Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, presents a fascinating case study in system bottlenecking when paired with the Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that is unequivocally GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet the scaling behavior at 1080p suggests the CPU is still keeping pace admirably without becoming a severe constraint. The measured FPS values show a clear hierarchy tied to both resolution and graphical presets, making this a potent, high-end combination for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals a classic GPU-bound profile, where the frame rate drop is substantial and directly attributable to the increasing pixel count. At the "High" preset, the average frame rate falls from 142 FPS at 1080p to 107 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 35 FPS. Pushing further to 4K, the average plummets to 72 FPS, marking a 70 FPS total loss from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline—roughly a 49% drop in performance from 1080p to 4K—strongly indicates that the RX 7900 XTX is the limiting component. The CPU has ample headroom at the lower resolution, but the GPU's rendering workload scales exponentially with pixel density, which is the primary driver of the FPS loss.

Analyzing the "Low" preset data provides an even clearer picture of the scaling trend. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 225 FPS. This high number suggests the CPU is working harder to feed frames, but the GPU still has enough throughput to hit a very high refresh rate. At 1440p Low, the average drops to 170 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 115 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is about 49%, nearly identical to the High preset's scaling. This consistency across presets is a hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario, as the relative performance penalty for rendering more pixels remains constant regardless of the shading complexity.

The data implies that the 12 cores and 20 threads of the i7-12700K are more than sufficient to keep the RX 7900 XTX fed, even at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is typically more pronounced. The 225 FPS result at 1080p Low is a strong indicator that the processor is not holding the system back. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions and a less dramatic drop when moving to 4K. Instead, the consistent scaling pattern confirms that the GPU is the definitive limiting factor, particularly at 4K, where the RX 7900 XTX is clearly the primary determinant of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the extensive database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX holds a rank of 536 out of 3720 combos for Control. This places the configuration in the top 14.4% of all tested systems for this game, signifying a very strong overall performance level. The high rank is a composite reflection of both the CPU's strong multi-threaded capabilities and the GPU's substantial raw power, demonstrating that this is a well-balanced pairing for a demanding title like Control.

This rank is particularly noteworthy when considering the GPU's overall benchmark percentile. The RX 7900 XTX has a percentile rank of 64 compared to all GPUs, and its average score is 19410. Interestingly, its nearest rivals in the synthetic benchmark list include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB (0.4% faster) and the NVIDIA TITAN Xp (1.2% faster). The fact that this modern, high-end GPU is ranked near much older cards in the aggregate benchmark suite is curious, but the in-game rank of 536 demonstrates that its real-world performance in Control is exceptional, far exceeding what its mediocre percentile score might suggest.

The combo's rank suggests that while individual component benchmarks can be misleading, the actual gaming data provides a more accurate representation of performance. The i7-12700K, with a percentile rank of 84 among all CPUs, contributes a solid foundation, but it is the GPU that ultimately boosts this combo within the game's ranking. The deltaPct values for the CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.4% of its average score, indicating a very tight cluster at the top of the CPU performance spectrum. This proximity in CPU performance means the GPU's capabilities are what truly differentiate this combo from others in the database.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the undisputed workhorse in this configuration for Control. Its architecture, RDNA 3.0, and the Navi 31 chip are engineered for high-throughput rendering, which is directly reflected in the game's performance metrics. The GPU's 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s, ensures that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are handled without introducing memory-related stutters. This large memory pool is a significant asset for a game like Control, which has a dense, detailed environment.

The GPU's clock speeds are also a factor in its performance. The data lists a base clock of 1929 MHz, a game clock of 2365 MHz, and a boost clock of 2498 MHz. The boost clock behavior is critical here, as the sustained performance in a demanding title like Control will depend on how often the card can reach these higher frequencies. The measured FPS results suggest that the card maintains high clocks under load, as the 4K Ultra preset still manages an average of 63 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is capable of sustaining a significant workload without throttling down to its base clock, which would otherwise severely impact frame rates.

