Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, presents a demanding environment for the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 pairing. The measured data reveals a configuration that is highly capable at 1080p but begins to strain under the load of higher resolutions and maximum settings. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results to determine optimal settings, component roles, and performance scaling.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data for this specific combination—Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050—shows a clear hierarchy in performance across the four tested presets. The primary goal is to achieve a playable frame rate without sacrificing visual fidelity unnecessarily. Based on the measured average FPS, the High preset emerges as the most balanced choice for most users, but the optimal setting is heavily dependent on the target resolution.

At 1920x1080, the GPU has ample headroom. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 68 FPS, which is playable for a single-player title, but the High preset provides a significant boost to 78 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra costs 10 FPS, which is a 12.8% performance decrease for what is often a marginal visual improvement. The Medium preset sits between the two at 88 FPS, but the higher visual fidelity of High is generally preferred. For competitive or high-refresh-rate monitors, the Low preset at 124 FPS is the only clear path to maximum frame rates, though it significantly reduces the game's atmospheric effects.

Moving to 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The High preset maintains a solid 59 FPS average, which is just on the cusp of the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset drops to 52 FPS, a noticeable dip that may be undesirable for some players. The High preset is the sweet spot here, offering a smooth experience while retaining most of the graphical features. The Low preset at 94 FPS is available for those who prioritize speed, but at this resolution, the visual compromise is more apparent.

At 4K (3840x2160), the RTX 5050 begins to run out of pixel-pushing power. The High preset yields only 40 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset falls to 35 FPS, making it almost unplayable. Even the Low preset can only muster 63 FPS, indicating a severe GPU bottleneck. In this scenario, the recommendation is to use the Medium preset, which offers 45 FPS. While not ideal, it represents the best compromise between visual quality and performance. The data suggests that 4K is not a viable target for this combo with maxed settings, but the Medium preset provides the most stable experience.

For the best overall experience, the High preset at 2560x1440 provides a 59 FPS average, which is the closest to the 60 FPS standard without dropping to lower quality settings. At 1080p, High is the recommended setting due to its excellent 78 FPS and high visual quality.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary driver of performance in these benchmarks, particularly at higher resolutions. The data shows that as resolution increases, the frame rate drops precipitously, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload. The card's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K results suggest it may be a limiting factor, as the High preset at 4K struggles to maintain 40 FPS.

The GPU's core clocks are listed with a base of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz. These high clock speeds contribute to its compute capabilities, which include 2560 shading units and 80 tensor cores. The measured 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502 indicates a mid-range performance tier. Comparing this to its nearest rivals in the database, the RTX 5050's average benchmark score of 21035 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (21153) and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (20713). The deltaPct values are small, with the RTX 5050 being 0.6% slower than the RX Vega M GL and 1.6% faster than the RX 5600 XT. This positional data aligns with the observed FPS, showing the GPU is competent for 1080p and 1440p gaming but lacks the raw power for 4K Ultra.

The frame time data further illustrates the GPU's role. At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 67, with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 77. This spread of 20 FPS shows a consistent performance level without major stutters, suggesting the GPU is handling the load steadily. At 4K Medium, the average is 45 FPS, with a min of 38 and max of 52. The wider relative variance at 4K indicates the GPU is under more stress, struggling to maintain a stable output as it reaches its limits. This points to the GPU being the definitive bottleneck at 4K, while at 1080p, the CPU has more influence on the upper frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the large benchmark database of 2,888 tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 achieves a rank of 1,756 for Control. This places it in the 39th percentile of all tested combos, meaning it outperforms roughly 39% of systems tested with this game. This ranking is a direct reflection of the mid-range performance of both components. The GPU's average benchmark score percentile is 66, indicating it is better than 66% of all GPUs in the database. However, the combination's rank in this specific game is lower, indicating that Control is a demanding title that pushes the system's limits.

The deltaPct values from the CPU's and GPU's nearest rivals help contextualize this ranking. The CPU's average benchmark score of 19039 is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047). The GPU's score of 21035 is on par with the Radeon RX Vega M GL. This suggests that in a game like Control, the performance of this combo is representative of what one would expect from a mid-range 2025 NVIDIA GPU paired with an upper-mid-range 2022 Intel CPU. The 1,756th rank out of 2,888 is not a standout position, but it is not a poor one either. It signifies a system that is capable of running the game well at standard resolutions, but it is outclassed by a large number of more powerful, high-end combinations. The data shows that this is a balanced pairing, but neither component is exceptional enough to push the combo into a higher percentile.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Control with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: The benchmark data shows that 2560x1440 with High settings provides a 59 FPS average, which is the closest to a standard 60 FPS target. While 1920x1080 offers higher frame rates, 1440p provides a significant visual upgrade that the RTX 5050 can still handle adequately.

