Control

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is a high-performing combination for Control, ranking 476th out of 3720 tested combos for this specific title. This places the combo in the top percentile of tested configurations, indicating that it delivers substantial performance headroom for the game’s demands. Benchmark results show that this pairing achieves playable frame rates—defined as 60 FPS or higher—at every resolution and preset combination tested, from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. The data confirms that this system is not merely capable of running Control, but does so with significant margin, making it a strong candidate for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1440p and smooth 4K gameplay at maximum settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti achieves a rank of 476 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 12.8% of all configurations evaluated. This ranking reflects the synergy between a CPU that sits in the 79th percentile of all processors and a GPU in the 84th percentile of all graphics cards. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 27799 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D scoring 27896 (a 0.3% difference) and the Intel Core i9-10900K scoring 27872 (a 0.3% difference). This indicates that the processor provides consistent, competitive performance without being a bottleneck in this pairing.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 44795 is similarly close to its nearest competitors, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile scoring 45152 (0.8% higher) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT scoring 45384 (1.3% higher). The tight clustering of these scores suggests that the RTX 4070 Ti delivers performance squarely in line with expectations for its class. When combined, these components produce a system that delivers 71.3 FPS at 4K High settings and 63.8 FPS at 4K Ultra, demonstrating that the rank is not merely a reflection of theoretical compute but translates directly into playable real-world performance. The data shows that this combo sits comfortably above the threshold where most users would require any compromise in visual fidelity to maintain smooth gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: Yes. Measured FPS data shows the combo achieves 63.8 FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra, 93.5 FPS at 2560x1440 Ultra, and 123.6 FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra. All three resolutions clear the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers 63.8 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the most demanding preset tested and remains playable, making it the recommended choice for maximum visual quality at 4K.

Q: How much performance does the combo lose when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 123.6 at 1920x1080 to 93.5 at 2560x1440, and further to 63.8 at 3840x2160. This represents a 48.4% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, which is consistent with the increased pixel count demanding more from the GPU.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The scaling between resolutions suggests the GPU is the primary performance driver. At Low settings, the frame rate increases from 116.7 FPS at 4K to 228.1 FPS at 1080p, a 95.4% improvement, indicating that the CPU can feed the GPU effectively at lower resolutions without becoming a bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo compare to similar hardware?

A: The CPU’s performance is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with a 0.3% difference in average benchmark scores. The GPU performs within 1.7% of the Intel Arc A730M and 1.6% of the NVIDIA RTX A6000, placing this combo in a competitive performance tier.

Q: Does the game run smoothly at 1440p with all settings maxed?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the combo produces 93.5 FPS on average, which is 55.8% above the 60 FPS threshold. This provides ample headroom for consistent, smooth gameplay without frame rate drops below playable levels.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-12600KF’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which scores 27896 on average (0.3% higher), and the Intel Core i9-10900K, which scores 27872 (0.3% lower). The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE also falls within this range at 27712 (0.3% lower). These processors deliver nearly identical multi-threaded performance, meaning users upgrading from any of these would see negligible difference in Control’s CPU-bound scenarios. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, scoring 27887, is also within 0.3% of the i5-12600KF, though it is a mobile part, making its inclusion relevant only for comparative benchmarking purposes.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti’s closest competitors in average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile (45152, 0.8% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (45384, 1.3% higher), and the Intel Arc A730M (45592, 1.7% higher). The NVIDIA RTX A6000 scores 44075, which is 1.6% lower. These cards would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control, with differences of less than 2% translating to roughly 1-2 FPS at the frame rates measured in this test. For users seeking comparable performance, any of these alternatives would deliver a similar experience, though the RTX 4070 Ti’s specific feature set and driver optimization may yield slightly different results in other titles.

The Verdict

This PC can definitively run Control with exceptional performance across all tested configurations. The verdict data confirms that every resolution and preset combination achieves an average frame rate above the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Ultra, which delivers 63.8 FPS on average. Moving to 2560x1440, Ultra settings produce 93.5 FPS, providing a substantial margin above the threshold that ensures smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings yield 123.6 FPS, which is more than double the playable threshold and ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The data indicates that this combo is not just playable but offers significant headroom, allowing users to enable all visual features without worrying about frame rate drops. For 4K gaming, the 63.8 FPS at Ultra is technically playable, but users seeking a more consistent 60+ FPS experience may prefer High settings at 71.3 FPS for additional stability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are 228.1 FPS on Low settings, 161.7 FPS on Medium, 145 FPS on High, and 123.6 FPS on Ultra. These figures demonstrate that the combo scales predictably with increasing graphical demands, with a 84.6% drop from Low to Ultra. At 2560x1440, the averages are 173.3 FPS on Low, 122.8 FPS on Medium, 107.9 FPS on High, and 93.5 FPS on Ultra. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by approximately 24-28% across all settings, consistent with the increased pixel count. At 3840x2160, the averages drop to 116.7 FPS on Low, 80.3 FPS on Medium, 71.3 FPS on High, and 63.8 FPS on Ultra. The 4K results show a steeper decline from Low to Ultra, with a 45.3% reduction, indicating that the GPU is the primary constraint at this resolution. No minimum or maximum FPS values were recorded in the data, so all analysis relies on average frame rates, which provide a reliable indicator of sustained performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 63.8 FPS. This is the highest quality setting tested and remains playable, though the margin above the threshold is narrow. Users prioritizing visual fidelity should select Ultra, while those preferring more headroom could drop to High at 71.3 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings deliver 93.5 FPS, which is the clear recommendation for this resolution. The 33.5 FPS margin above the 60 FPS threshold provides excellent stability, and there is no need to compromise on quality. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings produce 123.6 FPS, making it the optimal choice for this resolution. The frame rate is more than double the playable threshold, ensuring maximum visual quality without any risk of dropping below 60 FPS. In all cases, the data supports using the highest available preset, as even the most demanding settings remain comfortably playable.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals that the GPU is the dominant factor in Control. At Low settings, the frame rate increases by 95.4% when moving from 3840x2160 (116.7 FPS) to 1920x1080 (228.1 FPS), indicating that the GPU is fully utilized at lower resolutions and the CPU is not a limiting factor. At Ultra settings, the increase from 4K (63.8 FPS) to 1080p (123.6 FPS) is 93.7%, a similar magnitude, which further confirms that the GPU workload scales proportionally with resolution. The CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings, where the frame rates exceed 200 FPS, but the data shows the i5-12600KF can sustain these rates without bottlenecking the RTX 4070 Ti.

The difference in frame rates between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution provides additional insight. At 1080p, the drop from Low to Ultra is 104.5 FPS (45.8%), while at 4K, the drop is 52.9 FPS (45.3%). This consistency suggests that the GPU handles both resolution and settings scaling efficiently, with the CPU maintaining stable performance across all configurations. The CPU’s benchmark scores, including a 3dmark_16_threads score of 7956 and a cinebench_r23_multicore score of 23391, indicate strong multi-threaded capabilities that support the game’s physics and AI systems without becoming a constraint. Ultimately, the data shows that at 4K, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, while at 1080p, the combo still leans heavily on the GPU, with the CPU providing ample headroom for the highest frame rates measured.