Control

CPU Role - cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor from the Core 12th Gen series. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, and it carries a 65 W TDP. The chip uses Intel's Alder Lake-S architecture on a 10 nm process node, with a die size of 163 mm². Cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Memory support covers both DDR4 and DDR5, running on a dual-channel bus. The processor integrates PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. It was released on 2022-01-03 with a launch MSRP of $174.

In synthetic benchmark data, the i5-12400F scores 12,380 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,680 in single-core. Geekbench results show 9,472 multi-core and 1,964 single-core. PassMark multi-thread score is 19,433, while single-thread is 3,481. The processor sits at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals by average score include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19,047 (0% delta), Intel Core 3 201E at 19,056 (-0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-1335U at 18,982 (0.3% delta), and AMD EPYC 7773X at 18,979 (0.3% delta). The i5-12400F's average benchmark score is 19,039.

For Control, an action-adventure game released on 2019-08-26, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for the game's threaded workload. Control is not known for extreme CPU demands; it relies more heavily on GPU throughput for its physics-heavy environments and particle effects. The 2.50 GHz base clock provides a solid foundation, while the 4.40 GHz boost clock helps in scenes with higher single-thread demands. The 18 MB shared L3 cache reduces memory latency for frequently accessed data. In the measured FPS data, the 1080p Low preset shows 91 avg FPS, which is the highest recorded for this combo. That indicates the CPU can feed the GPU adequately at lower settings where the GPU is less stressed. As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the CPU's role diminishes relative to the GPU, as frame rates drop consistently across settings. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5,895 and max-thread score of 5,912 show the processor's multi-threaded capability is consistent with its core count. For a game like Control, the CPU does not bottleneck the system at 1080p Low, where the GPU still delivers 91 FPS. At Ultra settings across all resolutions, the CPU is not the limiting factor; the GPU is.

GPU Role - VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti uses the TU116 chip on a 12 nm process node from TSMC. It has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and memory runs at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective). Shading units number 1,536, with 96 TMUs and 48 ROPs. Pixel rate is 84.96 GPixel/s, texture rate is 169.9 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 5.437 TFLOPS. The card has a 120 W TDP, uses one 8-pin power connector, and suggests a 300 W PSU. It is a dual-slot card measuring 229 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 35 mm in width. Display outputs include 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. The GPU supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. It was released on 2019-02-21 with a launch MSRP of 279 USD, and its predecessor is GeForce 10-series, successor GeForce 20-series.

In synthetic benchmarks, the GTX 1660 Ti scores 12,871 in PassMark G3D, 5,827 in Geekbench Vulkan, and 51,029 in Geekbench OpenCL. PassMark DirectX 12 score is 51, DirectX 11 is 103, and DirectX 9 is 190. The GPU's percentile among all GPUs is 41. Its average benchmark score is 7,723. Nearest rivals include AMD Radeon 540 at 7,673 (0.7% delta), AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 at 7,580 (1.9% delta), AMD Radeon R7 250 at 7,557 (2.2% delta), and Intel Arc A310 at 7,550 (2.3% delta). The GTX 1660 Ti is significantly ahead of these rivals, with deltas of 0.7% to 2.3%, meaning the 1660 Ti outperforms them by those margins.

