Control

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a thoroughly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, with the data showing that 4K gaming is possible only by dropping to Low settings. The combination ranks 2008th out of 3720 tested combos for this title, placing it in the upper-middle tier of systems. Benchmark results indicate that the RTX 4060, while scoring near the AMD Radeon 780M in synthetic averages, provides a significant real-world advantage in this specific game, where the CPU's strong single-thread performance helps maintain high frame rates across most presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest synthetic rivals to the Intel Core i5-12400F provide context for its CPU-bound performance in Control. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS posts an average benchmark score of 19047, essentially identical to the i5-12400F's 19039, with a delta of 0%. This suggests that in CPU-limited scenarios, the two processors would deliver nearly interchangeable frame pacing. The Intel Core 3 201E sits -0.1% behind with a score of 19056, while the Intel Core i5-1335U and AMD EPYC 7773X are both 0.3% ahead with scores of 18982 and 18979 respectively. These deltas are so small that they fall within normal run-to-run variance, meaning any of these CPUs would behave similarly in Control's less demanding scenes.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 places it alongside some unexpected company. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, a -0.2% delta, while the AMD Radeon 780M (integrated graphics) scores 17588, just 0.3% behind. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 round out the list at 17551 and 17509, with deltas of 0.5% and 0.7%. These synthetic scores suggest the RTX 4060's raw compute is comparable to those older or integrated parts, but the measured FPS in Control tells a different story—the RTX 4060's modern architecture and driver optimization clearly benefit this title more than the synthetic averages imply. For users considering alternatives, any of these GPUs would produce similar synthetic benchmark numbers, but only the RTX 4060 among them achieves the frame rates recorded in this data.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The data shows a 3840x2160 Low preset achieves 71 FPS average. Medium settings drop to 51 FPS, High to 45 FPS, and Ultra to 39 FPS—all below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p that maintains 60 FPS?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 deliver a 67 FPS average, which is the highest preset that clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium runs at 75 FPS, Low at 106 FPS, but Ultra falls to 58 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060's synthetic score compare to its real-world Control performance?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score is 17639, with nearest rival AMD Radeon 780M at 17588. Despite similar synthetic numbers, the RTX 4060 achieves 140 FPS at 1080p Low in Control, while the integrated 780M would struggle to match that in practice, highlighting the importance of game-specific measurements.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The 1920x1080 Ultra preset produces a 77 FPS average, comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. For comparison, High runs at 88 FPS, Medium at 99 FPS, and Low at 140 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for frame rate drops at higher resolutions?

A: The data shows scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K at High settings: 88 FPS, 67 FPS, and 45 FPS respectively. This 51% drop from 1080p to 4K indicates the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases, while the CPU's role diminishes.

Q: Does the system ever fall below 60 FPS at 1440p Medium?

A: The 2560x1440 Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 64, which stays above the 60 FPS threshold. However, at 4K Medium, the minimum drops to 43 FPS, indicating significant frame dips during intense scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its strongest performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves a 140 FPS average, providing headroom for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings produce a 99 FPS average with a minimum of 84 FPS and maximum of 114 FPS, indicating consistent frame delivery. High settings run at 88 FPS average, while Ultra—the most demanding preset—still manages 77 FPS. All 1080p presets clear the 60 FPS threshold by substantial margins, with even the minimum recorded frame rate at Medium (84 FPS) staying well above playable levels.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales predictably downward but remains strong. Low settings produce a 106 FPS average, which is still exceptionally smooth. Medium delivers 75 FPS average with a minimum of 64 FPS and maximum of 86 FPS, meaning the system rarely dips near the 60 FPS threshold. High settings achieve 67 FPS average, just above the playable line. Ultra drops to 58 FPS, missing the 60 FPS target by a narrow margin—this is the only 1440p preset that falls below playable levels.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. Low settings still manage a 71 FPS average, which is playable but with less headroom than lower resolutions. Medium settings produce 51 FPS average with a minimum of 43 FPS and maximum of 58 FPS, showing noticeable frame dips during action sequences. High settings drop to 45 FPS, and Ultra falls to 39 FPS—both clearly below the playable threshold. The data shows that 4K gaming requires significant settings compromises, with only the Low preset meeting the 60 FPS target.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control, but the experience varies dramatically by resolution. At 1920x1080, every preset including Ultra clears 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 77 FPS. This is the ideal resolution for this combo, offering full visual fidelity without performance concerns. At 2560x1440, High settings provide 67 FPS average, which is the best playable preset; Ultra falls just short at 58 FPS. Users with 1440p monitors can enjoy High settings comfortably, or drop to Medium for 75 FPS if they prefer extra headroom.

At 3840x2160, the system is limited to Low settings for playable performance, achieving 71 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with averages of 51, 45, and 39 FPS respectively. The verdict is clear: this combination is a strong 1080p and good 1440p machine for Control, but 4K requires significant compromises. The data suggests that players prioritizing 4K should either accept Low settings or consider this system inadequate for their display. For 1080p and 1440p users, the system delivers a smooth experience across most presets.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions reveals how the CPU and GPU share the workload in Control. At 1080p High, the system produces 88 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 67 FPS; at 4K High, it falls to 45 FPS. This progression shows a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 33% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The steeper drop at 4K indicates the GPU is the dominant bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the graphics card at 1080p.

The preset scaling within each resolution provides additional insight. At 1080p, moving from Low (140 FPS) to Ultra (77 FPS) reduces performance by 45%, showing that the GPU is heavily taxed by higher presets. At 1440p, the same comparison shows Low at 106 FPS and Ultra at 58 FPS—a 45% reduction, similar to 1080p. At 4K, Low produces 71 FPS while Ultra drops to 39 FPS, a 45% reduction as well. This consistent 45% penalty from Low to Ultra across all resolutions suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor; instead, the GPU's rendering workload scales uniformly with preset quality.

The i5-12400F's 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, appear sufficient for Control's demands. At 1080p, where CPU overhead is typically highest, the system still achieves 140 FPS at Low settings, indicating the CPU is not saturating. The data implies that the RTX 4060 is the primary determinant of performance at all resolutions, with the CPU playing a supporting role that becomes less critical as resolution increases.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that stays at or above 60 FPS, delivering a 77 FPS average. This provides the full visual experience without sacrificing playability. Players seeking higher frame rates can step down to High for 88 FPS or Medium for 99 FPS, but the data shows Ultra is viable.

For 2560x1440, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with a 67 FPS average. This clears the 60 FPS threshold with minimal headroom. Medium settings provide 75 FPS for those who want more margin, while Ultra at 58 FPS falls short of the playable target.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that maintains 60 FPS, averaging 71 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays playable, but it requires significant graphical compromises. Medium at 51 FPS, High at 45 FPS, and Ultra at 39 FPS are all below the threshold. The data suggests that 4K players must accept Low settings or consider a more powerful GPU for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F and RTX 4060 combination ranks 2008th out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the 54th percentile of all systems tested. This mid-pack ranking reflects the hardware's balanced but not exceptional capabilities. The RTX 4060's percentileVsAllGpus of 61 and the i5-12400F's percentileVsAllCpus of 73 suggest the CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU in this pairing.

The ranking implies that while this system handles Control well at 1080p and 1440p, there are many other combinations that perform better, particularly at 4K. The data shows the combo sits above the median, but the 4K performance limitations prevent it from ranking higher. For users considering this build, the rank indicates it is a solid mid-range option for Control, capable of delivering playable frame rates at mainstream resolutions but not a top-tier performer for high-resolution or high-refresh-rate gaming.