Control

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a clear performance picture in Control, with the benchmark data showing a system that comfortably handles 1080p and 1440p at maximum settings, while 4K requires a settings compromise to stay fluid. The measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets provide a complete map of what this combination can achieve, and the verdict is straightforward: this is a capable 1440p Ultra machine that can still manage 4K if you dial back the eye candy.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system is never challenged. The Low preset produces an average of 159.1 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset. Moving to Medium drops the average to 111.6 FPS, and High still delivers a very smooth 99.2 FPS. The Ultra preset, which represents the full visual feature set, maintains an average of 87.1 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 45% reduction in frame rate, but even the most demanding preset stays well above the 60 FPS playability threshold. There is no scenario at 1080p where this hardware dips into uncomfortable territory; the data shows a system with substantial headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance profile remains strong but the gaps between presets widen. The Low preset averages 122.4 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. Medium drops to 83.3 FPS, and High comes in at 74.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, the most demanding configuration tested, produces an average of 63.7 FPS. This is a notable result because it just clears the 60 FPS target, leaving only a narrow margin of safety. The frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is approximately 48%, indicating that the higher pixel count amplifies the cost of each quality tier. The data shows that Ultra is playable, but the 63.7 FPS average means users should expect occasional dips below 60 in busy scenes, even though the average is acceptable.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. The Low preset is the only setting that provides a comfortable frame rate, averaging 83.1 FPS. The Medium preset averages 60.3 FPS, which is just barely above the playability threshold. High drops to 53.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 44.2 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 47% performance loss, but the absolute numbers are what matter. The RTX 3070’s 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are clearly stressed at 4K, and the data suggests that the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The difference between Medium and High at 4K is 6.8 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 9.3 FPS, showing that the most demanding preset takes the heaviest toll.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate that the RTX 3070 is the primary performance driver in Control, but the Core i5-14600KF provides enough headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The CPU, which sits in the 90th percentile of all processors, has 14 cores and 20 threads with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its multi-core performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 score of 32544, far exceeds what this game requires. The GPU, by contrast, sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, and its PassMark G3D score of 22214 indicates it is the component that determines the frame rate limits.

The resolution scaling data supports this assessment. At 1080p, the frame rates are high across all presets, which suggests the GPU is still able to keep up with the CPU’s output. However, the fact that the Low preset at 1080p hits 159.1 FPS while the Ultra preset drops to 87.1 FPS shows that the GPU workload is the variable that changes. The CPU is capable of far more than the game demands, as evidenced by its 90th percentile ranking, so it is not the limiting factor at any resolution.

As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU’s role becomes even more dominant. The frame rate drops from 122.4 FPS at 1440p Low to 83.1 FPS at 4K Low, a 32% reduction that is entirely attributable to the increased pixel count. The CPU’s performance does not change with resolution, so the data shows that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting. At 4K Ultra, the 44.2 FPS average is a clear indication that the RTX 3070 is saturated. The CPU’s single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 score of 4594, is more than adequate to feed the GPU in this title. The conclusion is that users should focus on GPU settings when optimizing performance, as the CPU will not be the source of frame rate limitations in Control.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, which produces an average of 87.1 FPS. All four presets are above the 60 FPS threshold, so users can select the highest quality without concern. The data shows that Ultra is the clear choice for maximum visual fidelity, and the 87.1 FPS average provides enough headroom for consistent smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 63.7 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, but the margin is thin. The data shows that High, Medium, and Low all clear the threshold with averages of 74.1, 83.3, and 122.4 FPS respectively, but Ultra is the highest quality option that remains playable. Users who prioritize frame rate stability over visual quality may prefer High, which offers a 10.4 FPS advantage, but Ultra is technically viable.

For 3840x2160, the best settings are Medium, which averages 60.3 FPS. This is just above the playability threshold, making it a borderline choice. The Low preset averages 83.1 FPS and offers the most comfortable 4K experience, while Medium is the highest quality option that still hits the 60 FPS mark. High and Ultra are not recommended at this resolution, as they produce averages of 53.5 and 44.2 FPS respectively, which fall below the playable threshold. The data indicates that 4K users must accept a significant visual compromise, with Medium being the practical maximum.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearestRivals data for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49394. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is the closest match with an average score of 49228, a delta of just 0.3%. These two processors will deliver nearly identical performance in Control, so users with either CPU can expect the same frame rates. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is also close, with a score of 49196 and a 0.4% delta, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 sits at 48995 with a 0.8% delta. The only rival that is noticeably different is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, which has an average score of 49796 and a -0.8% delta, meaning it is slightly faster. In practice, all of these CPUs will perform within a margin that is imperceptible in a game like Control, where the GPU is the limiting factor.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the nearest rival with a score of 17083 and a 0.7% delta, making it essentially equivalent in raw performance. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M are also listed with scores of 17037 and 17019 respectively, with deltas of 1% and 1.1% — these are older cards that may not support the same feature set, but the benchmark data suggests similar average frame rates. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c has a score of 17468 and a -1.5% delta, indicating it is slightly faster in synthetic tests, but it is a workstation card not designed for gaming. For practical purposes, the RX 7600 XT is the closest gaming alternative, and it will produce frame rates within a fraction of a percent of the RTX 3070 in Control.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K resolution?*

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, which produces an average of 60.3 FPS. The Low preset averages 83.1 FPS, while High and Ultra fall below the 60 FPS threshold at 53.5 and 44.2 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the highest quality preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Ultra is the highest quality preset at 1440p that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 63.7 FPS. This leaves a narrow margin, so High at 74.1 FPS may be preferable for more consistent performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The GPU is the dominant factor. The RTX 3070, ranked in the 61st percentile of GPUs, determines frame rates across all resolutions, while the Core i5-14600KF, ranked in the 90th percentile of CPUs, provides ample headroom and does not bottleneck.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to the Radeon RX 7600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, while the RX 7600 XT scores 17083, a 0.7% difference. In Control, the two cards will produce effectively identical frame rates, so either is a suitable choice.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 87.1 FPS. The Low preset is the fastest at 159.1 FPS, but Ultra remains well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: Is the 14600KF a bottleneck at 4K?

A: No. The CPU’s benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544, show it is far more capable than the game demands. The frame rate drop at 4K is caused by the GPU reaching its limits, not by the CPU.

The Verdict

The verdict data is clear: this system can run Control at 1080p and 1440p with Ultra settings, achieving averages of 87.1 and 63.7 FPS respectively. Both resolutions clear the 60 FPS threshold, with 1080p offering substantial headroom and 1440p being playable but close to the limit. At 4K, the system can only manage Medium settings at 60.3 FPS, which is technically playable but leaves no room for error. The Low preset at 4K provides a more comfortable 83.1 FPS, but users who want the full visual experience should stick to 1440p. The combination of the Core i5-14600KF and RTX 3070 is a solid pairing for this title, with the CPU providing ample power and the GPU being the deciding factor at higher resolutions. The data shows that this is a strong 1440p machine that can handle 4K with compromises, and it is fully capable of delivering a smooth experience for most players.