Control

# Control with Intel Core i5-12400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

Control is an action-adventure title that stresses both the GPU and CPU depending on resolution and preset. The measured data for this combo shows a clear pattern: at 1080p, the frame rates are high enough to suggest the CPU is doing meaningful work, while at 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. The RTX 5060, with its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and a 128-bit bus, delivers 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for this game at most settings, though the 4K Ultra preset dips below 60 fps. The Core i5-12400F, a 6-core/12-thread Alder Lake part with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, posts a passmark_multithread score of 19433, placing it in the 77th percentile among all CPUs—close to the Intel Core i7-8700K (deltaPct 0.1). For a game like Control, which is known for its physics-heavy environments, this CPU provides a solid foundation.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and predictable, but the shape of that curve reveals where the bottleneck shifts. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 95.1 at 1920x1080 to 73.6 at 2560x1440, then down to 48 at 3840x2160. That is a 22.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 34.8% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear; the 4K penalty is harsher, which is typical when the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor. At Low settings, the same resolution steps show 151.2, 111.3, and 74.9 fps respectively—a 26.4% drop to 1440p and a 32.7% drop to 4K. Even at Low, the 4K hit is substantial, indicating that the RTX 5060’s 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate is being pushed hard at that resolution.

The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 151.2 fps, which is well above the threshold for high-refresh monitors, and even at 1440p High it holds 73.6 fps. The 4K results are playable at Medium (51.4 fps) and Low (74.9 fps), but the Ultra preset at 40.4 fps is borderline. The scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution is also informative: at 1080p, the gap is 72.3 fps (151.2 vs 78.9), while at 4K, the gap narrows to 34.5 fps (74.9 vs 40.4). This tighter range at 4K is a sign that the GPU is saturated—raising settings does not cost as much because the GPU is already near its limit.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a GB206 chip on a 5 nm process at TSMC. Its boost clock of 2497 MHz and base clock of 2280 MHz are modest, but the 3840 shading units and 120 TMUs provide a strong raw throughput for a game like Control. The FP32 performance of 19.18 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s help explain why the card can handle 1440p High at 73.6 fps. Memory is a key consideration here: 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus yields 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Control’s environments are dense with destructible objects and particle effects, which can consume VRAM, but the measured results show that the card holds its own at 1440p and even at 4K Low.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 73rd percentile among all GPUs, with a passmark_g3d score of 20891. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, scores 30097 with a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are statistically tied in average benchmark score. This parity is interesting because the RX 7700 XT is a different class of card, but in this game, the RTX 5060’s performance is solid. The RTX 5060 also has 30 RT cores, which is relevant for Control’s ray-tracing features (though the measured FPS rows are for non-ray-traced presets). The card’s 48 ROPs and pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s are adequate, but the 4K Ultra result of 40.4 fps suggests that the ROP count is a limiting factor at that resolution.

The GPU’s power profile is modest—the TDP is 145 W with a suggested PSU of 300 W—which means it can fit into a wide range of systems. The dual-slot cooler and 1x 8-pin power connector are standard, and the card’s length of 241 mm (9.5 inches) should fit most mid-tower cases. For Control specifically, the data indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, but at 1080p, the CPU starts to matter more, especially at Low settings where the GPU is not fully taxed.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Alder Lake family, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and per-core L2 of 1.25 MB are typical for a mid-range desktop chip. The CPU’s benchmark results show a passmark_multithread score of 19433 and a passmark_single_thread score of 3481, which place it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K, has an average score of 19210 with a deltaPct of 0.1, meaning the 12400F is essentially on par with that older flagship. This is relevant for Control because the game’s physics simulation can leverage multiple threads.

At 1080p Low, the system hits 151.2 fps, which is high enough that the CPU’s single-thread performance (a cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 2332) is likely the limiting factor if you try to push beyond that. The 3dmark_2_threads score of 1699 and 3dmark_4_threads score of 3067 suggest that the chip scales well with moderate thread counts, which aligns with Control’s multi-threaded physics. At 1440p, the CPU has more headroom, as the GPU takes on more of the load—the drop from 111.3 fps at Low to 73.6 fps at High is more about the GPU’s fill rate than CPU limitations.

The 12400F’s memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel bus, means that system memory bandwidth can vary, but the measured FPS data likely reflects a balanced setup. The CPU’s TDP is 65 W, which is low, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. For Control, the data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at 1440p or 4K, but at 1080p with Low settings, the frame rate of 151.2 fps is approaching what the CPU can feed the GPU. If you are targeting 144 Hz at 1080p, this combo will get you there at Medium settings (107.7 fps) but not at Ultra (78.9 fps).

