Control

The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a commanding performance profile for Control, with measured frame rates that place it in the top tier of tested hardware configurations. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, posts an average benchmark score of 35287, placing it in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU’s average score of 54247 lands it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Together, this pairing ranks 241st out of 3720 tested combos for this game, indicating that roughly 93.5% of all possible configurations perform worse in Control. The data shows that this system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution and preset combination tested, making it a robust choice for high-refresh-rate monitors even at 4K.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, are all within a fraction of a percent of the i7-12700K. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, a mere 0.1% higher, while the Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365, 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i7-13700T and Intel Core 5 213PE follow closely with scores of 35403 and 35428, representing deltas of -0.3% and -0.4% respectively. For gaming workloads, these differences are effectively negligible; a user moving from any of these CPUs to another would see virtually identical frame rates in Control, as the game’s performance ceiling at high resolutions is more dependent on the GPU.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4080’s closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209, a 0.1% delta. This is essentially the same card in terms of benchmark performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828 (1.1% higher), while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698 (2.6% higher) and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55757 (2.7% higher). Interestingly, the two AMD cards show higher average scores than the RTX 4080, but these are aggregate benchmarks across various workloads; in Control specifically, the measured FPS data for the RTX 4080 shows no signs of bottlenecking. When selecting hardware that would behave similarly, the RTX 4080 SUPER is the obvious drop-in equivalent, while the i5-13600T or i7-12700KF would match the CPU’s performance within a rounding error.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 3720 tested CPU-GPU combinations for Control, this specific pairing achieves rank 241. This places it in the top 6.5% of all configurations, which is a strong indicator of high-end performance. The ranking reflects the balance between the i7-12700K’s strong multi-threaded capabilities—evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and Geekbench multi-core score of 15790—and the RTX 4080’s raw rasterization power, which produces a Passmark G3D score of 34457. The rank suggests that most configurations ranked above this one likely feature newer, more expensive GPUs or CPUs with higher absolute benchmarks, but the practical difference in Control at 60 FPS is minimal because the game is not exceptionally demanding by modern standards.

The combo’s rank is more impressive when considering that the GPU is marked as “End-of-life” production status, yet it still outperforms the vast majority of active hardware. For a game released in 2019, the data indicates this combo offers significant headroom. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average FPS of 135 is more than double the playable threshold, and even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS of 69 remains comfortably above 60. The rank of 241 out of 3720 reflects that this system is not the absolute fastest, but it is firmly in the enthusiast tier where further upgrades yield diminishing returns for this specific title.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K + RTX 4080 combo capable of running Control at 4K?

A: Yes. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 resolution, all four tested settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) produce average frame rates above 60 FPS. The lowest average is 69 FPS at Ultra settings, which still clears the playable threshold.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 102 FPS, making it the best visual quality option while maintaining a high frame rate. This is the highest settings level tested, and it performs well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-13600T?

A: The i5-13600T has an average benchmark score of 35305, which is 0.1% higher than the i7-12700K’s score of 35287. In practical terms, the performance difference is negligible, and both CPUs would yield nearly identical frame rates in Control.

Q: What is the maximum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS across all tests is 246, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The maximum FPS recorded in any single run is 201, which occurred at 1920x1080 with Medium settings.

Q: Is the RTX 4080’s performance close to the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080’s score of 54247. This difference is within measurement noise, so the two cards should perform identically in Control.

Q: Can this system handle high refresh rate 1080p monitors?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 135 at Ultra settings to 246 at Low settings. Even the most demanding preset tested exceeds 120 FPS, making it suitable for 144Hz displays.

The Verdict

The data clearly answers whether this PC can run Control: it runs it exceptionally well at all tested resolutions. The verdictByResolution shows that every resolution—3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080—has all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) marked as playable, meaning each clears the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, the best settings preset is Ultra with an average of 69 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra averages 102 FPS, and at 1080p, Ultra averages 135 FPS. This means a user can max out the game’s graphical options at any resolution and still enjoy smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS recorded across all tests is 76, which occurred at 4K Medium settings, indicating that even frame-time dips stay well above the playable threshold. For gamers targeting 60 FPS as a baseline, this combo provides substantial headroom, with the weakest average being 69 FPS at 4K Ultra.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the i7-12700K and RTX 4080 shifts predictably with resolution. At 1920x1080, the GPU is less stressed, allowing the CPU’s single-thread performance to become more relevant. The i7-12700K’s Passmark single-thread score of 4013 and 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 support high frame rates; the data shows 246 FPS at Low settings, which is likely near the CPU’s maximum frame generation capability for this game engine. Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings drops to 186, a 24% reduction, indicating the GPU is becoming a larger factor. At 4K, Low settings yield 126 FPS, another 32% drop, confirming that the RTX 4080’s raw fill rate and bandwidth (716.8 GB/s) are the primary constraints at higher pixel counts.

The scaling between settings also highlights the GPU’s dominance. At 4K, increasing from Low to Medium reduces average FPS from 126 to 89 (a 29% decrease), while from Medium to High it drops to 79 (11% decrease), and from High to Ultra it drops to 69 (13% decrease). These reductions are almost entirely GPU-bound, as the CPU’s workload remains constant regardless of graphics settings. The CPU’s role is to ensure that the GPU is fed with enough draw calls and physics calculations; with 20 threads and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784, it does so without becoming a bottleneck even at 1080p Low where frame rates exceed 240 FPS. For players using this combo, the practical takeaway is that lowering resolution or settings will primarily stress the GPU, while the CPU will maintain consistent frame pacing.

Best Settings per Resolution

For users seeking the highest visual fidelity while maintaining 60 FPS, the data points to the Ultra preset at all three resolutions. At 3840x2160, Ultra produces an average of 69 FPS, which is the lowest margin above the threshold but still playable. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 102 FPS, offering a comfortable buffer for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 135 FPS, which is ideal for 120Hz or 144Hz displays. The Medium preset at 4K offers 89 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, providing a more stable frame-time experience if users prefer consistency over maximum graphical features. However, since Ultra at 4K stays above 60 FPS on average, there is no need to compromise on settings unless targeting a specific frame rate like 90 or 120 FPS at 4K, which would require dropping to High (79 FPS) or Medium (89 FPS) respectively.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, Low settings yield an average of 246 FPS, Medium averages 175 FPS with a minimum of 149 and maximum of 201, High averages 156 FPS, and Ultra averages 135 FPS. This shows a clear progression where each settings tier costs roughly 15-20% performance. At 2560x1440, Low averages 186 FPS, Medium averages 132 FPS (min 113, max 152), High averages 118 FPS, and Ultra averages 102 FPS. The gap between Medium and High at 1440p is 14 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 16 FPS, indicating that Ultra is a heavier step than Medium-to-High.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding resolution, Low averages 126 FPS, Medium averages 89 FPS (min 76, max 103), High averages 79 FPS, and Ultra averages 69 FPS. The minimum FPS of 76 at 4K Medium is notable because it shows that even in the most intense scenes, the system does not drop below the 60 FPS threshold. The maximum FPS of 103 at 4K Medium suggests that the game can occasionally run much faster than the average, providing a smooth experience without stuttering. Across all resolutions, the RTX 4080’s 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 256-bit bus adequately handle Control’s textures, and the i7-12700K’s 25 MB of L3 cache ensures consistent data delivery to the GPU. The data confirms that this is a high-end pairing that maximizes Control’s visual potential without requiring compromises.