Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F (launch MSRP $97) paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB (launch MSRP 299 USD) delivers a mid-pack result in Control, ranking 852nd out of 1636 tested combos. The measured data shows a wide spread of average FPS depending on resolution and preset, from 38.9 at 4K Ultra to 145.1 at 1080p Low. This analysis breaks down the scaling, the roles of the GPU and CPU, and the best settings for each resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS values across resolutions reveal a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At Low settings, the average FPS is 145.1 at 1920x1080, 111.9 at 2560x1440, and 72.8 at 3840x2160. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 33.2 FPS, and from 1440p to 4K is 39.1 FPS, though these differences are not directly stated in the data—only the individual values are. The trend is consistent: each step up in resolution reduces the frame rate substantially, with the largest absolute decline occurring between 1440p and 4K at Low settings.

At Medium settings, the figures are 102.9 at 1080p, 78.4 at 1440p, and 50.2 at 4K. High settings produce 91.4, 68.5, and 47.4 respectively. Ultra settings yield 81, 57.4, and 38.9. The scaling is similar across all presets: the 4K values are roughly half of the 1080p values, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiter as resolution increases. The CPU's role becomes less significant at higher resolutions because the frame rate is constrained by the GPU's rendering throughput rather than by the processor's ability to feed it.

The data also shows that the gap between presets narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 64.1 FPS (145.1 vs 81). At 4K, the same gap is 33.9 FPS (72.8 vs 38.9). This suggests that the GPU's workload scales more steeply with resolution than with preset quality, and that the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become more limiting at 4K.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with a Navi 44 chip. Its memory configuration includes 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 322.3 GB/s. The base clock is 1700 MHz, the game clock is 2530 MHz, and the boost clock reaches 3130 MHz. The memory clock is 2518 MHz, which translates to 20.1 Gbps effective. These specifications are modest for a card aimed at 4K gaming, and the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (38.9) reflects that limitation.

The GPU's percentile ranking is 50, placing it exactly at the median of all GPUs in the database. It has no benchmark scores or nearest rivals listed, so its performance is characterized solely by the measured FPS in this game. The 8 GB VRAM is a common capacity for this class, but the 128-bit bus and 322.3 GB/s bandwidth are on the lower end for high-resolution textures. In Control, the 4K Ultra preset likely stresses both the memory capacity and bandwidth, as evidenced by the sub-40 FPS result.

At 1080p, the GPU is less constrained. The Ultra preset still delivers 81 FPS, which is playable, and Low reaches 145.1. The boost clock of 3130 MHz helps maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions, but the scaling to 4K shows that the GPU's raw throughput is insufficient for the highest settings at that resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S family. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a TDP of 58 W. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 11912, and the single-core score is 1681. The CPU ranks in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating above-average performance for its class.

The nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (average score 13534, deltaPct -0.1), the Intel Core i7-1250U (13462, +0.4), the Intel Core i3-10105 (13430, +0.6), and the Intel Core i7-7700K (13280, +1.8). The i3-12100F's average benchmark score is 13516, which is very close to these rivals, with deltas of less than 2%. This suggests that the CPU's multi-threaded performance is competitive with much higher-end parts, though its 4-core/8-thread configuration limits its absolute ceiling.

In Control, the CPU is unlikely to be the bottleneck at higher resolutions. The game's engine is not heavily multi-threaded, and the i3-12100F's single-core performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 1681) is strong. At 1080p Low, the frame rate of 145.1 is high enough that the CPU could be a factor, but the data does not isolate CPU performance. The consistent FPS drops across resolutions point to the GPU as the limiting component, especially at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal preset depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver playable frame rates. Ultra yields 81 FPS, which is the highest quality setting available, and it remains above the 60 FPS threshold commonly used for smooth gameplay. For users prioritizing visual fidelity, Ultra is the clear choice at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the High preset provides 68.5 FPS, while Ultra drops to 57.4. Medium gives 78.4, and Low reaches 111.9. The High preset offers a good balance between quality and performance, as it stays above 60 FPS while retaining most of the visual enhancements. Ultra at 1440p is playable but falls below 60 FPS, so High is the recommended setting for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only one that exceeds 70 FPS, with 72.8. Medium yields 50.2, High 47.4, and Ultra 38.9. For 4K gaming, Low is the only preset that maintains a frame rate above 50 FPS, and it is the only one that approaches 60 FPS. Users who prioritize smoothness over visual quality should use Low at 4K. Those who accept lower frame rates can experiment with Medium, but the data shows a significant drop from Low to Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB ranks 852nd out of 1636 tested combos in Control. This places it just above the median, meaning roughly half of the tested systems perform better and half perform worse. The rank reflects the overall balance of the CPU and GPU, with the GPU's mid-tier performance and the CPU's strong single-thread capabilities contributing to a solid but not exceptional result.

The CPU's 72nd percentile ranking and the GPU's 50th percentile ranking suggest that the CPU is relatively stronger than the GPU in this pairing. However, in Control, the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rate at higher resolutions, so the combo's rank is likely driven more by the GPU's limitations than by the CPU's capabilities. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (38.9) is below the average for many combos, which pulls the overall rank down.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists all measured average FPS values for this combo in Control, organized by resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|------------|----------|------------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 47.4 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 72.8 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 50.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 38.9 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 68.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 111.9 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 78.4 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 57.4 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 91.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 145.1 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 102.9 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 81 |

The data shows a clear hierarchy: lower resolutions and lower presets yield higher frame rates. The best performance is at 1080p Low with 145.1 FPS, and the worst is at 4K Ultra with 38.9 FPS. The scaling is consistent across all presets, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor as resolution increases. For users with a 1080p display, Ultra is fully playable. For 1440p, High is the recommended preset. For 4K, Low is the only preset that maintains a frame rate above 70 FPS.