resolution, though the GPU is clearly doing more work.

At 3840x2160, the pattern shifts decisively toward the GPU. The difference between Low (79.5 FPS) and Ultra (46.9 FPS) is 32.6 FPS, but the absolute numbers are much lower. The RTX 3070’s 20.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 165.6 GPixel/s pixel rate are being saturated by the 4K workload, while the CPU’s role becomes less prominent. The fact that Low settings barely exceed 79.5 FPS at 4K, compared to 158.8 FPS at 1080p, shows that the GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions.

The CPU’s influence is most visible when comparing Low settings across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 158.8 FPS, but at 4K Low, it only reaches 79.5 FPS. This 79.3 FPS drop is almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s inability to render the additional pixels, not the CPU. Conversely, the CPU’s single-threaded performance, as indicated by its 3DMark single-thread score of 910, ensures that it does not hold back the GPU at any resolution tested.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The answer is yes, but with caveats depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on every preset. The Ultra setting averages 85.9 FPS, providing a smooth experience with maximum visual quality. At 2560x1440, all four presets also remain playable, with Ultra averaging 63.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS line but not by a wide margin. Players seeking a buffer at 1440p might prefer High settings at 77 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. Only the Low preset, averaging 79.5 FPS, clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings drop to 58.4 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and High (50.1 FPS) and Ultra (46.9 FPS) are not viable for smooth gameplay. The data indicates that 4K is only playable with significant visual compromises, and even then, the average frame rate is close to the threshold.

The verdict by resolution is clear: 1080p and 1440p are fully supported across all settings, while 4K requires Low settings to maintain a playable experience. The system is not suitable for 4K High or Ultra presets without dropping below 60 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average FPS of 85.9. This provides the highest visual fidelity while still offering a comfortable margin above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, averaging 63.9 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that remains playable, though the margin is smaller than at 1080p. Players who prefer a more consistent frame rate might consider High at 77 FPS, but Ultra is technically within the playable range.

At 3840x2160, the only preset that clears 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 79.5 FPS. Medium settings fall short at 58.4 FPS, so Low is the recommended choice for 4K gaming. While the visual quality is reduced, the frame rate is sufficient for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1590 out of 3720 total combos. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, specifically in the 42.7th percentile (calculated by dividing 1590 by 3720). The ranking reflects the fact that while the RTX 3070 is a capable GPU, it is not at the top of the performance hierarchy, and the i5-12400 is a mid-range CPU with an average benchmark score of 18683.

The rank is influenced by the GPU’s 61st percentile standing among all GPUs, which is moderate, and the CPU’s 72nd percentile, which is higher. The combination performs well in games like Control that are not extremely CPU-intensive, but it falls behind systems with higher-end GPUs, particularly at 4K resolutions where the GPU’s limitations become apparent.

FAQ

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 4K in Control?

A: Yes, but only with Low settings. The average FPS at 4K Low is 79.5, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings drop to 58.4 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the best quality setting at 1440p that stays above 60 FPS?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 average 63.9 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that remains playable. High settings offer a higher average of 77 FPS for a larger buffer.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to the RX 7600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 7600 XT’s score of 17083. In practical terms, both GPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Control.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important at 1080p?

A: The GPU is the primary factor. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 158.8 on Low settings to 85.9 on Ultra, a 72.9 FPS difference that is driven by GPU workload. The CPU’s single-thread score of 910 is sufficient to keep up.

Q: What is the playable frame rate threshold used in this analysis?

A: The playable threshold is 60 FPS. All verdicts and recommendations are based on maintaining an average FPS at or above this value.

Q: How many total combinations does this system rank among?

A: This combo ranks 1590 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of all systems in the database.