Control

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a distinct performance profile in Control, a 2019 Action Adventure title. The recorded data shows a system that scales predictably with resolution and settings, with the CPU holding its own in the most demanding scenarios. At 1080p and 1440p, this combo provides smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay, while 4K requires a compromise on visual fidelity to maintain a playable frame rate. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all tested configurations, contextualizes the ranking among thousands of other combos, and identifies the optimal settings for each resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best setting for 4K gameplay with this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, the only setting that clears the 60 FPS threshold is Low, which produces an average of 82.9 FPS. High, Medium, and Ultra settings all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 48.6, 58.9, and 46.1 FPS respectively.

Q: Can this system run Control at Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 63.5 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the most demanding preset that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and High settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 158 FPS on Low to 98.5 FPS on High, a decrease of 59.5 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra is smaller, moving from 98.5 FPS to 87.1 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combination ranks 1603 out of 3720 total tested combos for Control. This places it in the upper half of the database, though it is not a top-tier performer for this specific title.

Q: Which resolution has the largest performance gap between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The largest absolute gap is at 1920x1080, where the difference between Low (158 FPS) and Ultra (87.1 FPS) is 70.9 FPS. At 2560x1440, the gap is 55.3 FPS, and at 3840x2160, the gap is 36.8 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 a bottleneck for this CPU in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K, even with a capable CPU, Ultra settings only reach 46.1 FPS, indicating the graphics card cannot maintain 60 FPS at that load. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the 158 FPS result shows the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at high frame rates.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets reveals a clear division of labor between the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. At lower resolutions, the CPU's role becomes more prominent, while at higher resolutions, the GPU's workload dominates.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high enough to suggest that both components are working in tandem. The jump from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average FPS from 158 to 87.1. This 44.9% drop indicates a heavy reliance on the GPU as the settings workload increases. However, the CPU must be capable of issuing draw calls and physics calculations at a rate that supports 158 FPS, which it does. The data shows that the i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, is sufficient to avoid being a major constraint at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU load increases noticeably. The Low setting average drops from 158 FPS at 1080p to 118.8 FPS at 1440p, a 24.8% reduction. The Ultra setting drops from 87.1 FPS to 63.5 FPS, a 27.1% reduction. This consistent scaling indicates that the GPU is now the primary bottleneck. The CPU is still performing its role adequately, but the frame rate is increasingly dictated by the RTX 3070's fill rate and shading power.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Low setting average falls to 82.9 FPS, while the Ultra setting plummets to 46.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is a 44.4% performance swing, which is comparable to the swing at 1080p. This suggests that the GPU is saturated across all settings, and the CPU's performance headroom is irrelevant at this resolution. The recorded data shows that the RTX 3070 cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K on any preset above Low, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

The scaling between resolutions for the same preset further confirms this. For High settings, the average FPS drops from 98.5 at 1080p to 75.6 at 1440p (a 23.2% drop) and then to 48.6 at 4K (a 35.7% drop from 1440p). This accelerating decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the pixel count grows faster than the GPU's ability to process it. The CPU's role is to keep the GPU fed, and the data indicates it does so without becoming a bottleneck at any tested setting.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. The average frame rates are as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 82.9 FPS average
• Medium: 58.9 FPS average
• High: 48.6 FPS average
• Ultra: 46.1 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 118.8 FPS average
• Medium: 85.4 FPS average
• High: 75.6 FPS average
• Ultra: 63.5 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 158 FPS average
• Medium: 114.1 FPS average
• High: 98.5 FPS average
• Ultra: 87.1 FPS average

No minimum or maximum FPS values are recorded in the database, so the analysis relies solely on the average frame rates. The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution from 1080p to 4K reduces the average FPS across all settings. The most significant relative drop occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K, particularly at the High and Ultra settings, where the average FPS falls below 50.

At 1080p, the system is clearly overqualified for Low settings, delivering a 158 FPS average. Even at Ultra, the 87.1 FPS average leaves substantial headroom for a 60 Hz or 144 Hz display. The Medium setting at 1080p, with 114.1 FPS, offers a balanced point between visual quality and performance.

