Control

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Control, with the data showing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as settings and resolution change. The measured framerates across 12 preset combinations reveal a system that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but struggles to maintain fluid motion at 4K, particularly on higher quality presets. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, scaling characteristics, and optimal settings based solely on the measured data.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall processing power. Its synthetic benchmark scores are substantial: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29241 and a single-core score of 4128, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 13892 and a single-core score of 2561. The Passmark multi-thread score of 34404 and single-thread score of 4013 further confirm its high throughput.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions and settings where the GPU is less stressed. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 110.3 FPS, a figure that likely owes much to the processor's ability to feed the graphics card quickly. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 and max-thread score of 9979 suggest the CPU has ample headroom for the game's physics and AI workloads, which are often single-thread or lightly threaded. The Passmark physics score of 1790 and integer math score of 114264 indicate robust computational capability for game logic.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the i7-12700K is essentially tied. It is -0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and -0.7% behind the Intel Core i5-14500HX, while being 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700T and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13800H. These sub-1% deltas mean the CPU is not a differentiator in this configuration; any performance variance in Control measurements is attributable to other factors. The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 per core provide large data buffers, which helps maintain consistent frame pacing during complex scenes. However, the measured FPS drops from 110.3 at 1080p Low to 79.9 at 1440p Low indicate that even with a strong CPU, the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1680 MHz, and it houses 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The card also includes 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, which are relevant for Control's ray tracing and DLSS features, though the measured data does not specify whether these were enabled. The GPU sits in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 14111 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1242.

The GPU's 6 GB VRAM is a critical constraint at higher resolutions and settings. The measured data shows a steep decline in performance as settings rise: at 1080p, average FPS drops from 110.3 (Low) to 79.6 (Medium), 67.7 (High), and 57.5 (Ultra). This pattern suggests that memory capacity and bandwidth are being stressed, particularly at Ultra. The 336.0 GB/s bandwidth is moderate by modern standards, and the 48 ROPs may limit fill-rate-heavy scenes. The pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s provide theoretical limits that align with the observed scaling.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 2060 is closely matched. It is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500, while being 1.7% behind both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700. These small deltas mean the GPU's performance in Control is representative of its class. The RTX 2060's FP32 throughput of 6.451 TFLOPS is sufficient for rasterized rendering but may struggle with the game's heavy post-processing effects at higher presets. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system only manages 31.4 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, highlighting the GPU's limitations at extreme resolutions.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent and predictable scaling pattern across resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 67.7 FPS at 1080p to 48.9 FPS at 1440p, and further to 34.5 FPS at 4K. This represents a 28% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is similar for other presets: Low settings go from 110.3 FPS at 1080p to 79.9 FPS at 1440p and 54.3 FPS at 4K, while Medium drops from 79.6 to 58.9 and then 36.6, and Ultra falls from 57.5 to 43.7 and finally 31.4.

These drops are steeper than what a purely GPU-bound scenario would predict if the CPU were perfectly sufficient, but they are in line with a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The fact that 4K Low (54.3 FPS) is faster than 1080p Ultra (57.5 FPS) is telling: the GPU's workload at 4K Low is less demanding than at 1080p Ultra, which indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect 1080p Ultra to perform similarly to 4K Low, but the data shows a slight advantage for the higher resolution at lower settings.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly severe. At High settings, the drop is from 48.9 to 34.5 FPS, a 29% decrease. This is likely due to the 6 GB VRAM being exceeded at 4K High, forcing the GPU to manage memory more aggressively. The RTX 2060's 192-bit bus and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K textures, causing the framerate to plummet. Conversely, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more moderate, suggesting that the GPU can handle the increased pixel count but struggles with the additional memory pressure at 4K. The data clearly shows that the RTX 2060 is the limiting factor in this configuration, with the i7-12700K providing ample CPU performance that never becomes a constraint.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Control?*

A: The data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where all presets achieve playable frame rates, with Low at 110.3 FPS, Medium at 79.6 FPS, High at 67.7 FPS, and Ultra at 57.5 FPS. At 1440p, only Low (79.9 FPS) and Medium (58.9 FPS) remain above 60 FPS, while High (48.9 FPS) and Ultra (43.7 FPS) fall below. At 4K, all presets are below 55 FPS, with Ultra at 31.4 FPS.

