Control

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination delivers a playable experience in Control at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K limited to Low settings. At 1920x1080, the pairing averages 68 FPS on Ultra settings, while 2560x1440 yields 67 FPS on Medium. The 4K resolution proves demanding, with only the Low preset clearing the 60 FPS threshold at 63 FPS. The combo ranks 2296th out of 3720 tested configurations for this title, placing it in the lower-mid tier of the database.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average is 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 35 FPS, well below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which settings preset at 1440p provides the best average FPS above 60?

A: The Medium preset delivers the highest average above 60 FPS at 2560x1440, with 67 FPS average, 57 FPS minimum, and 77 FPS maximum.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rival, the RX 5600 XT?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035, which is 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT's score of 20713, meaning the RX 5600 XT is slightly ahead in this comparison.

Q: What is the performance difference between the i5-12400 and the Core i3-14100F?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, which is 0.9% higher than the Core i3-14100F's score of 18519.

Q: Is the 4K Low preset playable?

A: Yes, the 3840x2160 Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU workload shifts across resolutions and presets in Control. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 124 FPS on Low settings, indicating the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately at lower graphical loads. Moving to Medium at 1080p drops the average to 88 FPS, and High further reduces it to 78 FPS, showing that the GPU becomes increasingly responsible for the frame rate as settings rise. The Ultra preset at 1080p still maintains 68 FPS, confirming that the RTX 5050 handles the graphical demands without severe CPU bottlenecks.

At 2560x1440, the scaling pattern continues but with a steeper decline. Low settings produce 94 FPS, which is 30 FPS lower than the 1080p Low result, clearly demonstrating the GPU's growing role at higher pixel counts. Medium at 1440p drops to 67 FPS, and High falls to 59 FPS, just below the playable threshold. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 52 FPS, a significant 16 FPS drop from the 1080p Ultra result, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at this resolution.

The 3840x2160 results amplify this trend dramatically. Low settings at 4K yield 63 FPS, which is 31 FPS lower than 1440p Low and 61 FPS lower than 1080p Low. Medium at 4K drops to 45 FPS, High to 40 FPS, and Ultra to 35 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 28 FPS, compared to a 56 FPS gap at 1080p, showing that at 4K the GPU is so heavily loaded that even reducing settings provides diminishing returns. The data indicates that the RTX 5050 is the dominant component in determining performance, with the i5-12400 providing sufficient headroom at lower resolutions and settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers consistent performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 124 FPS, representing the highest frame rate measured for this resolution. Medium settings produce an average of 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS, showing a narrow frame time distribution. High settings average 78 FPS, while Ultra settings average 68 FPS, maintaining playability at all four presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease but remain mostly playable. Low settings average 94 FPS, a 30 FPS reduction from 1080p Low. Medium settings produce 67 FPS average, with a minimum of 57 FPS and maximum of 77 FPS, indicating occasional dips below the 60 FPS threshold. High settings average 59 FPS, just short of playable, while Ultra settings average 52 FPS, dropping below the threshold more noticeably.

At 3840x2160, performance degrades significantly. Low settings average 63 FPS, barely clearing the playable threshold. Medium settings average 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS, showing substantial frame time variability. High settings average 40 FPS, and Ultra settings average 35 FPS, all well below the 60 FPS target. The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is fully playable at all settings, 1440p is playable up to Medium, and 4K is only playable at Low.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 can run Control, but the playable resolution and settings depend heavily on the target frame rate. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at all four presets: Low (124 FPS), Medium (88 FPS), High (78 FPS), and Ultra (68 FPS). This makes 1080p the most versatile resolution for this combination, allowing users to prioritize visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the playable presets narrow to Low (94 FPS) and Medium (67 FPS). The High preset falls just short at 59 FPS, while Ultra averages 52 FPS. Users seeking 1440p gameplay should stick with Medium settings to maintain a comfortable margin above the threshold. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset clears 60 FPS at 63 FPS, with Medium at 45 FPS, High at 40 FPS, and Ultra at 35 FPS. The 4K experience is therefore limited to Low settings, which provides a playable but visually compromised experience.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, achieving an average of 68 FPS. This allows users to experience Control with maximum graphical fidelity at full HD resolution, with a comfortable 8 FPS margin above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is Medium, delivering an average of 67 FPS. The High preset falls to 59 FPS, so Medium represents the optimal balance between visual quality and performance at this resolution, providing a 7 FPS margin above the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the only playable preset is Low, averaging 63 FPS. This provides a minimal 3 FPS margin above the threshold, meaning frame rate fluctuations could occasionally dip below 60 FPS. Users prioritizing 4K should be prepared for reduced graphical quality to maintain playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination ranks 2296th out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the 38th percentile of all configurations in the database. This positioning indicates that while the system is capable of running the game, it sits below the median performance level for this title. The CPU itself ranks in the 72nd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 66th percentile among all graphics cards, suggesting the combination performs slightly below what the individual component percentiles might imply due to the demanding nature of Control at higher resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU nearest rivals provide context for what other hardware would behave similarly to this combination. For the Intel Core i5-12400, the closest performance match is the AMD EPYC 7643, with an average benchmark score of 18697, just 0.1% lower than the i5-12400's 18683. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, 0.3% higher, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 18811, 0.7% higher. The Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, 0.9% lower, making it the nearest rival on the lower side.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL has an average score of 21153, 0.6% higher than the RTX 5050's 21035. The AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237, 1.0% higher, while the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379, 1.6% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713, 1.6% lower, representing the nearest rival on the lower side. These alternatives indicate that a system with a Core i3-14100F or RX 5600 XT would deliver nearly identical performance in Control, while configurations using the EPYC 7643 or RTX A4000 Mobile would show marginal improvements.