Control

Control with the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER presents a strong pairing for this 2019 action-adventure title. The data shows a system that delivers high frame rates across all tested configurations, with the limiting factor shifting from the CPU to the GPU as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to help you understand where this combo excels and where adjustments may be needed.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of how performance scales across the three tested resolutions. At 1080p, the combo is heavily CPU-bound, with the Low preset hitting 214 FPS and even the demanding Ultra preset reaching 118 FPS. At 1440p, the frame rates remain very high, with Low at 162 FPS and Ultra at 89 FPS. Moving to 4K, the GPU becomes the primary constraint, as Low drops to 110 FPS, and Ultra falls to 60 FPS.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance drop of roughly 24-25% across all settings when comparing like-for-like presets. For example, High settings drop from 135 FPS at 1080p to 102 FPS at 1440p. This is a moderate reduction that indicates the system is still comfortably within its capabilities at 1440p. The jump from 1440p to 4K is more severe, with High settings dropping from 102 FPS to 69 FPS, a 32% reduction. This steeper decline at 4K confirms that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution.

Looking at the Low preset specifically, the scaling from 1080p (214 FPS) to 1440p (162 FPS) to 4K (110 FPS) shows a consistent pattern. The 4K Low result of 110 FPS is still highly playable, but the gap between 1440p and 4K is larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p. This suggests that even at Low settings, the RTX 4070 SUPER's rendering workload at 4K becomes significant. The data indicates that for maximum frame rates, 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots, while 4K is viable for smoother gameplay at higher presets but not for competitive-level frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC, featuring the AD104 chip with 35,800 million transistors. The GPU operates with base and boost clocks of 1980 MHz and 2475 MHz respectively, and its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory runs at an effective 21 Gbps, delivering a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s over a 192-bit bus. These specifications position the card in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 43223.

In the context of Control's measured results, the GPU's role becomes increasingly important as resolution rises. At 1080p, the CPU appears to be the bottleneck, as the GPU is capable of producing frame rates well above 200 FPS on Low settings. The 214 FPS result at 1080p Low demonstrates that the GPU has ample headroom even when the workload is light. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, with the frame rate dropping to exactly 60 FPS.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, which scores 43262 (a 0.1% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile, scoring 43268 (also a 0.1% delta). These comparisons show that the RTX 4070 SUPER sits in a competitive position relative to other GPUs in its performance class. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for Control at all tested settings, as the game does not appear to exceed this allocation based on the stable frame rates observed.

The boost clock of 2475 MHz and the memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s are key contributors to the GPU's ability to maintain playable frame rates at 4K. The measured data shows that even at 4K High, the combo achieves 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The GPU's 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores also suggest that ray tracing features, if enabled, would have additional performance headroom, though the measured data does not include ray tracing-specific results.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1440p as the most balanced resolution. At High settings, it achieves 102 FPS, and at Ultra it maintains 89 FPS. This provides a significant quality improvement over 1080p while retaining frame rates well above 60 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K High, the combo averages 69 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 60 FPS. For a locked 60 FPS experience, High settings at 4K are the safest choice based on the measured results.

Q: How much performance is lost going from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the drop is from 135 FPS at 1080p to 69 FPS at 4K, a reduction of approximately 49%. At Low settings, the drop is from 214 FPS to 110 FPS, a 49% reduction as well, indicating a consistent scaling pattern.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p. The Low preset reaches 214 FPS, which is exceptionally high, but the Ultra preset drops to 118 FPS. This gap indicates that the CPU cannot feed the GPU fast enough at lower settings, capping performance.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded min and max FPS values. At 4K, it ranges from 66 to 90 FPS with an average of 78 FPS. At 1440p, the range is 98 to 133 FPS with an average of 115 FPS. At 1080p, the range is 130 to 175 FPS with an average of 152 FPS. These ranges indicate stable frame pacing.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 639th out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the top 17% of all configurations tested. This is a solid result for a mid-to-high-end pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination ranks 639th out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the system in the 83rd percentile of all configurations tested, which is a strong showing for a game released in 2019. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU's 85th percentile standing and the GPU's 83rd percentile standing, with both components performing above average in their respective categories.