For Control, the GPU's 6 GB VRAM is a key constraint. At 4K Ultra, the measured avg FPS drops to 25, and at 4K High it is 29. The 192-bit memory bus and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K the memory bandwidth and capacity become limiting. The boost clock of 1770 MHz helps maintain frame rates in less demanding scenes. The GPU's 5.437 TFLOPS FP32 performance is modest by modern standards, which explains the 4K Ultra result of 25 FPS. The card's 48 ROPs limit pixel fill rate, which impacts high-resolution rendering. Control's use of volumetric lighting and destructible environments puts pressure on the GPU's shading units and memory subsystem. At 1080p Low, the GPU achieves 91 FPS, showing headroom when settings are reduced. At 1080p Medium, it delivers 64 FPS, and at 1080p High, 57 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 50 FPS. These numbers indicate the GTX 1660 Ti is a capable 1080p card for Control, but struggles at 4K where even Low settings only reach 46 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks - use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ranks 3,176 out of 3,720 tested combos in the database for Control. This places the combo in the lower portion of the rankings, specifically in the 14th percentile of all tested configurations. The rank reflects the GPU's mid-range performance and the CPU's relatively high performance for its class. The i5-12400F's 73rd percentile among CPUs and the GTX 1660 Ti's 41st percentile among GPUs indicate a pairing where the GPU is the weaker component. The combo rank of 3,176 suggests that most other tested setups deliver higher frame rates in Control. The data shows that the GTX 1660 Ti's synthetic average score of 7,723, combined with the CPU's 19,039 average, produces a system that is GPU-bound in this game. The rank is not surprising given the GPU's age and its 6 GB VRAM. The i5-12400F provides enough processing power to avoid being a bottleneck, but the GPU cannot translate that into high frame rates at 4K. The 3,720 total combos include many with newer and more powerful GPUs, so the 3,176 rank is expected. In the measured FPS data, the combo never exceeds 91 FPS, and that only occurs at 1080p Low. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 38 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 25 FPS. These results align with the combo's low rank. The GPU's nearest rivals are all significantly weaker, with the AMD Radeon 540 scoring 7,673, but those are not paired with the i5-12400F in this database. The combo's rank of 3,176 means it outperforms only 544 other combos, approximately 15% of the tested pool. This positions the i5-12400F + GTX 1660 Ti as a low-mid-range configuration for Control.

Measured FPS Breakdown - resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a full matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 91 FPS. Medium produces 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 and maximum of 74. High yields 57 FPS. Ultra drops to 50 FPS. These four settings span a range from 50 to 91 FPS at 1080p, a 41 FPS spread between the lowest and highest presets.

At 2560x1440, Low averages 69 FPS. Medium averages 49 FPS with a minimum of 41 and maximum of 56. High averages 43 FPS. Ultra averages 38 FPS. The range at 1440p is from 38 to 69 FPS, a 31 FPS spread. The drop from 1080p Low to 1440p Low is 91 to 69 FPS, a 22 FPS reduction. The drop from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra is 50 to 38 FPS, a 12 FPS reduction.

At 3840x2160, Low averages 46 FPS. Medium averages 33 FPS with a minimum of 28 and maximum of 38. High averages 29 FPS. Ultra averages 25 FPS. The range at 4K is from 25 to 46 FPS, a 21 FPS spread. The drop from 1440p Low to 4K Low is 69 to 46 FPS, a 23 FPS reduction. The drop from 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 38 to 25 FPS, a 13 FPS reduction.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset always provides the highest average FPS, and Ultra always provides the lowest. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum values, showing a 10 FPS spread at 1080p, a 15 FPS spread at 1440p, and a 10 FPS spread at 4K. The data shows that the GTX 1660 Ti can maintain playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with Low to High settings, but at 4K, only Low settings reach near 46 FPS, which is marginal for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 4K (25 FPS) is the worst measured result, followed by 4K High (29 FPS) and 4K Medium (33 FPS). At 1080p, all presets exceed 50 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where Ultra is viable. The 1440p Ultra result of 38 FPS is borderline, while 1440p High (43 FPS) and Medium (49 FPS) are more playable. The 4K results indicate that the GPU lacks the raw throughput for high settings at this resolution.

Resolution Scaling - how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling shows how frame rates decrease as pixel count increases. From 1080p Low (91 FPS) to 1440p Low (69 FPS), the drop is 22 FPS, or approximately 24%. From 1440p Low to 4K Low (46 FPS), the drop is 23 FPS, or approximately 33%. From 1080p Low to 4K Low, the total drop is 45 FPS, or approximately 49%. For Medium settings, 1080p (64 FPS) to 1440p (49 FPS) is a 15 FPS drop, or 23%. From 1440p Medium to 4K Medium (33 FPS), the drop is 16 FPS, or 33%. The total drop from 1080p Medium to 4K Medium is 31 FPS, or 48%. For High settings, 1080p (57 FPS) to 1440p (43 FPS) is a 14 FPS drop, or 25%. From 1440p High to 4K High (29 FPS), the drop is 14 FPS, or 33%. The total drop from 1080p High to 4K High is 28 FPS, or 49%. For Ultra settings, 1080p (50 FPS) to 1440p (38 FPS) is a 12 FPS drop, or 24%. From 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (25 FPS), the drop is 13 FPS, or 34%. The total drop from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 25 FPS, or 50%.

