Control

FAQ

Q: What is the Intel Core i5-9400's place in the CPU benchmark hierarchy?

A: The Core i5-9400 sits at the 47th percentile among all CPUs tested in the database. Its average benchmark score is 2254, placing it in the middle of the pack for desktop processors.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in raw compute benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3080's average benchmark score is 23172, which places it within 0.4% of several nearby competitors. The NVIDIA P106-100 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 both score within 0.3% of the RTX 3080, while the AMD Radeon RX 6600M and Radeon R9 M290X trail by 0.4%.

Q: Which resolution delivers the highest average frame rate for this combination?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings produces the highest measured average at 163 FPS. The same resolution at Ultra still delivers 104.9 FPS, showing this combo is well suited to 1080p gaming.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the playable settings are Low and Medium, with averages of 94 FPS and 64.7 FPS respectively. High and Ultra settings fall below the 60 FPS threshold at 57.8 FPS and 54.8 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 2560x1440 for this combo?

A: The database records all four settings presets as playable at 2560x1440. Ultra is the best choice, delivering an average of 78.5 FPS, which remains comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: How does this CPU and GPU pairing rank among all tested combinations in Control?

A: The combo ranks 1133 out of 3720 tested combinations in the database, placing it in the upper portion of the overall distribution for this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured frame rates across resolutions reveal how the balance of CPU and GPU responsibility shifts as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080, the system produces very high frame rates across all settings, with Low hitting 163 FPS and Ultra reaching 104.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 58.1 FPS, which shows that graphics settings have a substantial impact, but the overall headroom is large enough that even the heaviest preset stays well past 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages compress downward but remain strong. Low delivers 138.7 FPS, Medium drops to 98 FPS, High lands at 87.4 FPS, and Ultra settles at 78.5 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra here is 60.2 FPS, a slightly wider spread than at 1080p. This suggests that at 1440p, the GPU is beginning to take on more of the workload, but the CPU still has enough headroom to keep frame rates elevated.

At 3840x2160, the pattern changes noticeably. Low produces 94 FPS, Medium drops to 64.7 FPS, High falls to 57.8 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 54.8 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 39.2 FPS, narrower than at lower resolutions. This compression indicates that at 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. The CPU's role diminishes as the render resolution increases, because the GPU must process far more pixels per frame, and the frame rate becomes limited by graphics throughput rather than processor speed.

The scaling pattern is clear: at 1080p, the system has enough CPU and GPU power that neither component is severely limiting, and the frame rates are high across the board. At 1440p, the GPU begins to assert more influence, but the combo still clears 78 FPS at Ultra. At 4K, the GPU is the primary factor, and only Low and Medium settings can sustain 60 FPS or better. The data shows a progressive shift from a balanced workload at 1080p to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K, which is typical for a game like Control with demanding visual effects.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination at rank 1133 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. That puts the pairing in the top third of all recorded configurations. The rank reflects the combined capability of the CPU and GPU working together in this specific title, not just the individual performance of either part.

The CPU alone sits at the 47th percentile among all processors, which is essentially mid-pack. Its average benchmark score of 2254 is modest by current standards. However, the GPU is far stronger, sitting at the 68th percentile among all graphics cards with an average score of 23172. The combination of a mid-range CPU and a high-end GPU produces a system that ranks well above the median for this game, which suggests that Control's performance in this configuration is driven primarily by the graphics card.

The rank of 1133 out of 3720 means that roughly 30% of tested combos perform better in Control, while about 70% perform worse. This is a solid result for a pairing that pairs a six-core Coffee Lake processor with an Ampere flagship. The high GPU percentile relative to the CPU percentile indicates that the RTX 3080 is doing most of the heavy lifting in this game, and the i5-9400 is sufficient to keep it fed at most settings and resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-9400 are all within 0.4% of its average benchmark score. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, just 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, also 0.3% lower. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% higher. Any of these processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Control, meaning the frame rates recorded for the i5-9400 should closely match what a system with one of these chips would produce, assuming the same GPU and settings.

For the GPU side, the nearest rivals are similarly close. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, 0.3% above the RTX 3080's 23172. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 scores 23250, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23273, 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276, 0.4% higher. All four of these graphics cards fall within a rounding error of the RTX 3080's average benchmark score. In practical terms, swapping the RTX 3080 for any of these cards should result in nearly identical frame rates in Control at the same resolution and settings.

The implication is that this combo's measured performance is representative of a broader cluster of hardware. A system built with any of the rival CPUs listed above and any of the rival GPUs listed above would likely produce frame rates within a few percent of the numbers recorded here. The exact ranking of 1133 out of 3720 could shift slightly with different pairings, but the overall experience would be essentially unchanged.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 163 FPS, Medium reaches 132.9 FPS, High drops to 118.1 FPS, and Ultra still holds at 104.9 FPS. Every preset at this resolution clears the 60 FPS threshold by a wide margin, and even the most demanding settings leave substantial headroom for high refresh rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the averages remain high but begin to show the influence of increased pixel count. Low settings average 138.7 FPS, Medium comes in at 98 FPS, High lands at 87.4 FPS, and Ultra settles at 78.5 FPS. All four presets remain above 60 FPS at this resolution, with Ultra being the best playable setting at 78.5 FPS average.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates at the heavier presets. Low settings produce 94 FPS, Medium drops to 64.7 FPS, High falls below 60 FPS at 57.8 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 54.8 FPS. The playable settings at this resolution are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best choice at 64.7 FPS average.

The min and max FPS fields are null in the recorded data, so only average frame rates are available for analysis. The absence of min and max values means the data cannot show frame time spikes or dips, but the averages provide a clear picture of overall performance. The system clearly excels at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires settings reductions to stay within playable bounds.

The Verdict

The verdict is clear: this PC can run Control well at 1080p and 1440p, and it can manage 4K with reduced settings. At 1920x1080, all four settings presets are playable, with Ultra delivering 104.9 FPS average. At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable, with Ultra at 78.5 FPS average. At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium are playable, with Medium being the best at 64.7 FPS average.

The 60 FPS playability threshold is cleared at every resolution, but not at every settings preset. At 4K, High and Ultra fall short at 57.8 FPS and 54.8 FPS respectively. Gamers with a 4K display should stick to Medium settings to maintain smooth frame rates. Those with 1440p or 1080p displays can max out the settings and still enjoy well over 60 FPS.

The data indicates that the RTX 3080 is the dominant component in this pairing, and the i5-9400 does not meaningfully bottleneck the system at most settings and resolutions. The only scenario where the CPU might become more relevant is at 1080p with Low settings, where the 163 FPS average suggests the GPU is still capable of more, but the overall experience is already well beyond the playability threshold. This is a capable combination for Control, with the caveat that 4K Ultra is not achievable at 60 FPS.