Control

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is a combination that targets high-refresh-rate 1080p and solid 1440p gaming, and the data for Control confirms this positioning. The measured results show a system that is clearly capable of delivering smooth gameplay across most settings, though the 8 GB VRAM buffer and the entry-level CPU impose specific limits at higher resolutions and preset levels. This analysis breaks down exactly how this combo behaves in this specific Action Adventure title, using only the provided benchmark data.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?*

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the strongest resolution, with average FPS ranging from 88 (Ultra) to 161 (Low). At 2560x1440, the combo remains playable, with an average of 67 FPS on Ultra and 122 FPS on Low, but 3840x2160 is only viable on Low settings, where it hits 82 FPS average.

*Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings in Control?*

A: Yes, but only at 1080p and 1440p. At 1920x1080 Ultra, the average FPS is 88. At 2560x1440 Ultra, it drops to 67 FPS average. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to 45 FPS, which is below the smooth-playability threshold.

Q: How much of a performance gap is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. Moving from Low to Ultra at 1920x1080 sees the average FPS drop from 161 to 88, a reduction of 73 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the primary scaling factor, but the CPU also plays a role at the lower setting.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM a limiting factor in this game?

A: The data suggests it is not a critical bottleneck at the tested settings. The GPU’s memory is 8 GB of GDDR7 with a 128-bit bus and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, and Control does not appear to exceed that capacity at the measured presets, as all settings produce playable results at 1080p and 1440p.

Q: How does the i3-12100F hold up in this game?

A: The CPU’s 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for this title. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 11860, and single-core is 1674, which are strong numbers for a quad-core. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (161 average) shows the CPU is not holding back the GPU significantly, though the 3DMark 4-thread score of 2859 suggests it is a modest performer.

Q: What is the smoothness of the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 Medium produces an average FPS of 87, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100. This indicates a consistent experience with minimal frame drops, making it a strong choice for high-refresh-rate monitors.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB is the primary driver of frame rates in Control, and its specifications dictate the performance envelope. The GPU features 4608 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units, running at a base clock of 2407 MHz and a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These clocks are the engine behind the measured results, and the data shows a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases.

The 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. In Control, this bandwidth is sufficient to prevent major stuttering, as evidenced by the Medium preset’s min FPS being relatively close to the average. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 114 FPS with a minimum of 97; at 2560x1440 Medium, the average is 87 FPS with a minimum of 74. This consistency suggests that memory bandwidth is not a hard ceiling for this title.

However, the GPU’s raw compute power is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 58 on Medium to 45 on Ultra, showing that the 23.70 TFLOPS FP32 performance is stretched thin when rendering over 8 million pixels. The RTX 5060 Ti’s 36 RT cores and 144 tensor cores are present, but the data does not isolate ray tracing or DLSS effects; the measured rows are for standard rasterization. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 21981 and its 29th percentile ranking versus all GPUs place it in the mid-range tier, which is consistent with the results seen here: capable at 1080p and 1440p, but struggling to maintain high refresh rates at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

Among the 2888 tested combinations in the database, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB holds the rank of 1094. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems for Control. The percentile data for the individual components helps contextualize this ranking: the CPU sits at the 68th percentile versus all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 29th percentile versus all GPUs. This is an unusual pairing of a relatively strong CPU with a weaker GPU, and the combo rank reflects that balance.

The combo rank of 1094 out of 2888 means that approximately 62% of tested combinations are faster in this game. This is not a top-tier enthusiast system, but it is far from a low-end setup. The data suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck for this pairing, as moving to a more powerful graphics card would yield a larger performance gain than upgrading the CPU. The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500 (0.3% slower) and the Intel Core 5 120UL (0.7% slower), which indicates the i3-12100F is competitive with older mid-range chips. The GPU’s nearest rivals are ancient parts like the AMD FirePro W5130M and NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450, which are within 0.2% in average score, highlighting that the RTX 5060 Ti’s benchmark position is heavily influenced by its 8 GB memory limit rather than raw compute.

