Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure from Remedy, is a demanding title that stresses both the CPU and GPU heavily due to its physics-driven combat and destructible environments. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT across a range of resolutions and settings. The data reveals a system that is well-balanced at 1080p, but which becomes progressively more GPU-bound as resolution increases, with specific settings having a dramatic impact on the final frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable trend: as resolution climbs, average frame rates fall, but the rate of that decline is not linear. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 105.1 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops the average to 79.1 FPS, a reduction of approximately 25%. Stepping up to 4K High further reduces the average to 52.2 FPS, which is a 34% drop from the 1440p figure and a 50% drop from the 1080p baseline. This pattern strongly suggests that at 1080p, the system is not fully utilizing the GPU’s potential, with the CPU likely being the limiting factor. The scaling becomes more consistent with the GPU’s capabilities at higher resolutions, where the rendering load increases and the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

The difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution further illuminates this dynamic. At 1080p, the spread between Low (163.1 FPS) and Ultra (90.3 FPS) is 72.8 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom to render more complex scenes. However, at 4K, the spread narrows to 37.3 FPS (Low at 81.1 FPS vs. Ultra at 43.8 FPS). This compression of the performance window at 4K suggests that the GPU is working near its maximum capacity, and even lowering settings cannot fully compensate for the sheer pixel count. The data implies that for this specific combo, 1440p is the "sweet spot" where the CPU can feed the GPU enough data to maintain high frame rates without the GPU being overwhelmed, while 4K is firmly in the territory of the GPU being the sole performance arbiter.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination delivers an average of 105.1 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: How does performance at 4K Ultra compare to 4K High?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 43.8 FPS, which is notably lower than the High preset’s 52.2 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the highest visual fidelity.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1440p?

A: The data suggests a balance shift. At 1440p High, the system achieves 79.1 FPS. Given that 1080p High yields 105.1 FPS, the scaling indicates the system is becoming more GPU-limited at 1440p, though the CPU still has sufficient headroom to avoid being the primary constraint.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for a high refresh rate monitor?

A: For refresh rates above 100 Hz, 1080p is the only viable option. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 115.8 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 163.1 FPS, allowing the system to keep pace with fast-moving action.

Q: Does lowering settings from High to Medium have a large impact on FPS at 4K?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, switching from High to Medium increases the average FPS from 52.2 to 60.8, an improvement of 8.6 FPS. This is a more effective way to gain performance than moving from High to Ultra, which drops the frame rate significantly.

Q: How does the system perform at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: The combo produces an average of 69.9 FPS at 2560x1440 with the Ultra preset. This indicates that high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming is possible, but only if visual settings are tuned down from the maximum.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, is the primary driver of frame rates when resolution increases. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for the textures and assets in Control at the tested resolutions. The GPU’s boost clock of 2544 MHz and game clock of 2171 MHz are key to its performance, yet the data shows that these clocks are not always the limiting factor. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra frame rates (163.1 vs. 90.3) demonstrates that the GPU has untapped processing power, as the CPU is likely unable to issue draw calls quickly enough to keep it fully occupied.

The GPU’s role becomes more dominant at 1440p and 4K. At 4K, the Ultra preset average of 43.8 FPS is a direct consequence of the GPU’s pixel and texture fill rates being saturated. The benchmark results for the GPU, including a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3316 and a Passmark G3D score of 22547, place it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. This positions it as a capable mid-to-high-end part, but not a top-tier 4K powerhouse. The measured FPS data confirms this, showing that 4K gaming is possible but requires settings compromises to maintain smooth gameplay. The GPU’s 96 ROPs are tasked with final pixel output, and at 4K, the sheer volume of pixels makes this a significant workload.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS table provides a thorough look at performance scaling:

