Control

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 presents a mixed picture for running Control at a smooth 60 frames per second. The data shows a system where the CPU is a top-tier performer, but the GPU, while competent, becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions and quality presets. Benchmark results indicate that this combination can deliver a solid experience at 1080p, a playable one at 1440p with reduced settings, and falls short of the 60 FPS target at 4K across all settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this combination provides a clear view of its performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the system shows its strongest results. With Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 106.4 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 77.8 FPS. High settings still maintain a comfortable average of 69.5 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, brings the average down to 57.6 FPS, which sits just below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates across all presets decline. Low settings produce an average of 82.5 FPS, which remains well above the playable threshold. Medium settings yield an average of 55.9 FPS, a noticeable step down. High settings average 52.6 FPS, and Ultra settings drop further to an average of 44.3 FPS. None of these higher presets at 1440p manage to sustain an average above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset averages 55.2 FPS, the only preset at this resolution to come close to the target. Medium settings average 38 FPS, High settings average 35.8 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to an average of 28.1 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is substantial, highlighting the heavy load placed on the graphics card at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

The goal is to find the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS average at each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 69.5 FPS, clearing the 60 FPS bar with a comfortable margin. While Ultra is only 12 FPS lower on average, it falls below the target, making High the clear winner for balancing visual quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that achieves the target, with an average of 82.5 FPS. The Medium preset averages 55.9 FPS, which is below the threshold. Therefore, Low is the recommended setting for a 60 FPS experience at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves an average of 60 FPS. The Low preset comes closest with an average of 55.2 FPS, but it still falls short. The data indicates that this combination cannot deliver a 60 FPS experience at 4K with any of the tested settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals the respective roles of the CPU and GPU in this pairing. The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a high-end processor, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. It scores 32544 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4594 in single-core. The recorded data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions.

At 1080p, the frame rates are high across all presets, suggesting the CPU is feeding the GPU sufficiently. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 48.8 FPS (from 106.4 to 57.6), which is a significant reduction that is primarily driven by the GPU's workload increasing with more demanding settings.

The GPU's role becomes more apparent as resolution increases. At 1440p, the performance penalty from raising settings is clear: Low averages 82.5 FPS while Ultra averages 44.3 FPS. This indicates that the RTX 2060 is being tasked with rendering more pixels and effects, and its capabilities are the primary constraint.

At 4K, the GPU is heavily overburdened. The average frame rates are low across all settings, and even the Low preset cannot reach 60 FPS. This confirms that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck at this resolution. The CPU's performance is largely irrelevant at 4K in this scenario, as the GPU's rendering limits are so pronounced. The data shows a system where the CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU dictates the playable settings at each resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in the database provide context for its performance level. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has an average score 0.3% higher, making it essentially equivalent in synthetic benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 0.4% higher, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 0.8% higher. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 0.8% lower. These processors would likely deliver very similar frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios, meaning the choice between them would have minimal impact on Control's performance.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are equally close in average benchmark scores. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 has a 0% delta, indicating a near-identical average score. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 0.1% higher, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 0.6% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 0.8% higher. In practical terms, these graphics cards would produce very similar frame rates to the RTX 2060 in Control. Users with these alternative GPUs should expect the same general performance characteristics, including the inability to maintain 60 FPS at 4K and the need for Low settings at 1440p to hit the target.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Control has a nuanced answer that depends on the resolution.

At 1920x1080, the answer is a definitive yes. The High preset delivers an average of 69.5 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Medium and Low presets also clear the bar, offering even higher frame rates of 77.8 and 106.4 FPS respectively. This is the resolution where this combination shines.

At 2560x1440, the answer is a conditional yes. The system can run the game, but only with the Low preset, which averages 82.5 FPS. All other presets, including Medium at 55.9 FPS and High at 52.6 FPS, fail to reach the 60 FPS target. For a smooth experience at this resolution, users must compromise on visual settings.

At 3840x2160, the answer is no. The system cannot maintain a 60 FPS average at any preset. The best result is the Low preset at 55.2 FPS, which is below the target. This combination is not suitable for 4K gaming in Control. The verdict is clear: this is a 1080p-focused setup, capable of a playable 1440p experience only at the lowest settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 against all other tested combos for this game. The combo is ranked 2977 out of 3720 total combinations. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU's performance limitations. The high-end CPU is held back by the mid-range GPU, resulting in a system that is better suited for 1080p gaming than for higher resolutions. While the CPU's raw power is undeniable, this ranking reflects the overall gaming experience, which is ultimately determined by the graphics card's ability to render frames. For Control, this pairing delivers a playable experience at 1080p with high settings, but its overall rank shows that many other combinations will offer a smoother experience at higher resolutions.