Control

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 lands at rank 2608 out of 3720 tested combinations in Control. That places this combo in the 30th percentile of all systems in the database, meaning roughly 70% of tested configurations deliver higher frame rates in this title. The ranking reflects a mid-pack position: the system is not a top-tier performer for Control, but it is far from the bottom of the field.

The CPU sits at the 47th percentile among all processors, while the GPU is at the 57th percentile among all graphics cards. That gap matters. The processor is the weaker link in this pairing, and the recorded frame rates show it holding back the graphics card in certain scenarios. The combo rank of 2608 is driven more by the CPU's modest standing than by the GPU's slightly better percentile placement.

Looking at the absolute scores, the CPU's average benchmark score is 2254, while the GPU's average is 15171. The GPU is clearly the dominant component in raw compute terms. However, Control's engine does not always scale perfectly with GPU power, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU becomes the limiting factor.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the processor and graphics card across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a larger role. The frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings is 53 FPS (118 vs 65), which is substantial, but the absolute numbers at Low (118 FPS) suggest the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to hit high frame rates. The real bottleneck appears when comparing resolution scaling.

Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the frame rate drops from 118 to 89 FPS, a 25% reduction. That is a significant loss that points to GPU limitations at higher pixel counts, but the CPU still manages to keep the system above 60 FPS. At 3840x2160 Low, the frame rate drops to 60 FPS exactly, which is the playable threshold. This progression shows the GPU becoming the primary constraint as resolution increases.

At Medium settings, the scaling is even more telling. From 1080p (84 FPS) to 1440p (64 FPS) is a 24% drop, and from 1440p to 4K (43 FPS) is another 33% drop. The GPU is clearly struggling at 4K Medium, while the CPU is not the limiting factor at that point. The 4K Ultra result of 33 FPS confirms that the GPU is overwhelmed at the highest settings.

Conversely, at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate is 65 FPS, which is only 10 FPS below the 1440p Medium result of 64 FPS. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is beginning to constrain the system, as the GPU has headroom but cannot fully utilize it due to the processor's limits. The 47th percentile CPU ranking supports this interpretation.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 1920x1080 with all settings maxed out?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 1080p delivers an average of 65 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. All four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at this resolution.

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

A: Medium is the highest preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1440p, with an average of 64 FPS. High drops to 56 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this combo?

A: Only at Low settings. The 3840x2160 Low preset averages exactly 60 FPS. Medium drops to 43 FPS, High to 38 FPS, and Ultra to 33 FPS, none of which are playable.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, a delta of -0.2%. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4% delta. All four nearest rivals are within 0.7% of the i5-9400 in average score, meaning they would perform nearly identically in CPU-bound scenarios.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15171. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, a -0.2% delta. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, a -0.7% delta. The closest competitor is the RTX 3050 OEM, which is virtually indistinguishable in average score.

Q: What frame rate range can be expected at 1440p Medium?

A: The recorded data shows an average of 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. This means the system will occasionally dip below 60 FPS, but the average stays above the threshold.

The Verdict

This system can run Control, but the answer depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the verdict is a clear yes. Every preset from Low to Ultra clears 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset averaging 65 FPS. This is the resolution where the combo is most comfortable, and users can max out the game without concern.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is conditional. Medium settings average 64 FPS, which is playable, but the minimum recorded frame rate of 54 FPS means there will be occasional dips below the threshold. High settings drop to 56 FPS on average, which is not playable by the database's standard. Users at 1440p should stick to Medium or lower for a consistent experience.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is barely positive. Low settings average exactly 60 FPS, which meets the playable threshold, but there is no headroom. Any demanding scene could push the frame rate below 60. Medium and above are not playable, with averages ranging from 33 to 43 FPS.

The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it offers full flexibility in settings. For 1440p, it requires a preset compromise, and for 4K, it is limited to the lowest settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database are all within a fraction of a percent in average score. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259 score, -0.2% delta) would behave nearly identically in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core i7-10710U (2248, 0.3% delta) and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, 0.4% delta) are also close matches. The Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, -0.4% delta) is the strongest of the group but still within 0.5% of the i5-9400. Users replacing the CPU with any of these four would see no meaningful change in Control's frame rates.

The GPU's nearest rivals show similar clustering. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, -0.2% delta) is the closest match and would produce nearly identical frame rates. The AMD Radeon 680M (15270, -0.7% delta) is slightly ahead in average score but still within 1%. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X (15082, 0.6% delta) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (15063, 0.7% delta) are slightly behind but again within a small margin. For Control specifically, swapping the RX 7600 for any of these would result in the same playability profile at each resolution.

The practical takeaway is that this combo sits in a tightly packed cluster of hardware. The rank of 2608 out of 3720 reflects the average performance of this group, not an outlier configuration.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 65 FPS. This is the recommended setting for full visual quality at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is Medium, averaging 64 FPS. This is the highest setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS, though the minimum of 54 FPS indicates some variance.

At 3840x2160, the only playable preset is Low, averaging exactly 60 FPS. This meets the threshold but offers no margin for error. Users seeking higher visual fidelity at 4K would need a more powerful GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and presets.

1920x1080:

• Low: average 118 FPS
• Medium: average 84 FPS, minimum 71 FPS, maximum 97 FPS
• High: average 75 FPS
• Ultra: average 65 FPS

At 1080p, all four presets are comfortably above 60 FPS. The Medium preset shows a tight frame time distribution, with the minimum only 13 FPS below the average.

2560x1440:

• Low: average 89 FPS
• Medium: average 64 FPS, minimum 54 FPS, maximum 73 FPS
• High: average 56 FPS
• Ultra: average 49 FPS

The 1440p results show a clear step down from 1080p. Low remains highly playable at 89 FPS, but the Medium preset's minimum of 54 FPS reveals the GPU's strain. High and Ultra fall below the playable threshold.

3840x2160:

• Low: average 60 FPS
• Medium: average 43 FPS, minimum 36 FPS, maximum 49 FPS
• High: average 38 FPS
• Ultra: average 33 FPS

At 4K, the system is severely limited. Only Low meets the 60 FPS threshold, and it does so exactly. The Medium preset shows significant frame time spikes, with the minimum dropping to 36 FPS. High and Ultra are not viable for smooth gameplay.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the combo is strongest at 1080p, capable at 1440p with reduced settings, and only marginally playable at 4K on the lowest preset.