Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ranks 618th out of 1,636 tested combos in Control, placing it comfortably in the top 40% of all configurations. This is a strong result for a 4-core processor paired with a high-end GPU, indicating that the combination is well-balanced for this title. The ranking suggests that while there are faster combos, this pairing delivers a performance level that is competitive and capable of handling the game’s demands without being a bottleneck in most scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 618 out of 1,636 places it in the 62nd percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than six out of every ten configurations tested in this game. This is a notable achievement given the CPU’s modest core count. The i3-12100F’s average benchmark score of 13,516 puts it nearly on par with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13,534 (a negligible 0.1% difference), and ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U by 0.4% (13,462) and the Intel Core i3-10105 by 0.6% (13,430). It also beats the Intel Core i7-7700K, which scores 13,280, by 1.8%. This indicates that the CPU’s single-thread strength compensates for its limited core count in this game’s workload.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3070 Ti’s average benchmark score of 30,849 is 0.3% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME (30,755) and 0.8% above the AMD Radeon RX 6700 (31,112). It trails the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 by 0.9% (31,142) and the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q by 1.2% (31,220). These deltas are tiny, showing that the GPU performs in a tightly packed tier where minor architectural differences decide placement. The overall combo rank reflects a synergy where neither component is severely limiting the other, though the data suggests the GPU carries more weight in determining final frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Across all three tested resolutions, the Low preset delivers the highest average frame rates, but it does so at the cost of visual fidelity. For 1080p, Low yields 169.4 FPS, while Medium drops to 118.7 FPS, High to 107.3 FPS, and Ultra to 95.1 FPS. At 1440p, the pattern continues: Low hits 123.5 FPS, Medium 90 FPS, High 80.4 FPS, and Ultra 71.5 FPS. At 4K, Low produces 84.9 FPS, Medium 62 FPS, High 56 FPS, and Ultra 46 FPS.

The most balanced experience for smooth gameplay is the Medium preset at 1440p, which provides 90 FPS—well above the 60 FPS threshold for fluid action—while retaining more visual detail than Low. At 1080p, High is the best choice, offering 107.3 FPS with substantially better graphics than Medium’s 118.7 FPS. For those prioritizing frame rate above all else, Low at 1080p is the clear winner, but it is not necessary given the headroom available. At 4K, High at 56 FPS is playable, though Medium at 62 FPS is the safer recommendation for maintaining consistency above 60 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K reveal a system that is primarily GPU-bound. At High settings, the transition from 1080p (107.3 FPS) to 1440p (80.4 FPS) represents a 25% reduction, and then to 4K (56 FPS) a further 30% drop. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario, where the RTX 3070 Ti’s 8 GB of GDDR6X memory and 608.3 GB/s bandwidth are stretched by the increasing pixel count. The CPU’s 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU’s workload scales linearly with resolution.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced: 1080p yields 169.4 FPS, 1440p 123.5 FPS (a 27% drop), and 4K 84.9 FPS (a 31% drop from 1440p). This larger relative decline at Low settings further confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU has ample headroom to push higher frame rates if the GPU could keep up. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K (84.9 vs 46 FPS) is 38.9 FPS, whereas at 1080p it is 74.3 FPS (169.4 vs 95.1), showing that the GPU’s performance ceiling tightens as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 3070 Ti delivers exceptional performance across all presets. Low averages 169.4 FPS, Medium 118.7 FPS, High 107.3 FPS, and Ultra 95.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 74.3 FPS, indicating that even the highest settings remain highly playable. This resolution does not stress the GPU, and the CPU’s boost clock of 4.30 GHz helps maintain high frame rates without stuttering.