In practical terms for Control, this rank means the combo will deliver a smooth 1080p experience and a decent 1440p experience, but it is not designed for 4K gaming. The measured FPS at 2560x1440 Ultra (67 average) aligns perfectly with the combo’s mid-pack ranking, offering playable but not exceptionally high frame rates on demanding presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo excels. Low settings produce an average of 161 FPS, which is ideal for esports-style play or high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium yields 114 FPS average (97 min, 132 max), High gives 102 FPS, and Ultra drops to 88 FPS. All settings are smooth and playable, with the gap between Low and Ultra being 73 FPS, showing the GPU has headroom but scales significantly with visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings hit 122 FPS average, which is excellent for 1440p. Medium produces 87 FPS (74 min, 100 max), High gives 77 FPS, and Ultra falls to 67 FPS. The step from Medium to Ultra is 20 FPS, which is a noticeable but manageable reduction. The minimum FPS on Medium (74) indicates that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above 60 FPS, making this a viable preset for a 1440p 60Hz or 144Hz monitor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to struggle. Low settings are the only preset that provides a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 82 FPS. Medium drops to 58 FPS (50 min, 67 max), which is borderline for playability, and High falls to 52 FPS. Ultra is the weakest result, with an average of 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for most gamers. The data shows a steep drop from Low to Medium at 4K (24 FPS), suggesting that the 8 GB VRAM or memory bandwidth is being taxed as texture quality increases.

Settings Recommendations

For a balanced experience at 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice. It delivers 102 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and close to the 144Hz mark, while providing a substantial visual upgrade over Medium. Ultra is also viable at 88 FPS, but the 14 FPS gain from dropping to High is not worth the minor visual degradation for most users.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. It produces 87 FPS average with a 74 FPS minimum, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense combat sequences. High is also acceptable at 77 FPS, but Medium offers a better safety margin against frame drops. Ultra at 67 FPS is playable but may show occasional dips below 60 FPS in heavy scenes, making it less ideal for competitive play.

For 3840x2160, only the Low preset is recommended for consistent performance, with an 82 FPS average. Medium at 58 FPS is technically playable but will feel less fluid, and Ultra at 45 FPS is best avoided unless the user prioritizes visual quality over smoothness. The data clearly indicates that this combo is not designed for 4K gaming, and users should stick to 1080p or 1440p for the best experience.

The overall recommendation is to use 1920x1080 High for a high-refresh-rate experience, or 2560x1440 Medium for a sharper image with a good balance of performance. The Medium preset’s measured minimum FPS at both 1080p (97) and 1440p (74) shows it is the most consistent preset for maintaining smooth frame pacing.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In Control, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with frames, and the data shows it does this effectively at lower resolutions.

The CPU’s benchmark scores demonstrate its capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11860 and single-core score of 1674 are respectable for a quad-core part. The 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and 4-thread score of 2859 indicate that the processor’s single-thread performance is strong, which is crucial for game logic and draw calls. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 161 FPS average, which suggests the CPU is not a major bottleneck in this scenario.

However, the CPU’s limitations become apparent when paired with a more powerful GPU. The 4-core design is a departure from the 6-core and 8-core parts common in modern gaming PCs. The PassMark multithread score of 14015 and the 3DMark max-thread score of 4023 show that while the CPU can handle multi-threaded workloads, it does not have the headroom of higher-core-count rivals. In Control, this is less of an issue because the game is not heavily CPU-bound at higher resolutions, where the GPU takes over as the primary bottleneck.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500 (0.3% slower), which has 6 cores, and the Intel Core i7-1250U (1.1% faster), which is a mobile part. This shows the i3-12100F is competitive with older desktop chips and even some newer low-power parts, making it a solid budget choice for gaming. For this specific game, the data indicates that the CPU is sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 1080p, and it does not need to be upgraded for a better Control experience unless the user also plans to use a much stronger GPU.