Control

Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 form a high-end pairing for Control, with measured data showing this combination handles the game decisively at every resolution tested. The RTX 4080’s raw throughput and the i5-14600KF’s strong single-core performance translate into triple-digit average frame rates at 1440p and 1080p, while 4K Ultra remains comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data indicates this is a top-tier configuration for this title, ranking in the top 7% of all tested combos.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combination delivers playable performance across all presets. The average frame rate at Low settings is 126 FPS, dropping to 89 FPS at Medium, 79 FPS at High, and 69 FPS at Ultra. The only preset with complete min/max data is Medium, which shows a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. This indicates the 4K Ultra setting, while averaging 69 FPS, may experience dips below that average, but the overall margin above the 60 FPS threshold is substantial enough for consistent gameplay.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance scales upward significantly. Low settings produce an average of 186 FPS, Medium reaches 132 FPS, High hits 118 FPS, and Ultra maintains 102 FPS. The Medium preset again provides the only min/max figures: 113 FPS minimum and 152 FPS maximum. The gap between Low and Ultra is 84 FPS, showing that visual quality settings have a pronounced impact on frame rates at this resolution, but even the heaviest preset leaves ample headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo becomes CPU-bound in lighter settings. Low averages 246 FPS, Medium averages 175 FPS, High averages 156 FPS, and Ultra averages 135 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS. Notably, the jump from Low to Medium costs 71 FPS, while the jump from Medium to Ultra costs 40 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns on frame rate as settings increase. Every preset at 1080p far exceeds the 60 FPS target, making this resolution ideal for competitive or high-refresh gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks #241 out of 3720 tested configurations in Control, placing it in the 93.5th percentile of all tested combos. This positioning reflects the balanced strength of the CPU and GPU pairing, as neither component bottlenecks the other in this title. The data shows that this setup outperforms the vast majority of tested systems, with only 240 combinations achieving higher frame rates.

Given the RTX 4080's performance percentile of 86 among all GPUs and the i5-14600KF's 90th percentile among CPUs, the combined rank is slightly lower than either component's individual standing. This suggests that Control's engine is well-optimized across a wide range of hardware, allowing many high-end configurations to achieve similar results. The rank also indicates that users with this combo are unlikely to need upgrades for this game, as the margin between rank 241 and the top of the list is small in practical FPS terms.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the i5-14600KF's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which scores 0.3% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which scores 0.4% lower. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 trails by 0.8%, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 leads by 0.8%. In practice, a builder swapping to any of these processors would see virtually identical frame rates in Control, as the differences are within measurement error. For gaming, the i5-14600KF's 14 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient, and the nearest rivals would behave similarly in this title.

For the GPU, the RTX 4080's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which benchmarks just 0.1% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 1.1% lower, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 2.6% lower, and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 2.7% lower. Users considering the RTX 4080 SUPER would see nearly identical performance in Control, while the AMD alternatives would offer slightly lower average frame rates, though likely still above 60 FPS at most settings given the headroom shown by the RTX 4080.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This means you can enable the highest preset without compromising on frame rate.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 yield an average of 102 FPS, making it the best choice for visual quality while maintaining well over 60 FPS. Even the most demanding preset leaves substantial headroom.

Q: How much performance does the RTX 4080 gain from the i5-14600KF compared to a weaker CPU?

A: The data shows the CPU's nearest rivals (e.g., AMD Ryzen 9 7900) score within 0.3-0.8% of the i5-14600KF in synthetic benchmarks. In Control, this translates to negligible FPS differences, meaning the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates at all tested resolutions.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo averages 246 FPS, indicating the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU effectively. The i5-14600KF's single-core performance (462 in Cinebench R15 single-core) is sufficient to avoid bottlenecking even at high frame rates.

Q: What frame rate can I expect with Medium settings at 4K?

A: The measured average at 3840x2160 Medium is 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. This preset offers a good balance of visual fidelity and performance for 4K displays.

Q: Does the combo rank in the top 10% of all tested systems?

A: Yes, the combo ranks 241st out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the top 6.5% of all configurations. This means it outperforms over 93% of tested setups in Control.

CPU and GPU Roles

At 1080p, the CPU's role becomes more pronounced. The difference between Low and Ultra settings is 111 FPS (246 vs. 135), but the scaling from Medium to Ultra (40 FPS drop) is smaller than from Low to Medium (71 FPS drop). This indicates that at lower settings, the i5-14600KF's single-thread performance (4594 in Cinebench R23 single-core) is sufficient to push frame rates to 246 FPS, while at higher settings, the RTX 4080 takes over as the limiting factor. The CPU's 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs ensures it can keep up with the GPU's output at 1080p.

At 1440p, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The average FPS drops from 186 at Low to 102 at Ultra, a 45% reduction. The RTX 4080's 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 716.8 GB/s memory bandwidth are heavily utilized, while the CPU still has headroom. The 33 FPS difference between High and Ultra (118 vs. 102) suggests the GPU is the primary constraint at higher presets.

At 4K, the GPU dominates the performance picture. The average FPS at Low is 126, dropping to 69 at Ultra. The RTX 4080's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 256-bit bus width are essential for handling 4K textures, and the GPU's 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is a top-tier part. The CPU's role diminishes further, as the i5-14600KF's performance is more than adequate to feed the GPU at 4K resolution, where pixel throughput is the bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 69 FPS. This is the best choice for maximum visual quality, though users prioritizing frame rate stability might prefer