Control

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT achieves a rank of 2719 out of 3720 tested combos in the database for Control. This places the combination in the lower third of all recorded system pairings, meaning that while it can run the game, it does so with notable limitations at higher resolutions. The ranking reflects the CPU's modest standing among all processors, at the 47th percentile, combined with the GPU's stronger position at the 70th percentile. The data suggests the graphics card is the more capable partner in this pairing, while the processor holds the overall result back from reaching higher tiers of the combo leaderboard.

In context, the combo rank indicates that a large portion of tested systems deliver better performance in Control. However, the ranking also shows that this is not a bottom-tier configuration, as roughly a quarter of all combos perform worse. The measured frame rates support this middle-ground positioning, with the system showing clear strengths at 1080p and definite weaknesses at 4K. For a game released in 2019, this pairing represents a reasonable but not exceptional match, and the recorded data confirms that users should set expectations according to resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded measurements reveal how the balance between the Intel Core i5-9400 and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT shifts across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 117.1 FPS on Low settings, which is more than double the 4K Low result of 57.5 FPS. This large gap indicates that at lower resolutions, the GPU has ample headroom and the CPU becomes a more significant factor in pushing frame rates upward. The 1080p results show a steady progression: 117.1 FPS at Low, 86.7 FPS at Medium, 72.4 FPS at High, and 64.3 FPS at Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p costs roughly 45% of the frame rate, which is a typical pattern for a GPU-bound workload at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates compress considerably. The Low preset delivers 90.8 FPS, Medium drops to 61.1 FPS, High falls to 56.7 FPS, and Ultra reaches 49.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is about 45% as well, similar to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower across the board. This suggests that the GPU is now carrying more of the load, as the resolution increase places greater demand on the rendering pipeline. At 3840x2160, the picture changes dramatically. Low settings yield 57.5 FPS, Medium drops to 41.9 FPS, High falls to 36.8 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 34.6 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is only about 40%, and no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is fully saturated, and the CPU's role diminishes to the point where it cannot compensate for the rendering load.

The data shows that the RX 6600 XT is the primary driver of performance at 1440p and above, while the i5-9400 becomes relevant mainly at 1080p where frame rates are high enough to expose CPU limits. The pattern is consistent: as resolution increases, the GPU bottleneck grows, and the CPU's contribution fades. For users targeting 60 FPS, the CPU matters at 1080p, but the GPU decides the outcome at 1440p and 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database records whether each resolution and preset combination clears the 60 FPS playable threshold, and the results are clear. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 64.3 FPS. This means users can run Control at maximum quality settings at 1080p with a comfortable margin above the threshold. The High preset offers 72.4 FPS, Medium provides 86.7 FPS, and Low reaches 117.1 FPS, all well above 60.

At 2560x1440, the situation narrows. The playable settings are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best choice that remains at or above 60 FPS, hitting 61.1 FPS on average. High falls just short at 56.7 FPS, and Ultra dips to 49.8 FPS. The verdict data confirms Medium as the best setting at 1440p, with a slim 1.1 FPS margin over the threshold. Users who want higher quality at this resolution would need to accept frame rates below 60.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded data lists no playable settings at 4K, and the best average is 57.5 FPS on Low, which still falls short. The database marks the best settings as null for 4K, indicating that this combination cannot deliver a smooth experience at this resolution under any preset. Users should avoid 4K with this pairing if 60 FPS is the target.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for each component provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly. For the Intel Core i5-9400, the database lists four close matches. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average benchmark score of 2259, which is 0.2% higher than the i5-9400's average score of 2254. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, a 0.3% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% difference. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, a 0.4% difference on the other side. These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning that swapping in any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical performance in Control. The differences are so small that they would be imperceptible in actual frame rates.

For the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, the nearest rivals show a similar pattern. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 has an average score of 24277, which is 0.7% lower than the RX 6600 XT's average score of 24442. The Intel Arc A350M scores 24647, a 0.8% difference on the high side. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti scores 24236, a 0.8% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER scores 24170, a 1.1% difference. Again, these deltas are minimal, so any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in the measured scenarios. The RTX 2080 SUPER being this close is notable, as it suggests that in this game, the RX 6600 XT performs on par with a much older high-end card.

