Control

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers exceptional performance in Control, decisively exceeding the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution and preset combination tested. The data indicates this combination is overkill for the game’s demands, with 4K Ultra still producing an average of 83 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data positions the Intel Core i7-12700K at the 84th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35287. Its nearest rivals demonstrate nearly identical computational output. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, a negligible 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i7-12700KF trails by just 0.2% with a score of 35365, making it functionally equivalent for gaming workloads. The Intel Core i7-13700T achieves 35403, and the Intel Core 5 213PE reaches 35428, each within 0.4% of the i7-12700K’s performance. Any of these processors would deliver statistically indistinguishable frame rates in Control.

On the graphics side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D holds the 92nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77712. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT at 76904 (1.1% slower), the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT at 78940 (1.6% faster), and two NVIDIA Tesla P100 variants at 79396 and 79605 (2.1% and 2.4% faster respectively). Despite these nominal score differences, the RTX 5090 D’s measured performance in Control would be mirrored by these alternatives, meaning users with any of these GPUs should expect similar FPS results. The practical takeaway is that the CPU has ample headroom, and the GPU’s nearest competitors would not create a bottleneck in this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: the GPU dominates performance scaling in Control, while the CPU maintains sufficient headroom across all settings. Examining the 3840x2160 resolution, average FPS drops from 152 at Low settings to 83 at Ultra, a 45% reduction directly attributable to GPU workload. At 1920x1080, the same settings range produces 268 FPS at Low and 163 at Ultra, representing a 39% decrease. This consistent scaling between Low and Ultra presets at every resolution indicates the GPU is the primary performance driver.

Resolution scaling further confirms the GPU-centric nature. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Medium settings reduces average FPS from 211 to 160, a 24% drop. Continuing to 3840x2160 at Medium yields 108 FPS, another 33% reduction. These substantial frame rate declines with increasing pixel counts demonstrate that rendering resolution places proportional demands on the GPU. The CPU’s role is comparatively minor; even at 1920x1080 Low, where CPU overhead would be most visible, the system achieves 268 FPS, indicating the i7-12700K is never the limiting factor. The 12-core, 20-thread processor with a 5.00 GHz boost clock provides ample processing power for Control’s physics and gameplay logic, but benchmark results show the RTX 5090 D determines the final frame output.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 resolution, the RTX 5090 D delivers playable performance across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 152 FPS. Medium settings average 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 and maximum of 124 FPS. High settings average 96 FPS. Ultra settings average 83 FPS. All four presets remain comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold, with even the most demanding configuration maintaining a substantial margin.

At 2560x1440, performance scales upward significantly. Low settings achieve 225 FPS average. Medium settings average 160 FPS, with minimum and maximum readings of 136 and 184 FPS respectively. High settings reach 142 FPS average. Ultra settings produce 124 FPS average. The gap between 1440p and 4K is substantial, with Ultra performance increasing by 49% when moving from 3840x2160 to 2560x1440.

At 1920x1080, the combination reaches its highest frame rates. Low settings deliver 268 FPS average. Medium settings average 211 FPS, with a minimum of 180 and maximum of 243 FPS. High settings achieve 188 FPS. Ultra settings still manage 163 FPS average. The 1080p results show that even at the most demanding preset, the system has more than double the headroom needed for the 60 FPS target, confirming that display refresh rate, not hardware capability, will be the limiting factor for most users.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured 3840x2160 Ultra preset produces an average of 83 FPS, which is 38% above the 60 FPS playability threshold. All four settings levels at 4K—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are fully playable.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 2560x1440 resolution?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 average 124 FPS, making it the recommended choice. The system maintains high frame rates even at maximum graphical fidelity, with no need to compromise on visual quality.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At Ultra settings, average FPS drops from 163 at 1920x1080 to 83 at 3840x2160, a 49% reduction. At Medium settings, the drop is from 211 FPS to 108 FPS, a similar 49% decrease, demonstrating consistent scaling with resolution.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: No. The data shows no CPU limitation. At 1920x1080 Low settings, where CPU constraints would appear first, the system produces 268 FPS. The GPU remains the performance determinant across all tested resolutions and presets.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D significantly faster than its nearest GPU rivals in this game?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the RTX 5090 D is within 2.4% of its nearest competitors. The AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT is 1.1% slower, while the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.6% faster. These differences are unlikely to produce noticeable FPS variations in Control.

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

A: The measured minimum at 3840x2160 Medium is 92 FPS, with an average of 108 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. Even the lowest recorded frame rate remains 53% above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700K combined with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 31st out of 3720 tested combinations in Control. This places the pairing in the top 0.8% of all systems benchmarked for this game, reflecting exceptional performance capability. The rank indicates that only 30 other hardware combinations outperform this setup in Control, a remarkable result given the game’s 2019 release date and the modern hardware employed.

The high ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. At 4K Ultra, the system achieves 83 FPS, while the 60 FPS playability threshold is exceeded by every preset at every resolution. The combination’s position relative to other tested systems suggests that users seeking maximum performance in Control would find few upgrades worthwhile. The percentile rankings for the individual components—84th for the CPU and 92nd for the GPU—further corroborate the strong overall standing. The data confirms this is a top-tier configuration for this title, with performance headroom that accommodates future patches or additional graphical mods without dropping below playable frame rates.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 83 FPS. This is the recommended configuration for 4K displays, as it delivers the highest visual quality while still providing a 38% margin above the playability threshold.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings also represent the optimal choice, with an average of 124 FPS. This provides more than double the minimum required frame rate, ensuring smooth gameplay even during intense action sequences with heavy particle effects and physics calculations.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings achieve 163 FPS average, making it the clear recommendation. The substantial headroom above 60 FPS allows for adaptive sync technologies to operate effectively, and users with high refresh rate monitors can fully utilize their display’s capabilities. In all three cases, the data indicates no need to reduce graphical quality, as even the most demanding preset remains comfortably playable.