Control

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2650 out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. This places the combo in the 71st percentile of all recorded systems, meaning it outperforms roughly seven out of every ten configurations in the database for this specific title. The ranking reflects a system that is capable but not exceptional for Control, with the CPU sitting at the 79th percentile among all processors and the GPU at the 62nd percentile among all graphics cards. The gap between the two components' percentiles suggests the graphics card is the limiting factor in most scenarios, a conclusion reinforced by the measured FPS data across resolutions and presets.

CPU and GPU Roles

Benchmark results show a clear pattern: the RTX 2060 SUPER is the dominant constraint at higher resolutions, while the i5-12600KF provides ample headroom even at 1080p. At 4K, the average FPS drops from 60 at Low settings to 33 at Ultra, a 45% reduction that is almost entirely attributable to GPU load. At 1440p, the spread is similar: 89 FPS at Low versus 49 FPS at Ultra, again pointing to the GPU as the bottleneck. At 1080p, the same preset swing yields 118 FPS at Low and 65 FPS at Ultra, a 45% drop that still leaves the system comfortably above 60 FPS at every preset.

The CPU's capability is evident from its benchmark scores: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23,391 and a single-core score of 3,302, both placing it in the top tier for gaming workloads. The 10-core, 16-thread configuration with a 4.90 GHz boost clock ensures that Control's physics and AI systems are never starved, even when the GPU is pushing maximum frames at 1080p Low. The scaling between 1080p and 1440p at the same preset is roughly 25% to 30% (for example, High settings drop from 74 FPS at 1080p to 56 FPS at 1440p), which is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario where the CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 3840x2160, the system averages 60 FPS at Low settings, 43 FPS at Medium, 38 FPS at High, and 33 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset is the only 4K configuration with recorded min and max values: 36 FPS minimum and 49 FPS maximum, indicating noticeable variance even at a moderate preset. The other 4K entries lack min/max data, but the averages alone show that only Low settings clear the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 89 FPS at Low, 63 FPS at Medium, 56 FPS at High, and 49 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset again shows the full range: 54 FPS minimum and 73 FPS maximum. This means 1440p Medium is playable but with occasional dips below 60 FPS, while 1440p Low maintains a comfortable margin above the threshold. High and Ultra presets fall short of 60 FPS average, with Ultra sitting 11 FPS below the playable mark.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers 118 FPS at Low, 84 FPS at Medium, 74 FPS at High, and 65 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset's min and max are 71 and 96 FPS respectively, showing that even the slowest frames at 1080p Medium clear the 60 FPS line. Every preset at 1080p averages above 60 FPS, with Ultra being the closest to the threshold at 65 FPS. The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step up costs roughly 25% to 30% of average FPS at the same preset, and each preset step up from Low to Ultra costs roughly 45% of average FPS at the same resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i9-10900K with an average benchmark score of 27,872 (0.3% higher than the i5-12600KF's 27,799), the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D at 27,896 (0.3% higher), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U at 27,887 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE at 27,712 (0.3% lower). These deltas are all within half a percent, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control when paired with the same GPU. The practical takeaway: the i5-12600KF is statistically indistinguishable from these alternatives for gaming workloads, and the choice between them comes down to platform considerations rather than performance.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile at 18,159 (0.4% higher than the RTX 2060 SUPER's 18,093), the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 at 18,189 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 460 at 18,373 (1.5% higher), and the Intel Arc A770M at 18,383 (1.6% higher). The first two are within half a percent, making them direct equivalents for Control. The RX 460 and Arc A770M show slightly higher average benchmark scores, but the 1.5% to 1.6% deltas translate to roughly one to two FPS differences in practice, well within run-to-run variance. None of these rivals would meaningfully change the playability verdicts at any resolution.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where the average FPS is exactly 60. Medium drops to 43 FPS, High to 38 FPS, and Ultra to 33 FPS, all below the playable threshold.

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

A: Medium is the highest preset that averages above 60 FPS, hitting 63 FPS on average with a minimum of 54 FPS. Low averages 89 FPS, while High and Ultra fall short at 56 and 49 FPS respectively.

Q: Is 1080p Ultra viable for this combination?

A: Yes, the system averages 65 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. All presets at 1080p are playable, with Low reaching 118 FPS and Medium at 84 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 3060 Mobile and Radeon Pro 5700 are within 0.5% of the RTX 2060 SUPER's average benchmark score, making them direct performance equivalents. The Radeon RX 460 and Arc A770M are 1.5% to 1.6% higher, which is negligible in real gameplay.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in Control?

A: No. The i5-12600KF's benchmark scores place it at the 79th percentile among all CPUs, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.3% performance. The FPS scaling across resolutions indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at every preset.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for the playable presets?

A: At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 71 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 54 FPS. At 4K Low, no min/max data was recorded, but the average is exactly 60 FPS.

The Verdict

This combination can run Control, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and preset choices. At 1920x1080, all four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 65 FPS and Low reaching 118 FPS. The verdict for 1080p is fully playable across the board. At 2560x1440, the system is playable at Low and Medium settings, with Medium averaging 63 FPS and Low at 89 FPS. High and Ultra fall below 60 FPS at 56 and 49 FPS respectively. At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve a 60 FPS average; Medium, High, and Ultra all fall short.

The data indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the i5-12600KF provides more than enough processing power for Control's demands. Gamers targeting 1080p can max out the game with confidence. Those wanting 1440p should stick to Medium or Low presets for a smooth experience. 4K owners will need to accept Low settings for 60 FPS, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for better visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates. The system's 2650th place ranking out of 3720 combos reflects this mixed capability: strong at 1080p, adequate at 1440p, and limited at 4K.