Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, remains a demanding showcase for both CPU and GPU. The benchmark data for the Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 reveals a system that is firmly balanced, though the nature of that balance shifts dramatically depending on the resolution and preset. The raw numbers show a config capable of high-refresh 1080p play, solid 1440p performance, and playable 4K only after making significant visual concessions. This analysis breaks down exactly where the bottlenecks lie and what the measurements mean for your experience.

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, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 25 MB L3 cache. The chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory via a dual-channel bus, and it connects to the rest of the system through 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). It also carries integrated UHD Graphics 770, though the discrete RTX 5060 renders all frames in this dataset.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-12700K posts a strong showing. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 19784, with a single-core score of 1850.5. Geekbench results are similarly robust, with a multicore score of 15790 and a single-core score of 2308. The 3DMark thread scaling tests show a progression from 2065 with 2 threads to 9979 with max threads, indicating healthy scaling across its hybrid core layout. With a percentile ranking of 84 against all CPUs, it sits above the vast majority of processors. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i5-13600T (deltaPct -0.1), Intel Core i7-12700KF (deltaPct -0.2), Intel Core i7-13700T (deltaPct -0.3), and Intel Core 5 213PE (deltaPct -0.4); all of these are within a fraction of a percent in average benchmark score, effectively placing the 12700K in a four-way statistical tie at the top of its performance tier.

For Control specifically, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data, but the measured FPS data indicates this is rarely the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system produces 149 FPS. At 4K Low, it drops to 76 FPS. That massive 73 FPS drop is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload, not the CPU. The processor’s high single-thread performance (evidenced by the 1850.5 Cinebench R23 single-core score) ensures it can keep up with the game's logic even at lower resolutions where frame rates are highest. The 12 cores and 20 threads are far more than Control requires, meaning the CPU has ample headroom to avoid stuttering or bottlenecking the GPU at any settings tested.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture (chip GB206) using TSMC's 5 nm process. It packs 21,900 million transistors on a 181 mm² die. The GPU runs at a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). It has 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The chip contains 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, along with 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores. Its compute throughput is rated at 19.18 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 (1:1). The card draws up to 145 W and requires a 300 W PSU, connecting via PCIe 5.0 x8.

In the GPU benchmark suite, the RTX 5060 posts a Passmark G3D score of 20891 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 113321. It holds a percentile rank of 72 against all GPUs. The nearest rivals in the database are AMD Radeon 860M (deltaPct -0.3), NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (deltaPct -0.3), AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (deltaPct -0.8), and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (deltaPct 1.2). The negative deltaPct values for three of the four rivals indicate the RTX 5060's average score is slightly higher than theirs, while the RX 6750 XT holds a 1.2% advantage. These are close margins, placing the 5060 in a competitive mid-range bracket.

The GPU is clearly the dominant factor in Control's frame rates. The transition from 1080p to 4K at the same settings shows a consistent, significant performance penalty. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 94 at 1080p to 48 at 4K, a reduction of roughly half. The 8 GB VRAM capacity and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely being stressed at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS falls to 42. The data suggests the RTX 5060 is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Control, but 4K requires a careful selection of presets to maintain fluid motion.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 2560x1440 offers the best balance. At High settings it averages 71 FPS, and at Medium it averages 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS. This provides a smooth experience without requiring the lowest presets.

Q: Can this system handle 4K in Control?

A: Yes, but only with compromises. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 76, which is playable. At 4K Medium, it drops to 54 FPS (min 46, max 62). 4K High and Ultra are below the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 48 and 42 FPS respectively.

Q: How does changing the preset from Low to Ultra affect performance at 1080p?

A: The impact is substantial. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 149 on Low to 106 on Medium, then to 94 on High, and finally to 82 on Ultra. This represents a 45% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700K a bottleneck for the RTX 5060 in this game?

A: The data suggests it is not. The CPU has a high percentile rank of 84 and strong multi-threaded scores (e.g., Cinebench R23 multi-core 19784). The extreme frame rate drop from 1080p Low (149 FPS) to 4K Low (76 FPS) indicates the GPU is the primary limiter, as the CPU workload remains relatively constant across resolutions.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with measured minimum FPS data. At 1080p, the minimum is 90 FPS; at 1440p, it is 68 FPS; and at 4K, it is 46 FPS. These minimums indicate that 1440p Medium is the highest resolution/settings combo that stays above 60 FPS at all times.

Q: How does the performance of this CPU/GPU combo rank among all tested combos in Control?

A: The combo ranks 1665 out of 3720 total tested combinations, placing it in the top 45% of systems. This is a solid mid-to-upper tier ranking, consistent with the individual component percentiles (CPU at 84, GPU at 72).

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured data provides a clear matrix of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels. All FPS figures are averages unless otherwise noted, and the Medium preset is the only one with min/max data.

