Control

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT presents a compelling mid-range configuration for Control, a game known for its demanding physics and visual effects. The measured data reveals a system that is highly capable at standard resolutions, with predictable scaling as resolution increases. The benchmark results indicate a clear performance hierarchy across the four tested presets, with the most demanding "Ultra" settings proving too heavy for 4K but entirely manageable at 1440p and 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, identifies optimal settings, and contextualizes the combo's standing against other tested hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional frame rates. The Low preset yields an average of 146.6 FPS, which is the highest score recorded for this configuration. Moving up to Medium produces an average of 104.2 FPS, while the High preset achieves 94 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p holds an average of 82 FPS, demonstrating that this resolution is well within the hardware's comfort zone.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected impact of increased pixel count. The Low preset averages 115 FPS, a significant drop from the 1080p result but still very high. The Medium preset records 80.1 FPS, and High follows closely with 68.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 63.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes.

The 3840x2160 resolution reveals the limits of this configuration. The Low preset is the only setting that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, averaging 77 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 51.4 FPS, and High falls further to 49.7 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the most demanding scenario tested, yielding an average of 40.3 FPS. The data shows a clear pattern: performance scales almost linearly with resolution, but the gap between presets widens at higher pixel counts.

Best Settings per Resolution

The verdict data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS for each resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is fully playable, achieving an average of 82 FPS. This is the optimal choice for maximizing visual quality without sacrificing smoothness, as even the highest settings remain well above the playable threshold.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also clears the 60 FPS bar, with an average of 63.3 FPS. While this is the best visual setting available, the margin above 60 FPS is narrow. Players who prioritize frame rate stability over absolute visual fidelity might prefer the High preset at 68.9 FPS, but the data confirms that Ultra is technically viable at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes drastically. The only playable setting is Low, which averages 77 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 51.4 FPS, missing the 60 FPS target by a significant margin. Therefore, for 4K gaming, the best settings are limited to the Low preset, which sacrifices visual quality to achieve a playable frame rate. The data suggests that 4K is not the intended resolution for this combo when using higher presets.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals the relative workload distribution between the CPU and GPU. The i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, and its benchmark scores suggest strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. The RX 6750 XT, with its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth, is clearly the primary driver of frame rates in this title.

The data shows that as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck. At 1080p, the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra is 64.6 FPS (146.6 vs 82), indicating that the GPU is being pushed harder by higher presets. However, the CPU has enough headroom to keep up, as even the most demanding 1080p preset remains above 80 FPS. The CPU's performance percentile of 83 versus all CPUs suggests it is well above average, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21645 points to substantial processing power for game logic and physics.

At 4K, the GPU's limitations become more apparent. The frame rate drops from 77 FPS on Low to 40.3 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of 36.7 FPS. This steep decline is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's pixel throughput, as the CPU's workload does not scale as dramatically with resolution. The RX 6750 XT's 13.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K Ultra preset demands more than it can deliver. The data implies that for this game, the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides consistent support without becoming a bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1744 out of 3720 tested combinations in Control, placing it in the upper half of all systems evaluated. This percentile positioning indicates that while it is not a top-tier configuration, it outperforms a majority of tested setups. The rank reflects a balance between the CPU's strong multi-core capabilities and the GPU's solid mid-range performance.

Given that the data is measured, this rank is a direct result of the FPS scores achieved across the tested presets. The combo's ability to maintain 60+ FPS at 1440p Ultra and 1080p Ultra is a significant factor in its ranking. However, its failure to handle 4K at anything above Low settings prevents it from climbing higher. The rank suggests that this configuration is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and smooth 1440p experiences, but it is not designed for 4K enthusiasts.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide insight into what other hardware would deliver comparable performance. For the Intel Core i5-14400F, the closest alternatives are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U with an average score of 32233 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Core i9-11900 at 32226 with a 0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS at 32354 with a -0.2% delta. These processors are essentially performance peers, meaning a system with any of them would likely produce similar frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon R9 M395X with an average score of 25891 and a 0.5% delta, the AMD FirePro W7100 at 25856 with a 0.6% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile at 25740 with a 1.1% delta. These GPUs are within a narrow performance band, suggesting that swapping the RX 6750 XT for any of these would yield nearly identical results in Control. The data indicates that this combo sits in a well-populated performance tier, with many alternatives offering indistinguishable gameplay experiences.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear. At 1920x1080, this PC can run Control at Ultra settings with an average of 82 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the ideal resolution for this combo, offering both high visual fidelity and smooth performance. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also playable, averaging 63.3 FPS, though the margin above 60 FPS is thinner. Players seeking more stability might drop to High, but the data confirms that Ultra is viable.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more restrictive. The only playable setting is Low, which averages 77 FPS. The Medium preset at 51.4 FPS and High at 49.7 FPS both fall short of the 60 FPS target, and Ultra at 40.3 FPS is not a viable option. Therefore, the verdict is that this combo is fully capable of running Control at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, but 4K gaming requires significant compromises in visual quality.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1920x1080?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 achieves an average of 82 FPS, making it the most demanding setting that stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: At 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, averaging 77 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 51.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the i5-14400F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-14400F's average benchmark score is 32279, which is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, Intel Core i9-11900, and AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS, indicating nearly identical CPU performance.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 115 FPS, while Ultra averages 63.3 FPS, a difference of 51.7 FPS.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as frame rates drop sharply from 1080p to 4K while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1744 out of 3720 tested combinations in Control, placing it in the upper half of all tested configurations.