Control

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-10400F sits in a tightly contested performance band. Its average benchmark score of 14185 places it within 0.6% of several competing processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C is the closest match, scoring 14277, which is 0.6% higher. The Intel Core 7 160UL trails by a similar margin at 14232, 0.3% above the i5-10400F. On the other side, the Intel Xeon 6756E scores 14163, just 0.2% lower, while the AMD EPYC 7552 scores 14115, 0.5% below. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame pacing in Control, as the differences are well within measurement noise. The i5-10400F ranks in the 68th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly two-thirds of the processors in the database while remaining accessible in its performance tier.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 produces an average benchmark score of 26331, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which scores 26011, a 1.2% deficit. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26401, 0.3% above the RTX 5060, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 matches at 26421, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary sits 0.8% ahead with 26553. These deltas are negligible for gaming workloads; a user moving between any of these cards would see essentially identical performance in Control. The RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth provides ample headroom for this title's texture streaming demands.

CPU and GPU Roles

Control demonstrates a clear GPU-bound profile across all tested resolutions, but the degree of GPU dominance shifts with resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, the RTX 5060 carries the workload almost entirely. Moving from Low to Ultra settings drops average FPS from 149 to 80.1, a 46% reduction that reflects the GPU's rendering load scaling with preset complexity. The CPU's role at this resolution is to feed frames quickly enough, and the i5-10400F's 12 threads handle that without becoming the limiting factor.

At 2560x1440, the pattern holds but with tighter margins. Low settings produce 112.2 FPS, while Ultra drops to 61.1 FPS. The 45% delta between presets confirms the GPU remains the primary constraint. The i5-10400F's single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3dmark_single_thread score of 688 and Cinebench R23 single-core result of 1451, is sufficient to keep frame times consistent at this resolution.

The picture changes at 3840x2160. Here the GPU is decisively the bottleneck. High settings yield 50.2 FPS, Medium 54.7 FPS, and Ultra just 38.6 FPS. Even Low settings, which produce 77.5 FPS, represent a 31% drop from the 1080p Low result of 149 FPS. This scaling is almost entirely attributable to the RTX 5060's pixel throughput at 4K; the i5-10400F's contribution becomes negligible as resolution rises. The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities, such as its 3dmark_16_threads score of 4748 and PassMark multithread result of 12115, are more than adequate for Control's physics and AI systems at any resolution.

Resolution scaling itself tells the story. At Ultra settings, 1080p delivers 80.1 FPS, 1440p delivers 61.1 FPS, and 4K delivers 38.6 FPS. The 24% drop from 1080p to 1440p and the 37% drop from 1440p to 4K are classic GPU-bound behaviors. At Low settings, the drops are steeper: 149 to 112.2 to 77.5 FPS, a 25% and 31% reduction respectively. The larger percentage drops at Low settings indicate that when the GPU has less work per pixel, the remaining overhead becomes relatively more important, but the CPU still never emerges as the limiting factor.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 60 FPS on a 4K display?

A: At 3840x2160, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS threshold. Low averages 77.5 FPS, while Medium averages 54.7 FPS and High averages 50.2 FPS. Ultra falls to 38.6 FPS, well below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset at 2560x1440?

A: Ultra settings average 61.1 FPS at 1440p, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the most demanding preset that remains playable at this resolution, so users can run the game at maximum quality without dropping below target performance.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5060 scores 26331 on average benchmarks. The AMD Radeon 860M is 0.3% higher at 26401, the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is 0.3% higher at 26421, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary is 0.8% higher at 26553. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT trails by 1.2% at 26011.

Q: Is the i5-10400F a bottleneck for the RTX 5060 in Control?

A: No. The data shows GPU-bound behavior at all resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 149 FPS, and at 4K Low it hits 77.5 FPS. The CPU's 12 threads and 4.30 GHz boost clock provide sufficient throughput; the frame rate drops align with increased GPU load from resolution and preset changes.

Q: What performance can users expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: High settings at 1920x1080 average 94.8 FPS. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and leaves headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra settings at the same resolution average 80.1 FPS, still well above the playability line.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This CPU and GPU pairing ranks 1650 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the upper half of the database. The ranking reflects the RTX 5060's strong 72nd percentile GPU position combined with the i5-10400F's 68th percentile CPU standing.

The Verdict

This system can run Control, and it does so with considerable authority at most settings. The verdict by resolution is clear. At 1920x1080, every preset is playable, with Ultra averaging 80.1 FPS, far above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the resolution where the combo shines brightest. At 2560x1440, all four presets also clear 60 FPS, with Ultra just barely making the cut at 61.1 FPS. Users who want maximum visual quality at 1440p will be satisfied, though there is minimal headroom for frame rate dips in heavy combat sequences.

The 3840x2160 results are more restrictive. Only Low settings achieve playable performance, averaging 77.5 FPS. Medium drops to 54.7 FPS, High to 50.2 FPS, and Ultra to 38.6 FPS. For 4K gaming, users must accept a significant visual downgrade to maintain smooth gameplay. The RTX 5060's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface are simply not sufficient for this game's higher presets at 4K, where the pixel fill rate becomes the limiting factor.

The i5-10400F proves entirely adequate for this workload. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with a 4.30 GHz boost clock, deliver consistent frame delivery. The CPU's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 10283 and a PassMark multithread score of 12115, indicate it has ample headroom for Control's physics and AI systems. The bottleneck is always the GPU, particularly at higher resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 77.5 FPS. This is the only playable option at 4K. Medium falls short at 54.7 FPS, so users targeting 4K must sacrifice shadow quality, texture filtering, and other visual features to maintain smooth performance.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings are the best choice, averaging 61.1 FPS. This preset clears the 60 FPS threshold by a slim margin. Users who prefer a safety buffer can drop to High, which averages 74.2 FPS, or Medium at 82.4 FPS, but the data supports running at maximum quality if they accept the smaller headroom.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 80.1 FPS on average. This is the most demanding preset at the most popular gaming resolution, and it stays well above the threshold. High settings average 94.8 FPS, Medium 107.2 FPS, and Low 149 FPS, but there is no reason to drop below Ultra at this resolution given the comfortable margin.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 pairing ranks 1650 out of 3720 tested combinations in Control, placing it in the 56th percentile of all combos in the database. This position reflects a balanced pairing where the GPU's strong 72nd percentile standing compensates for the CPU's more modest 68th percentile ranking. The combination is neither at the top of the charts nor near the bottom; it sits comfortably in the upper-middle range, delivering consistent playable performance at 1080p and 1440p.

The ranking makes sense given the game's GPU-bound nature. Control rewards graphics card horsepower more than CPU headroom, and the RTX 5060 delivers that in spades at lower resolutions. The i5-10400F, while not a flagship processor, provides enough throughput to avoid dragging down the GPU's performance. The result is a combo that outperforms its raw component rankings individually suggest, because the CPU rarely becomes the limiting factor in this title.

For users considering this exact configuration, the data indicates a system that handles Control with ease at mainstream resolutions and settings. The 1440p Ultra result of 61.1 FPS is particularly notable, as it demonstrates the combo can push maximum quality at a resolution many gamers consider the sweet spot. The 4K limitations are expected given the GPU class, but the overall package delivers a strong experience for the vast majority of gaming scenarios.