Control

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured data for Control reveals a clear pattern: this title is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at every resolution tested. The Intel Core i5-11400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides sufficient headroom across all settings, as evidenced by the consistent scaling of frame rates when the GPU workload changes with resolution.

At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary performance driver. The recorded average frame rates range from 185 FPS at Low settings down to 101 FPS at Ultra, a spread of 84 FPS. This 83% performance delta between the lowest and highest presets demonstrates that the RTX 3080's rendering workload, not CPU throughput, dictates the frame rate. The CPU's 3dmark single-thread score of 868 and passmark single-thread score of 2981 indicate ample processing power for the game's physics and logic at this resolution, where the GPU is never starved for data.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU burden increases proportionally. The average frame rates drop from 140 FPS at Low to 77 FPS at Ultra, a 45% reduction from the lowest to highest preset. Notably, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra settings shows a 24% frame rate reduction (from 101 to 77 FPS), which aligns with the increased pixel count demanding more from the GPU's 8704 shading units and 96 ROPs. The CPU continues to keep pace, as the minimum recorded FPS at Medium settings (84 FPS) remains well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes even more dominant. The average frame rates compress to a range of 52 to 94 FPS across presets. The Ultra preset dips to 52 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold, while High holds at exactly 60 FPS. This narrowing of the performance spread (42 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, compared to 84 FPS at 1080p) indicates that the RTX 3080's 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed heavily at 4K. The CPU's role diminishes further, as the game's frame pacing at this resolution is almost entirely dictated by GPU fill rate and memory throughput.

The data indicates that between 1080p and 1440p, the GPU scaling is moderate, but between 1440p and 4K, the performance cost per pixel becomes severe. The RTX 3080's fp32 throughput of 29.77 TFLOPS is the deciding factor, not the CPU's 12 MB of L3 cache or 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. For users with this combo, the i5-11400F will not bottleneck the RTX 3080 in Control at any resolution; the GPU is the sole arbiter of playable settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database's nearest rival data provides context for what other hardware would deliver comparable results. For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-11400F sits at an average benchmark score of 17177, with the closest matching components being the AMD EPYC 7H12 (avg score 17120, a 0.3% difference) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U (avg score 17074, a 0.6% difference). The Intel Core i5-12450H is marginally faster at 17239 (0.4% higher), while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G leads the group at 17278 (0.6% higher). These delta values are negligible for gaming workloads, meaning any of these CPUs would yield virtually identical frame rates in Control when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 records an average benchmark score of 23172. The nearest rivals are all within a narrow band: the NVIDIA P106-100 at 23249 (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 at 23250 (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 6600M at 23273 (0.4% higher), and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X at 23276 (0.4% higher). These sub-0.5% deltas are within measurement noise, so swapping the RTX 3080 for any of these cards would produce effectively indistinguishable performance in Control. The practical implication is that users seeking similar behavior could consider these alternatives without expecting any meaningful difference in the measured FPS values listed in this analysis.

It is worth remembering the CPU's percentile ranking (71st among all CPUs) and the GPU's percentile ranking (68th among all GPUs) place both components in the upper-midrange tier. The combination of a 71st-percentile CPU with a 68th-percentile GPU produces the frame rates recorded, and matching either component with a significantly faster or slower counterpart would shift the bottleneck characteristics, but the nearest rivals listed here would not alter the outcome.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Control, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a combo rank of 1071 out of 3720 tested configurations. This places the combo in the top 28.8% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given that the database includes many high-end and enthusiast builds.

The rank reflects the GPU's substantial contribution: the RTX 3080 has a passmark g3d score of 25086 and a 3dmark steel nomad dx12 score of 4407, both of which are robust numbers. The CPU's cinebench r23 multicore score of 14340 and geekbench multicore score of 7737 ensure that the system does not leave performance on the table, but the combo rank is primarily driven by the GPU's ability to sustain high frame rates across resolutions.

