Control

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 produces a broad spread of frame rates across Control’s four presets and three resolutions, with the data revealing a system that is clearly capable at 1080p and 1440p, but begins to show its limits only at 4K Ultra. The measured results show a consistent pattern: each step down in resolution yields a substantial performance gain, while each step up in preset quality exacts a predictable toll. This combination ranks 731st out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top fifth of all configurations tested, a strong showing that aligns with the individual component percentiles — the CPU sits at the 73rd percentile and the GPU at the 82nd percentile among all tested parts.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 5070 and i5-12400F deliver frame rates that range from excellent to overwhelming. The Low preset produces an average of 207 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution — the headroom is enormous. Moving to Medium drops the average to 150.5 FPS, still far beyond what any 60 Hz or even 144 Hz display could demand. The High preset yields 133.3 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a comfortable 114.9 FPS average. Every setting at 1080p clears the 60 FPS playability threshold by a wide margin, with the gap between Low and Ultra representing a 92.1 FPS difference — roughly a 44% performance range across presets, indicating that the GPU has enough headroom to absorb significant visual upgrades without dropping below playable levels.

At 2560x1440, the performance picture remains strong but the scaling becomes more evident. The Low preset averages 159.1 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. Medium drops to 109.4 FPS, and High comes in at 102.7 FPS. The Ultra preset, which would be the target for most users with a capable GPU, still manages an 84.5 FPS average. The delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 74.6 FPS, a narrower spread than at 1080p, suggesting that resolution scaling is beginning to exert more pressure on the GPU. Notably, the 1440p High result of 102.7 FPS is only slightly below the 1080p Medium result of 150.5 FPS — a 47.8 FPS difference that underscores how much resolution matters for this pairing.

At 3840x2160, the data reveals the first signs of strain. The Low preset averages 103.7 FPS, which is still very playable, and Medium drops to 73.5 FPS. High maintains a 65.1 FPS average, just barely above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 58.4 FPS — below the playable threshold. This is the only preset across all three resolutions that fails to clear 60 FPS. The scaling from 1440p Ultra (84.5 FPS) to 4K Ultra (58.4 FPS) represents a 26.1 FPS loss, a 31% reduction that highlights the significant cost of pushing four times the pixels at the highest quality settings. The 4K Low result of 103.7 FPS versus the 1440p Low result of 159.1 FPS shows a similar proportional drop, reinforcing that 4K is where the GPU’s 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 672 GB/s bandwidth become more relevant than the CPU’s six cores.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 731 out of 3720 tested configurations places this system in the 80.4th percentile of all tested combinations for Control. This is a strong position, though not an elite one — the data implies that while this pairing is clearly above average, there are still many configurations that outperform it. The individual component percentiles support this: the GPU’s 82nd percentile is slightly higher than the CPU’s 73rd percentile, suggesting that the RTX 5070 is the stronger contributor to this ranking. The gap between the two percentiles (9 points) indicates that the CPU is the relative weak link, though in absolute terms the i5-12400F is by no means a bottleneck at most settings — the 1080p Low result of 207 FPS shows the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond typical display refresh rates.

When compared to other combos, the rank suggests that Control is not particularly demanding on this hardware. A rank in the top 20% means that the majority of tested systems deliver lower performance, and the measured FPS data confirms this — even the worst preset (4K Ultra) comes close to 60 FPS. The data implies that this combo is well-balanced for the game, with neither component dramatically outclassing the other. However, the fact that the GPU ranks 9 percentile points higher than the CPU suggests that if a user were to upgrade one component, the CPU would be the more likely candidate to unlock additional performance, particularly at lower resolutions where frame rates exceed 150 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K with the High preset?

A: Yes, the measured average at 3840x2160 with High settings is 65.1 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playability threshold by 5.1 FPS. However, the margin is slim — a 58.4 FPS average at Ultra shows that the next preset up falls below the threshold.

Q: What is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 84.5 FPS, making it the highest quality option that maintains playable performance. All four presets at this resolution clear 60 FPS, with Low reaching 159.1 FPS.

Q: How does the 1080p performance compare to 4K performance?

A: At 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 114.9 FPS, while at 4K the same preset averages 58.4 FPS — a difference of 56.5 FPS. Even the 1080p Medium preset (150.5 FPS) outperforms the 4K Low preset (103.7 FPS), indicating that resolution has a greater impact on performance than preset quality.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to limit performance in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 58.4 FPS versus the 1080p Low result of 207 FPS shows that the CPU can deliver very high frame rates when the GPU is not stressed, but the GPU struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra. The GPU’s 82nd percentile ranking versus the CPU’s 73rd percentile further supports this interpretation.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average is 102.7 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and close to the 1440p Medium result of 109.4 FPS, showing that the High preset offers a good balance of quality and performance.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS in any tested configuration?

