Control

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT lands at position 2404 out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. That places this build in the 65th percentile of all recorded configurations, meaning roughly a third of tested systems deliver higher frame rates in this title. The ranking reflects a mid-pack result, not a top-tier one, but the data shows this combo is far from the bottom of the stack.

What makes this ranking interesting is the gap between the two components' individual standings. The CPU sits at the 71st percentile among all processors, while the GPU holds the 60th percentile among all graphics cards. The combined result being lower than either component's individual percentile suggests Control's demands do not scale perfectly with raw hardware strength, or that the pairing introduces a bottleneck that neither part fully resolves on its own. The recorded average benchmark scores reinforce this: the CPU averages 17177 across all tested workloads, and the GPU averages 17083, nearly identical figures that hint at a balanced but not exceptional partnership.

The ranking becomes more meaningful when compared against the broader field. Being in the middle of a 3720-combo pool for a 2019 title indicates this hardware handles Control adequately, but enthusiasts chasing maximum frame rates would need to look higher. The data does not show this combo embarrassing itself, but it also does not show it dominating. For a game that rewards both strong rasterization and solid CPU throughput, this pairing produces a workable but unspectacular outcome.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU paint an interesting picture of what this processor truly offers. The AMD EPYC 7H12 scores 17120, a mere 0.3% below the i5-11400F's 17177 average. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U sits 0.6% higher at 17074, while the Intel Core i5-12450H comes in at 17239, just 0.4% above. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G rounds out the group at 17278, 0.6% ahead. These deltas are so small that in practical gaming terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly indistinguishable performance. The data suggests the i5-11400F occupies a crowded performance band where generational and architectural differences barely move the needle.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT finds itself among some unexpected names. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, just 0.3% below. The AMD Radeon HD 7970M trails by 0.4% at 17019, and the NVIDIA Tesla M4 is 0.9% behind at 16932. More notably, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 scores 17208, only 0.7% ahead. That last comparison is striking: a modern RDNA 3 card landing within 1% of an RTX 3070 in average benchmark score suggests the RX 7600 XT competes in a higher performance class than its positioning might imply. For Control specifically, any of these GPUs would produce broadly similar frame rates, though driver optimization and API support could shift real-world results beyond what synthetic averages show.

The practical takeaway from both rival lists is that this combo behaves like a stable, middle-tier platform. Users coming from any of the listed CPUs or GPUs would notice little difference in Control's performance, assuming the rest of their systems were comparable.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the balance of responsibility shifts across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the GPU clearly dominates the workload. The jump from Low to Ultra settings costs 51.2 FPS on average, dropping from 121.3 to 70.1. The CPU has enough headroom at this resolution to feed the GPU effectively, so settings changes translate almost entirely into GPU-bound performance swings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern continues but with a tighter spread. Low settings produce 91.7 FPS, while Ultra drops to 52.3, a 39.4 FPS gap. The reduction in the delta compared to 1080p indicates the GPU is starting to feel the resolution pressure, but the CPU still keeps pace. At this resolution, High settings deliver 60.2 FPS, barely crossing the 60 FPS threshold, which suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at the higher preset tiers.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's role becomes overwhelming. The spread from Low to Ultra narrows to 31.1 FPS, with Low hitting 63.8 and Ultra falling to 32.7. The compression of the performance range at 4K indicates the GPU is saturated regardless of settings, and the CPU's influence recedes further. The fact that Medium only reaches 41.9 FPS at 4K, barely above High's 39.8, shows how severely the resolution taxes the RX 7600 XT. The data implies that at 4K, no amount of CPU headroom can rescue frame rates; the GPU simply runs out of throughput.

Across all resolutions, Ultra settings consistently demand the most from the hardware, while Low settings reveal the ceiling of what this combo can achieve. The scaling between resolutions at the same settings tells a clear story: at Low, 1080p delivers 121.3 FPS, 1440p delivers 91.7, and 4K delivers 63.8. That steady decline demonstrates a GPU-bound workload where each resolution step costs roughly 25 to 30 percent of the frame rate. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads appear sufficient for Control's engine at every tested resolution, as the frame rate drops align with GPU expectations rather than CPU stalls.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control, and it can run it well at most settings, but the experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution. At 1920x1080, the verdict is unambiguous: every preset from Low through Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 70.1 FPS. Gamers with 1080p displays can max out the game and still enjoy smooth frame rates. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High settings with 60.2 FPS, and Low and Medium also cross the threshold at 91.7 and 68 FPS respectively. Ultra at 1440p falls short at 52.3 FPS, so the most demanding preset requires a sacrifice. At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve playability, hitting 63.8 FPS, while Medium, High, and Ultra all remain below 60 FPS.