At 2560x1440, the scores remain strong. Low averages 123.5 FPS, Medium 90 FPS, High 80.4 FPS, and Ultra 71.5 FPS. The drop from 1080p is noticeable but expected, with Low still exceeding 120 FPS for high-refresh-rate monitors. Ultra at 71.5 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold, making it viable for most users. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is not taxed at this resolution, as the game’s textures fit comfortably within that capacity.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low averages 84.9 FPS, Medium 62 FPS, High 56 FPS, and Ultra 46 FPS. High and Ultra fall below the ideal 60 FPS mark, requiring users to either lower settings or accept reduced visual quality. The 46 FPS at Ultra is the only result that feels sluggish, but it confirms the GPU’s capability that even 4K is playable at Medium settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F a bottleneck for the RTX 3070 Ti in Control?

A: No, the data shows the combo ranks 618th out of 1,636, and the CPU’s 4 cores and 8 threads with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz are sufficient to keep up with the GPU at 1080p and 1440p. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor.

Q: What is the best preset for a 60 FPS experience at 4K?

A: Medium at 4K averages 62 FPS, which is the lowest preset that maintains a consistent 60+ FPS experience. High averages 56 FPS, slightly below the threshold, while Low averages 84.9 FPS for those who prioritize smoothness over visuals.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti’s average benchmark score of 30,849 is 0.3% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME (30,755) and 0.8% above the AMD Radeon RX 6700 (31,112). It trails the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 by 0.9% (31,142) and the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q by 1.2% (31,220).

Q: Can this combo handle high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p?

A: Yes, at 1080p High settings the combo averages 107.3 FPS, and at Low it reaches 169.4 FPS. Both are well above 100 FPS, making the system suitable for 144 Hz monitors, especially at Medium (118.7 FPS) or Low settings.

Q: Does the CPU’s 4-core design hurt performance in Control?

A: The i3-12100F scores 11,912 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1,681 in single-core, with a 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scores only 0.1% higher in average benchmarks, showing the 4-core design is not a significant liability in this game.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, High averages 80.4 FPS while Ultra averages 71.5 FPS, a difference of 8.9 FPS. This small gap suggests Ultra is a reasonable choice for better visuals without a major performance penalty.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake generation, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz, boosting to 4.30 GHz, and it has a 12 MB shared L3 cache. In Control, this configuration proves sufficient, as the game does not heavily utilize more than 4 cores. The CPU’s single-thread performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,681 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 893, is the key driver of its gaming capability.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 13,516 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scoring 13,534 (0.1% higher). This indicates that the i3-12100F punches well above its core count, thanks to high clock speeds and efficient architecture. The 12 MB L3 cache helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for game logic and physics calculations. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the dual-channel bus is standard, and it connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

In practice, the CPU’s 4.30 GHz boost clock ensures that frame times remain consistent, even at 1080p where the GPU is not the bottleneck. The data shows that at Low settings 1080p, the combo reaches 169.4 FPS, suggesting the CPU can handle high frame rates without holding back the GPU. The CPU’s TDP of 58 W is modest, making it easy to cool, though this is not a primary factor in gaming performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is an Ampere-architecture GPU built on Samsung’s 8 nm process, with a die size of 392 mm² housing 17,400 million transistors. It features 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs, along with 48 ray tracing cores and 192 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1,575 MHz and boosts to 1,770 MHz, with memory running at 19 Gbps effective across a 256-bit bus, providing 608.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The 8 GB of GDDR6X memory is a critical asset for Control’s high-resolution textures.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 30,849 places it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME, scoring 30,755 (0.3% lower). The GPU’s FP32 performance of 21.75 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 169.9 GPixel/s allow it to handle complex shading and post-processing effects. In Control, the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates, especially at higher resolutions.

At 1080p, the GPU has ample headroom, delivering 169.4 FPS at Low and 95.1 FPS at Ultra. At 1440p, it still performs admirably, with Ultra at 71.5 FPS. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s requirements, as no settings show a memory-related performance cliff. However, at 4K Ultra, the 46 FPS result indicates the GPU’s raw compute power is stretched, and the 608.3 GB/s bandwidth is taxed by the higher pixel count. The GPU’s 290 W TDP and 600 W suggested PSU are notable, but they do not affect in-game performance metrics.