Control

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti delivers a strong performance profile for Control, a 2019 action-adventure title. The recorded data shows this combination handles the game comfortably at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires some settings adjustments to maintain smooth gameplay. This analysis examines the measured frame rates across resolutions and presets, the balance between CPU and GPU workload, and how this specific hardware pairing compares to other tested configurations.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database records the most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS for each resolution. The playable threshold is defined as 60 frames per second.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves the target with Ultra settings. The measured average frame rate at Ultra is 94.5 FPS. This is the highest quality preset available, and the data confirms it clears the 60 FPS threshold with a comfortable margin. Lower presets also remain playable, but Ultra is the optimal choice for visual fidelity at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the best settings remain Ultra. The recorded average FPS at this preset is 69, which sits above the 60 FPS threshold. This indicates the hardware can push high visual quality at the popular mid-range resolution without compromise. The gap between the 1440p Ultra score and the 1080p Ultra score is noticeable, but the 1440p result still provides a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium. The average frame rate at Medium is 63.7 FPS. High settings drop below the threshold to 53.4 FPS, and Ultra falls further to 45.8 FPS. Low settings at 4K produce 84.3 FPS, but Medium offers a better balance of visual quality and performance for 4K displays. The data clearly indicates that 4K Ultra is not achievable with this combo while maintaining 60 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

Examining the frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the Intel Core i5-10400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. The CPU has 6 cores and 12 threads with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the GPU features 6144 shading units and 8 GB of GDDR6X memory.

At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a more significant role relative to higher resolutions. The frame rate difference between Low (168 FPS) and Ultra (94.5 FPS) at 1080p is 73.5 FPS. This large spread suggests that as settings increase, the GPU becomes more engaged, but the CPU is still capable of feeding the GPU at these lower pixel counts. The 1080p Low score of 168 FPS indicates the CPU can push very high frame rates when the GPU load is minimal.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to dominate. The spread between Low (125.8 FPS) and Ultra (69 FPS) is 56.8 FPS. This narrower range compared to 1080p suggests the GPU is now the primary limiting factor, as the increased pixel count puts more strain on the RTX 3070 Ti. The CPU still keeps up, but the GPU workload scales more aggressively with resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The difference between Low (84.3 FPS) and Ultra (45.8 FPS) is 38.5 FPS, the smallest absolute spread across all resolutions. The 4K pixel count demands massive GPU throughput, and the RTX 3070 Ti's 608.3 GB/s memory bandwidth and 21.75 TFLOPS FP32 performance are pushed to their limits. The CPU's role diminishes further; the i5-10400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to keep up, but the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates at maximum settings.

Scaling between presets at a fixed resolution also highlights the GPU's influence. At 1440p, moving from Medium (92.1 FPS) to High (82.1 FPS) costs 10 FPS, while moving from High to Ultra (69 FPS) costs 13.1 FPS. This increasing penalty per setting tier reflects the GPU's diminishing returns as it approaches its maximum capability. The data suggests that for this game, the RTX 3070 Ti is the decisive component at 1440p and 4K, while the i5-10400F provides ample headroom at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database provides average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination. Minimum and maximum frame rates were not recorded for this configuration.

At 1920x1080, the results are: Low 168 FPS, Medium 119.4 FPS, High 104 FPS, and Ultra 94.5 FPS. The progression shows a steady decline as visual quality increases. The drop from Low to Medium is 48.6 FPS, which is the largest single-step decline at this resolution. The step from High to Ultra is only 9.5 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns at the highest preset.

At 2560x1440, the measured averages are: Low 125.8 FPS, Medium 92.1 FPS, High 82.1 FPS, and Ultra 69 FPS. The scaling here is more gradual than at 1080p. The gap between Low and Medium is 33.7 FPS, between Medium and High is 10 FPS, and between High and Ultra is 13.1 FPS. This pattern indicates a more consistent GPU workload at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the data shows: Low 84.3 FPS, Medium 63.7 FPS, High 53.4 FPS, and Ultra 45.8 FPS. The 4K results are the most demanding. The difference between Medium and High is 10.3 FPS, and the difference between High and Ultra is 7.6 FPS. Notably, the gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 20.6 FPS, which is smaller than the same gap at 1440p. This compression at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU is the limiting factor.