At 1440p, the Ultra setting just barely crosses the 60 FPS threshold with 63.5 FPS. This is a playable result, but it leaves little margin for demanding scenes. The High setting at 75.6 FPS provides a more comfortable buffer, while Low and Medium offer high refresh rate performance. The 118.8 FPS on Low at 1440p is notably high, indicating the CPU is not a limiting factor even at this resolution.

At 4K, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates on medium to high settings. The Medium setting at 58.9 FPS is just below the 60 FPS threshold, while High and Ultra fall to 48.6 and 46.1 FPS respectively. Only the Low setting, at 82.9 FPS, provides a smooth experience. The drop from Medium to High at 4K is 10.3 FPS, while the drop from High to Ultra is only 2.5 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns and a hard GPU limit.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Control, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 achieves a rank of 1603 out of 3720 total combos. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms 43% of the combinations in the database for this game.

This ranking is influenced by both components. The CPU, the Intel Core i5-9400, has an average benchmark score of 2254 and sits in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which has a nearly identical average score of 2259, a difference of only 0.2%. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is also very close, with a score of 2246, just 0.4% lower. This indicates that the CPU is a mid-pack performer, not a top-tier chip but far from a weak link.

The GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, has an average benchmark score of 17208 and sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which scores 17083, a 0.7% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 and AMD Radeon HD 7970M are also close, with scores of 17037 and 17019 respectively, showing that the RTX 3070 is slightly above these older or lower-tier cards.

The combined rank of 1603 suggests that while the GPU is above average, the overall system is pulled down by the CPU's mid-range position. The data shows that the RTX 3070 is capable of high frame rates, but the i5-9400's performance ceiling in CPU-bound scenarios may limit the system's overall potential in this game compared to combos with stronger processors.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Control has a nuanced answer depending on the resolution. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS average.

At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on all four tested settings. The lowest performing setting, Ultra, still averages 87.1 FPS, which is well above the threshold. This resolution is fully playable with no compromises necessary.

At 2560x1440, the system also clears the 60 FPS threshold on all four settings. The Ultra setting averages 63.5 FPS, which is above 60 FPS but with a slim margin. For a more stable experience, the High setting at 75.6 FPS is a safer choice, but Ultra is technically playable.

At 3840x2160, the system can only run the game at Low settings while maintaining an average above 60 FPS. The Low setting achieves 82.9 FPS, which is comfortable. The Medium setting falls short at 58.9 FPS, and High and Ultra are not playable at 48.6 and 46.1 FPS respectively.

The verdict is clear: this PC is a solid performer for 1080p and 1440p gaming, capable of running Control at maximum settings with a playable frame rate. For 4K gaming, the user must drop to Low settings to achieve a smooth experience, which is a significant visual compromise.

Best Settings per Resolution

The best setting is defined as the most demanding preset that maintains an average FPS at or above the 60 FPS threshold.

3840x2160: The best setting is Low, with an average of 82.9 FPS. This is the only setting at this resolution that clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium comes close at 58.9 FPS but falls short.

2560x1440: The best setting is Ultra, with an average of 63.5 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that remains playable. For users who prioritize a higher frame rate, High at 75.6 FPS or Medium at 85.4 FPS are also viable options.

1920x1080: The best setting is Ultra, with an average of 87.1 FPS. This provides the maximum visual quality while still delivering a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving room for high refresh rate displays.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users looking at comparable hardware, the benchmark data identifies the nearest rivals for both the CPU and GPU. These components would behave similarly in terms of overall system performance.

The Intel Core i5-9400's closest rivals are all within a 0.4% performance delta. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has an average score of 2259, which is 0.2% higher than the i5-9400. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, 0.4% lower, and the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher. Any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control when paired with the same GPU.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which scores 17083 (0.7% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690, which scores 17037 (1% lower). The AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019 (1.1% lower), and the NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468 (1.5% higher). The RX 7600 XT is the most relevant modern alternative, with performance that is statistically indistinguishable from the RTX 3070 in this context. A system with an RX 7600 XT paired with a similarly performing CPU would be expected to produce very similar FPS results in Control.