Control

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The recorded data shows a 4K Low average of 73.8 FPS. At Medium, the average drops to 56.4 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High and Ultra settings at 3840x2160 produce 50.6 FPS and 39.3 FPS respectively, so they are not smooth enough for a 60 FPS target.

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

A: Ultra is the best preset at 2560x1440. The measured average at Ultra is 62.5 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. High, Medium, and Low also remain playable at this resolution, with averages of 74 FPS, 82.5 FPS, and 114.4 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its closest rival processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, putting it 0.4% behind the i5-9400. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, 0.4% ahead. These are very small differences, meaning the CPU sits in a tightly contested performance band.

Q: Is the RTX 5060 a strong GPU relative to other tested cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 26331. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is 1.2% lower with a score of 26011, while the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary is 0.8% higher at 26553. This places the card in a competitive mid-to-upper tier.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1080p on High settings?

A: The measured average at 1920x1080 with High settings is 93.3 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold and leaves headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra at 1080p still delivers 79.8 FPS, so there is no need to drop below High for smooth performance.

Q: Does the i5-9400 bottleneck the RTX 5060 in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck at any resolution. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K follows a predictable pattern driven by GPU load. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 39.3 FPS, which is consistent with GPU-bound rendering rather than CPU limitation.

CPU and GPU Roles

Control shows a clear GPU-bound workload across all tested configurations. The Intel Core i5-9400 delivers consistent frame pacing, and the performance differences between presets scale with GPU load rather than CPU throughput.

At 1920x1080, the gap between Low and Ultra is substantial. Low produces 145.7 FPS, while Ultra drops to 79.8 FPS. That is a 65.9 FPS spread, indicating that the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting. The CPU has enough headroom at 1080p to feed the RTX 5060 without holding it back. Even at Ultra, the frame rate stays above 60 FPS, which suggests the processor is not the limiting factor.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern continues. Low runs at 114.4 FPS, and Ultra still manages 62.5 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is a drop from 79.8 to 62.5 FPS, a 17.3 FPS reduction. This is typical of a GPU-bound title where pixel count directly impacts rendering cost. The i5-9400's six cores and six threads appear sufficient to maintain playable performance even when the GPU is under heavier load.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. Ultra averages only 39.3 FPS, and High drops to 50.6 FPS. Medium sits at 56.4 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold. Low is the only playable preset at 4K, delivering 73.8 FPS. The consistent decline across presets at 4K mirrors the GPU's rendering limits, not CPU performance. If the processor were the bottleneck, the frame rate would plateau regardless of resolution, but the data shows steady degradation as resolution increases.

The RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are enough for 1080p and 1440p at all presets. At 4K, memory capacity and bandwidth may contribute to the reduced performance, especially at Ultra where texture and shading demands are highest. The GPU's FP32 throughput of 19.18 TFLOPS is the primary driver of frame rate in this title, and the recorded numbers reflect that.

The i5-9400's benchmark scores reinforce the idea that the CPU is not the limiting factor here. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 6629, and its single-core score is 935. These are modest figures by modern standards, yet they are sufficient for Control. The game's engine does not appear to demand high thread counts, and the six-thread configuration of the i5-9400 is adequate.

The nearest CPU rivals tell a similar story. The i7-1068NG7 is only 0.2% faster in average score, and the i3-10305 is 0.4% faster. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming. The GPU's performance tier, on the other hand, has a much broader impact on frame rates. The RTX 5060's 72nd percentile ranking among GPUs, combined with its benchmark scores, places it well ahead of the CPU's 47th percentile ranking among processors. This asymmetry confirms that the GPU is the dominant component in this pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 5060 delivers strong performance across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 145.7 FPS. Medium follows at 104.8 FPS. High drops to 93.3 FPS, and Ultra still holds at 79.8 FPS. Every preset at 1080p clears the 60 FPS threshold with significant margin. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 65.9 FPS reduction, which is steep but expected for a GPU-bound title at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain playable across the board. Low runs at 114.4 FPS, Medium at 82.5 FPS, High at 74 FPS, and Ultra at 62.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 51.9 FPS compared with 1080p. Ultra barely clears the 60 FPS threshold, while the other presets provide comfortable headroom. The step from Medium to High costs 8.5 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 11.5 FPS.