The overall trend across all resolutions shows that the RTX 3070 Ti provides playable frame rates at Medium and above for 1080p and 1440p, but only Low and Medium presets remain above 60 FPS at 4K. The i5-10400F's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283 and a single-core score of 1451, indicate sufficient CPU capability for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested CPU and GPU combinations for Control, this pairing holds the rank of 1318 out of 3720 total combinations. This places it in the upper third of all tested configurations. The percentile ranking for the CPU alone is 68, meaning it outperforms 68 percent of all CPUs in the database. The GPU's percentile is 75, outperforming 75 percent of all GPUs.

The combo rank of 1318 out of 3720 suggests that while this hardware is capable, there are many other combinations that deliver higher frame rates in this specific game. The rank reflects the aggregate performance across all tested resolutions and settings. Given that the RTX 3070 Ti sits at the 75th percentile for GPUs and the i5-10400F at the 68th percentile for CPUs, the combined rank of 1318 (roughly the 65th percentile of combos) aligns with expectations. The GPU's higher percentile contributes more to the overall standing, which matches the earlier finding that the GPU is the primary performance driver in Control.

The data implies that users seeking higher rankings would need to upgrade the GPU first, as the CPU's relative position is slightly lower but still adequate. The 3720 total combinations include many high-end pairings, so a rank of 1318 indicates a solid mid-to-upper tier position.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for each component provide insight into what other hardware would behave similarly in this game.

For the Intel Core i5-10400F, the closest alternatives by average benchmark score are the Intel Xeon 6756E, Intel Core 7 160UL, AMD EPYC 7552, and AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. The Xeon 6756E has an average score of 14163, which is 0.2 percent higher than the i5-10400F. The Core 7 160UL scores 14232, 0.3 percent lower. The EPYC 7552 scores 14115, 0.5 percent higher. The Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14277, 0.6 percent lower. These deltas are all within one percent, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. For this game, the differences would be negligible, as the GPU is the limiting factor at most settings.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile, AMD Radeon RX 6800, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, and AMD Radeon RX 6700. The RTX 5070 Mobile scores 29928, 0.1 percent higher. The RX 6800 scores 30095, 0.5 percent lower. The RTX 2080 Ti scores 29783, 0.5 percent higher. The RX 6700 scores 30433, 1.6 percent lower. These small deltas mean that swapping the RTX 3070 Ti for any of these GPUs would result in very similar frame rates in Control. The RX 6700, being 1.6 percent lower, might show a marginal FPS drop, but it would still maintain the same general playability profile.

A system with an i5-10400F paired with an RX 6800 or RTX 2080 Ti would perform almost identically to the tested configuration. The data suggests that users with these alternative components can expect similar results at each resolution and preset.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Control receives a clear answer from the recorded data. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable. The best settings are Ultra, with an average FPS of 94.5, which far exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution offers the most headroom.

At 2560x1440, all presets are also playable. The best settings are Ultra, with an average FPS of 69. This delivers a smooth experience at maximum quality, though the margin above 60 FPS is modest. Users wanting more stability could drop to High at 82.1 FPS for additional buffer.

At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium settings are playable. The best settings are Medium, with an average FPS of 63.7. This barely clears the 60 FPS threshold. High settings at 53.4 FPS and Ultra at 45.8 FPS fall below the playable threshold and would result in noticeable stutter or reduced smoothness.

The verdict is that this combo runs Control successfully at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, and at 4K with Medium settings. The RTX 3070 Ti's 8 GB of GDDR6X memory and the i5-10400F's 12 threads provide a balanced foundation for this title. For 4K enthusiasts, the Medium preset is the recommended ceiling. The data confirms that this is a capable gaming system for Control, with the primary limitation being the GPU at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 45.8, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is Medium, which achieves 63.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p?

A: Ultra is the best preset at 2560x1440, with an average FPS of 69. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, and all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) remain playable at this resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti compare to the RTX 2080 Ti in this game?

A: The RTX 2080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 29783, which is 0.5 percent higher than the RTX 3070 Ti's score. The performance difference in Control would be minimal, with frame rates nearly identical across all resolutions and presets.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: The data shows a large frame rate spread at 1080p (168 FPS at Low versus 94.5 FPS at Ultra), indicating the GPU becomes more engaged as settings increase, but the CPU still provides enough throughput to push high frame rates at lower settings. The i5-10400F's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient, but the GPU workload scales with settings.

Q: What frame rate does this system achieve at 1080p Medium?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 119.4. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience.

Q: How many total configurations does this combo rank above in the database?

A: This combo ranks 1318 out of 3720 tested combinations. It outperforms 2402 other configurations in Control, placing it in the upper third of all tested hardware pairings.