Control

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers a strong performance profile for Control, a 2019 Action Adventure title. Measured data shows this combination achieves playable frame rates across all tested resolutions, with the most demanding presets remaining above the 60 FPS playability threshold in most scenarios. The following analysis breaks down the optimal settings, comparative ranking, and component-level behavior based exclusively on the collected benchmark data.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is High, which produces an average frame rate of 64.8 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution drops to 56.8 FPS, falling below the 60 FPS playability threshold, while Medium (73.9 FPS) and Low (104.6 FPS) are also playable but offer lower visual fidelity than High.

For 2560x1440, the data indicates that Ultra is the best playable setting, delivering an average of 88.5 FPS. This resolution comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold even at maximum settings, with High (102 FPS), Medium (111.2 FPS), and Low (155.2 FPS) all providing progressively higher frame rates for users who prioritize performance over visual quality.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is again the optimal choice, achieving an average of 114.8 FPS. This is the highest resolution-to-setting combination that stays above 60 FPS, and the margin is substantial. The lower presets at this resolution—High at 129.8 FPS, Medium at 150 FPS, and Low at 206.8 FPS—demonstrate that the hardware has significant headroom for high-refresh-rate displays.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 ranks 769th out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the configuration in approximately the 79th percentile of all tested systems, indicating it outperforms the majority of hardware combinations evaluated for this game. The rank reflects the overall capability of the pairing, which is strong enough to handle the game at high settings across all resolutions tested.

The CPU itself sits at the 84th percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 35287. The GPU achieves an 82nd percentile ranking among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 40377. These individual percentiles are closely aligned, suggesting a balanced pairing where neither component dramatically outclasses the other. The combo rank of 769 out of 3720 is consistent with a system that performs well but is not at the very top of the leaderboard, leaving room for higher-end configurations to achieve better results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across resolutions and presets. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 56.8 FPS at Ultra to 104.6 FPS at Low. The progression is linear: Low (104.6 FPS), Medium (73.9 FPS), High (64.8 FPS), and Ultra (56.8 FPS). The drop from Low to Ultra represents a 45.7% reduction in frame rate, highlighting the significant cost of higher visual settings at 4K resolution.

At 2560x1440, the averages are substantially higher. Low settings produce 155.2 FPS, Medium reaches 111.2 FPS, High achieves 102 FPS, and Ultra maintains 88.5 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 43% decrease in performance, similar to the 4K results but with all presets remaining comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The difference between Medium and High is relatively small at 9.2 FPS, whereas the jump from High to Ultra costs 13.5 FPS.

The 1920x1080 results show the strongest performance, with Low hitting 206.8 FPS, Medium at 150 FPS, High at 129.8 FPS, and Ultra at 114.8 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 44.5% drop, consistent with the other resolutions. Notably, the gap between Medium and High (20.2 FPS) is larger than the gap between High and Ultra (15 FPS), suggesting that the High preset offers a good balance of visual quality and performance at this resolution.

Across all resolutions, the measured data includes only average frame rates; minimum and maximum FPS values are not available in the dataset. The absence of min/max data means that frame time consistency and stutter behavior cannot be assessed, but the average figures consistently indicate smooth gameplay for the playable presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-12700K, based on average benchmark score, include the Intel Core i5-13600T with a score of 35305 and a delta of -0.1%, meaning it performs nearly identically to the i7-12700K (35287). The Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365, just 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403, 0.3% higher. The Intel Core 5 213PE completes the list with a score of 35428, 0.4% above the i7-12700K. These deltas are all within half a percent, indicating that any of these CPUs would produce essentially the same frame rates in Control when paired with the same GPU.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, the nearest rivals show a wider spread. The AMD Radeon Pro 580 has an average score of 40318, just 0.1% below the RTX 5070's 40377. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 scores 40063, 0.8% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870, 1.2% higher. The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile scores 39568, 2% lower than the RTX 5070. These differences are modest, meaning that swapping the RTX 5070 for any of these alternatives would yield very similar gameplay performance in Control, with frame rate variations likely within a few FPS at each resolution and preset.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the CPU and GPU contribute to performance at each resolution by examining the scaling between presets and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are highest across all settings, with Ultra at 114.8 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU has enough headroom to render frames quickly, and the CPU can feed it adequately. The large jump from 1080p Low (206.8 FPS) to 1440p Low (155.2 FPS) represents a 25% reduction, indicating that resolution scaling heavily impacts the GPU workload.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong, with Ultra at 88.5 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K at the same preset shows a more significant drop: Ultra goes from 88.5 FPS to 56.8 FPS, a 35.8% decrease. This disproportionate reduction at higher resolutions points to the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases. The CPU's role is less pronounced at 4K, as the frame rates are lower and the GPU is more likely to be the limiting factor.

The difference between Low and Ultra presets at each resolution is relatively consistent: approximately 45% at 1080p, 43% at 1440p, and 46% at 4K. This consistency suggests that the game's settings scale similarly regardless of resolution, and the CPU handles the additional draw calls and physics at higher presets without creating a bottleneck. However, at 1080p Low, the 206.8 FPS average indicates that the CPU is capable of sustaining very high frame rates, but the GPU still limits overall performance since the CPU is not the constraint.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control with playable performance at all tested resolutions, but the optimal experience varies. At 3840x2160, the verdict is that High settings are playable at 64.8 FPS, while Ultra falls short at 56.8 FPS. The system clears the 60 FPS threshold at High, Medium, and Low, but not at Ultra. For 4K gaming, users should select High settings to maintain smooth gameplay without sacrificing too much visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the system delivers playable performance at every preset, with Ultra achieving 88.5 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combination, as it allows for maximum settings while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The 1920x1080 resolution offers even better results, with Ultra at 114.8 FPS and all presets well above the threshold. Overall, the combo is fully capable of running Control at high refresh rates on 1080p and 1440p displays, and at 4K with a moderate settings reduction.

FAQ

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

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset is the most demanding that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 64.8 FPS. Ultra drops to 56.8 FPS, which is below the playability threshold.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 the Ultra preset achieves an average of 88.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and qualifies as playable.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested systems for Control?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination ranks 769th out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the upper portion of the leaderboard.

Q: What is the frame rate at 1080p with Low settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 206.8 FPS, which is the highest measured value across all resolutions and presets in the dataset.

Q: Are there any CPUs that perform nearly identically to the i7-12700K?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-13600T has an average score just 0.1% lower, and the Intel Core i7-12700KF is 0.2% higher, making them functionally equivalent for this game.

Q: Which resolution provides the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with Ultra settings delivers 88.5 FPS, offering high visual fidelity while maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.