Control

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers a performance profile in Control that is decisively constrained by the graphics processor. The data reveals a combo that struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions, with the CPU exhibiting ample headroom while the GPU becomes the unequivocal bottleneck. Across all tested settings, the transition from 1080p to 4K results in a dramatic performance collapse, underscoring a fundamental imbalance in this configuration for this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a severe and consistent penalty as resolution increases, a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 59 FPS, but this drops to 45 FPS at 1440p and further plummets to 30 FPS at 4K. This represents a 24% performance hit from 1080p to 1440p, and then a 33% hit from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is steep and linear, suggesting that the Arc B370’s rendering throughput is being exhausted by the increasing pixel count.

The trend becomes even more pronounced at higher graphical presets. Moving from 1080p Medium (42 FPS) to 1440p Medium (32 FPS) is a 24% reduction, and then to 4K Medium (21 FPS) is another 34% drop. At Ultra settings, the frame rate falls from 32 FPS at 1080p to 25 FPS at 1440p (a 22% decline) and finally to 17 FPS at 4K (a 32% decline from 1440p). The consistent ~30% penalty when jumping from 1440p to 4K across all settings is a clear sign that the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors, not the CPU.

The data indicates that the i7-12700KF is not the cause of this scaling. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838 and a single-core score of 4071, are robust and would not typically bottleneck at these frame rates. The fact that the FPS drops so precipitously with resolution, even at Low settings (59 FPS at 1080p vs 30 FPS at 4K), points directly to the Arc B370. The GPU, with its 1280 shading units and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of just 1184, simply lacks the raw horsepower to feed the display at 4K resolutions in this game.

This analysis suggests that for a smoother 4K experience, the graphical settings must be lowered significantly, but even then, the results are marginal. The jump from Ultra (17 FPS) to Low (30 FPS) at 4K yields a 76% improvement, which shows that settings do matter, but the absolute ceiling is still low. The performance scaling is a textbook example of a system where the graphics card's capabilities dictate the playable resolution, leaving the powerful CPU largely underutilized in this specific workload.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 20 threads, based on the Alder Lake architecture. Its boost clock of 5.00 GHz and a substantial 25 MB of shared L3 cache make it well-suited for demanding applications. In synthetic benchmarks, it performs admirably, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 34092 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2255. These figures place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs tested, indicating strong overall processing capability.

However, in Control, the CPU's role appears to be secondary. The measured FPS numbers do not show the classic signs of a CPU bottleneck, such as frame rates that plateau regardless of resolution. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is a GPU-limited behavior. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 59 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 30 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across these resolutions, which is not the case.

The processor's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-13700T and the Intel Core i5-13600T, have average benchmark scores that are nearly identical (35403 and 35305, respectively, with deltaPct values of -0.1% and 0.2%). This shows that the i7-12700KF is performing exactly as expected for its class. In this game, the CPU is likely providing the necessary physics and game logic calculations without breaking a sweat, but its contribution to the final frame rate is masked by the GPU's limitations. The data implies that the system is not starved for CPU resources, as even the most demanding scenes would not push this processor to its limits at the low FPS levels observed.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the clear performance bottleneck in this configuration. It is a low-power integrated graphics solution (IGP) with a TDP of 25 W, which is a significant indicator of its intended performance class. Its specifications, including 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs, are modest, and its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main RAM for both capacity and bandwidth. This architecture is fundamentally different from a dedicated graphics card and is reflected in its benchmark performance.

The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 is extremely low, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, with scores of 1190 and 1186, respectively. This contextualizes the Arc B370's performance as being comparable to graphics cards from over a decade ago, which are not capable of modern gaming at high resolutions. The data shows that the Arc B370's boost clock of 2400 MHz and pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s are insufficient for the demands of Control at 4K.

The measured FPS data directly reflects this GPU limitation. At 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 17 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at 1080p High, the average is just 37 FPS, indicating that the GPU is struggling to maintain a smooth experience at even the most common resolution. The GPU's performance is so constrained that the powerful i7-12700KF cannot compensate. The results clearly show that the Arc B370 is the component that determines the playability of Control in this system, and its limitations are severe.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B370 ranks at 2657 out of 2888 combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, a position that reflects the GPU's weak performance. The rank is a clear indicator that while the CPU is a strong performer, the overall gaming experience is dragged down by the graphics solution.

The combination's rank is more aligned with the GPU's percentile (5th) than the CPU's (85th). This suggests that the composite score for the game is heavily weighted by the GPU's ability to render frames. The i7-12700KF's high processing power does not boost the combo's ranking because the Arc B370 cannot translate that power into higher frame rates in this GPU-intensive title. The data implies that for Control, the GPU is the primary determinant of the combo's rank, and the CPU's contribution is negligible in terms of overall system classification.

Compared to other potential pairings, this system would likely rank near the bottom. The deltaPct values for the CPU's rivals are all within 0.2% of its average score, meaning any of those CPUs would produce nearly identical results when paired with the Arc B370. The ranking is a stark illustration of how a high-end CPU cannot rescue a system when paired with a severely underpowered GPU for a demanding game like Control.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across all settings and resolutions. The results are consistently low, with the system only achieving a playable 60 FPS at one specific configuration. The breakdown is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best results. With Low settings, it hits an average of 59 FPS, which is the only configuration to approach a standard 60 FPS target. Medium settings yield 42 FPS (min 36, max 48), High settings yield 37 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 32 FPS. This shows that even at 1080p, players must use Low settings for a near-smooth experience, with any higher preset resulting in a noticeable drop in fluidity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance degrades further. Low settings produce an average of 45 FPS, which is a 24% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings fall to 32 FPS (min 27, max 37), High settings to 28 FPS, and Ultra to 25 FPS. None of these results are ideal for a competitive or immersive experience, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold and are subject to noticeable stutter.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance is critically low. Low settings are the only option that breaks the 30 FPS barrier, with an average of 30 FPS. Medium settings drop to 21 FPS (min 18, max 25), High settings to 19 FPS, and Ultra to 17 FPS. These frame rates are not suitable for gameplay, indicating that the Arc B370 is not viable for 4K gaming in Control under any settings. The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: the system is only marginally playable at 1080p with the lowest settings, and its performance degrades linearly and dramatically as resolution and graphical fidelity increase.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo can achieve in Control?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 59 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration that approaches a standard 60 FPS target.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Control?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 17 FPS on Ultra settings to 30 FPS on Low settings. These frame rates are not playable, indicating the GPU is not sufficient for 4K resolution in this game.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, has an average score of 35403, which is a deltaPct of -0.1%. This indicates the CPU is performing within a fraction of a percent of its direct competitors.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 1440p at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 42. At 1440p Medium, the average FPS drops to 32. This represents a 24% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile compared to all other GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, based on its average benchmark score of 1184. This places it in the bottom 5% of all graphics cards tested.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the system achieve its lowest frame rate?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 17 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding configuration tested and results in the worst performance.