The CPU itself, the Core i7-12700KF, has an average benchmark score of 35365 and sits at the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700T, which scores 35403 (a 0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-13600T, scoring 35305 (a 0.2% delta). These close scores indicate that the i7-12700KF is performance-competitive with newer and lower-power alternatives. The CPU's 12 cores and 20 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, provide enough processing power to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at most resolutions.

The GPU's rank in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs further reinforces the combo's positioning. The RTX 4070 SUPER's average benchmark score of 43223 is within 1% of its nearest rivals, including the Quadro M6000 24 GB and the RTX 5050 Mobile. This narrow margin suggests that the GPU is well-matched to its peers, and the combo's 639th rank out of 3720 reflects a system that can handle demanding titles like Control with ease. For context, being in the top 17% of all combos means this system outperforms the vast majority of configurations tested, making it a reliable choice for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and solid 4K performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience in Control depends on your display resolution and performance targets. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset at 118 FPS offers the highest visual quality while still maintaining frame rates well above the 60 FPS threshold. If you have a 144 Hz or higher refresh rate monitor, the High preset at 135 FPS provides a better balance of quality and speed, while Medium at 152 FPS is ideal for competitive play.

At 1440p, the High preset at 102 FPS is the recommended choice for most users, as it delivers excellent visual fidelity with frame rates that comfortably exceed 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 89 FPS is also viable if you prioritize image quality over raw frame rate, and it remains smooth enough for most gaming scenarios. For those seeking the highest possible frame rates, the Low preset at 162 FPS is available, but the visual compromise is substantial.

For 4K users, the data suggests using the High preset at 69 FPS as the best overall experience. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (78 FPS) and Low (110 FPS) while staying above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The Ultra preset at exactly 60 FPS is technically playable, but it leaves no headroom for frame drops and may result in occasional stutters. If you have a VRR display, Medium at 78 FPS with a recorded range of 66-90 FPS might offer a more consistent experience than High, depending on your tolerance for visual compromises.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 214 FPS average. This is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset, showing the GPU's massive headroom at lower resolutions.
• Medium: 152 FPS average, with a range of 130 to 175 FPS. This preset offers a good balance for high-refresh-rate monitors.
• High: 135 FPS average. A solid choice for quality-focused gaming at 1080p.
• Ultra: 118 FPS average. The highest visual quality preset still exceeds 100 FPS, making it viable for 120 Hz displays.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 162 FPS average. Performance remains exceptionally high even at this resolution.
• Medium: 115 FPS average, with a range of 98 to 133 FPS. The minimum of 98 FPS ensures smooth gameplay on standard 60 Hz displays.
• High: 102 FPS average. This is the recommended preset for 1440p, offering a strong balance of visuals and speed.
• Ultra: 89 FPS average. Still well above 60 FPS, making it a viable option for quality-focused gamers.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 110 FPS average. Even at 4K, the combo delivers over 100 FPS on the lowest preset.
• Medium: 78 FPS average, with a range of 66 to 90 FPS. The minimum of 66 FPS ensures no drops below the 60 FPS threshold.
• High: 69 FPS average. This is the most balanced 4K preset, providing good visuals with a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.
• Ultra: 60 FPS average. The highest quality preset hits the 60 FPS target exactly, but with no headroom for demanding scenes.

The data shows a consistent relationship between settings and frame rates across all resolutions. The gap between Low and Ultra is approximately 45% at each resolution, indicating that the game scales predictably with visual quality. The Medium preset consistently offers the best frame time consistency, as evidenced by the recorded min and max values, making it a safe choice for users who prioritize smoothness over peak frame rates.