The 4K result is the most limiting aspect of this combo. The data shows a steep cliff between Low and Medium at that resolution, with a 21.9 FPS drop that pushes the system firmly out of playable territory. For 4K users, the RX 7600 XT simply lacks the raw throughput for this game at higher presets. The 16 GB of memory does not compensate for the GPU's compute limitations in this title.

Overall, the i5-11400F and RX 7600 XT combination delivers a solid 1080p experience, a respectable 1440p experience with settings compromises, and a marginal 4K experience limited to the lowest preset. The 60 FPS threshold is the dividing line, and this system crosses it comfortably at lower resolutions while struggling at the highest.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the recorded data shows the full range of performance. Low settings average 121.3 FPS, Medium averages 89.1 FPS, High averages 79.4 FPS, and Ultra averages 70.1 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra stands at 51.2 FPS, indicating that Control's visual settings have a substantial impact on this hardware. Every preset at this resolution stays well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

At 2560x1440, the numbers step down predictably. Low averages 91.7 FPS, Medium averages 68 FPS, High averages 60.2 FPS, and Ultra averages 52.3 FPS. The transition from Medium to High costs 7.8 FPS, while High to Ultra costs another 7.9 FPS. This resolution marks the boundary where Ultra becomes unplayable, falling 7.7 FPS short of the threshold.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. Low averages 63.8 FPS, Medium averages 41.9 FPS, High averages 39.8 FPS, and Ultra averages 32.7 FPS. The difference between Medium and High at 4K is only 2.1 FPS, suggesting that these two presets impose nearly identical loads on the GPU at this resolution. The jump from Low to Medium, however, is severe at 21.9 FPS, representing a 34% performance hit.

The database records only average FPS values for this game, with no minimum or maximum figures available. This means the data cannot speak to frame time consistency or stuttering behavior, only overall throughput. The averages do show a consistent pattern of diminishing returns at higher resolutions, where each additional setting tier costs progressively more relative to the baseline.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 60 FPS on a 1080p monitor?

A: Yes. All four presets at 1920x1080 exceed 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 70.1 FPS, High at 79.4 FPS, Medium at 89.1 FPS, and Low at 121.3 FPS.

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

A: High settings at 2560x1440 deliver 60.2 FPS, which is the most demanding preset that remains playable. Ultra at this resolution drops to 52.3 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings, which average 63.8 FPS at 3840x2160. Medium drops to 41.9 FPS, High to 39.8 FPS, and Ultra to 32.7 FPS, all below the playable threshold.

Q: How does the RX 7600 XT compare to the RTX 3070 in average benchmark scores?

A: The RX 7600 XT averages 17083, while the RTX 3070 averages 17208, putting the RTX 3070 just 0.7% ahead in the database's recorded benchmarks.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. Frame rate scaling across resolutions follows GPU expectations, and the i5-11400F's 6 cores and 12 threads keep pace at all tested settings. The CPU's 71st percentile ranking among all processors supports its adequacy for this title.

Q: What is the performance gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Low averages 121.3 FPS while Ultra averages 70.1 FPS, a difference of 51.2 FPS. This represents a 42% reduction in frame rate from the lowest to the highest preset.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, delivering 70.1 FPS. This is the most demanding preset and it stays comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, so there is no reason to compromise visual quality at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are High, averaging 60.2 FPS. This preset barely clears the playability threshold, but it does clear it. Ultra at this resolution falls to 52.3 FPS, so High represents the optimal balance of visual fidelity and frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Low, averaging 63.8 FPS. No other preset at this resolution reaches 60 FPS, so Low is the only playable option. The 21.9 FPS drop from Low to Medium makes the choice clear: 4K users must accept minimal settings or lower their resolution.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution tier requires dropping one preset level to maintain playability. At 1080p, Ultra works. At 1440p, High works. At 4K, only Low works. This linear relationship between resolution and required settings gives users a predictable guide for configuring the game.