In practical terms, a rank of 1071 out of 3720 means that approximately 71% of tested combos deliver lower performance in Control, while about 29% deliver higher performance. The fact that this combo clears the 60 FPS threshold at 4K High and exceeds 100 FPS at 1080p Ultra places it comfortably within the upper quartile of systems capable of running the game at high settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160, the combo achieves playable performance at Low (94 FPS), Medium (67 FPS), and High (60 FPS) settings. The Ultra preset drops to 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playability threshold.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 77 FPS, which is the highest quality setting that remains at or above 60 FPS. All four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at this resolution.

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

A: The RTX 3080's average benchmark score is 23172, which is within 0.4% of the NVIDIA P106-100, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, AMD Radeon RX 6600M, and AMD Radeon R9 M290X. These deltas are negligible, so performance would be nearly identical.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at any resolution?

A: The data does not indicate CPU bottlenecking. The i5-11400F's 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with its 3dmark 16-thread score of 5619, are sufficient to keep up with the RTX 3080 at all tested resolutions, as frame rates scale consistently with GPU workload.

Q: What minimum FPS can be expected at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the recorded minimum FPS is 111, with an average of 131 and a maximum of 151. This provides a substantial margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: The combo ranks 1071 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the top 28.8% of all systems in the database for Control performance.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is fully capable of running Control with playable frame rates at all three tested resolutions, with specific limitations only at the highest preset in 4K.

At 1920x1080, every preset is playable, with Ultra settings delivering 101 FPS average, which is far above the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset reaches 185 FPS, and Medium sits at 131 FPS, indicating that this resolution is well within the combo's comfort zone.

At 2560x1440, all four presets also clear 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 77 FPS, providing both high visual quality and smooth gameplay. The High preset delivers 88 FPS, and even the most demanding setting does not threaten the playability threshold.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The Ultra preset falls short at 52 FPS, making it unplayable by the 60 FPS standard. However, the High preset holds exactly at 60 FPS, which is technically playable but with no headroom. The Medium preset averages 67 FPS with a minimum of 57, offering a more comfortable margin. The Low preset reaches 94 FPS, which is the best option for competitive play at 4K.

In summary, this system can run Control at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, and at 4K with High settings or lower. Users prioritizing 4K Ultra would need a more powerful GPU, but the current combo provides a solid experience across most configurations.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is High, which records exactly 60 FPS. This provides the best visual quality at 4K while meeting the playability threshold. The Medium preset at 67 FPS offers a safer margin if frame time consistency is a concern, but High is the maximum playable setting.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 77 FPS. This allows for the highest in-game quality settings without any compromise on smoothness. The minimum FPS for this resolution is not recorded for Ultra, but the average is sufficiently high to absorb typical frame time spikes.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 101 FPS, making it the recommended setting for this resolution. This provides the full visual experience with a 68% margin above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring consistent performance even in demanding scenes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 94 FPS average
• Medium: 67 FPS average, 57 FPS minimum, 77 FPS maximum
• High: 60 FPS average
• Ultra: 52 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 140 FPS average
• Medium: 99 FPS average, 84 FPS minimum, 114 FPS maximum
• High: 88 FPS average
• Ultra: 77 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 185 FPS average
• Medium: 131 FPS average, 111 FPS minimum, 151 FPS maximum
• High: 117 FPS average
• Ultra: 101 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 3080 scales predictably with resolution and settings, while the i5-11400F maintains sufficient throughput to avoid constraining the GPU. The minimum FPS values, where recorded, indicate that the Medium preset at each resolution provides a stable frame delivery, with the 1080p Medium showing a minimum of 111 FPS, 1440p Medium at 84 FPS, and 4K Medium at 57 FPS. The 4K Medium minimum dipping below 60 FPS is noteworthy, as it means occasional frame drops below the playability threshold even though the average is 67 FPS. For users with variable refresh rate monitors, this may be acceptable, but for fixed 60 Hz displays, the High preset at 4K might be preferable for consistent pacing.