Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT presents a stark contrast in performance tiers, yet benchmark results in Control show that this combination delivers a highly playable experience across most settings. The data indicates a system where the GPU is the dominant force, but the 4-core CPU still provides enough throughput to avoid severe bottlenecks at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS to show exactly how this combo behaves.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the "High" settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 131.6 FPS at 1080p to 99.2 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 66.3 FPS at 4K. This represents a substantial 49.7% reduction in performance from the lowest to the highest resolution tested. This steep decline is a classic indicator that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, which points directly to the GPU as the primary limiting component in this scenario.

The scaling pattern also reveals how the CPU's influence wanes as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with "Low" settings, the system achieves 209 FPS, a figure that is likely near the ceiling of what the 4-core, 8-thread i3-12100F can sustain. However, at 3840x2160 with "Ultra" settings, the average FPS drops to 59.4. This 71.6% performance hit from the 1080p Low result is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload, as the CPU's frame generation task remains relatively constant. The data shows that the RX 7900 XT is the star of the show; at 4K, the GPU's raw compute power is the deciding factor, while at 1080p, the CPU's limitations become more apparent, preventing the system from fully exploiting the GPU's potential.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the undisputed performance leader in this pairing. With its substantial 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth, it has ample resources for Control's demanding environments. Its high boost clock of 2394 MHz and 84 RT cores allow it to handle the game's physics and visual effects with authority. The benchmark data shows that the GPU's performance is robust, even at the most demanding settings. At 3840x2160 with "Ultra" settings, it still manages an average of 59.4 FPS, evidence of its capability.

The GPU's role becomes even more pronounced when examining the scaling from "Low" to "Ultra" at a fixed resolution. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 105.9 on "Low" to 59.4 on "Ultra," a 43.9% reduction. This demonstrates that the graphical settings are heavily taxing the GPU's shading units, TMUs, and ROPs. The GPU's percentile ranking of 82 vs all GPUs, along with its average benchmark score of 38358, places it in the upper echelon of graphics cards. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile and RTX 4080 Mobile, have nearly identical average scores, showing that the RX 7900 XT is a top-tier contender in raw compute. However, the data suggests that the i3-12100F is not always able to feed this GPU fast enough, particularly at 1080p, where the CPU is more likely to be the limiting factor.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, is a capable entry-level processor, but it is clearly outclassed by the GPU in this combination. Its performance, as measured by a 72nd percentile ranking vs all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 13516, is respectable for its class. However, its role in Control is to keep up with the GPU's frame output, and the data shows it does this better at higher resolutions. At 1920x1080 with "Low" settings, the system hits 209 FPS, which is likely a CPU-bound limit. The CPU's boost clock of 4.30 GHz provides decent single-thread performance, but the physical limitation of 4 cores means it cannot sustain the highest frame rates that the GPU could theoretically produce.

The CPU's influence is most evident when comparing the FPS at lower resolutions. At 1920x1080, the difference between "Low" (209 FPS) and "High" (131.6 FPS) is 77.4 FPS, a larger absolute gap than at 4K, where the same settings change results in a 39.6 FPS difference. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is working harder to process the game logic and draw calls, and its performance ceiling is being reached. The i3-12100F's data compression score of 160452 and physics score of 985 from Passmark benchmarks provide context, but the game's performance is more directly tied to its ability to handle the game's thread scheduling. While it is not a bottleneck at 4K, the data clearly shows that the CPU is the weaker link in this pairing, preventing the system from achieving its full potential at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested combinations for Control, this particular pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 358th out of 1636 total combinations. This places it in the top 21.9% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given the CPU's relative weakness. The high rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's immense power. The combo's performance is defined by the GPU's ability to maintain high frame rates at 1440p and 4K, where the CPU's limitations are less impactful.

This ranking suggests that while the CPU might hold the system back in CPU-bound scenarios, the overall experience in Control is still superior to the vast majority of other hardware pairings. The deltaPct values for the CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (avgScore 13534, deltaPct -0.1) and Intel Core i7-7700K (avgScore 13280, deltaPct 1.8), show that the i3-12100F is competitive with much more expensive processors in general workloads. The GPU's rivals, like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (avgScore 38135, deltaPct 0.6), show that the RX 7900 XT is at the top of its performance class. The combo's rank of 358 is a direct result of this high-performing GPU offsetting the mid-range CPU, making it a highly effective pairing for this specific title.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 99.2.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra performance compare to 1080p Low performance?

A: The average FPS drops from 209 at 1920x1080 Low to 59.4 at 3840x2160 Ultra, a 71.6% decrease in performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the main limiting component at 3840x2160, as the frame rate scales heavily with resolution and settings, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 358th out of 1636 tested combinations in Control.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this system?

A: The highest average FPS is 209, which is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How much faster is the system at 1080p Medium compared to 4K Medium?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 Medium is 145.6, while at 3840x2160 Medium it is 72.8, making the 1080p result exactly double the 4K result.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable, with the average FPS ranging from 209 on Low to 112.9 on Ultra. This shows that even at the highest settings, the system is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a very smooth experience. The drop from 209 to 112.9 FPS represents a 46% reduction in performance when going from Low to Ultra, which is a significant hit but still leaves the system in a comfortable performance zone.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The average FPS on Low is 154.5, which is excellent for a high-refresh-rate monitor. On High settings, it achieves 99.2 FPS, and even on Ultra, it maintains an average of 87.8 FPS. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, offering a great balance between visual fidelity and high frame rates. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is a 43.2% drop, slightly less severe than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is starting to become more of a factor.

At 3840x2160, the system is still playable, but the performance is more demanding. The average FPS on Low is 105.9, which is excellent for 4K. However, on Ultra, it falls to 59.4 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS mark. The data shows that the High preset at 66.3 FPS is the best option for a smooth 4K experience, as it offers a significant improvement over Ultra while still looking great. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is a 43.9% drop, showing that the GPU is being pushed to its limits.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For gamers with a 1920x1080 monitor, the "Ultra" preset is the clear recommendation, as it delivers an average of 112.9 FPS. This provides a visually rich experience without sacrificing smoothness. Even the "High" preset at 131.6 FPS or "Medium" at 145.6 FPS are excellent choices for those seeking higher refresh rates, but "Ultra" offers the best balance of fidelity and performance.

For 2560x1440 users, the "High" preset is the most balanced choice, delivering 99.2 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the "Ultra" preset's 87.8 FPS and is well within the range for a high-refresh-rate display. The "Medium" preset at 110.9 FPS is also a viable option for those who prioritize frame rate over visual detail. The data suggests that the system can comfortably handle "High" at this resolution without issue.

At 3840x2160, the "High" preset is the recommended choice. It provides an average of 66.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS standard for smooth gameplay. The "Ultra" preset at 59.4 FPS is slightly below this threshold, and the visual difference between "High" and "Ultra" is often minimal in fast-paced action. The "Low" preset at 105.9 FPS is an option for those using high-refresh-rate 4K monitors, but it sacrifices significant visual quality. The "Medium" preset at 72.8 FPS is a solid middle ground, but "High" offers the best overall experience for 4K gaming on this hardware.