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

A: The data indicates that 4K is a challenge for this combo. The highest playable setting at 3840x2160 is Low, which averages 63 FPS. High settings drop to 40 FPS, and Ultra falls to 35 FPS, which are generally considered too low for smooth gameplay. Therefore, 4K is not recommended for a high-quality experience.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score is 21035. This is 0.6% slower than the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (21153) and 1.6% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (20713). The performance is effectively tied with these competitors.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, which is a classic GPU bottleneck. The GPU's 66th percentile ranking versus the CPU's 73rd percentile also suggests the GPU is the weaker link for gaming.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the High and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 78 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS. This is a 10 FPS difference, representing a 14.7% performance decrease for the Ultra preset. The visual difference between the two is often subtle, making High the more efficient choice.

Q: What are the frame time consistency numbers for the Medium preset?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset shows an average of 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS. This 20 FPS range indicates a stable performance with no major stutters. At 4K, the Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52, showing more variance and instability.

Resolution Scaling

The impact of resolution on the frame rate is dramatic and reveals the fundamental bottleneck of this system. The measured data shows a clear and consistent drop in performance as resolution increases, which is the definitive indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 78 FPS at 1080p to 59 FPS at 1440p, a decrease of 24.4%. The drop is even more severe from 1440p to 4K, where the average falls from 59 FPS to 40 FPS, a 32.2% decrease. From 1080p to 4K, the total performance loss is 48.7%, meaning the RTX 5050 delivers less than half its 1080p performance at 4K.

This scaling pattern is textbook GPU limitation. The data shows that the RTX 5050's rendering capabilities are fixed, and as the pixel count increases, the time required to render each frame grows proportionally. The 8 GB VRAM is likely also a factor at 4K, as the higher resolution textures and effects can approach or exceed the memory capacity, leading to performance dips. The progression of the Low preset tells a similar story: 124 FPS at 1080p, 94 FPS at 1440p, and 63 FPS at 4K. While the Low preset avoids the heaviest effects, the resolution scaling still causes a 49.2% drop from 1080p to 4K.

The frame time data for the Medium preset supports this analysis. At 1440p, the range is 57-77 FPS, a 20 FPS spread. At 4K, the range is 38-52 FPS, a 14 FPS spread. While the spread is smaller at 4K, the percentage of variance is larger relative to the average, indicating the system is struggling to keep up with the workload. This behavior confirms that the RTX 5050 is the primary limiting component, and the CPU's role becomes less significant as the resolution increases.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F provides the processing foundation for this system, and its influence on Control's performance is most apparent at lower resolutions. The CPU features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4/DDR5 memory help to feed the GPU with data. The CPU's average benchmark score of 19039 places it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating solid overall processing power.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. At 1080p, where the GPU has more headroom, the CPU is better able to keep up, allowing the GPU to reach 124 FPS on Low settings. However, even at 1080p, the CPU does not appear to be the primary bottleneck, as the frame rates scale consistently with GPU load. The CPU's multi-threaded performance is strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12380, which is sufficient for modern game engines. Its single-thread performance, measured at 1680 in Cinebench R23, is also adequate for gaming workloads.

The comparison with its nearest rivals highlights its position. The i5-12400F's average score is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (0% delta) and the Intel Core 3 201E (-0.1%). This means that from a pure processing standpoint, this CPU is not a performance outlier. In Control, the data shows that the CPU is capable of supporting the RTX 5050 at 1080p and 1440p without causing a significant frame rate bottleneck. The limitation is clearly the GPU, as the FPS drops dramatically with resolution increases, regardless of the CPU's capabilities. The CPU's 73rd percentile ranking versus the GPU's 66th percentile reinforces the idea that the GPU is the component that is holding the system back in this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average FPS for the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination in Control. The measurements were taken across three resolutions and four quality presets.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 124 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS.
• High: The average frame rate is 78 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 68 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: The average frame rate is 94 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS.
• High: The average frame rate is 59 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 52 FPS.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: The average frame rate is 63 FPS.
• Medium: The average frame rate is 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS.
• High: The average frame rate is 40 FPS.
• Ultra: The average frame rate is 35 FPS.

This breakdown confirms the performance hierarchy. The system delivers its best performance at 1080p, where all settings are playable. At 1440p, the High preset is the only one that sustains a near-60 FPS average. At 4K, even the Low preset is barely above 60 FPS, and all other settings fall below the 60 FPS threshold, making the game difficult to play with high visual fidelity. The frame time data for the Medium preset across all resolutions shows that the system is stable but becomes less consistent as resolution increases. The data paints a clear picture of a mid-range system that excels at 1080p and 1440p but is out of its depth at 4K.