For users considering upgrades or replacements, the data indicates that moving to any of these rival components would not meaningfully change the outcome in Control. The performance envelope is tight, and the measured FPS values would stay within a few frames of the current results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides exact average frame rates for each resolution and preset combination. At 3840x2160, the results are as follows: Low settings deliver 57.5 FPS, Medium delivers 41.9 FPS, High delivers 36.8 FPS, and Ultra delivers 34.6 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 22.9 FPS, which represents a 40% reduction. No min or max values were recorded for this resolution, so the analysis relies on averages alone.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates improve substantially. Low settings reach 90.8 FPS, Medium hits 61.1 FPS, High manages 56.7 FPS, and Ultra settles at 49.8 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 41.0 FPS, a 45% reduction. The 1440p Medium result is the only preset at this resolution that clears the 60 FPS threshold, and it does so by a margin of just 1.1 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its best performance. Low settings deliver 117.1 FPS, Medium reaches 86.7 FPS, High achieves 72.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 64.3 FPS. The gap from Low to Ultra is 52.8 FPS, a 45% reduction. All four presets clear 60 FPS, with Ultra having the smallest margin at 4.3 FPS above the threshold.

The pattern across resolutions shows consistent scaling: each step from Low to Ultra reduces frame rates by roughly 10-15 FPS at 1080p, 12-15 FPS at 1440p, and 4-7 FPS at 4K. The 4K results are compressed because the GPU is already near its limit even at Low settings. The data also shows that moving from 1080p to 1440p at the same preset costs about 22-27 FPS, while moving from 1440p to 4K costs about 33-35 FPS. These transitions highlight the GPU's diminishing returns as resolution increases.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 1920x1080 with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 delivers an average of 64.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. All four presets at this resolution are playable.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: Medium is the best setting that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 61.1 FPS. Low also clears the threshold at 90.8 FPS, but High and Ultra fall short at 56.7 FPS and 49.8 FPS respectively.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combination?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best recorded result is 57.5 FPS on Low settings, which still falls below the 60 FPS threshold. No preset at 4K is marked as playable in the database.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from Low to Ultra at 1080p?

A: The drop is significant. Low delivers 117.1 FPS, while Ultra delivers 64.3 FPS, a difference of 52.8 FPS, which is roughly a 45% reduction in frame rate.

Q: Which component is more important for this game?

A: The GPU plays the larger role at higher resolutions. At 4K, the RX 6600 XT is the limiting factor, as no preset reaches 60 FPS. At 1080p, the CPU becomes more relevant, as frame rates are high enough to expose processor limits.

Q: How does this system compare to similar hardware?

A: The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, score within 0.4% of the i5-9400. The GPU's nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 and RTX 2080 SUPER, score within 1.1% of the RX 6600 XT. Swapping in any of these would produce nearly identical results.

The Verdict

The recorded data provides a clear verdict for this system. At 1920x1080, the combination of Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT can run Control at Ultra settings with an average of 64.3 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. All presets at this resolution are playable, making 1080p the optimal target for this pairing. At 2560x1440, the system can run the game at Medium settings with 61.1 FPS, which is just above the threshold, and Low settings at 90.8 FPS offer a smoother experience. High and Ultra at 1440p fall short of 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system cannot reach 60 FPS under any preset, with the best result being 57.5 FPS on Low.

The verdict by resolution is straightforward. This PC can run Control at 1080p with maximum quality, at 1440p with medium quality, and not at 4K. The data shows a system that is well-suited for standard high-refresh gaming at 1080p, acceptable for 1440p with settings compromises, and inadequate for 4K. Users should target 1080p Ultra for the best balance of visual quality and performance, or 1440p Medium if they prefer higher resolution over maximum settings. The 60 FPS threshold is met in exactly one preset at 1440p and all presets at 1080p, which defines the practical boundaries of this configuration.