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a complete picture of this combo’s behavior. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 151.2 at Low to 78.9 at Ultra, with High at 95.1 and Medium at 107.7. The step from Low to Medium is a 28.8% drop, while the step from Medium to High is 11.7%, and from High to Ultra is 17.0%. This indicates that the Medium preset is a sweet spot for 1080p, as it keeps the frame rate above 100 fps while improving visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the numbers are 111.3 (Low), 82.5 (Medium), 73.6 (High), and 59.8 (Ultra). The drop from Low to Medium is 25.9%, which is significant, but the Medium preset still delivers a smooth 82.5 fps. High is playable at 73.6 fps, but Ultra dips below 60 fps, which may be noticeable on a 60 Hz monitor. The 4K results at 3840x2160 are 74.9 (Low), 51.4 (Medium), 48 (High), and 40.4 (Ultra). Only the Low preset achieves a comfortable frame rate above 60 fps, and Medium is borderline. The High and Ultra presets are playable if you are willing to accept sub-50 fps, but they are not ideal for fast-paced combat.

The combo rank in game is 787 out of 1636 combos, which places it in the upper half. This ranking reflects that the RTX 5060 is a mid-range GPU and the 12400F is a solid mid-range CPU, but they are not top-tier hardware. For Control, the data shows that 1080p is the most comfortable resolution, with 1440p being viable at Medium and High, and 4K being reserved for Low or Medium settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 60 fps at 1440p?

A: Yes, at Medium and High settings. The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 is 82.5 at Medium and 73.6 at High, both above 60. Ultra drops to 59.8, which is just below the threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144 Hz monitor?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset hits 151.2 fps, and Medium hits 107.7 fps. If you want to stay above 144 fps, you need Low settings. For a 1440p 144 Hz monitor, even Low (111.3 fps) falls short, so a 120 Hz or 60 Hz monitor is a better match.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its closest rival in terms of GPU benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5060 has a passmark_g3d score of 20891 and an average benchmark score of 30109. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, has an average score of 30097 with a deltaPct of 0, meaning they are effectively tied.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At Low settings, the 151.2 fps result suggests the CPU is close to its limit, as the 12400F’s passmark_single_thread score of 3481 is moderate. At higher settings, the GPU becomes the constraint, so the CPU is less of a factor.

Q: What is the CPU’s multi-threaded performance relative to its rivals?

A: The 12400F has a passmark_multithread score of 19433. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K, scores 19210 with a deltaPct of 0.1, so they are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS scores 19364 with a deltaPct of -0.7, meaning the 12400F is slightly slower than that chip.

Q: Does the 4K Ultra preset require more VRAM than this GPU has?

A: The measured 4K Ultra average FPS is 40.4, which is low but still playable. The 8 GB GDDR7 memory is likely not the sole issue; the GPU’s 48 ROPs and 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are more limiting at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on your target resolution and frame rate. At 1080p, the Medium preset (107.7 fps) is the recommended choice because it keeps the frame rate above 100 fps while providing better visual fidelity than Low. If you have a 144 Hz monitor and prioritize smoothness, the Low preset (151.2 fps) is the only option that consistently stays above 144 fps. The High preset (95.1 fps) is a good compromise for 60 Hz displays, but the Ultra preset (78.9 fps) is not worth the performance cost for the marginal visual gain.

At 1440p, the Medium preset (82.5 fps) is the sweet spot, offering a smooth experience on 60 Hz and 75 Hz monitors. The High preset (73.6 fps) is also viable if you want better visuals, but the Ultra preset (59.8 fps) dips below 60 fps, which may cause stuttering on a 60 Hz display. For 4K, the Low preset (74.9 fps) is the only one that provides a consistently smooth frame rate, while the Medium preset (51.4 fps) is playable if you can tolerate occasional dips. The High (48 fps) and Ultra (40.4 fps) presets are not recommended for 4K on this hardware, as they fall below the 60 fps threshold and will feel sluggish during combat.

In summary, this combo is best utilized at 1080p with Medium settings for a balance of quality and performance, or at 1440p with Medium settings if you have a 60 Hz monitor. For 4K, stick to Low settings to keep the game responsive. The data shows that the RTX 5060 and i5-12400F are a capable pairing for Control, but they are not overpowered—choosing the right preset is essential to getting a playable experience.