Control

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers a decisive performance outcome in Control, with measured frame rates that consistently exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold across every resolution and preset combination tested. At 4K, the combo averages 79 FPS on High settings and 69 FPS on Ultra, while 1440p and 1080p produce triple-digit averages even at the highest quality preset. The data indicates this system is not merely capable of running the game, but does so with substantial headroom, placing it in the 241st position out of 3,720 tested combos, a strong result that puts it in the top tier of configurations for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions and quality presets. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate ranges from 126 FPS on Low settings down to 69 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K shows an average of 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing even under load. High settings at 4K produce an average of 79 FPS, while Ultra drops to 69 FPS, still comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The absence of min/max data for Low, High, and Ultra presets at this resolution suggests only average values were captured for those configurations.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales upward as expected. Low settings deliver an average of 186 FPS, while Medium averages 132 FPS with a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS. High settings at 1440p average 118 FPS, and Ultra maintains a strong 102 FPS average. The gap between Medium and Ultra at this resolution is 30 FPS, showing that the most demanding preset still leaves ample performance margin. At 1440p, even the Ultra preset exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by 42 FPS, making this resolution an excellent target for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4080 and Core i5-12600KF combination produces exceptional results. Low settings average 246 FPS, Medium averages 175 FPS with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS, High averages 156 FPS, and Ultra averages 135 FPS. The 1080p Ultra result of 135 FPS is more than double the playable threshold, and the minimum recorded frame rate at Medium (149 FPS) exceeds the average of many lesser configurations at lower settings. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p shows an improvement of 33 FPS on Ultra settings, from 102 FPS to 135 FPS, demonstrating that the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU even at lower resolutions.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step down in resolution yields approximately a 30-35% average FPS increase at the same settings. From 4K Ultra to 1440p Ultra, the average rises from 69 FPS to 102 FPS, and from 1440p Ultra to 1080p Ultra, it rises to 135 FPS. This linear scaling indicates the GPU remains the primary performance driver across all tested configurations, with the i5-12600KF providing sufficient headroom to avoid limiting frame rates.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 69 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data confirms Ultra is listed as a playable setting at this resolution.

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1440p for maximum quality?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 102 FPS, which is the best playable setting according to the verdict data. This is 42 FPS above the playable threshold, leaving substantial room for demanding scenes.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest GPU rival in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54,209, a delta of 0.1%. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54,828, which is 1.1% higher than the RTX 4080.

Q: Is the Core i5-12600KF a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data shows no evidence of CPU limitation. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 246, and even Ultra settings maintain 135 FPS. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 7,956 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23,391 indicate strong multi-threaded performance.

Q: What frame rates can be expected with Medium settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 89, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with no drops below the 60 FPS threshold.

*Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for Control?*

A: The combination ranks 241st out of 3,720 total tested combos, placing it in the top 6.5% of all configurations tested for this game.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rival to the Intel Core i5-12600KF is the Intel Core i9-10900K, which has an average benchmark score of 27,872 compared to the i5-12600KF's 27,799, a delta of -0.3%. This means the i9-10900K performs essentially identically in synthetic benchmarks, though it is a lower-tier 10th Gen part. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D scores 27,896, also within 0.3% of the i5-12600KF, making it a direct alternative for gaming workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 27,712, which is 0.3% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 27,887, 0.3% higher. For users building a system around this CPU, any of these processors would deliver comparable benchmark performance, though the i5-12600KF's 10 cores and 16 threads provide a specific configuration that these rivals approximate rather than exactly match.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the closest benchmark match, with an average score of 54,209 versus the RTX 4080's 54,247, a delta of only 0.1%. In practical terms, these two cards would be indistinguishable in Control frame rates. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54,828, which is 1.1% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55,698, 2.6% higher. The AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55,757, 2.7% higher. These AMD alternatives would deliver slightly higher average frame rates in synthetic tests, but the differences are small enough that real-world Control performance would be within a few FPS of the RTX 4080.

The combination of the i5-12600KF with any of these rival GPUs would produce similar results in Control, since the CPU is not a limiting factor at any resolution tested. The RTX 4080's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth provide ample headroom for the game's textures and effects, and the 76 RT cores offer hardware ray tracing capability that the game can utilize.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 241 out of 3,720 tested configurations places this system in the 93.5th percentile of all combinations tested for Control. This means only 240 other CPU-GPU pairs performed better in this game, and the vast majority of systems tested (3,479 combos) ranked below this configuration. The rank reflects the combined capabilities of the i5-12600KF and RTX 4080, which together deliver the frame rates documented in the measured FPS data.

This ranking is consistent with the individual component percentiles: the CPU sits in the 79th percentile of all CPUs tested, while the GPU ranks in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The high combo rank relative to these individual percentiles suggests that this particular pairing is well-balanced for Control, with neither component dragging down the overall performance. The CPU's 3DMark max threads score of 7,952 and the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,567 indicate both components are performing near their expected levels.

The rank of 241 out of 3,720 also implies that this system outperforms a substantial number of combinations featuring higher-tier CPUs or GPUs, likely due to the game's optimization patterns that favor the specific architecture of this pairing. For a game released in 2019, this modern configuration provides significant performance headroom, as evidenced by the 246 FPS average at 1080p Low settings.

The Verdict

The verdict data confirms that this PC can run Control at all tested resolutions and presets, with every configuration exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 3840x2160, all four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are listed as playable, with the best setting being Ultra at an average of 69 FPS. At 2560x1440, all settings are also playable, with Ultra averaging 102 FPS. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings average 135 FPS, again with all presets exceeding 60 FPS.

The 4K Ultra result of 69 FPS is particularly noteworthy, as it demonstrates that this system can run the game at maximum quality on a 4K display without compromises. The 1440p Ultra average of 102 FPS makes this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, and the 1080p Ultra average of 135 FPS provides an excellent experience for competitive play. The data shows no configuration where the system fails to meet the playable threshold, making this a universally capable setup for Control.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 69 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still clearing the playable threshold by 9 FPS. For users prioritizing frame rate stability over absolute quality, the Medium preset at 89 FPS (with a minimum of 76 FPS) offers a more substantial safety margin.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings deliver an average of 102 FPS, making this the best choice for maximum quality at this resolution. The 42 FPS margin above the 60 FPS threshold ensures that even the most demanding scenes will not cause drops below playable levels. This configuration is suitable for 144Hz displays, as the average exceeds 100 FPS.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings produce an average of 135 FPS, which is the best preset available. This provides over double the playable threshold and is well-suited for 144Hz or even 165Hz monitors. The data shows no reason to reduce settings below Ultra at 1080p, as the performance margin is substantial. The Medium preset at 175 FPS (with a minimum of 149 FPS) offers an alternative for users seeking even higher frame rates, but the Ultra preset remains the recommended choice for visual fidelity.