A: Only one configuration fails to reach 60 FPS: 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which averages 58.4 FPS. Every other combination of resolution and preset tested — all 11 others — maintains an average of at least 65.1 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control, and it can do so with high fidelity at most resolutions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 114.9 FPS — more than enough for smooth gameplay on high refresh rate displays. At 2560x1440, the system also handles all presets, with Ultra achieving 84.5 FPS, a strong result that leaves room for demanding scenes without dropping below 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system remains playable on the Low, Medium, and High presets, with the High preset averaging 65.1 FPS — just above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 4K is the only failure point, averaging 58.4 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The data indicates that this is a capable 1440p machine and a serviceable 4K machine, provided users are willing to dial back from the absolute highest quality settings.

The best settings for each resolution, based on the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, are as follows: at 1080p, the Ultra preset at 114.9 FPS; at 1440p, the Ultra preset at 84.5 FPS; and at 4K, the High preset at 65.1 FPS. These figures represent the maximum visual quality that still guarantees playable performance, and the margins above 60 FPS vary from a comfortable 54.9 FPS at 1080p Ultra to a narrow 5.1 FPS at 4K High. Users with 4K displays should be aware that the High preset is the ceiling for this pairing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals a clear division of labor between the i5-12400F and the RTX 5070. At 1080p, the CPU appears to be the more influential component — the jump from Low (207 FPS) to Medium (150.5 FPS) represents a 56.5 FPS drop, while the jump from Medium to High (133.3 FPS) is a 17.2 FPS drop. These large swings at lower resolutions indicate that the GPU is not saturated, and the CPU’s six cores and 12 threads are feeding frames quickly enough to expose the GPU’s limits. The 1080p Low result of 207 FPS is particularly telling — it suggests that the CPU could push even higher if the GPU were faster, but the RTX 5070 caps the output at this level.

At 1440p, the balance shifts slightly toward the GPU. The Low preset drops to 159.1 FPS from 207 FPS at 1080p, a 47.9 FPS reduction that is larger than the drop from 1440p Low to 1440p Medium (49.7 FPS). This indicates that resolution scaling is now a significant factor, and the GPU’s memory bandwidth and shading units are being exercised more heavily. The Ultra preset at 1440p (84.5 FPS) is only 20.4 FPS below the High preset (102.7 FPS), a smaller gap than at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is starting to become the limiting factor as pixel count increases.

At 4K, the GPU dominates the performance equation. The Low preset averages 103.7 FPS, which is 55.4 FPS below the 1440p Low result — a massive drop that highlights how much the GPU struggles with the 8.3 million pixel count. The gap between Medium (73.5 FPS) and High (65.1 FPS) narrows further, and the Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS entirely. The data strongly implies that at 4K, the RTX 5070’s 12 GB of GDDR7 memory and 192-bit bus are the primary constraints, while the CPU’s role becomes negligible — the 4K Low result of 103.7 FPS is still well above the 4K Ultra result, showing that the GPU is the bottleneck across all presets at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 114.9 FPS. This is the clear recommendation for 1080p users, as it provides the highest visual quality while still leaving a 54.9 FPS buffer above the playability threshold. The High preset at 133.3 FPS and Medium at 150.5 FPS are also viable, but Ultra offers the best balance of fidelity and performance without any risk of dropping below 60 FPS.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the best choice, averaging 84.5 FPS. This is 24.5 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a comfortable margin for action-heavy scenes. The High preset at 102.7 FPS is an alternative for users who prefer extra headroom, but Ultra’s 84.5 FPS average is sufficient for smooth gameplay on most displays, including 144 Hz monitors where the frame rate will still be well above refresh rate in most scenes.

For 3840x2160, the best setting is High, which averages 65.1 FPS. This is only 5.1 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, so users should expect occasional dips below 60 FPS in demanding scenes, but the average remains playable. The Medium preset at 73.5 FPS offers a safer margin, and the Low preset at 103.7 FPS is the choice for users who prioritize smoothness over visual quality. The Ultra preset at 58.4 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the playable threshold and would result in noticeable stuttering in fast-paced combat.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12400F, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with a score of 19047 (0% delta), the Intel Core 3 201E at 19056 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982 (0.3% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7773X at 18979 (0.3% delta). These processors all deliver nearly identical average scores, meaning that in CPU-bound scenarios, a system with any of these chips would perform within a fraction of a percent of the i5-12400F. For Control specifically, the game’s moderate CPU demands mean that swapping the i5-12400F for any of these rivals would likely produce no measurable difference in the 4K results, where the GPU is the limiting factor, and only marginal differences at 1080p where the CPU matters more.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, the nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 580 with an average score of 40318 (0.1% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 at 40063 (0.8% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 at 40870 (-1.2% delta), and the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile at 39568 (2% delta). These GPUs have very similar average benchmark scores, suggesting that they would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control. The 0.1% delta between the RTX 5070 and the Radeon Pro 580 is negligible, meaning a system with the Pro 580 would likely match the 65.1 FPS average at 4K High and the 84.5 FPS at 1440p Ultra. The RTX A500 Mobile, with a 2% lower score, might see a small dip — perhaps 1-2 FPS at 4K High — but would still remain playable at most settings. These comparisons indicate that the RTX 5070’s performance is well within the range of several other GPUs, and users with any of these alternatives would have a similar experience in Control.