Control

The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers a robust experience in Control, with performance that scales predictably across resolutions. The pairing of a high-end 12th Gen desktop processor with an Ada Lovelace GPU produces frame rates that range from fully playable at 4K to exceptionally smooth at 1080p, though the data reveals clear boundaries where the GPU becomes the limiting factor.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, benchmark data places the Intel Core i7-12700K at the 84th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 35,287. Its nearest rivals in aggregate performance are almost indistinguishable in raw output. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35,305, a negligible 0.1% behind, while the Intel Core i7-12700KF is 0.2% behind at 35,365. The Intel Core i7-13700T posts 35,403, trailing by 0.3%, and the Intel Core 5 213PE rounds out the group at 35,428, just 0.4% lower. In practical gaming terms, any of these processors would deliver virtually identical frame pacing in Control, as the differences fall well within run-to-run variance. The 12700K’s 12 cores and 20 threads, with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, provide ample headroom for the game’s physics and AI workloads, meaning a swap to any of these rivals would not measurably alter the FPS results presented here.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070 holds the 81st percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 37,648. Its nearest rivals show a similar clustering of results. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 37,628, a mere 0.1% ahead, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 sits 0.4% ahead at 37,507. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38,135, which is 1.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 trails by 1.3% at 37,157. For Control specifically, the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth prove sufficient for all tested presets, including 4K Ultra. The Tesla P4 and Radeon PRO W6400 are workstation-oriented parts, so while their aggregate scores are close, their driver optimization for gaming may differ; however, the raw throughput numbers suggest comparable rasterization performance in this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data across resolutions shows that the RTX 4070 is the dominant component in this pairing, with the CPU’s role diminishing as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the lowest tested resolution, the system achieves 193 FPS on Low settings, which indicates the CPU is feeding frames efficiently. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p drops average FPS from 193 to 106, a 45% reduction, demonstrating that the GPU is increasingly burdened by higher presets. At 2560x1440, the same Low-to-Ultra transition sees FPS fall from 146 to 80, a 45% reduction as well, reinforcing that the GPU handles the scaling proportionally.

The GPU’s dominance becomes even clearer at 3840x2160. Here, Low settings produce 98 FPS, while Ultra drops to 54 FPS, a 45% reduction from Low. The CPU’s influence is minimal at this resolution because the frame rate is dictated almost entirely by the GPU’s pixel throughput. The 12700K’s single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,850.5 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4,013, is more than adequate to avoid bottlenecking even at 1080p Low, where the system approaches 200 FPS. The scaling pattern—where the percentage drop from Low to Ultra is consistent across 1080p and 1440p, then slightly steeper at 4K—indicates that Control is a GPU-bound title at all tested settings, with the CPU providing a stable platform that never becomes the limiting factor.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is High, which delivers 62 FPS on average. Medium also clears the threshold at 70 FPS, and Low runs at 98 FPS, but High offers the best visual fidelity while staying above the 60 FPS line. Ultra falls short at 54 FPS, so it is not recommended for 4K gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the system can handle Ultra settings while remaining well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 80 FPS, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality at this resolution. High runs at 92 FPS, Medium at 104 FPS, and Low at 146 FPS, but none of these are necessary when Ultra comfortably exceeds the playability threshold.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings produce an average of 106 FPS, which is the highest preset available and the recommended option. High runs at 122 FPS, Medium at 137 FPS, and Low at 193 FPS, but the system has enough headroom that players can max out the game’s settings without sacrificing smoothness.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Control at playable frame rates across the vast majority of tested configurations. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best at 62 FPS average. Ultra is not playable at 4K, as it dips to 54 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, all four presets—High, Low, Medium, and Ultra—are playable, with Ultra leading at 80 FPS. At 1920x1080, the entire suite of settings is playable, and Ultra delivers 106 FPS, making it the definitive choice.

The only configuration that fails to clear 60 FPS is 4K Ultra, which is an extreme scenario given the GPU’s 12 GB memory buffer and 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. For players with a 1440p or 1080p monitor, this system offers the full visual experience without compromise. At 4K, dropping to High is a minor concession that keeps the experience smooth, and the 62 FPS average at High is still well within the playable range. The data indicates that this combination is a strong match for Control, with the only meaningful trade-off occurring at the highest resolution and preset combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings average 193 FPS, with no min or max recorded. Medium averages 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. High averages 122 FPS, and Ultra averages 106 FPS, with no min or max data for either. The narrow spread at Medium—from 116 to 157 FPS—indicates consistent frame pacing even during demanding scenes.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. Low averages 146 FPS, Medium averages 104 FPS with a min of 88 FPS and a max of 119 FPS, High averages 92 FPS, and Ultra averages 80 FPS. The Medium preset’s 88 FPS minimum still sits well above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring no perceptible stutter. At 3840x2160, Low averages 98 FPS, Medium averages 70 FPS with a min of 59 FPS and a max of 80 FPS, High averages 62 FPS, and Ultra averages 54 FPS. Notably, the Medium preset at 4K has a recorded minimum of 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS line, though the average of 70 FPS suggests this dip is brief and isolated. The High preset at 4K, at 62 FPS average, shows no min or max data, implying a stable frame rate. The Ultra preset at 4K, at 54 FPS, is the only configuration that falls below the playability threshold on average.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 904th out of 3,720 total combos. This places it in the top 24.3% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given the breadth of hardware configurations evaluated. The rank reflects the system’s ability to handle the game’s most demanding settings at 1440p and 1080p, while only faltering at 4K Ultra. The 904th position out of 3,720 indicates that while there are many faster combinations, particularly those with higher-tier GPUs, this setup outperforms the vast majority of systems in the database. For a mid-to-high-range desktop configuration, the performance is commendable, with the data showing that the RTX 4070’s 81st percentile GPU standing and the 12700K’s 84th percentile CPU standing combine to deliver a well-balanced experience. The rank also suggests that users with this hardware can expect consistent 60+ FPS gameplay at 1440p Ultra and 1080p Ultra, with 4K High as a viable option for those prioritizing resolution over maximum settings.