The synthetic benchmark results for the GPU show a passmark G3D score of 31238, which is a strong result, but the in-game data is more telling. The DirectX 12 score of 131 in Passmark is notably low, yet the game performs admirably, reinforcing that synthetic tests may not fully capture real-world gaming performance. The GPU's 61.39 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power provides the raw mathematical throughput needed for the complex post-processing and physics effects in Control. The data clearly shows that the RX 7900 XTX is not just a participant in this combo; it is the dominant force, and its capabilities are the main reason why the system achieves such high frame rates across all resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of driving high refresh rate monitors. The "Low" preset achieves an average of 225 FPS, which is an excellent result for competitive or fast-paced play, while the "High" preset still delivers a very smooth 142 FPS. The "Medium" preset, which has min/max data available, shows an average of 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 184 FPS, indicating a consistent frame pacing. The "Ultra" preset at 1080p drops to 123 FPS average, still a very playable number.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The "Low" preset yields 170 FPS, and "High" produces 107 FPS. The "Medium" preset shows an average of 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 139 FPS. These numbers suggest that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combo, offering a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining high frame rates that are well above the 60 FPS threshold. The "Ultra" preset at this resolution averages 93 FPS, which is still a great experience for a visually demanding game.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes substantial. The "Low" preset still manages a very respectable 115 FPS, showcasing the card's raw power. The "High" preset achieves 72 FPS, which is playable and smooth on most displays. The "Medium" preset averages 82 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS, providing a good balance between visual fidelity and performance at 4K. The "Ultra" preset is the most demanding, resulting in an average of 63 FPS. This is the only configuration where the average dips close to the 60 FPS baseline, indicating that 4K Ultra is the absolute limit for this combo in Control, but it remains a playable experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend entirely on the user's display resolution and performance priorities. For 1920x1080, the "Ultra" preset is the clear recommendation, as the 123 FPS average provides a highly responsive and visually rich experience. The data shows that the GPU has enough headroom at this resolution to handle the maximum visual fidelity without dropping below playable frame rates. There is no need to compromise on quality when the hardware is capable of delivering such high performance.

For 2560x1440, the "Ultra" preset, with an average of 93 FPS, is also highly recommended. This resolution offers a perfect balance, as the visual jump from 1080p is substantial, and the 93 FPS average ensures a very smooth and immersive experience. For those with high refresh rate 1440p monitors (e.g., 144Hz), the "High" preset at 107 FPS could be a better choice to push frame rates higher, but the "Ultra" preset's visual gains at 93 FPS are likely worth the slight reduction in frame rate for most players.

At 3840x2160, the recommendation becomes more nuanced. The "High" preset, achieving 72 FPS, is arguably the best overall experience, offering a significant visual upgrade over lower settings while maintaining a frame rate that is comfortably above 60 FPS. The "Ultra" preset at 63 FPS is also viable, but the frame rate is closer to the edge of playability. The data suggests that the "Medium" preset at 82 FPS is a great compromise for 4K, providing a smooth and stable experience with a minimum FPS of 69, which ensures there are no noticeable dips. For a strict 60 FPS target, "Ultra" is acceptable, but "High" provides a more comfortable margin.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX combination achieves an average of 142 FPS at 1920x1080 with the "High" settings preset.

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

A: Yes, the data shows it can. At 3840x2160, it achieves an average of 72 FPS on "High" settings and 63 FPS on "Ultra" settings, indicating playable performance at 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The FPS scales consistently with resolution changes, and the high frame rates at 1080p (up to 225 FPS on Low) suggest the CPU is not a significant constraint.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the "Medium" preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with "Medium" settings, the minimum FPS recorded is 103, while the average is 121 FPS and the maximum is 139 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems for Control?

A: This specific combination ranks 536 out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the top 14.4% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: What is the performance difference between the "Low" and "Ultra" presets at 4K?

A: The data shows a substantial difference. At 3840x2160, the "Low" preset averages 115 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset averages 63 FPS, representing a significant 52 FPS drop for maximum visual quality.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K plays a crucial, albeit secondary, role in this combo's performance in Control. With 12 cores and 20 threads, the processor provides the necessary computational headroom to handle the game's physics, AI, and game logic without becoming a bottleneck. The CPU's architecture, Alder Lake, is designed for high multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784. This robust processing power ensures that the RX 7900 XTX is consistently fed with data, particularly at higher frame rates where the CPU's workload per frame increases.

The CPU's boost clock of 5.00 GHz and base clock of 3.60 GHz are important for single-threaded performance, which is still critical for many game engines. The single-core performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1850.5, is strong and helps maintain high average FPS values. The data suggests that the i7-12700K is not holding back the GPU, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution changes. If the CPU were a limiting factor, we would see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions, but the continuous rise from 4K to 1080p indicates the processor can keep up.

The 25 MB of shared L3 cache is another factor that contributes to the CPU's gaming performance. This large cache helps reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for game logic that relies on frequent data access. The CPU's percentile rank of 84 among all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 35287, positions it as a high-end processor. While the nearest rival data shows it is extremely close to other CPUs like the i7-13700T (0.3% slower), the i7-12700K's performance is more than adequate for this title. Ultimately, the CPU provides a stable and powerful foundation, but the RX 7900 XTX is the component that truly dictates the gaming experience in Control.