Control

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B580 delivers a solid, if inconsistent, experience in Control. The data shows a system that can handle the game at 1080p with all settings maxed out, but which requires significant compromises at higher resolutions. This combination ranks 2807 out of 3720 tested hardware combos for this title, placing it in the lower-middle tier of overall performance. The CPU is a clear strength, while the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, a dynamic that defines the entire performance profile.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data places the Intel Core i7-14700F in a specific performance bracket alongside several other processors. Its average benchmark score of 53620 is nearly identical to that of the Intel Xeon 6505P, which scores 53701, a difference of just -0.2%. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X sits extremely close, with an average score of 53288, putting it 0.6% behind the i7-14700F. The AMD EPYC 7313P is also in the same vicinity, scoring 53206, which is 0.8% slower. The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 rounds out the group, scoring 53469, a 0.3% difference. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver a nearly identical level of processing performance in Control, meaning the choice between them would not meaningfully alter frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

On the graphics side, the Intel Arc B580's average benchmark score of 23021 places it in the company of some familiar names. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP scores 23061, a negligible 0.2% difference, suggesting a similar raw performance level. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is a close match as well, scoring 22895, which is 0.6% lower. Interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is also listed as a nearest rival with a score of 23172, placing it just 0.7% above the Arc B580. The NVIDIA P106-100 completes the list with a score of 23249, a 1% difference. This data indicates that in synthetic benchmarks, the Arc B580 trades blows with these cards, but the measured FPS in Control will be the ultimate judge of real-world performance.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Intel Core i7-14700F and the Intel Arc B580 in Control is heavily skewed by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 69.5 FPS on High settings and 114.8 FPS on Low. The large gap between Low and High settings suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as increasing graphical fidelity directly impacts the frame rate. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is more than capable of feeding the GPU at this resolution, as evidenced by the high frame rates on Low settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU's workload increases significantly. The average FPS on High settings drops from 69.5 at 1080p to 55.5, a 20.1% reduction. This scaling shows the Arc B580 is being pushed harder, and the CPU's role diminishes as the GPU becomes the limiting factor. At 3840x2160, the trend continues. The High preset yields an average of just 35.4 FPS, a 36.3% drop from the 1440p figure. The GPU is now the dominant constraint, and the CPU's performance headroom is largely irrelevant. The data makes it clear: at 1080p, the GPU is the primary driver of performance, and at 4K, it is almost entirely the bottleneck. The CPU's influence is most felt at lower resolutions and settings where frame rates are high enough to expose any processing limitations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across all resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system is generally playable across the board. The Low preset delivers an average of 114.8 FPS, providing a very smooth experience. Medium settings average 80 FPS, and High settings average 69.5 FPS. The most demanding preset, Ultra, still manages to hold an average of 61.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance envelope tightens. The Low preset achieves an average of 85.2 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings average 63.7 FPS, just clearing the 60 FPS mark. However, High settings drop to an average of 55.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 48.8 FPS. These figures indicate that the system struggles to maintain high frame rates with the more demanding presets at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed to its limits. The Low preset is the only one that remains playable, with an average of 60.9 FPS. Medium settings dip to 42.7 FPS, High to 35.4 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 32.3 FPS. The substantial frame rate drops between Low and Medium settings highlight the GPU's inability to cope with the increased pixel count and shading complexity at 4K. The data shows a clear pattern: the system is comfortable at 1080p, acceptable at 1440p with settings compromises, and only playable at 4K on the lowest settings.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can run Control, but the experience is highly dependent on the resolution and settings chosen. According to the verdict data, the system clears the 60 FPS playability threshold at 1920x1080 with all presets, including Ultra, which averages 61.3 FPS. This makes 1080p the definitive resolution for a fully unrestricted experience.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable but with restrictions. Only the Low and Medium presets achieve average frame rates at or above 60 FPS, with Medium averaging 63.7 FPS. High and Ultra settings fall below the threshold, with averages of 55.5 and 48.8 FPS respectively. Therefore, at 1440p, users must stick to Medium or lower settings for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the system is only playable on the Low preset, which averages 60.9 FPS. All other presets fail to reach the 60 FPS target, with Medium averaging 42.7 FPS, High 35.4 FPS, and Ultra 32.3 FPS. The verdict is clear: this is a 1080p machine for Control with full settings, a 1440p machine with reduced settings, and a 4K machine only on the absolute lowest settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 61.3 FPS at 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that maintains an average FPS at or above 60, achieving 63.7 FPS. High and Ultra settings fall below the threshold.

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, but only on the Low preset, which achieves an average of 60.9 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fail to reach 60 FPS, with averages of 42.7, 35.4, and 32.3 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-14700F compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X in benchmark scores?

A: The i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620, while the Ryzen 9 7900X scores 53288. The data shows the i7-14700F is 0.6% faster in these tests.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Intel Arc B580 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, while the RTX 3080 scores 23172. The data indicates the RTX 3080 is 0.7% faster in these synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The Low preset averages 114.8 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 61.3 FPS. This represents a significant 53.5 FPS drop when moving to the most demanding preset.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS data and the 60 FPS playability threshold, the optimal settings for each resolution are as follows:

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it is the most demanding setting that still maintains an average of 61.3 FPS. This allows for the highest visual quality without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is recommended. It achieves an average of 63.7 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold, while offering a better balance of visual fidelity compared to the Low preset. Higher presets fail to maintain 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option. It averages 60.9 FPS, just barely clearing the playability threshold. Any higher preset will result in average frame rates well below 60 FPS, making the game feel sluggish.