Control

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 delivers a robust experience in Control, with measured frame rates that comfortably exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold across most settings and resolutions. The data set includes average FPS readings for four quality presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) at three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160), revealing a system that scales predictably with graphical load while maintaining headroom for demanding configurations. The Radeon RX 9070, with its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and RDNA 4.0 architecture, pairs effectively with the 16-core, 24-thread Core i7-13700K, which itself ranks in the 89th percentile among all tested CPUs. The combination achieves a rank of 1129 out of 3720 tested combos in this game, placing it in the upper third of systems evaluated. This analysis examines the measured FPS data, component roles, and comparative performance to determine the optimal settings for each resolution, drawing exclusively from the provided benchmark results.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which delivers an average of 61.5 FPS. This is the only resolution where the Ultra preset falls below the playable threshold, with an average of 52.5 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution achieves 66 FPS, while Low reaches 94.5 FPS, but High is the highest quality option that maintains the target frame rate. The margin at High is slim — just 1.5 FPS above the 60 FPS baseline — indicating that this setting is viable but leaves little room for frame rate dips during intense combat sequences. For players prioritizing visual fidelity at 4K, High is the recommended ceiling, as the step to Ultra costs 9 FPS and drops the average below playable levels.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves considerably. The Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 74.9 FPS, which is 14.9 FPS above the threshold. This represents the highest quality setting available at this resolution, and the data shows all four presets clear 60 FPS: High at 84.9 FPS, Medium at 100.4 FPS, and Low at 134.4 FPS. The gap between Ultra and High is 10 FPS, suggesting that players who prefer smoother motion over maximum fidelity could drop to High for a more comfortable margin, but Ultra remains entirely playable. The 2560x1440 resolution offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with the Ultra preset providing a substantial headroom of nearly 15 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset again emerges as the best option, with an average of 98.1 FPS. This is the only resolution where Ultra maintains a large cushion above the threshold — 38.1 FPS of headroom. The other presets at this resolution are even faster: High at 115.9 FPS, Medium at 132 FPS, and Low at 180.1 FPS. The data indicates that 1080p gaming poses no challenge to this combination, as even the most demanding preset nearly doubles the playable threshold. The Ultra setting at 1080p is the clear recommendation for players with high-refresh-rate monitors, as the average FPS approaches 100, though those seeking maximum frame rates could drop to Low for a 180.1 FPS experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals a clear shift in component responsibility. At 1920x1080, the GPU is less burdened, allowing the Core i7-13700K to flex its processing power. The frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 82 FPS (180.1 vs. 98.1), a 46% drop that reflects the GPU’s increased workload at higher settings. However, the absolute FPS values at this resolution — even at Ultra — suggest the RX 9070 is not fully saturated, meaning the CPU’s 16 cores and 24 threads are capable of feeding the GPU with sufficient draw calls. The CPU’s passmark multithread score of 45887 and single-thread score of 4333 support this interpretation, as Control benefits from both strong single-core performance for game logic and multi-core capabilities for physics and AI.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take a more prominent role. The scaling from Low (134.4 FPS) to Ultra (74.9 FPS) represents a 44% reduction, similar in percentage to 1080p, but the absolute FPS drop is smaller (59.5 FPS vs. 82 FPS). This suggests that while the GPU is working harder, the CPU still has sufficient headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The RX 9070’s 36.13 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 644.6 GB/s memory bandwidth are increasingly relevant at this resolution, as the higher pixel count demands more from the rasterization and shading units. The fact that Ultra stays above 60 FPS at 1440p indicates the GPU can handle the increased resolution without dropping below playable levels.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. The frame rate drops to 52.5 FPS at Ultra, falling below the threshold, while High manages 61.5 FPS. The scaling from Low (94.5 FPS) to Ultra (52.5 FPS) is a 44% reduction, but the absolute drop of 42 FPS is smaller than at lower resolutions, indicating the GPU is nearing its limits. The CPU’s role diminishes here, as the 4K resolution places the majority of the workload on the RX 9070’s 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs. The data shows that at 4K, the system is GPU-limited across all settings, with the CPU providing consistent frame delivery without added overhead. This is typical for a 2019 game like Control, which was released before the current generation of GPUs and does not heavily utilize multi-threaded CPU resources beyond what the 13700K readily provides.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080: The Low preset produces an average of 180.1 FPS, the highest measured value in the entire data set. Medium achieves 132 FPS, High reaches 115.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 98.1 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 82 FPS, showing a 46% performance penalty for maximum quality. The step from Low to Medium costs 48.1 FPS, while Medium to High costs 16.1 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 17.8 FPS. This indicates that the largest performance hit occurs when moving from Low to Medium, while the differences between Medium, High, and Ultra are more moderate.

2560x1440: The Low preset records 134.4 FPS, which is 45.7 FPS lower than the same preset at 1080p. Medium delivers 100.4 FPS, High 84.9 FPS, and Ultra 74.9 FPS. The resolution increase from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by approximately 25-30% across all presets, with the smallest absolute drop at Ultra (23.2 FPS) and the largest at Low (45.7 FPS). The scaling between presets at 1440p is consistent: Low to Medium costs 34 FPS, Medium to High costs 15.5 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 10 FPS. The diminishing returns at higher presets are evident, as the gap between High and Ultra narrows to just 10 FPS.