1920x1080:

• Low: 149 FPS. This is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset, indicating a CPU-bound scenario where the 12700K's strong single-core performance shines.
• Medium: 106 FPS (min 90, max 122). A significant step down from Low, showing the GPU workload increasing.
• High: 94 FPS. A further reduction, but still well above 60 FPS for smooth gameplay.
• Ultra: 82 FPS. The most demanding 1080p preset, but still comfortably playable on a high refresh rate monitor.

2560x1440:

• Low: 113 FPS. The GPU begins to take on a heavier load, but this preset still delivers excellent speed.
• Medium: 80 FPS (min 68, max 92). This is a strong result for 1440p. The minimum of 68 FPS shows that even in demanding scenes, frame pacing is acceptable.
• High: 71 FPS. A solid 60+ FPS experience. This is the recommended sweet spot for quality and speed.
• Ultra: 62 FPS. Right at the edge of the 60 FPS target. Playable, but with less headroom for intense action sequences.

3840x2160:

• Low: 76 FPS. The only 4K preset that clears 60 FPS with room to spare. This indicates that the RTX 5060's raw rasterization power is sufficient for 4K, but only with significant visual compromises.
• Medium: 54 FPS (min 46, max 62). The minimum dips below 50 FPS, which may be noticeable in fast-paced combat.
• High: 48 FPS. Below the 60 FPS target, requiring adaptive sync or a lower refresh rate monitor for a smooth experience.
• Ultra: 42 FPS. This is the most demanding configuration tested. The frame rate dips into the low 40s, which is not ideal for a game that relies on precise timing and reactions.

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

The scaling behavior is the most telling aspect of this dataset. Moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 quadruples the pixel count, and the FPS data reflects that geometric progression in workload.

At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 149 at 1080p to 113 at 1440p and then to 76 at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop (149 to 113) is a 24% reduction, while the 1440p to 4K drop (113 to 76) is a 33% reduction. The larger percentage drop at higher resolutions confirms that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor; the CPU is capable of maintaining the high frame rates seen at 1080p, but the GPU cannot render the additional pixels without a performance penalty.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is even more dramatic. The average FPS goes from 82 at 1080p to 62 at 1440p (a 24% drop) and then to 42 at 4K (a 32% drop from 1440p). The 4K Ultra result of 42 FPS is less than half of the 1080p Ultra score of 82 FPS. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 5060's fixed memory bandwidth (448.0 GB/s) and 8 GB VRAM capacity are being saturated by the higher resolution textures and shader complexity.

The data clearly shows that the Intel Core i7-12700K is not the bottleneck in this system for Control. If it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the significant and consistent drop in FPS as resolution increases points directly to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 as the primary constraint. The CPU's robust single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core 1850.5) ensures that even at 1080p Low with 149 FPS, there is no CPU-induced frame cap or stutter.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Analyzing the measured rows, the optimal settings depend entirely on your display's resolution and your performance targets. The data provides clear guidance for each scenario.

For 1080p displays: The Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. The average FPS of 82 is significantly above the 60 FPS threshold, providing a smooth and visually rich experience. Even if you have a 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor, the High preset at 94 FPS or Medium at 106 FPS are viable options, but they sacrifice visual fidelity for frame rates that may exceed the panel's refresh rate. Given that Ultra still delivers 82 FPS, there is little reason to drop below it unless you are chasing maximum refresh rates.

For 1440p displays: The High preset is the best balance. It delivers 71 FPS average, which is comfortably above 60 FPS. The Medium preset (80 FPS) is also excellent, but High offers a noticeable visual upgrade for a modest 9 FPS cost. The Ultra preset at 62 FPS is playable, but it sits very close to the 60 FPS line. The minimum FPS data for Medium (68 FPS) suggests that High would likely have a minimum in the high 50s or low 60s, which could cause minor stutters in heavy scenes. For a consistent experience, High is the sweet spot.

For 4K displays: The Low preset is the only one that guarantees a smooth experience, with an average of 76 FPS. The Medium preset (54 FPS average, 46 FPS minimum) may be acceptable for slower-paced exploration, but the minimum FPS dips into the 40s, which will be noticeable during combat. High and Ultra are not recommended for 4K if you require 60 FPS, as they average 48 and 42 FPS respectively. If you have a VRR (variable refresh rate) monitor, 4K Medium could be usable, but for a locked 60 FPS experience, 4K Low is the only choice.

General verdict: The i7-12700K + RTX 5060 combination is best utilized at 1440p with High settings, or 1080p with Ultra settings. The CPU has ample headroom, and the GPU performs admirably within its 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth limits. Pushing to 4K requires dropping to Low settings to maintain playability, which defeats the purpose of high-resolution gaming. For the best overall experience, 1440p High offers the ideal equilibrium of visual quality and performance, yielding a 71 FPS average that satisfies the demands of a fast-paced action-adventure title.