Control

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB combination delivers strong performance in Control, with the data showing a clear shift from GPU-bound at high resolutions to a more balanced workload at 1080p. The measured frames per second (FPS) indicate that this combo is capable of excellent 1440p gameplay and solid 4K performance at adjusted settings, though the 8 GB VRAM buffer and the CPU’s six-core architecture define the upper limits of the experience.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, but the scaling pattern reveals that the GPU is the dominant limiting factor at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 102 at 1920x1080 to 77 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 25 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160 at High yields just 52 FPS, which is a 50% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 4060 Ti’s 288.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 8 GB VRAM are being saturated as pixel count increases.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The 1080p Low preset delivers 162 FPS, which drops to 123 FPS at 1440p and further to 83 FPS at 4K. The fact that 4K Low (83 FPS) is still 20 FPS below 1440p High (77 FPS) suggests that the GPU’s raw compute and memory subsystem are the primary constraints, not the CPU. The 4K Medium preset shows a 59 FPS average with a minimum of 50 FPS, while 4K Ultra bottoms out at 45 FPS, reinforcing that the GPU cannot maintain high framerates at native 4K regardless of the workload.

The 1440p results are more encouraging. At 1440p Medium, the combo achieves 87 FPS with a 74 FPS minimum, and 1440p High reaches 77 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is the sweet spot for this pairing, as the CPU’s 12 threads are sufficient to feed the GPU without creating a bottleneck. The 1080p data supports this view: at 1080p Medium, the average is 115 FPS with a minimum of 98 FPS, showing that the GPU still has headroom but the scaling from 1440p to 1080p is not linear, suggesting the CPU begins to play a larger role at lower resolutions.

In summary, the resolution scaling data points to a system where the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB is the limiting component at 4K, while the i5-12400 provides adequate support at 1440p and below. The 4K High result of 52 FPS is playable but not ideal, and users targeting 4K will need to drop to Medium or Low settings to achieve smoother framerates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support are typical for a mid-range desktop part. In Control, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations, and the benchmark results suggest it performs this task adequately without becoming a major bottleneck at standard gaming resolutions.

The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 72nd percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18683. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (deltaPct -0.1) and the Intel Core i7-1355U (deltaPct -0.3), which show that the i5-12400 is competitive with much more expensive server and mobile parts. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 indicate strong multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, which is relevant for Control’s engine that benefits from both.

In practical terms, the 1080p low preset result of 162 FPS shows that the CPU is not holding back the GPU at lower resolutions, as the framerate is high enough to suggest the GPU is still the primary constraint. The 1080p Ultra result of 89 FPS, which is 73 FPS lower than the Low preset, further confirms that the GPU’s workload scaling with settings is the dominant factor. However, the 1440p results show only a modest drop from 1080p (e.g., 115 to 87 FPS at Medium), which indicates that the CPU’s 12 threads are sufficient to keep up with the GPU’s rendering demands at these resolutions.

The 3DMark single-thread score of 910 and the Passmark single-thread score of 3456 suggest that the i5-12400 has solid per-core performance, which is crucial for games that rely heavily on a few threads. The data does not show any scenario where the CPU becomes a hard bottleneck, as even at 1080p Low, the framerate does not exceed the GPU’s capabilities in a way that would indicate CPU limitation. Overall, the i5-12400 provides a balanced foundation for this GPU, with enough headroom to avoid limiting performance in Control at the tested settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB ranks 1422 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 38% of all configurations. This ranking reflects a solid mid-to-upper tier system that excels at 1080p and 1440p but falls short of top-tier performance at 4K.

The GPU’s individual ranking is more modest, sitting in the 19th percentile among all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 2913. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF (deltaPct 0.1) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB (deltaPct 0.2), which shows that the 8 GB variant is nearly identical in raw compute to its 16 GB sibling. The CPU’s ranking is stronger at the 72nd percentile, but the combo’s overall rank of 1422 suggests that the GPU’s limitations are dragging down the combined score.

Compared to other combos, this pairing is positioned well for 1440p gaming, as the measured FPS at 1440p High (77 FPS) and Ultra (67 FPS) are both above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K results are less competitive, with 4K High at 52 FPS and 4K Ultra at 45 FPS, which are below the ideal 60 FPS target. The data shows that this combo is 0.1% behind the AMD EPYC 7643 in CPU benchmark scores, but that CPU is a server part with a much higher core count, so the i5-12400’s gaming performance is not directly comparable.

The combo’s rank of 1422 out of 3720 means it outperforms roughly 62% of tested configurations, which is a respectable showing for a mainstream CPU and mid-range GPU pairing. However, users seeking higher rankings would need a more powerful GPU, as the RTX 4060 Ti’s 19th percentile GPU ranking is the weaker link in this system. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it delivers a consistently playable experience across all settings.