At 3840x2160, performance drops significantly. Low is the only preset above 60 FPS, averaging 73.8 FPS. Medium falls to 56.4 FPS, just below the threshold. High manages 50.6 FPS, and Ultra drops to 39.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 34.5 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is 5.8 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 11.3 FPS. These numbers indicate that the GPU is struggling to maintain playable frame rates at higher visual quality settings in 4K.

The database records only average FPS values for this title. Minimum and maximum frame times are not available in the measured data, so stutter or frame pacing issues cannot be assessed. The averages alone suggest a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K limited to Low settings for a consistent 60 FPS experience.

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend: the RTX 5060 is most comfortable at 1080p and 1440p, where it can handle even Ultra presets. At 4K, the GPU's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus become limiting factors, forcing users to drop to Low for playable performance. The i5-9400 does not appear to interfere with these results, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution and preset changes.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 can run Control, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, this combo clears 60 FPS at every preset. Low averages 145.7 FPS, Medium 104.8 FPS, High 93.3 FPS, and Ultra 79.8 FPS. Players targeting a high refresh rate monitor can use Low or Medium, while those prioritizing visual quality can run Ultra without falling below 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, all four presets remain playable. Ultra averages 62.5 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold but leaves little margin for demanding scenes. High at 74 FPS and Medium at 82.5 FPS offer more headroom. Low runs at 114.4 FPS for maximum frame rates. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combination, balancing visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings clear 60 FPS, averaging 73.8 FPS. Medium drops to 56.4 FPS, High to 50.6 FPS, and Ultra to 39.3 FPS. For 4K gaming, users must accept Low settings for a smooth experience. The GPU simply does not have enough headroom for higher presets at this resolution.

The verdict is clear: this is a capable 1080p and 1440p machine for Control, with full preset freedom at both resolutions. At 4K, the system is limited to Low settings for 60 FPS gameplay. The RTX 5060's 8 GB memory capacity is likely a contributing factor to the sharp drop in performance at 4K Ultra, where texture and shading demands exceed what the card can deliver while maintaining frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1664 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places the pairing in the 55th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than half of the configurations in the database.

The rank reflects the GPU's strong performance relative to the CPU's modest standing. The RTX 5060 sits in the 72nd percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-9400 sits in the 47th percentile among all CPUs. The combination's overall rank of 1664 out of 3720 is a balanced result, slightly above the median.

The nearest GPU rivals help contextualize the rank. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 1.2% lower than the RTX 5060, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 0.8% higher. These small differences mean the GPU tier is tightly packed, and the combo's overall rank is driven more by the CPU's position than by GPU separation.

The CPU's nearest rivals are equally close. The i7-1068NG7 is 0.2% faster, and the i3-10305 is 0.4% faster. These margins are within noise and do not meaningfully change the combo's rank in a GPU-bound title like Control.

The rank of 1664 out of 3720 indicates that this system is a solid mid-tier performer. It is not a top-tier configuration, but it is comfortably above average. For a game like Control, which is not extremely demanding by modern standards, this rank translates into playable performance at most resolutions and presets, as confirmed by the measured FPS data.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 79.8 FPS. This gives players full visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. There is no need to compromise at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, Ultra also remains playable, averaging 62.5 FPS. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold, so players who want more margin can drop to High at 74 FPS. For the best visual experience while maintaining 60 FPS, Ultra is the recommended setting, but High is the safer choice for consistent frame pacing.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 73.8 FPS. Medium falls below the threshold at 56.4 FPS, so it is not viable for a 60 FPS target. Players at 4K must accept Low settings to achieve smooth performance.

The data suggests that the RTX 5060 is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can run Ultra presets without issue. At 4K, the GPU's limitations force a significant quality reduction. The i5-9400 does not constrain the experience at any resolution, as the frame rates are consistently GPU-bound. For the best balance of visual quality and performance, 1440p Ultra is the recommended configuration, delivering 62.5 FPS with the highest settings available.