Control

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a wide range of performance in Control, scaling from a highly fluid 206.4 FPS at 1080p Low to a still-playable 59.3 FPS at 4K Ultra. The data indicates this combination is capable of exceeding the 60 FPS threshold at every tested resolution, though the margin shrinks considerably at the highest settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates significant headroom. On Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 206.4 FPS. Moving to Medium drops performance to 150 FPS, while High settings yield 131.5 FPS. The most demanding 1080p preset, Ultra, still maintains an average of 113.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a reduction of roughly 45%, but every preset remains far above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, performance remains robust. Low settings produce an average of 159.6 FPS, which is a 22.7% decrease compared to the same preset at 1080p. Medium settings average 110.4 FPS, and High settings average 100.3 FPS. At Ultra, the average frame rate settles at 89 FPS. The drop from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra is about 21.5%, showing that the GPU handles the increased pixel count with relative ease.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens. Low settings average 106 FPS, which is a substantial 33.6% lower than the 1080p Low result. Medium settings drop to 74.5 FPS, and High settings average 64.4 FPS. The Ultra preset barely misses the playable threshold, averaging 59.3 FPS. This represents a 47.7% performance loss compared to the same Ultra preset at 1080p, highlighting the heavy load that 4K resolution places on the rendering pipeline.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU benchmark data places the Intel Core i5-12400F at an average score of 19039, which corresponds to a 73rd percentile ranking among all tested CPUs. Its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score is the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, which scores 19047, a delta of 0%. This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, these two processors would deliver nearly identical performance. Other close competitors include the Intel Core 3 201E (19056, -0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U (18982, 0.3% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7773X (18979, 0.3% delta). The data implies that swapping the i5-12400F for any of these alternatives would result in negligible frame rate differences in Control, as the game does not appear to be heavily reliant on the CPU at the tested settings.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT achieves an average benchmark score of 13745, placing it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon 660M, which scores 13812, a delta of -0.5%. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821, -0.5% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 570X (13871, -0.9% delta) are also within 1% of the RX 7900 XT's average score. Interestingly, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543, a delta of 1.5%, meaning the RX 7900 XT is slightly ahead. These rival GPUs represent a wide range of market segments, from integrated graphics to professional mobile solutions, suggesting that the average benchmark score may not fully capture the RX 7900 XT's gaming-specific strengths.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data provides insight into which component dominates performance in Control at different resolutions. At 1080p, the gap between presets is the widest: Low (206.4 FPS) is 82% faster than Ultra (113.4 FPS). This substantial spread indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as reducing graphical load directly translates to higher frame rates. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears sufficient to feed the GPU at this resolution, as even the lowest preset does not reveal a CPU-imposed ceiling.

At 1440p, the scaling pattern persists but with slightly less amplitude. Low (159.6 FPS) is 79% faster than Ultra (89 FPS). The absolute numbers are lower than at 1080p, confirming that the GPU is working harder to fill the additional pixels. However, the fact that even Ultra stays above 60 FPS suggests the GPU still has headroom, and the CPU is not yet the limiting factor.

The situation changes at 4K. Here, the performance drop from Low (106 FPS) to Ultra (59.3 FPS) is 44%, which is less pronounced than at lower resolutions. This indicates that the GPU is now the overwhelming constraint, as the rendering workload at 3840x2160 becomes so heavy that even the RX 7900 XT's 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 800.0 GB/s bandwidth are taxed. The CPU's role diminishes further, as the frame rate is dictated almost entirely by the GPU's ability to process pixels. The data suggests that for Control, the GPU is the dominant component across all tested scenarios, with the CPU providing adequate support without becoming a bottleneck.

The Verdict

Based on the measured FPS data, this PC can run Control at playable frame rates across all three tested resolutions. At 3840x2160, the playable settings include High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best playable option at an average of 64.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls just short of the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 59.3 FPS, so it is not considered fully playable.

At 2560x1440, all four presets clear the 60 FPS bar. The best settings are Ultra, which averages 89 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the playability threshold. Similarly, at 1920x1080, every preset is playable, with Ultra averaging 113.4 FPS. This means users can enjoy the game at maximum graphical fidelity at both 1080p and 1440p without compromising frame rate. For 4K, users will need to select High or lower settings to maintain a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 721st out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places the combo in the top 19.4% of all configurations tested, indicating that it delivers above-average performance for this title. The rank reflects the balanced nature of the pairing, where the GPU's substantial rendering power is complemented by a capable mid-range CPU. While the GPU is a high-end part, its 55th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests that many other graphics cards outperform it in synthetic benchmarks, yet the specific demands of Control are met well by this combo.

Best Settings per Resolution

For users targeting 60 FPS or higher, the most demanding preset that maintains playability varies by resolution:

• At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, which achieves an average of 113.4 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still offering a substantial performance buffer.
• At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, averaging 89 FPS. This allows for maximum graphical detail at 1440p with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.
• At 3840x2160, the best playable settings are High, averaging 64.4 FPS. While this is above 60 FPS, the margin is slim, so users may prefer Medium (74.5 FPS) for additional headroom against frame time spikes.

FAQ

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

A: No, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 59.3 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playability threshold. High settings at the same resolution achieve 64.4 FPS.

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

A: At 2560x1440, all presets are playable. Ultra settings provide the highest visual quality with an average of 89 FPS, making it the recommended choice.

Q: How much faster is 1080p Low compared to 4K High?

A: The 1920x1080 Low preset averages 206.4 FPS, while 3840x2160 High averages 64.4 FPS. This represents a performance difference of roughly 220%.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The data shows that frame rates scale significantly with graphical presets, especially at lower resolutions, indicating the GPU is the primary performance driver. The CPU's role is secondary, as performance drops are more closely tied to resolution increases than to CPU workload.

Q: Which other GPUs perform similarly to the RX 7900 XT?

A: According to benchmark averages, the AMD Radeon 660M (13812, -0.5% delta), NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821, -0.5% delta), and AMD Radeon RX 570X (13871, -0.9% delta) are the closest rivals.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 206.4, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.