3840x2160: The Low preset achieves 94.5 FPS, which is 39.9 FPS lower than the same preset at 1440p. Medium records 66 FPS, High 61.5 FPS, and Ultra 52.5 FPS. The resolution jump from 1440p to 4K imposes a heavier penalty: Low drops by 39.9 FPS, Medium by 34.4 FPS, High by 23.4 FPS, and Ultra by 22.4 FPS. The scaling pattern changes at 4K, where the difference between Medium (66 FPS) and High (61.5 FPS) is only 4.5 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is 9 FPS. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute resources become the limiting factor, with diminishing returns for each preset step beyond Medium.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with maximum settings?*

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 52.5, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest playable preset at 4K is High, which achieves 61.5 FPS.

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

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 delivers 74.9 FPS, which is 14.9 FPS above the threshold. All four presets at 1440p clear 60 FPS, with Low reaching 134.4 FPS, Medium 100.4 FPS, and High 84.9 FPS.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At Low settings, frame rates drop from 180.1 FPS at 1080p to 94.5 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 85.6 FPS (47.5%). At Ultra settings, the drop is from 98.1 FPS to 52.5 FPS, a reduction of 45.6 FPS (46.5%).

Q: Which component is more important at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a larger role, as the GPU has more headroom. The Core i7-13700K’s strong single-thread and multi-thread scores (4333 and 45887 on passmark) ensure the RX 9070 is well-fed, with frame rates exceeding 98 FPS even at Ultra settings.

Q: Is the Ultra preset at 1080p worth the performance cost?

A: The Ultra preset at 1080p delivers 98.1 FPS, which is 17.8 FPS lower than High (115.9 FPS). While Ultra provides visual improvements, the 18% performance penalty might be noticeable on high-refresh-rate displays, though both settings remain well above the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: This combination ranks 1129 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 70th percentile of systems evaluated. This ranking is based on measured performance across the tested resolutions and presets.

The Verdict

This PC can definitively run Control at playable frame rates across all three tested resolutions, though with limitations at 4K. At 1920x1080, all four presets — Low (180.1 FPS), Medium (132 FPS), High (115.9 FPS), and Ultra (98.1 FPS) — clear the 60 FPS threshold by substantial margins, making this resolution the most comfortable for gameplay. The Ultra preset is the recommended choice, as it maintains nearly 100 FPS while delivering maximum visual quality. At 2560x1440, the system again achieves playable performance at every preset, with Ultra at 74.9 FPS representing the best balance of fidelity and smoothness. The 14.9 FPS headroom at Ultra provides a reasonable buffer for demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the system is more constrained. The Ultra preset falls below the threshold at 52.5 FPS, and the playable settings are limited to High (61.5 FPS), Medium (66 FPS), and Low (94.5 FPS). The High preset is the best option for 4K, offering the highest quality while staying just above 60 FPS, but the slim 1.5 FPS margin suggests that players with VRR displays or those sensitive to frame drops might prefer Medium for its 4.5 FPS additional headroom. The verdict by resolution confirms this: 1080p and 1440p support Ultra settings, while 4K caps at High. Overall, this combination is well-suited for Control, delivering a smooth experience at mainstream resolutions and only requiring a modest quality reduction for 4K gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 9070 combination achieves a rank of 1129 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the upper 30% of systems evaluated. This ranking reflects the measured FPS data across all resolutions and presets, with the combo performing particularly well at 1080p and 1440p where it maintains high frame rates. The Core i7-13700K’s percentile of 89 among all CPUs indicates strong processor performance, while the RX 9070’s 69th percentile suggests the GPU is above average but not top-tier. The combined rank of 1129 is consistent with this profile, as the GPU’s moderate percentile prevents the combo from cracking the top 1000, but the CPU’s strength ensures solid overall performance.

The rank relative to the 3720 total combos implies that approximately 2591 other configurations perform worse in this game, while 1128 perform better. This places the combo in a competitive position, particularly for a game released in 2019 that may not fully utilize the latest hardware features. The data indicates that the bottleneck at higher resolutions is the GPU, as evidenced by the 4K Ultra result falling below 60 FPS. If the combo were paired with a more powerful GPU, the rank would likely improve, but the current configuration offers a balanced experience that excels at 1080p and 1440p.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU, several alternative configurations would produce similar performance in Control. The Core i7-13700K’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which averages 46971 in CPU benchmarks (0.2% higher than the 13700K’s 46881), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 at 47022 (0.3% higher). The Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46653 (0.5% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX achieves 46654 (0.5% lower). These CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Control, as the game’s CPU demands are modest relative to these processors’ capabilities.

On the GPU side, the Radeon RX 9070’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z (avg score 23736, 0.6% higher than the RX 9070’s 23877), the AMD Radeon RX 6800S (24063, 0.8% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile (23628, 1.1% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (24170, 1.2% lower). These GPUs would yield frame rates within 1-2% of the RX 9070, meaning the measured FPS values in Control would remain essentially unchanged. For instance, swapping the RX 9070 for an RTX 2080 SUPER might reduce the 1080p Ultra average from 98.1 FPS to approximately 96.9 FPS, while a GTX TITAN Z could push it to 98.7 FPS — differences imperceptible in practice.

Combining these rivals, a system with a Ryzen 9 5900 and RTX 2080 SUPER would behave nearly identically to the tested combo, with the slight CPU advantage offset by the GPU’s minor deficit. Similarly, a Ryzen 9 7845HX paired with a Radeon RX 6800S would produce comparable results, given the 0.5% CPU difference and 0.8% GPU difference. The data suggests that any combination of these CPUs and GPUs would maintain the same playable settings across resolutions, with 1080p and 1440p supporting Ultra and 4K capping at High. These alternatives offer users flexibility in component selection without meaningful performance trade-offs in Control.