Control

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB occupies the 829th position out of 1,636 tested combinations in Control, placing it squarely in the middle of the database. This percentile positioning—roughly the 50th mark—indicates a balanced pairing that delivers competent, though not exceptional, performance in this action-adventure title. The CPU’s 77th percentile ranking among all processors suggests the processor is not the primary constraint, yet the combo’s overall rank implies the GPU limits the experience more significantly. This is a configuration that will handle the game’s demands, but it does not threaten the upper echelons of the leaderboard, where higher-tier graphics cards and newer CPUs dominate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 829 out of 1,636 tested pairings places it in the middle of the performance distribution, suggesting a well-matched but mainstream setup. The Intel Core i5-12400’s individual percentile of 77 among all CPUs indicates it is a strong performer in isolation, yet the system’s overall rank is dragged down by the GPU’s 50th percentile standing. This creates a scenario where the CPU has headroom to spare, but the graphics card becomes the bottleneck in demanding scenes. The data shows the combination achieves 94 fps at 1080p High settings, which is respectable, but the gap to top-tier combos is substantial. When compared to the CPU’s nearest rivals, the i5-12400 is effectively tied with the Intel Core i7-9700, posting a 0.1% higher average score, while trailing the Intel Core i7-8700 by just 0.2%. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming terms, meaning the processor is not the differentiator here; the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and its architecture define the experience.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB is the defining component in this pairing, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 322.3 GB/s of bandwidth. In Control, a game known for its physics-heavy environments and particle effects, this bandwidth is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but it becomes strained at 4K. The GPU’s boost clock of 3130 MHz and game clock of 2530 MHz are high, yet the 64 ROPs and 2,048 shading units limit raw fill rate. Benchmark results show the card’s pixel rate of 200.3 GPixel/s is sufficient for 1080p, but the transition to 4K reveals its limitations. The data indicates that at 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 41.4 fps, a figure that shows the GPU struggling with the resolution’s pixel count. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is the critical constraint; at 4K High, the card manages 45.6 fps, but the modest 128-bit memory interface means texture-heavy scenes could cause stutters if the buffer is exceeded. This is a GPU designed for 1080p and light 1440p duty, and the benchmark results confirm that hierarchy.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, with the limiting component shifting from the CPU to the GPU. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 145.5 fps, showing that the CPU can feed the GPU efficiently, but by 4K Low, the figure drops to 74.8 fps, a 48.6% reduction. This scaling is typical for a mid-range GPU, where the rendering load outpaces the compute units. The more telling data comes from the High preset: 94 fps at 1080p, 71 fps at 1440p, and 45.6 fps at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 35.8%, which is steeper than the 24.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p, indicating the GPU is hitting a memory bandwidth wall. At 4K Ultra, the card falls to 41.4 fps, a 49.5% drop from 1080p Ultra’s 81.8 fps. These numbers suggest that the RX 9060 XT’s 322.3 GB/s bandwidth is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the 128-bit bus cannot sustain the data throughput required for 4K textures. For 1080p gaming, the CPU’s 12 threads and 18 MB of L3 cache provide ample headroom, but at 4K, the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and bus width become the definitive limits.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal balance of visual quality and frame rate occurs at 1440p Medium, where the combo delivers 79.7 fps. This is above the 60 fps threshold for smooth gameplay, and the 1440p resolution offers a significant visual upgrade over 1080p. At 1080p, the High preset at 94 fps is the best choice for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors, as it stays well above 60 fps while maintaining graphical fidelity. For 4K, the data shows that even Low settings (74.8 fps) are playable, but the visual sacrifice is substantial; Medium drops to 54.8 fps, and High falls to 45.6 fps, which may introduce noticeable judder in fast-paced combat. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution above 1080p, as it yields 81.8 fps at 1080p but only 58.4 fps at 1440p and 41.4 fps at 4K. The 8 GB VRAM is the deciding factor: at 1080p Ultra, the card has enough memory bandwidth, but at 1440p Ultra, the 58.4 fps result shows the GPU is nearing its limit. For most users, 1440p Medium represents the sweet spot, offering a 45.4% improvement over 4K High while maintaining a playable frame rate.

FAQ

Q: How does this combo perform at 1080p compared to 4K?

A: The frame rate drops from 94 fps at 1080p High to 45.6 fps at 4K High, a 51.5% reduction. The 1080p Low preset reaches 145.5 fps, while 4K Low achieves 74.8 fps, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions due to its 128-bit memory bus.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck for the RX 9060 XT?

A: No, the CPU’s 77th percentile ranking among all processors and its average benchmark score of 19,850, which is within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-11600K, suggest it has ample headroom. The GPU’s 50th percentile is the primary constraint, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops when resolution increases.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60+ fps?

A: The data shows 1440p Medium achieves 79.7 fps, and 1080p High achieves 94 fps, both comfortably above 60 fps. At 4K, only the Low preset (74.8 fps) exceeds 60 fps, while Medium drops to 54.8 fps, making 1440p the highest resolution for consistent performance.

Q: How does the GPU’s VRAM capacity affect performance in Control?

A: The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 322.3 GB/s of bandwidth. At 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 41.4 fps, suggesting the VRAM buffer is stressed, while at 1080p Ultra, it maintains 81.8 fps, showing the capacity is sufficient for lower resolutions.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, High settings yield 71 fps, while Ultra yields 58.4 fps, a 17.7% reduction. The Ultra preset at 1440p is below the 60 fps threshold, making High the better choice for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does this combo’s rank compare to the CPU’s individual standing?

A: The combo ranks 829th out of 1,636 (50.7th percentile), while the CPU alone ranks in the 77th percentile. This gap confirms the GPU is the limiting component, as the processor’s performance is significantly stronger than the system’s overall placement.