Control

Can Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti run Control? Yes, and the data shows this combination is remarkably strong across all tested resolutions. The measured results reveal a system that handles the game’s demanding physics and particle effects with substantial headroom, though the highest settings at 4K will push it to the edge of the 60 FPS threshold defined by the playable target.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this pairing is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four quality presets. The numbers show a clear scaling pattern: frame rates drop predictably as resolution increases, but the RTX 3080 Ti’s 12 GB GDDR6X memory and 384-bit bus keep performance consistently high.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional results across the board. The Low preset averages 194.2 FPS, which is more than triple the 60 FPS playable threshold. Moving to Medium drops the average to 136.5 FPS, still a massive margin. The High preset runs at 122.1 FPS average, while the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a 105.3 FPS average. None of these 1080p settings dip near the playable limit, indicating the CPU and GPU are not bottlenecking at this resolution.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance remains robust but shows the expected impact of increased pixel count. Low settings average 142.7 FPS, a 51.5 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium averages 104.3 FPS, while High runs at 95.1 FPS. The Ultra preset still clears the 60 FPS bar comfortably with an 81.9 FPS average. This resolution represents the sweet spot for this hardware: even the heaviest settings leave over 20 FPS of headroom.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 3080 Ti starts to feel the pressure. Low settings average 97 FPS, which is still excellent for 4K. Medium drops to 68.8 FPS, and High manages 61.8 FPS — just 1.8 FPS above the playable threshold. The Ultra preset falls below the line with a 55.8 FPS average. The gap between Medium and High at 4K is 7 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 6 FPS, showing diminishing returns as settings climb.

The data does not include min or max FPS values, so all analysis relies on average frame rates. This means the 4K High result at 61.8 FPS could experience occasional dips below 60 FPS during intense combat sequences, even though the average clears the threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 895th out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the top 24 percent of all configurations in the database, a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU.

The CPU itself sits at the 72nd percentile among all processors tested, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmarks are a mixed group: the AMD EPYC 7643 scores 18697 (0.1 percent higher), the Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730 (0.3 percent higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811 (0.7 percent higher). The Intel Core i3-14100F is the only rival that scores lower, at 18519, which is 0.9 percent behind. These deltas are all within one percent, meaning the i5-12400 performs essentially on par with its closest competitors in raw compute.

The GPU ranks at the 83rd percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 41187. Its nearest rivals show a wider spread: the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870 (0.8 percent higher), the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707 (1.2 percent lower), and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 scores 41897 (1.7 percent lower). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, which is 2 percent behind the 3080 Ti. These rival GPUs are not gaming-focused cards in most cases, so the comparison in Control will favor the 3080 Ti’s driver optimization and Ampere architecture.

Given that the combo ranks in the top quarter of all tested configurations, this system should handle Control with authority at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires careful settings selection.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K with all settings maxed out?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average FPS is 55.8, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best 4K settings that clear 60 FPS are High, averaging 61.8 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 81.9 FPS, which is the most demanding setting that stays above 60 FPS. This gives substantial visual quality headroom while maintaining smooth gameplay.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 High, the average FPS is 122.1. At 2560x1440 High, it drops to 95.1 FPS. This represents a 27 FPS reduction, or roughly 22 percent lower performance.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti the bottleneck at 1080p Low settings?

A: The 1080p Low preset averages 194.2 FPS, which is extremely high. The i5-12400’s single-thread score of 910 in 3dmark and 2257 in Cinebench R23 suggest it can feed the GPU adequately, but the 194.2 FPS figure indicates the GPU is not fully saturated at this resolution and settings level.

Q: Does the 4K Medium preset provide a better experience than 4K High?

A: The 4K Medium preset averages 68.8 FPS, while 4K High averages 61.8 FPS. Medium offers 7 FPS more headroom, which could be important for maintaining consistent frame pacing during heavy action sequences.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations in the database?

A: It ranks 895th out of 3720 combos, placing it in the top 24 percent. The CPU and GPU both sit above the 70th percentile in their respective synthetic benchmark rankings.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this PC can run Control, with the playable settings varying by resolution. At 1920x1080, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — clear the 60 FPS threshold with significant margins. The Ultra preset averages 105.3 FPS, making 1080p the most forgiving environment for this hardware.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is equally positive. Every preset, including Ultra, stays above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 81.9 FPS, which is comfortably above the playable line. This makes 1440p the ideal resolution for this combo, as players can enable the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the situation becomes more selective. The verdict identifies High, Medium, and Low as playable settings, with High being the best option at 61.8 FPS average. The Ultra preset fails to reach 60 FPS, averaging only 55.8 FPS. Players targeting 4K should stick to High settings for a stable experience, or accept the Medium preset for extra headroom.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12400 in synthetic benchmarks are all within one percent of its average score of 18683. The AMD EPYC 7643, despite being a server-class processor, scores 18697, making it effectively equivalent in raw compute. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811. The Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is slightly lower. In gaming workloads like Control, the i3-14100F would likely behave similarly to the i5-12400 given its closer architectural lineage, though the i5’s additional cores provide more headroom for background tasks.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are more varied. The AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870, which is 0.8 percent higher than the 3080 Ti’s 41187 average. However, this is a workstation card, so gaming performance in Control may differ. The NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707 (1.2 percent higher) and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 scores 41897 (1.7 percent higher), but these are compute-focused accelerators without modern gaming features. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, which is 2 percent lower, making it the closest consumer gaming alternative — it would deliver slightly lower frame rates in Control while being a newer architecture.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is High, with an average of 61.8 FPS. This is the recommended choice for 4K, as it provides the best visual fidelity while staying just above the playable threshold. The Medium preset at 68.8 FPS offers more stability, but High is the highest quality option that clears 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the clear winner, averaging 81.9 FPS. This allows players to enable all visual effects without concern, as the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS target. There is no need to compromise on settings at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset again takes the top spot with a 105.3 FPS average. The massive headroom at 1080p means even the most demanding settings leave over 45 FPS of margin above the playable line. Players with high-refresh-rate monitors will appreciate the extra frames, as even the High preset at 122.1 FPS pushes well beyond standard 60 Hz displays.