• 1920x1080 (1080p): The system shows its strength here. Low settings yield an average of 163.1 FPS, which is exceptionally high. Medium settings drop to 115.8 FPS, High to 105.1 FPS, and Ultra to 90.3 FPS. All presets are playable, with even the most demanding Ultra preset producing a frame rate well above 60 FPS.
• 2560x1440 (1440p): Performance remains strong but begins to show signs of GPU stress. Low settings average 123 FPS, which is still very high. Medium averages 84.7 FPS, High averages 79.1 FPS, and Ultra averages 69.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is substantial (38.3 FPS), indicating a significant increase in shader complexity.
• 3840x2160 (4K): This is where the GPU is firmly in control. Low settings average 81.1 FPS, which is impressive for 4K. Medium drops to 60.8 FPS, High to 52.2 FPS, and Ultra to 43.8 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a clear cost for visual fidelity, with the Ultra preset falling below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider ideal for smooth gameplay.

The data shows that the most significant performance jump at any resolution occurs when moving from Ultra to High, or from Medium to Low, highlighting that the Ultra preset includes effects that are disproportionately expensive to render.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K, with its 12 cores (8 performance and 4 efficiency) and 20 threads, provides a robust foundation for gaming. Its boost clock of 5.00 GHz and single-thread performance are crucial for game logic and physics, which Control relies on heavily. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4128 and multi-core score of 29241 indicate strong processing capability. However, in this game, the CPU’s role appears to be that of a consistent feeder rather than a bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as evidenced by the GPU not scaling efficiently from Low to Ultra settings.

The CPU’s 25 MB of shared L3 cache helps maintain low latency for frequently accessed data, which is beneficial for maintaining high frame times. The benchmark results place the i7-12700K in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, making it a high-end processor. Yet, the measured FPS data shows that its performance headroom is not fully utilized at 4K, where the GPU is the clear bottleneck. At 1080p, the CPU allows for frame rates exceeding 160 FPS on Low settings, but the GPU cannot keep pace with the CPU’s instructions at Ultra settings, resulting in a smaller margin of improvement. This suggests that for this specific pairing, the i7-12700K is more than adequate to prevent CPU-induced stutters, providing a stable platform for the RX 7700 XT to perform.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

• For 1080p: The High preset at 105.1 FPS is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance. For competitive play or high refresh rate displays (144Hz+), the Low preset at 163.1 FPS or Medium at 115.8 FPS are better choices. The Ultra preset at 90.3 FPS is also viable for those who prioritize visuals over a few extra frames.
• For 1440p: The High preset at 79.1 FPS is the recommended starting point, as it offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium while staying above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 69.9 FPS is playable and will satisfy players who want the best image quality, but the drop from High is not large enough to warrant the performance hit for most. The Medium preset at 84.7 FPS is a good choice for those seeking a higher frame rate buffer.
• For 4K: The Medium preset at 60.8 FPS is the only way to achieve a locked 60 FPS experience. The High preset at 52.2 FPS is a compromise, offering better visuals but requiring a tolerance for lower frame rates. The Low preset at 81.1 FPS is the best option for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors, but it sacrifices most of the game’s visual effects. The Ultra preset at 43.8 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as it falls below acceptable playability standards for most users.

The data clearly shows that the High preset is the most efficient use of GPU resources across all resolutions, providing a consistent visual upgrade from Medium without the steep performance penalty seen in Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the Intel Core i7-12700K + AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ranks 667th out of 1636 total combos for Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems. This ranking is a reflection of its balanced performance: it is not a top-tier enthusiast setup, but it far outperforms entry-level configurations. The GPU’s 73rd percentile ranking and the CPU’s 89th percentile ranking suggest that the system is more limited by its graphics card than its processor.

Relative to other GPUs, the RX 7700 XT is nearly identical in average benchmark score to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, with a delta of 0%. This indicates that in synthetic tests, they are interchangeable. However, in Control, the measured FPS will dictate real-world performance. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845, show a delta of -0.3%, meaning the i7-12700K is slightly faster in average benchmark scores. This suggests that the pairing is well-matched, with neither component drastically holding back the other. The 667th rank out of 1636 combos signifies that while there are many faster systems, this configuration delivers a solid, dependable experience that is capable of handling the game’s demands across all tested settings.