FAQ

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

A: The 2560x1440 resolution provides the best balance of performance and visual quality. At 1440p High, the combo achieves 77 FPS, and at 1440p Medium it reaches 87 FPS, both of which are above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Control?*

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K High, the average FPS is 52, which is playable but not ideal. Dropping to 4K Medium yields 59 FPS, while 4K Low reaches 83 FPS. For a smoother 4K experience, Low or Medium settings are recommended.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD EPYC 7643 and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i7-1355U. It ranks in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 162 FPS, and at 1080p High it reaches 102 FPS. These high framerates indicate that the GPU is still the primary constraint, but the CPU is not limiting performance.

Q: What is the difference between the 8 GB and 16 GB RTX 4060 Ti?

A: The 8 GB version has an average benchmark score of 2913, which is 0.2% higher than the 16 GB version’s score of 2907. The performance difference is negligible in raw compute, but the 8 GB VRAM may limit texture quality at higher resolutions.

Q: What settings should I use for the best experience?

A: For 1440p, the High preset at 77 FPS offers a good balance. For 1080p, the Ultra preset at 89 FPS is recommended for maximum visual quality. At 4K, the Medium preset at 59 FPS provides the best trade-off between visual fidelity and framerate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB is the primary driver of performance in Control, and the benchmark data clearly shows its strengths and weaknesses. The GPU features 4352 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output pipelines, with a base clock of 2310 MHz and a boost clock of 2535 MHz. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a limiting factor at 4K resolutions where texture data exceeds this capacity.

The GPU’s 22.06 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is respectable for a mid-range card, and its 34 ray tracing cores suggest it can handle ray-traced effects, though the measured FPS does not include RT data. The 160 W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this class, and the PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is sufficient for the card’s bandwidth needs.

In Control, the GPU’s role is evident in the resolution scaling data. At 1080p Low, the 162 FPS result shows the GPU has significant headroom, but this drops to 52 FPS at 4K High, a 68% reduction. The 4K Medium preset with a 59 FPS average and 50 FPS minimum indicates that the GPU is struggling with the memory bandwidth and VRAM constraints at this resolution. The 4K Ultra result of 45 FPS further confirms that the 8 GB VRAM is insufficient for ultra-quality textures at 4K.

The GPU’s ranking in the 19th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2913, is lower than its CPU counterpart, suggesting that the RTX 4060 Ti is the weaker component in this pairing. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell SFF, is only 0.1% faster, showing that the 4060 Ti is competitive with professional workstation cards in raw compute. The 1440p results are more flattering, with 1440p Ultra at 67 FPS and 1440p High at 77 FPS, indicating that the GPU is well-matched to the i5-12400 at this resolution.

Overall, the GPU provides a solid 1440p experience with high settings, but its 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are the primary constraints at 4K. The data suggests that users should prioritize 1440p for the best balance of performance and visual quality, with 4K requiring significant settings compromises.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired framerate. The data shows a clear trade-off between visual quality and performance, with the 1080p and 1440p resolutions offering the most flexibility.

For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 89 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the highest visual quality. The High preset at 102 FPS is also excellent, offering a slight performance boost with a minor reduction in graphical fidelity. The Medium preset at 115 FPS is a good choice for players who prioritize high refresh rates, though the visual difference between Medium and High is minimal in most scenes. The Low preset at 162 FPS is only recommended for competitive play or when maximum framerates are required, as the visual quality suffers significantly.

For 1440p, the High preset at 77 FPS is the recommended setting, as it provides a strong balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 67 FPS is also viable for players who want the best graphics, but the 10 FPS difference between High and Ultra may not justify the increased visual load. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is a good alternative for those who prefer higher framerates, while the Low preset at 123 FPS is best suited for fast-paced action where smoothness is paramount.

For 4K, the data shows that the GPU struggles to maintain high framerates. The Medium preset at 59 FPS is the best option, offering a playable experience with moderate visual quality. The High preset at 52 FPS is borderline playable but may cause noticeable stuttering in intense scenes. The Low preset at 83 FPS is the smoothest 4K option, but it sacrifices significant visual detail. The Ultra preset at 45 FPS is not recommended, as the framerate drops below the 60 FPS threshold and may lead to a less responsive experience.

In summary, the data recommends 1440p High as the sweet spot for this combo, with 1080p Ultra as the best alternative for maximum visual quality. At 4K, users should stick to Medium or Low settings to ensure consistent framerates. The measured minimum FPS values of 50 at 4K Medium and 98 at 1080p Medium indicate that these settings provide adequate frame pacing without severe drops.