Control

Control on this platform is a demanding title for the Intel Core i5-12400 + Intel Arc B370 combination, and the measured data makes it clear that this is a configuration built for low-to-medium settings at 1080p, with playability dropping off sharply as resolution or graphical fidelity increases. The benchmark results show a system that is severely GPU-limited at higher presets, yet the CPU demonstrates enough headroom to suggest that a more capable graphics solution would unlock significantly better performance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured frames per second (FPS) rows for this combination point to a single, clear recommendation: Low settings at 1920x1080 is the only preset that delivers a consistently smooth experience. The data shows an average of 59 FPS at 1080p Low, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset that reaches near-60 FPS territory. This is the target for anyone seeking fluid gameplay, as the next best option, 1080p Medium, drops to 42 FPS average, a 17 FPS reduction that will be immediately noticeable in a fast-paced action adventure.

Stepping up to High settings at 1080p yields an average of 37 FPS. While this is technically playable, it represents a 22 FPS loss compared to Low, and the trade-off in visual quality is not justified given the significant performance hit. The Ultra preset at 1080p is even less appealing, producing an average of 32 FPS, which falls below the threshold for a comfortable experience in a game that relies on precise aiming and environmental awareness. The data suggests that the visual uplift from Low to Medium or High is not worth the substantial frame rate penalty on this hardware.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. The Low preset manages an average of 45 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium drops to 32 FPS, and High falls to 28 FPS. Given that the 1080p Low preset offers a significantly higher frame rate, there is no compelling reason to choose 1440p Low over 1080p Low unless the user prioritizes resolution over smoothness. For 4K, the results are unequivocal: every preset, from Low (30 FPS) to Ultra (17 FPS), fails to provide a playable experience. The recommendation is to avoid 4K entirely with this combo.

The verdict is simple: prioritize frame rate over resolution. The best experience per the measured rows is found exclusively at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This setting provides a playable baseline that the other presets cannot match, making it the only logical choice for this hardware pairing.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck in this configuration, and its specifications explain the performance ceiling observed in the benchmark data. The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, but its memory configuration is the most critical factor. The card uses System Shared memory, meaning its VRAM size, type, and bus width are all dependent on the system's main RAM. This architecture inherently limits bandwidth, which is a severe disadvantage for a texture-heavy game like Control.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities, as listed in the FACT PACK, include 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. It also features 10 ray tracing cores. However, the performance data suggests that these resources are insufficient for the game's demands at higher settings. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (17 FPS) compared to 4K Low (30 FPS) shows a 13 FPS drop, indicating that the GPU is overwhelmed by the increased shading and texture work required by the Ultra preset.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 5 out of 100 places it in the bottom tier of all tested graphics cards. Its average benchmark score of 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test is nearly identical to that of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), with delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively. This puts the Arc B370 in the same performance class as legacy hardware, confirming that its integrated design is not suited for modern gaming workloads beyond minimal settings.

The data indicates that the GPU's memory sharing with the system is a fundamental limitation. The "System Dependent" bandwidth is a bottleneck that cannot be overcome by clock speed alone. The 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 performance is present, but the memory subsystem starves it, resulting in the low frame rates observed across all resolutions. This is a case where the GPU's theoretical compute is irrelevant to the actual gaming experience because the memory architecture prevents it from being utilized effectively.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks at 3436 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the bottom 8% of all system configurations in the benchmark database, highlighting that this is an exceptionally weak pairing for this particular game. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a relatively capable part on its own.

To contextualize the GPU's contribution to this low rank, its nearest rivals in the 3DMark benchmark are all legacy parts. The Arc B370's score of 1184 is 0.2% behind the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and 0.5% behind the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190). This places the GPU in the same performance tier as graphics cards from over a decade ago, which explains why the combo rank is so low for a 2019 title like Control.

