Control

This PC configuration, pairing an Intel Core i7-12700KF with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Control across all tested resolutions and presets. The benchmark data shows that this combination ranks 134th out of 3720 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top percentile of systems. With the playable threshold set at 60 FPS, this hardware clears that bar with significant headroom at every setting level, from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Control provides a clear picture of performance scaling across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system produces outstanding results, with the Low preset hitting an average of 265.8 FPS. Moving up the settings ladder, Medium averages 192.9 FPS, High averages 171.7 FPS, and the demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 150.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 115.3 FPS, indicating that the GPU has substantial overhead even at the highest quality settings.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain exceptionally high. The Low preset averages 206 FPS, while Medium drops to 148.3 FPS. High settings produce an average of 130 FPS, and Ultra stays well above 60 FPS at 116.8 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a predictable performance cost, with the Ultra preset losing 33.7 FPS when moving up in resolution. This suggests the RTX 4090 is still the primary performance driver at this resolution, with the CPU providing ample support.

The 3840x2160 results demonstrate the true capabilities of this high-end pairing. At 4K, the Low preset averages 137.8 FPS, Medium averages 98.4 FPS, and High averages 85.5 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding configuration, still achieves an average of 78.2 FPS. The performance delta between 1440p Ultra and 4K Ultra is 38.6 FPS, showing that 4K resolution places significantly more stress on the GPU. Notably, the min and max FPS values were not recorded in the dataset, so the analysis relies on average frame rates, which remain consistently above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the goal is to identify the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. The data shows that this system can handle the maximum Ultra preset at every resolution tested, which is a rarity even among high-end configurations.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, which delivers an average of 150.5 FPS. This represents a 90.5 FPS buffer above the 60 FPS threshold, meaning there is substantial headroom for demanding scenes or future driver overhead. Players with high refresh rate monitors will appreciate the ability to run Ultra settings while still achieving frame rates that can keep up with 144Hz displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the best settings remain Ultra with an average of 116.8 FPS. This is 56.8 FPS above the playable threshold. The drop from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra is 33.7 FPS, but the resulting frame rate is still exceptionally smooth and well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are again Ultra, averaging 78.2 FPS. This is 18.2 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. While the margin is thinner than at lower resolutions, it still provides a comfortable buffer. The 4K Ultra result confirms that this system can run Control at maximum quality without needing to compromise on settings, even at the highest common gaming resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

Analyzing the scaling between resolutions and presets reveals which component plays a larger role in Control's performance. The CPU, an Intel Core i7-12700KF, ranks in the 85th percentile among all CPUs and has an average benchmark score of 35365. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700T at 35403 (a -0.1% difference), the Intel Core i5-13600T at 35305 (0.2% difference), and the Intel Core i7-12700K at 35287 (0.2% difference). This grouping indicates that the 12700KF is positioned at the top of mid-range to high-end desktop performance.

The GPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, sits in the 88th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 60347. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Arc Pro A60 at 60326 (0% difference), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 at 60140 (0.3% difference), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M at 61896 (-2.5% difference). The RTX 4090's position in the GPU hierarchy is clearly at the enthusiast level.

The FPS data shows that the GPU becomes increasingly important as resolution increases. At 1080p, the frame rates are so high (150.5 FPS at Ultra) that the CPU's ability to feed the GPU becomes a limiting factor, though the 12700KF's strong single-thread performance (3dmark_single_thread score of 1043 and cinebench_r23_singlecore of 4071) prevents it from being a bottleneck. At 4K, the GPU workload increases dramatically, and the RTX 4090's raw compute power (82.58 TFLOPS FP32) becomes the primary driver of performance.

The performance scaling between presets at each resolution shows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces performance by 115.3 FPS, a 43.4% drop. At 1440p, the same preset change results in a 89.2 FPS reduction, a 43.3% drop. At 4K, the Low to Ultra transition costs 59.6 FPS, a 43.2% reduction. This consistent percentage drop across resolutions indicates that the settings' impact on GPU load scales proportionally, and the CPU maintains sufficient throughput to avoid introducing additional bottlenecks at higher resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, it can. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 78.2 FPS, which is 18.2 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the highest tested preset at this resolution.

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

A: The Ultra preset delivers an average of 116.8 FPS at 2560x1440. This is 56.8 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the best possible settings choice while still maintaining smooth gameplay.

Q: How much performance drops when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average FPS is 171.7. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS drops to 85.5. This represents a performance reduction of 86.2 FPS when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a significant CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Ultra, the system achieves 150.5 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it achieves 78.2 FPS. The consistent percentage drop in FPS when increasing resolution suggests the GPU scales as expected, with the CPU providing adequate support.

Q: What is the lowest frame rate recorded at any resolution and preset?

A: The lowest average FPS in the dataset is 78.2 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. No min or max FPS values were provided, so this average represents the lowest tested performance point.

*Q: How does this combo rank compared to other PC configurations for Control?*

A: The combination ranks 134th out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the top 3.6% of all tested systems for this game. This percentile ranking confirms its position as a high-end performer.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-12700KF sits between several closely matched alternatives. The Intel Core i7-13700T has an average score of 35403, which is -0.1% different from the 12700KF's 35365. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, a 0.2% difference, while the Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, a -0.2% difference. The Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35287, also a 0.2% difference. These CPUs would behave nearly identically in Control from a processing standpoint, though the 12700KF's unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking that the others may not offer.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60347. The nearest rivals include the Intel Arc Pro A60 with a score of 60326 (0% difference), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 with 60140 (0.3% difference), and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M with 61896 (-2.5% difference). The AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58657, which is 2.9% lower. These GPUs would produce similar frame rates in Control, though the RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth provide advantages in texture-heavy scenes that may not be fully reflected in synthetic benchmarks.

When considering an alternative build, pairing the 12700KF with a GPU in the 60000 score range would yield comparable results. The performance deltas are minimal, with the largest gap being 2.9% below the RTX 4090's score. This means a system with the AMD Radeon PRO V710 would deliver nearly the same experience in Control, with only a slight reduction in frame rates at the highest settings.

The Verdict

The verdict for this PC configuration is unequivocal: it can run Control at playable frame rates across every resolution and preset combination tested. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 150.5 FPS, far exceeding the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings still deliver 116.8 FPS, providing a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate displays. Even at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system maintains 78.2 FPS, which is 18.2 FPS above the playable minimum.

The benchmark data confirms that this pairing has no weak points in Control. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking and the GPU's 88th percentile ranking combine to produce a system that handles the game's demands with ease. The fact that the Ultra preset is playable at all three resolutions indicates that players can max out the game's visual quality without compromising on frame rates. For those seeking the highest possible performance, the Low preset at 1080p achieves 265.8 FPS, which is suitable for extreme high-refresh-rate monitors.

This configuration delivers a top-tier gaming experience in Control, with the RTX 4090 providing the raw power for 4K gaming and the 12700KF ensuring the CPU never becomes a limiting factor. The 78.2 FPS at 4K Ultra is particularly impressive for a game with this level of visual fidelity, and the headroom above the 60 FPS threshold means that even the most demanding scenes should remain smooth. Players can confidently run this game at maximum settings on any resolution supported by their display.