Control

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT delivers a wide range of performance in Control, depending on the resolution and quality preset selected. The recorded data shows that this combination can handle the game smoothly at most settings, though it encounters limitations at the highest resolution. The measurements provide a clear picture of how the CPU and GPU scale across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. With the Low preset, the average FPS reaches 159.8, which is exceptionally fluid and well beyond what the display can typically show. Moving to Medium drops the average to 114.9, still a very comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset produces an average of 104.6 FPS, showing only a modest performance hit compared to Medium. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding setting at this resolution, still maintains an average of 88.5 FPS. This indicates that the i5-9400 and RX 7700 XT have ample headroom at 1080p, allowing for the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a clear decline from the 1080p figures. The Low preset averages 119.4 FPS, which is a substantial drop from the 159.8 FPS seen at 1080p but still very fast. Medium settings yield an average of 86.1 FPS, while High comes in at 75.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 68.5 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold but leaves less margin for demanding scenes. The data shows that the performance gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is roughly 50 FPS, narrowing as the resolution increases, which points to the GPU being the limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the performance picture changes significantly. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 48.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and indicates the combo struggles with maximum settings at 4K. High settings average 52.6 FPS, also under the threshold. Medium settings improve to 58.8 FPS, barely missing the playable mark. Only the Low preset manages to clear 60 FPS at 4K, with an average of 82.4 FPS. This is a stark contrast to the 1080p results, showing that the RX 7700 XT, while capable at lower resolutions, cannot maintain high settings at 4K for this title.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 88.5 FPS. This allows users to experience the game with all visual features enabled while still having a comfortable performance buffer. The 1080p Ultra setting is the recommended choice for this resolution because the frame rate is high enough to ensure consistent smoothness in combat-heavy scenarios.

At 2560x1440, the best settings also point to Ultra, with an average of 68.5 FPS. While this is above the 60 FPS threshold, it is closer to the line compared to 1080p. The data shows that all four presets at 1440p clear 60 FPS, so users have the option to choose between higher frame rates with lower settings or maximum quality with a still-playable average. Ultra is the best setting because it provides the highest fidelity without crossing the playability boundary.

For 3840x2160, the situation is more restrictive. The only preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS is Low, which delivers 82.4 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall short, with averages of 58.8, 52.6, and 48.1 FPS respectively. Therefore, the best setting for 4K is Low, as it is the only configuration that meets the playability threshold. Users with 4K displays will need to accept reduced visual quality to maintain smooth gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT at position 1490 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the upper half of all configurations tested, indicating that it performs better than the median system. The percentile data for the individual components supports this: the CPU sits at the 47th percentile among all tested CPUs, while the GPU is at the 67th percentile among all GPUs. The higher GPU percentile suggests that the graphics card is the stronger part of this pairing, which aligns with the measured FPS scaling across resolutions.

The rank of 1490 out of 3720 means that roughly 60% of tested combos perform worse, while 40% perform better. This is a solid result for a mid-range setup, especially considering the game's release date and the age of the CPU. The combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as the FPS data confirms, but it falls behind at 4K Ultra where more powerful GPUs would pull ahead. The rank reflects the overall balance of the system, with the GPU doing most of the heavy lifting in this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. The closest match is the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2259, a delta of -0.2% indicating virtually identical performance. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, which is 0.3% lower, also a negligible difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, just 0.4% below the i5-9400. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, which is 0.4% higher. These rivals would behave nearly the same in Control, meaning any of these CPUs paired with the RX 7700 XT would produce similar FPS numbers, with differences of less than one percent in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT has an average score of 22549. The nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile, which scores 22435, a delta of 0.5% meaning the RX 7700 XT is slightly faster. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile scores 22729, which is 0.8% higher, indicating it would be marginally faster in GPU-bound scenes. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22895, 1.5% higher, so it would offer a small performance uplift. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 scores 22170, which is 1.7% lower, meaning it would be slightly slower. Swapping the RX 7700 XT for any of these cards would result in very similar frame rates, with the RTX 2080 being the most capable alternative and the RX 5700 being the weakest of the group.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in which component matters more as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the CPU has a more significant role because the GPU can render frames quickly, and the processor must keep up. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 71.3 FPS, from 159.8 down to 88.5. This large gap shows that the GPU is still the main driver of performance, but the CPU's six cores and six threads are sufficient to feed the RX 7700 XT without creating a major bottleneck.

At 2560x1440, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 50.9 FPS, from 119.4 down to 68.5. This reduction indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor, as the higher pixel count increases the rendering load. The CPU's influence diminishes slightly, but the i5-9400 still provides enough throughput to avoid holding back the GPU in most scenarios.

At 3840x2160, the gap between Low and Ultra shrinks further to 34.3 FPS, from 82.4 down to 48.1. This is a clear sign that the GPU is the dominant bottleneck. The RX 7700 XT is simply not powerful enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K, regardless of the CPU's capabilities. The scaling between resolutions shows that moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces average FPS by about 25% across presets, while moving from 1440p to 4K reduces it by another 30% or more. This indicates that the GPU is the primary component to upgrade for higher resolutions, while the CPU is adequate for this game.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 88.5 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 68.5 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and provides the highest visual quality.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this combo?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which achieves an average of 82.4 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1490th out of 3720 combos, placing it in the upper half of all tested configurations for Control.

Q: Which component is more important for this game at 1440p?

A: The GPU plays a larger role at 1440p, as the performance gap between Low and Ultra narrows compared to 1080p, indicating the RX 7700 XT is the primary limiting factor.

Q: What CPU is most similar to the Intel Core i5-9400?

A: The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has nearly identical performance, with a benchmark score 0.2% lower, so it would behave the same in this game.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT can run Control, but the experience varies greatly by resolution. At 1920x1080, this combo is more than capable, with Ultra settings averaging 88.5 FPS and Low reaching 159.8 FPS. Every preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, making this an excellent choice for 1080p gaming. At 2560x1440, the system also delivers playable performance across all settings, with Ultra averaging 68.5 FPS and Low at 119.4 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate.

The situation changes at 3840x2160, where only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS at 82.4 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra fall short, with averages of 58.8, 52.6, and 48.1 FPS respectively. Therefore, 4K gaming is only viable with reduced settings. The overall verdict is that this PC is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with high to ultra settings, but it cannot handle 4K at high quality. The GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU is sufficient for this title. Users with a 4K display should stick to Low settings or consider a more powerful GPU for a better experience.