The consistent pattern of approximately 24% drops from 1080p to 1440p and 33% drops from 1440p to 4K indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The pixel count from 1080p (2.07 million) to 1440p (3.69 million) increases by about 78%, and from 1440p to 4K (8.29 million) by about 125%. The frame rate drops do not scale linearly with pixel count, which is typical for GPU-bound scenarios. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, has enough headroom to handle Control's logic at all resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate drops would be more severe at lower resolutions and settings, but the data shows that even at 1080p Low (91 FPS), the CPU does not limit the GPU. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are the primary constraints at 4K, where the memory subsystem is saturated. The 4K Low result of 46 FPS versus 4K High of 29 FPS shows a 17 FPS difference, or 37%, which is larger than the difference at 1080p (91 vs 57 FPS, a 37% drop). This suggests that at 4K, the GPU's shading units are the bottleneck, not just VRAM. The resolution scaling indicates that the GTX 1660 Ti is a 1080p-class GPU, with 1440p being playable at medium settings and 4K only viable at low settings.

Settings Recommendations - which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured FPS data allows for a settings analysis based on frame rate thresholds. At 1080p, all presets deliver playable frame rates. The Low preset at 91 FPS provides the smoothest experience, but the Medium preset at 64 FPS offers a balance between visual fidelity and performance. The High preset at 57 FPS is also playable, and the Ultra preset at 50 FPS is the minimum for a playable experience. For users who prioritize smoothness, Low at 91 FPS is the best choice. For users who want better visuals without sacrificing too much, Medium at 64 FPS is recommended. The Medium preset also has a recorded minimum of 55 FPS, which means it stays above 55 FPS in most scenes.

At 1440p, the Low preset at 69 FPS is the only option that provides a consistently high frame rate. Medium at 49 FPS is borderline, with a minimum of 41 FPS, which may cause occasional stutters. High at 43 FPS and Ultra at 38 FPS are below the 45 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay in an action game like Control. For 1440p, Low is the recommended preset, as it maintains 69 FPS and avoids the dips seen in Medium. The Medium preset's 41 FPS minimum is a concern for fast-paced combat sequences.

At 4K, no preset provides a fully smooth experience. Low at 46 FPS is the highest, but it is still below the 60 FPS target. Medium at 33 FPS, High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 25 FPS are all below playable thresholds. For 4K, Low is the only reasonable choice, and even then, the frame rate may not be stable in demanding scenes. The data shows that the GTX 1660 Ti is not suitable for 4K gaming in Control, regardless of settings.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset consistently provides the highest frame rates, with 91 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 46 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset is a viable middle ground at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K it drops to 33 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are only recommended for 1080p, where they deliver 57 and 50 FPS, respectively. The best overall experience is 1080p Medium at 64 FPS, which balances visual quality and performance. The 1440p Low preset at 69 FPS is the best for higher resolution, but the visual quality is reduced. For users with a 1080p display, Medium is the ideal preset. For users with a 1440p display, Low is necessary to maintain frame rates. For 4K, the GPU is not capable of delivering a smooth experience at any preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Control?

A: The highest average FPS is 91, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 540?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7,723, while the AMD Radeon 540 scores 7,673, putting the 1660 Ti 0.7% ahead.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations for Control?

A: The combo ranks 3,176 out of 3,720 tested combos.

Q: At what resolution does the Ultra preset still deliver above 45 FPS?

A: Only at 1920x1080, where the Ultra preset achieves 50 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra drops to 38 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it drops to 25 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 4K?

A: The minimum FPS for Medium at 3840x2160 is 28 FPS, with a maximum of 38 FPS.

Q: How much FPS is lost from 1080p Low to 4K Low?

A: The drop is from 91 FPS to 46 FPS, a reduction of 45 FPS, or approximately 49%.