Control

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a strong performance profile for Control, but the experience is heavily dependent on resolution and preset selection. At 1080p, the combination is fully capable of running the game at maximum settings with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. Moving to 1440p, the system remains highly playable, though the Ultra preset dips below the 60 FPS line, making High the optimal choice for a locked experience. At 4K, the hardware struggles with higher presets, and only the Low setting consistently maintains playable frame rates. The data indicates a system that is excellent for high-refresh 1080p and solid 1440p gaming, but one that requires significant graphical compromises for 4K output.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded FPS data for this combination shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 129.2 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 93.8 FPS, while High settings yield 85 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 72.3 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU and GPU combination has ample headroom for all preset levels.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but begins to show the strain of increased pixel count. The Low preset achieves an average of 97.4 FPS. Medium settings record an average of 71.2 FPS, and High settings stay playable at 63.3 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 56.4 FPS, falling below the 60 FPS threshold. This makes High the most demanding preset that remains consistently playable at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens considerably. Low settings manage to stay above the threshold with an average of 67.7 FPS. Medium settings drop to exactly 50 FPS, High settings fall to 43.1 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 36.8 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming with this hardware requires the lowest preset to maintain a playable experience, and even then the margin above 60 FPS is slim.

The scaling between presets is consistent across resolutions: each step from Low to Ultra reduces performance by a significant margin. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 56.9 FPS, at 1440p it is 41 FPS, and at 4K it is 30.9 FPS. This suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and presets, while the CPU keeps up adequately at lower settings where frame rates are highest.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places this specific CPU and GPU combination within a broader context of similar-performing hardware. The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254, placing it at the 47th percentile among all tested CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which scores 2259 and is 0.2% faster, and the Intel Core i7-10710U, which scores 2248 and is 0.3% slower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, also 0.4% slower, while the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% faster. These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning any of these processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Control. For practical purposes, swapping the i5-9400 for any of these chips would not produce a noticeable change in frame rates, as the differences are negligible.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20282, placing it at the 65th percentile among all tested GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M with a score of 20480, which is 1% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile with a score of 20534, which is 1.2% faster. The Intel Arc B570 scores 20556, 1.3% faster, and the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, 1.5% faster. These differences are small enough that the RTX 2070 SUPER and its rivals would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control. The Quadro M4000M is a professional-grade card, but its performance profile here is comparable. The RTX 3070 Mobile, despite being a laptop part, also lands in the same performance band. The Intel Arc cards, both desktop models, similarly bracket the RTX 2070 SUPER within a 1.5% margin.

For a user considering alternatives, the data suggests that any of these GPUs would deliver within a few percent of the same performance. The combination of the i5-9400 with any of these GPUs would yield a similar experience, meaning the choice between them would come down to factors other than raw performance in Control, such as driver maturity or feature support.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 72.3, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming with this hardware?

A: The best preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 63.3 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 56.4 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: Only with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 67.7 FPS. All other presets at 4K fall below 60 FPS: Medium at 50 FPS, High at 43.1 FPS, and Ultra at 36.8 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20282. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, is 1% faster with a score of 20480. The Intel Arc B570 and Arc A750 are 1.3% and 1.5% faster, respectively.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its nearest rival CPUs?

A: The i5-9400 scores 2254 on average. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, which is 0.2% faster. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% faster, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% slower.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 85 FPS, which provides a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC is fully capable of running Control, but the playable settings vary significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) clear the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset runs at 72.3 FPS, giving users the full visual experience without sacrificing smoothness. This is the ideal resolution for this hardware, as it allows maximum settings with a comfortable margin.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable on three presets: Low at 97.4 FPS, Medium at 71.2 FPS, and High at 63.3 FPS. The Ultra preset falls short at 56.4 FPS, so users seeking the highest visual fidelity at this resolution would need to accept frame rates below 60. For a locked 60 FPS experience, High is the recommended choice.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset stays above 60 FPS, with an average of 67.7 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all drop below the threshold, making 4K gaming a compromise-heavy endeavor. Users with 4K displays would need to prioritize frame rate over visual quality, and even then the margin is modest. The verdict is clear: this system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K limited to the lowest settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 72.3 FPS. This allows users to run the game at maximum settings with a 12.3 FPS margin above the playable threshold. The data shows that even the heaviest preset does not push this hardware to its limit at 1080p.

For 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that maintains 60 FPS is High, with an average of 63.3 FPS. This provides a 3.3 FPS margin, which is acceptable but not large. The next step up, Ultra, drops to 56.4 FPS, so High is the clear cutoff for a smooth experience at this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the only preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 67.7 FPS. This is the sole viable option for 4K gaming with this hardware. The margin is 7.7 FPS, which is sufficient but leaves little room for demanding scenes. Users at this resolution must accept the lowest visual settings to maintain playability.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 2126 out of 3720 total combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking, which is consistent with the component-level percentiles: the CPU sits at the 47th percentile and the GPU at the 65th percentile. The rank reflects that while the GPU is above average, the CPU is slightly below the midpoint, and the combination as a whole does not reach the upper tiers of performance.

The ranking indicates that there are 1594 tested combinations that perform worse and 2125 that perform better. This is a middle-ground result for a system that excels at 1080p and handles 1440p well, but it is not a top-tier configuration. The data shows that the GPU carries more of the performance weight, as its 65th percentile is notably higher than the CPU's 47th percentile. For Control specifically, the combination performs admirably at lower resolutions, but the overall ranking reflects its limitations at 4K and with the most demanding presets.