Control

The Intel Core i7-12700K pairs with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT to form a balanced 1080p and 1440p gaming setup. This combination places in the 1070th position out of 1636 tested combos for Control, meaning it sits in the upper-middle tier of the database. The i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake processor with a 3.60 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock, while the RX 6650 XT is a RDNA 2.0 card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus. The data shows that this pairing delivers playable frame rates at 4K with settings adjustments, but its real strengths appear at lower resolutions.

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

The i7-12700K brings substantial compute resources to Control. With 12 cores and 20 threads, it has enough parallel throughput to handle the game’s physics and AI workloads without bottlenecking the GPU. The processor’s 3.60 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock provide strong single-thread performance, which matters for game logic and draw call submission. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency in scenes with complex object interactions.

Benchmark data confirms the CPU’s capability. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 29241 points in multi-core and 4128 points in single-core tests. The Geekbench results show 13892 points multi-core and 2561 points single-core. These scores place the i7-12700K in the 89th percentile versus all CPUs in the database, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors. Compared to its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 trails by 0.3%, while the Intel Core i7-13700T is 0.6% behind. The Intel Core i5-14500HX leads by 0.7%, and the Intel Core i7-13800H is 0.8% ahead. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, meaning the i7-12700K holds its own against newer and mobile variants.

In Control, the CPU’s role is less about raw core count and more about consistent frame pacing. The game’s destructible environments and telekinetic physics interactions require steady single-thread performance. The 5.00 GHz boost clock ensures that the primary game thread gets maximum responsiveness. The 20 threads also allow background tasks like voice chat or streaming overlays to run without stealing cycles from the game. Overall, the i7-12700K is more than sufficient for this title, and the measured FPS numbers show that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 124.7 FPS average, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings yield 90.4 FPS, still very smooth, while High drops to 76.6 FPS. Ultra settings produce 65.7 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. For 1080p users, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, keeping the frame rate well above 60 FPS while improving visual fidelity over Low.

At 2560x1440, the story changes. Low settings hit 92.2 FPS, Medium reaches 64.5 FPS, and High drops to 57.7 FPS. Ultra falls to 52.8 FPS. For 1440p, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, maintaining 64.5 FPS average, which is acceptable for most players. Those who prioritize frame rate over visuals can use Low for a near-100 FPS experience. High and Ultra are playable but dip below the 60 FPS threshold, which may cause noticeable stutter on non-VRR displays.

At 3840x2160, the RX 6650 XT struggles. Low settings manage 60.9 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS line. Medium drops to 44.3 FPS, High to 40.5 FPS, and Ultra to 33.7 FPS. For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only viable option if you want smooth gameplay. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p, with 4K reserved for players willing to compromise heavily on visual quality.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which deliver 92.2 FPS average. Medium settings achieve 64.5 FPS, which is above 60 FPS. High and Ultra drop below 60 FPS, at 57.7 and 52.8 FPS respectively.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. The i7-12700K scores in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with a 5.00 GHz boost clock. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 124.7 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor rather than the processor.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The i7-12700K is within 1% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, Intel Core i7-13700T, Intel Core i5-14500HX, and Intel Core i7-13800H. The largest gap is 0.8% behind the i7-13800H, which is negligible for gaming performance.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K?

A: Low settings are the only preset that achieves over 60 FPS at 3840x2160, with an average of 60.9 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra produce 44.3, 40.5, and 33.7 FPS respectively, which are below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for Control?

A: The RX 6650 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory with 280.3 GB/s bandwidth. The measured FPS at Ultra settings drops to 65.7 FPS at 1080p and 33.7 FPS at 4K, but the data does not indicate VRAM as the limiting factor at any tested resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: It ranks 1070th out of 1636 tested combos for Control, placing it in the upper-middle portion of the database. This position reflects its capability for 1080p and 1440p gaming rather than top-tier 4K performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1070 out of 1636 tested combinations places this pairing in the 65th percentile of the database. This means roughly 35% of tested systems perform better, while the majority of combos rank below. Given the CPU’s 89th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking, the combined result is lower than either component’s individual standing. This indicates that the RX 6650 XT holds the system back in Control, especially at higher resolutions where GPU load increases.

The gap between the combo rank and the CPU percentile is notable. The i7-12700K is a top-tier processor, but the RX 6650 XT is a mid-range card. In Control, which is a GPU-intensive title with heavy visual effects, the graphics card becomes the primary performance determinant. The measured FPS data supports this: at 1080p Low, the combo hits 124.7 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 33.7 FPS. The CPU’s strong single-thread performance ensures that frame times remain consistent, but the GPU’s 10.79 TFLOPS of FP32 compute limits the maximum output.

Compared to the GPU’s nearest rivals, the RX 6650 XT is essentially tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6800M (0% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 470 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Arc A370M (0.5% behind), and the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH (0.6% behind). These small differences mean that the combo rank would not change significantly if the GPU were swapped for one of these alternatives. The CPU’s rivals also show minimal performance deltas, reinforcing that this pairing’s ranking is stable within its tier.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a Navi 23 chip manufactured on a 7 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2055 MHz, with a boost clock of 2635 MHz and a game clock of 2410 MHz. These clocks are relatively high for the RX 6000 series, allowing the card to extract performance from its 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs.

The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for Control at the tested settings, as the data shows no signs of stuttering or crashes. The card’s 32 ray tracing cores are present but Control’s implementation of ray tracing is optional, and the measured FPS numbers likely reflect rasterized performance. The 280.3 GB/s memory bandwidth is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the 128-bit bus becomes a limiting factor. The pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s are mid-range figures that explain the performance drop at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. In Passmark, it scores 17166 for G3D and 7532 for GPU compute. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1859. These numbers align with the measured FPS in Control, where the card delivers 1080p High at 76.6 FPS and 1440p High at 57.7 FPS. The GPU’s performance is consistent with its mid-range positioning, making it a solid choice for 1080p gaming and acceptable for 1440p with settings adjustments.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RX 6650 XT delivers strong results. Low settings average 124.7 FPS, providing a high-refresh-rate experience. Medium settings hit 90.4 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. High settings drop to 76.6 FPS, still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings produce 65.7 FPS, which is playable but close to the edge for VRR monitors. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 47% drop in performance, from 124.7 to 65.7 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings achieve 92.2 FPS, maintaining excellent playability. Medium settings reach 64.5 FPS, just above the 60 FPS line. High settings fall to 57.7 FPS, which may cause visible frame drops on 60 Hz displays. Ultra settings drop further to 52.8 FPS, making it less desirable for fast-paced action. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 43%, slightly less than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles to keep up. Low settings average 60.9 FPS, barely hitting the 60 FPS target. Medium settings drop to 44.3 FPS, which is noticeable stutter territory. High settings manage 40.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 33.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 45%, showing that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute power are insufficient for high-quality 4K rendering. Players using this combo at 4K should stick to Low settings or consider lowering the resolution.