Control

Control with the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a study in balance, where the outcome depends heavily on where you set the dial. The data shows a system that is perfectly capable of delivering smooth, playable frame rates at mainstream resolutions, but which clearly hits a wall when pushed to 4K with maximum quality settings. This pairing represents a classic combination of a modern, efficient six-core processor with a veteran graphics card that, while no longer at the forefront, still has a solid foundation of performance to offer.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate behavior across resolutions tells a clear story about where the bottleneck lies in this system. At 1920x1080, the GTX 1070 is the primary driver, and the performance scales consistently with settings. The jump from 60.9 FPS on High to 95.1 FPS on Low at 1080p represents a 56% increase in performance, demonstrating that the GPU has headroom to spare when the graphical load is lightened. This is a strong indicator that the CPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution, allowing the graphics card to flex its muscles.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the demands on the GPU increase significantly. The High preset drops from 60.9 FPS to 44.7 FPS, a 27% reduction in performance. This shows that the Pascal architecture is starting to feel the pressure of the higher pixel count. The trend continues at 4K, where the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint. At 3840x2160, even the Low preset only manages 47.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to a nearly unplayable 26.2 FPS. The difference between 1080p Ultra (55.6 FPS) and 4K Ultra (26.2 FPS) is a 53% drop, illustrating that the GTX 1070's 8 GB of VRAM and 256-bit memory bus are being saturated by the sheer volume of pixels at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for this game, this pairing lands in the lower-middle tier. The comboRankInGame data shows this configuration ranks 1385 out of 1636 total combinations, placing it in the bottom 15% of all tested systems. This ranking is a sobering reminder that while the individual components have their merits, the combination is not optimized for high-end performance in this specific title. The score reflects a system that will play the game, but it will not be a showcase of graphical prowess.

This rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's age. The processor, however, is a strong performer in its own right. The Intel Core i5-12400's avgBenchmarkScore of 19850 places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, which is a respectable standing. Its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i7-9700 and Intel Core i5-11600K, are within a 0.4% performance delta, indicating that the 12400 is a very capable modern processor. The system's overall rank is a direct result of pairing this strong CPU with a GPU that is in the 51st percentile of all GPUs. The graphics card is the anchor that drags the entire combination down in the rankings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the defining component in this setup, and its characteristics directly dictate the game's performance envelope. With 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, it provides a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. This configuration is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at 4K. The card's compute capabilities, rated at 6.463 TFLOPS for FP32, are the engine behind the frame rates we see. The boost clock of 1683 MHz is the peak frequency the card can achieve, and it's this clock speed, combined with the 1920 shading units, that determines how quickly it can process the complex pixel and vertex data of a game like Control.

The GTX 1070's performance relative to its peers is also telling. Its avgBenchmarkScore of 12331 places it just above the NVIDIA Quadro K4200 by 0.7% and just below the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER by 1.4%. This shows that while it is an older card, its performance is still in a competitive bracket with more modern mid-range options. The card's DirectX 12 score of 48 in the Passmark suite is notably lower than its DirectX 11 score of 100, which hints that it may not be fully optimized for modern, heavily-threaded DX12 workloads, a factor that could influence performance in a game like Control.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of what to expect. At 1920x1080, the system is quite capable. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 95.1 FPS, providing a very smooth experience. Medium settings yield 66.6 FPS, which is still excellent for a fluid play session. The High preset is perfectly playable at 60.9 FPS, and even Ultra settings maintain a respectable 55.6 FPS average. At this resolution, the GTX 1070 is able to keep up with the i5-12400, and the user has significant flexibility to choose between visual fidelity and frame rate.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the strain becomes more apparent. Low settings still deliver a very good 76.2 FPS. Medium drops to 52.6 FPS, which is still acceptable. However, High settings fall to 44.7 FPS, and Ultra dips to 41.7 FPS. These numbers indicate that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, the user will need to stick to Low or Medium settings. At 3840x2160, the card is overwhelmed. Low settings are the only option that approaches playability at 47.9 FPS, with Medium at 37.4 FPS, High at 32 FPS, and Ultra at a stuttery 26.2 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 60.9 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is considered smooth and playable for most gamers.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: 1920x1080 is the sweet spot. The data shows it is the only resolution where the system can achieve over 60 FPS on the High preset. At 2560x1440, performance becomes more variable and requires lower settings to maintain high frame rates.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor for 4K gaming?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. At 3840x2160, the frame rates are very low across all settings, with the Ultra preset dropping to 26.2 FPS. This indicates the GTX 1070 cannot process the pixel load of 4K fast enough, regardless of the CPU's capability.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to more modern cards in this game?

A: Based on its benchmark score, it is 1.4% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER and 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M. This suggests it performs in the same league as a modern entry-level to mid-range card.

Q: What settings should be avoided for a smooth experience?

A: The 3840x2160 Ultra and High settings should be avoided, as they produce average frame rates of 26.2 and 32 FPS, respectively, which will feel choppy. Even at 2560x1440, the Ultra preset at 41.7 FPS may be too inconsistent for some players.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a good match for the GTX 1070?

A: The data suggests it is a strong match for 1080p gaming. The CPU's high performance, indicated by its 77th percentile ranking, ensures it will not bottleneck the GPU at that resolution. However, at higher resolutions, the GPU's limitations become the primary constraint on performance.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 1920x1080 is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 60.9 FPS, which is the gold standard for a smooth gaming experience, while still providing a high level of visual fidelity. This is the "default" recommendation for a hassle-free experience.

If a higher frame rate is the priority, particularly for competitive play or on a high-refresh-rate monitor, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is an excellent choice, yielding 66.6 FPS. For those with a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only way to achieve a frame rate above 70 FPS, coming in at 76.2 FPS. While the visual quality will be reduced, the smoothness of the gameplay will be far superior to the stuttery experience of trying to run higher settings at that resolution. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended, as the performance cost is too high for the marginal visual gain, especially at 2560x1440 (41.7 FPS) and 3840x2160 (26.2 FPS). Stick to 1080p with Medium or High settings for the most enjoyable experience with this hardware.