The CPU, while not the primary issue, is also not a high-flyer. The Intel Core i5-12400 has a percentile rank of 72 against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (18697, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (18730, -0.3% delta). This shows the CPU is a mid-range part, but it is clearly not the limiting factor in this combo, as the GPU's performance is an order of magnitude weaker relative to its peers.

The combination of a mid-range CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is completely unbalanced for gaming. The combo rank of 3436 out of 3720 is a stark indicator that this configuration is not viable for a smooth Control experience at any resolution above 1080p Low. The data strongly suggests that users with this combo should treat it as a legacy or basic display solution, not a gaming platform.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for playing Control with this combo?

A: The best experience is at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 59 FPS. This is the only configuration in the dataset that provides a near-60 FPS experience. All other presets at this resolution, and all presets at higher resolutions, result in significantly lower frame rates.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184, which is 0.2% lower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186) and 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190). It is 1.4% faster than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168). This places it in the same performance class as these legacy parts.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck for this GPU in Control?

A: No, the data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU has a percentile rank of 72, while the GPU has a percentile rank of 5. The CPU's average benchmark score of 18683 is substantially higher than the GPU's 1184, indicating the CPU is not holding back the system.

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

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS. This is a playable but not smooth experience, and it is notably worse than the 42 FPS average at 1080p Medium.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Control?

A: No, the data shows that 4K is not viable. The best 4K result is 30 FPS average at Low settings, and this drops to 17 FPS at Ultra. All 4K presets fail to provide a playable frame rate.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration and how does it affect performance?

A: The GPU uses System Shared memory, meaning its size, type, and bus width are all system-dependent. The bandwidth is also listed as "System Dependent." This architecture is a major limitation because it lacks dedicated high-speed VRAM, which is critical for a game like Control that streams high-resolution textures.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across resolutions reveals a steep and consistent decline that clearly identifies the limiting component. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 59 to 45, a 14 FPS reduction. Scaling further to 3840x2160 at Low settings, the average FPS falls to 30, which is a 29 FPS drop from 1080p. This pattern is consistent across all presets, showing that the system's performance is heavily dependent on the number of pixels being rendered.

At Medium settings, the same trend is visible: 42 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows an even steeper decline, starting at 32 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 25 FPS at 1440p, and collapsing to 17 FPS at 4K. This scaling behavior is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. When resolution increases, the GPU must process more fragments and texture lookups, and the Arc B370's shared memory architecture cannot keep up with the increased demand.

The data also shows that the frame rate penalty for increasing resolution is not linear. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K, which is typical for a GPU that is already near its limits at 1080p. For instance, at Low settings, the 1080p to 1440p drop is 14 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K drop is 15 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is being pushed into a steep performance cliff as pixel count increases.

The implication is clear: the system has no headroom for higher resolutions. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU more frames, but the GPU cannot render them. The resolution scaling data proves that the Arc B370 is the sole bottleneck, and any attempt to play Control above 1080p will result in a sub-optimal experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It features 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In this game, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as evidenced by its performance relative to the GPU.

The CPU's benchmark scores show a capable mid-range part. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 15989, and its single-core score is 2257. Its Geekbench scores are 8564 (multicore) and 1848 (single-core). These scores are significantly higher than the GPU's 3DMark score of 1184, indicating that the CPU has ample compute headroom. The CPU's percentile rank of 72 against all CPUs further confirms that it is a solid performer.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. With 12 threads, it is well-suited for modern games that can utilize multiple cores. The data suggests that the CPU is not struggling, as the frame rate drops are directly correlated with GPU load. The fact that the FPS decreases so dramatically when moving from 1080p Low (59 FPS) to 4K Low (30 FPS) is a clear sign that the CPU is not the bottleneck; if it were, the frame rates would remain relatively stable across resolutions.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (avgScore 18697, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (avgScore 18730, delta -0.3%). This places the i5-12400 in a competitive position, but its performance is irrelevant to the gaming experience here because the GPU cannot keep up. The data indicates that users could pair this CPU with a much more powerful GPU and see a massive improvement in Control, as the CPU has the headroom to support higher frame rates.