Control

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers a robust 1080p experience in Control, with the data showing a clear shift from CPU-bound performance at lower resolutions to GPU-bound limitations at 4K. This combination ranks in the 74th percentile of all tested combos for this title, indicating strong but not top-tier performance. The measured frame rates reveal that the system is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1440p, while 4K requires careful settings adjustments to maintain smooth gameplay.

FAQ

*Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in Control?*

A: The combo ranks 417th out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the upper quartile of all systems tested for this game.

Q: How does the Core i7-12700KF compare to its nearest rival, the Core i5-14400?

A: The Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35355, which is 0.1% higher than the Core i5-14400's score of 35336. This makes the performance difference between the two effectively negligible.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achieved by this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 189.3 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the data suggests the CPU is the primary limiter, as frame rates are high and the GPU has headroom. This is evidenced by the large frame rate gains when lowering settings from Ultra to Low.

Q: Does the system maintain 60 FPS at 4K with High settings?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 65 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT plays a critical role in determining the frame rate ceilings for this combination. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth provide ample resources for the textures and effects in Control. The GPU's high boost clock of 2970 MHz and game clock of 2400 MHz are key contributors to its raw compute power. The data shows that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload becomes more demanding, which is typical for a title like this. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor, as frame rates drop significantly compared to 1080p. The GPU's 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 64 RT cores are relevant for the game's rendering demands. The passmark G3D score of 26795 and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 7260 provide a synthetic baseline, but the measured FPS in Control is the most direct indicator of its gaming capability. The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking versus all GPUs suggests it is a high-performing part, but its relative performance in this specific title is moderated by the CPU's capabilities.

Resolution Scaling

The benchmark data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance scaling across the three resolutions. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average frame rate at High settings drops from 121.3 FPS to 95 FPS, a reduction of 21.7%. Moving further to 3840x2160, the High setting frame rate falls to 65 FPS, a further 31.6% drop from the 1440p result. This pattern indicates that the system is increasingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU is likely the limiting factor; for example, the difference between Low and High settings at 1080p is 68 FPS, showing that the GPU can handle the lower settings with ease. However, at 4K, the GPU's limits become apparent, with the frame rate spread across settings being much smaller. The scaling from 144.1 FPS at 1080p Low to 96.9 FPS at 4K Low represents a 32.8% performance loss, which is a significant hit but still results in playable frame rates. The data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance between visual fidelity and high refresh rates, while 4K requires a compromise in settings to achieve 60+ FPS.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting the highest refresh rates, the Low preset at 1920x1080 delivers an average of 189.3 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. However, for a more balanced experience, the High preset at 2560x1440 provides 95 FPS, which is smooth and visually superior to Low. The data shows that the Ultra preset at any resolution is the most demanding, yielding 106.8 FPS at 1080p, 82.8 FPS at 1440p, and 52.7 FPS at 4K. At 4K, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it is the only setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS (65 FPS). The Medium preset at 4K also offers playable performance at 72.3 FPS, providing a middle ground between visual quality and frame rate. The measurements indicate that the High preset is the best overall option for a 60+ FPS experience across all resolutions, while the Low preset is reserved for maximizing frame rates at 1080p. The step from Medium to High at 1440p costs only 9.7 FPS, making High a more attractive option for the visual uplift.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific configuration of an Intel Core i7-12700KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT achieves a rank of 417 out of 1636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 74th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms roughly three-quarters of the combinations in the database. The CPU's performance is a key factor here, as its average benchmark score of 35355 puts it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Core i5-14400, which is 0.1% slower, and the Core i9-12900HX, which is 0.2% slower. The GPU also performs well, with a passmark G3D score of 26795 and an 82nd percentile ranking. The combination of a strong CPU and a strong GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for this title, but the rank indicates that there are more powerful combinations available. The system's performance is not limited by a single component bottleneck, but rather by the collective capabilities of both parts.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings preset.

At 1920x1080, the system produces its highest frame rates. The Low preset achieves an average of 189.3 FPS, which is exceptionally high. The Medium preset delivers 136.3 FPS, while the High preset produces 121.3 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, still manages an average of 106.8 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a performance cost of 82.5 FPS, indicating that the CPU is able to feed the GPU efficiently at this resolution, and the GPU is the main driver of the frame rate differences.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but begin to show the GPU's increased workload. The Low preset averages 144.1 FPS, which is still excellent for high refresh rate monitors. The Medium preset produces 104.7 FPS, and the High preset delivers 95 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 82.8 FPS. The performance gap between Low and Ultra is 61.3 FPS, which is narrower than at 1080p, suggesting the GPU is becoming a more significant factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting component. The Low preset averages 96.9 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset achieves 72.3 FPS, and the High preset delivers 65 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 52.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 44.2 FPS, showing that the GPU's performance is the primary constraint at this resolution. The data shows a consistent degradation in performance as resolution increases, with the most significant relative drops occurring between 1440p and 4K.