Q: How does the i7-12700K compare to its closest rivals for this game?

A: The i7-12700K is essentially tied with its nearest competitors. It is -0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and -0.7% behind the Intel Core i5-14500HX, while being 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700T and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13800H. These differences are negligible and would not produce measurable FPS variations in Control.

*Q: Is the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM sufficient for Control at 4K?*

A: The measured data suggests it is not. At 4K High, the average FPS drops to 34.5, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 31.4. The drop from 1440p High (48.9 FPS) to 4K High (34.5 FPS) is a 29% reduction, which is steeper than the 28% drop from 1080p High to 1440p High. This indicates that the 6 GB VRAM is likely being exceeded at 4K, causing performance degradation.

Q: What does the Passmark 3D score indicate about the GPU's performance?

A: The RTX 2060 has a Passmark G3D score of 14111, placing it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. It is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500, while being 1.7% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700. This score aligns with the measured FPS, showing the GPU is a mid-range performer.

Q: Why does 1080p Ultra (57.5 FPS) perform worse than 4K Low (54.3 FPS)?

A: This is because the GPU workload at 1080p Ultra is more demanding than at 4K Low. At 4K Low, the game uses fewer shading effects and lower texture quality, reducing the load on the RTX 2060's 1920 shading units and 48 ROPs. The 6 GB VRAM is also less stressed at 4K Low, allowing the GPU to maintain a higher frame rate despite the increased pixel count.

*Q: Can the i7-12700K keep up with the RTX 2060 in Control?*

A: Yes, the CPU is not a bottleneck. The i7-12700K's 3DMark 16-thread score of 9276 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29241 indicate it has more than enough processing power for the game. The measured FPS scaling with resolution shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, as frame rates drop consistently when resolution increases, while the CPU's performance headroom remains untapped.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal preset depends on the target resolution and desired smoothness. At 1080p, the High preset at 67.7 FPS offers a good balance, providing a solid 60+ FPS experience with enhanced visual quality. Medium at 79.6 FPS is also viable for those prioritizing frame rate, while Low at 110.3 FPS is ideal for high-refresh monitors. Ultra at 57.5 FPS is playable but dips below 60, so it is recommended only for users who prefer maximum visual fidelity over frame rate consistency.

At 1440p, the choices are more constrained. Low at 79.9 FPS and Medium at 58.9 FPS are the only presets that maintain acceptable performance. High at 48.9 FPS and Ultra at 43.7 FPS are borderline, with the latter risking noticeable stutter. For a smooth 1440p experience, Medium is the recommended preset, as it offers a 31% improvement over High while retaining moderate visual quality. Low is suitable for competitive play, but the visual trade-off is significant.

At 4K, the data shows that no preset achieves 60 FPS, and only Low at 54.3 FPS comes close. Medium at 36.6 FPS and High at 34.5 FPS are both below 40 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced games but is not ideal for Control's action sequences. Ultra at 31.4 FPS is not recommended under any circumstances. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, and even then, users should expect occasional frame dips. The 6 GB VRAM limitation is the primary culprit, as evidenced by the sharp performance drop from 1440p to 4K across all presets.

In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is 1080p High, offering 67.7 FPS with good visual quality. For 1440p, Medium at 58.9 FPS is the sweet spot. At 4K, only Low is worth considering, but the overall experience is compromised. Users with a 144Hz monitor should target 1080p Low to fully utilize the refresh rate, while those with a 60Hz display can safely use 1080p Ultra. The combination of the i7-12700K and RTX 2060 is best suited for 1080p gaming in Control, with 1440p being a secondary option on reduced settings.