Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, but the data indicates that the CPU becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings, capping performance well below the GPU's potential. The combo ranks in the 65th percentile (572nd out of 1636 tested combinations), and the measured frame rates show a clear pattern: the 4-core CPU struggles to feed the high-end GPU, particularly at 4K Ultra where the average drops to 49.1 FPS. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data to explain where this pairing excels and where it falls short.

FAQ

*Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested CPU-GPU pairings in Control?*

A: The combo ranks 572nd out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the upper third of all results. This position reflects a solid but not elite standing, given the CPU's 4-core/8-thread configuration paired with a high-end GPU.

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves at 1080p?

A: The highest measured average at 1920x1080 is 176.4 FPS on Low settings. At High settings, the average is 110.8 FPS, while Ultra produces 97.2 FPS.

Q: Does the RX 6800 XT's 16 GB VRAM help at 4K in this game?

A: The 16 GB of GDDR6 memory provides ample capacity, but the data shows the GPU is not the primary bottleneck at 4K. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 60.9 on High and 49.1 on Ultra, indicating the CPU's processing power limits performance more than VRAM capacity.

Q: How does the i3-12100F compare to its closest CPU rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516. It is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13534 (a -0.1% difference), and it is 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U. It also leads the Intel Core i7-7700K by 1.8%.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS falls from 110.8 at 1920x1080 to 84.5 at 2560x1440, and then to 60.9 at 3840x2160. This represents a 45% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Is the GPU's benchmark score higher than its closest rival?

A: Yes, the RX 6800 XT has an average benchmark score of 49982. This is 2.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, which scores 48704, and 1.9% higher than the NVIDIA CMP 50HX.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a high-end GPU built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, featuring 4608 shading units and 128 ROPs. Its memory subsystem includes 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1825 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz, with a game clock of 2015 MHz. This hardware is positioned to handle demanding titles, and its benchmark scores reflect that capability—it sits in the 87th percentile of all GPUs.

In Control, the GPU's role is evident in the scaling of frame rates. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 176.4 FPS, showing the GPU can push high frame rates when the CPU is not the bottleneck. However, the data reveals that the GPU's potential is not fully realized in this pairing. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 49.1, which is a significant drop from the 1080p Low result. The GPU's raw power, as indicated by its passmark G3D score of 24980, suggests it should handle 4K better, but the measured results point to another component limiting performance. The 512.0 GB/s bandwidth and 16 GB capacity are more than sufficient for Control's requirements, so the frame rate ceiling is not a VRAM or bandwidth issue but rather a processing bottleneck elsewhere.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 572 out of 1636 tested combinations places it in the 65th percentile of all tested systems in Control. This is a respectable position, but it is notably lower than what the GPU alone would suggest. The RX 6800 XT ranks in the 87th percentile of all GPUs, while the i3-12100F ranks in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The gap between these two percentiles indicates that the CPU is dragging down the overall combo ranking.

When examining the CPU's nearest rivals, the i3-12100F's average benchmark score of 13516 is very close to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534) and the Intel Core i7-1250U (13462). This shows the 4-core CPU is competitive in synthetic tests. However, in a real gaming workload like Control, the CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads may not be sufficient to keep up with the GPU's demands, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU is working harder. The combo rank reflects this mismatch: the system performs well but does not reach the top tier reserved for more balanced configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong results: 176.4 FPS on Low, 126 on Medium, 110.8 on High, and 97.2 on Ultra. These numbers show a smooth progression, with the Ultra preset still maintaining an average above 60 FPS. The 1440p results are also solid: 136.4 FPS on Low, 94.8 on Medium, 84.5 on High, and 75.5 on Ultra. At this resolution, the system remains playable at all settings, with the Ultra preset staying comfortably above 60 FPS.

The 4K results tell a different story. At 3840x2160, the average FPS on Low is 89.3, which is still respectable. However, the Medium preset drops to 62.9 FPS, High to 60.9 FPS, and Ultra to 49.1 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium at 4K is particularly steep—a 29.5% reduction from 89.3 to 62.9 FPS. This suggests that the CPU is struggling to handle the increased workload at 4K, as the GPU should be able to manage the rendering at these settings. The Ultra preset at 4K falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this combo is not ideal for maximum settings at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K at each setting reveals the bottleneck. On Low settings, the average FPS drops from 176.4 at 1080p to 136.4 at 1440p, and then to 89.3 at 4K. This is a 49.4% reduction from 1080p to 4K. On High settings, the drop is from 110.8 to 84.5 to 60.9, a 45.0% reduction. The Ultra preset shows the most severe scaling: from 97.2 at 1080p to 75.5 at 1440p, and then to 49.1 at 4K, a 49.5% reduction.

These percentages indicate that the scaling is not linear with pixel count. From 1080p to 4K, the pixel count quadruples, but the FPS does not drop to a quarter of the original value. This is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. However, the fact that the Ultra preset at 4K drops below 50 FPS while the GPU's benchmark scores are high suggests that the CPU is interfering. The i3-12100F's 4 cores may be maxed out, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential. The data shows that the limiting component shifts from the GPU at 1080p to the CPU at 4K Ultra, where the CPU cannot feed the GPU fast enough.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the exact bandwidth is not specified. Its benchmark scores show a strong single-thread performance, with a 3dmark single-thread score of 893 and a passmark single-thread score of 3444.

In Control, the CPU's role is critical. The game's physics and AI calculations rely on CPU performance, and the 4-core design can become a bottleneck. The data supports this: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 176.4 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 97.2 FPS. This 45% reduction from Low to Ultra at the same resolution is more than what a GPU alone would typically cause, indicating the CPU is struggling with the additional settings. The CPU's 12 MB of L3 cache is shared across all cores, which helps, but the limited core count is a constraint. The benchmark scores show the CPU is competitive with higher-end parts in synthetic tests, but in a real-time gaming workload, the 4 cores cannot match the demands of a high-end GPU at higher settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 97.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This makes Ultra the best choice for 1080p, as it provides the highest visual quality without sacrificing playability. The High preset at 110.8 FPS is also viable, but Ultra offers more visual fidelity for a modest FPS cost.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 75.5 FPS, which is still comfortable. This makes Ultra the recommended setting for 1440p, as it maintains a high frame rate while providing the best visuals. The High preset at 84.5 FPS is an alternative for those who prefer a higher headroom, but the data shows Ultra is playable.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The Ultra preset drops to 49.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 60.9 FPS is borderline, while the Medium preset at 62.9 FPS provides a more stable experience. For 4K, the Medium preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average FPS above 60 while maintaining acceptable visual quality. The Low preset at 89.3 FPS is an option for those who prioritize frame rate over visuals, but the Medium preset offers a better balance. The data shows that pushing to Ultra at 4K is not recommended for this combo, as the CPU becomes a limiting factor.