Control

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is an exceptionally strong combination for Control, delivering frame rates that far exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold at every tested resolution and preset. The benchmark data, measured directly rather than estimated, shows this combo handles the game with massive headroom, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors even at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 245 FPS, which is the peak performance observed in the entire dataset. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 174 FPS with a minimum of 148 FPS and a maximum of 200 FPS. The High preset averages 155 FPS, while the Ultra preset still maintains a robust 134 FPS average. At this resolution, even the most demanding settings leave substantial performance in reserve, meaning the bottleneck is likely the display's refresh rate rather than the hardware.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally high. The Low preset averages 185 FPS, dropping from the 1080p figure but still incredibly smooth. Medium settings produce an average of 132 FPS, with a minimum of 112 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS. High settings average 117 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 102 FPS. The data shows a consistent pattern where each step up in preset costs roughly 20-30 FPS on average, but the absolute numbers remain well above the 60 FPS threshold. The minimum FPS recorded at Medium settings (112 FPS) indicates that even in demanding scenes, frame pacing remains consistent.

At 3840x2160, the combo still delivers playable performance across all presets, though the margins shrink. The Low preset averages 125 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 1440p result of 185 FPS but still very fast. Medium settings average 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS. High settings average 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 69 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium at 4K costs 36 FPS on average, while the jump from Medium to High costs 10 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs another 10 FPS. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium (76 FPS) is still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, showing that the system maintains stability even under load.

CPU and GPU Roles

Analyzing the scaling between resolutions and presets reveals how the CPU and GPU share the workload in Control. The RTX 4080 SUPER is clearly the dominant component in this pairing, as evidenced by the substantial frame rate drops when moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo hits 245 FPS, but at 3840x2160 Low, it drops to 125 FPS—a 49% reduction. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, which is typical for a graphically demanding title like Control.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the 245 FPS average suggests the i5-14600K is feeding the GPU efficiently, but the data also shows diminishing returns as settings increase. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 111 FPS (245 to 134), while at 4K, the same gap is only 56 FPS (125 to 69). This compression at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU workload scales more steeply than the CPU workload, which is expected given the game's visual effects.

The i5-14600K's 14 cores and 20 threads provide ample processing power for Control's physics and AI systems. The benchmark results show that the CPU never becomes a bottleneck at 4K, where the GPU is clearly saturated. However, at 1080p with Low settings, the 245 FPS average suggests the CPU is capable of driving very high frame rates, though the exact limit is not tested in this data. The scaling between Medium and High presets is consistent across all resolutions (roughly 10-15% difference), indicating that the GPU handles the additional visual fidelity without the CPU becoming a constraint.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 69 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold. While the minimum FPS is not recorded for this preset, the Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 76 FPS, suggesting that frame dips are unlikely to drop below 60.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144Hz monitor with this combo?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 102 FPS, which is below 144 FPS but still very smooth. For a full 144Hz experience, the Low preset at 1440p averages 185 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 132 FPS. At 1080p, the High preset averages 155 FPS, and Ultra averages 134 FPS, both suitable for 144Hz displays.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1080p with the highest settings?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 134 FPS. This is a strong result for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays, as it provides a significant margin above the 60 FPS threshold even in demanding scenes.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER overkill for Control at 1440p?

A: The data suggests the GPU has substantial headroom. At 1440p Ultra, the average FPS is 102, which is 70% higher than the 60 FPS threshold. This means the system could handle higher refresh rates or more demanding future titles, but for Control specifically, the GPU is not being fully utilized at lower presets.

Q: Does the i5-14600K bottleneck the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: Based on the resolution scaling, the CPU is not a bottleneck at 4K, where the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the 245 FPS average indicates the CPU can keep up with the GPU, though the exact CPU limit is not tested. The consistent performance scaling across presets suggests a balanced pairing.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured minimum FPS at 2560x1440 Medium is 112 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the combo maintains stable performance even in demanding sequences.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination ranks 283rd out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the top 8% of all configurations tested. This is a strong showing, given that the dataset likely includes many higher-end and more expensive pairings. The rank reflects the combo's ability to deliver high frame rates across all resolutions and settings, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

The CPU's individual benchmark performance supports this ranking. The i5-14600K scores 24,491 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,064 in single-core, with an average benchmark score of 48,618. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, scores 48,698, a delta of -0.2%, while the AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48,470, a delta of +0.3%. This places the CPU in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it has ample processing power for gaming workloads.

The GPU's performance is equally strong. The RTX 4080 SUPER scores 34,245 in Passmark G3D and 52.22 TFLOPS FP32, with an average benchmark score of 54,209. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, scores 54,247, a delta of -0.1%, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55,698, a delta of -2.7%. The GPU sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The combination of a top-10% CPU and a top-14% GPU yields a top-8% overall ranking for this specific game, which confirms the balanced nature of the pairing.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this combo can run Control at playable frame rates across all tested configurations. The verdict by resolution confirms that every preset at every resolution clears the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 69 FPS, which is above the threshold, and the High preset averages 79 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 102 FPS, providing a comfortable margin. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 134 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

The playability is not just marginal—it is substantial. The lowest average FPS recorded in the entire dataset is 69 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is still 15% above the 60 FPS threshold. The only potential concern is the minimum FPS at 4K Ultra, which is not recorded, but the Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 76 FPS, suggesting that the system maintains stability under load. For gamers seeking the absolute best visual quality at 4K, this combo delivers, and for those prioritizing high refresh rates at 1440p or 1080p, the performance is exceptional.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 134 FPS. This is the optimal choice for 1080p gaming, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while still delivering a frame rate that exceeds the threshold by more than double. For players with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors, the High preset at 155 FPS is also a strong option, but Ultra offers the best balance of visuals and performance.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is again the best choice, averaging 102 FPS. This provides a 70% margin above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense combat sequences. The Medium preset at 132 FPS is available for those who prefer even higher frame rates, but Ultra delivers the full visual experience without sacrificing playability. For 144Hz displays, the High preset at 117 FPS is a viable alternative, but Ultra remains the recommended setting for maximum fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 69 FPS, which is the recommended setting for 4K gaming. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, and it provides the best visual experience the game offers. The High preset at 79 FPS is a viable alternative for those who want a larger frame rate buffer, but Ultra is the clear choice for those who prioritize image quality. The Medium preset at 89 FPS is also an option, but the visual difference between Medium and Ultra may be significant in a game like Control, which features detailed environments and particle effects.