Control

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a broad range of performance in Control, scaling from a comfortable 158 FPS at 1080p Low to a demanding 45.8 FPS at 2160p Ultra. The measured data shows a system that is clearly capable of high-refresh-rate play at standard resolutions, but which begins to strain against the game's visual demands when pushing 4K with maxed settings. This analysis breaks down the exact measured performance, identifies the optimal settings per resolution, and contextualizes how this specific combo compares to other hardware configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strongest performance. The Low preset produces an average of 158 FPS, making it the highest recorded frame rate across all tested configurations. Moving up to Medium, the average drops to 112 FPS, which is a 29% reduction from Low. The High preset maintains a strong 100.3 FPS average, while the Ultra preset delivers 89.8 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a total performance drop of 43%, but even the lowest result remains far above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain robust but show a clear step down. The Low preset achieves 119 FPS, while Medium reaches 88.2 FPS. High settings produce a 76.5 FPS average, and Ultra dips to 65.7 FPS. The performance difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 45%, with the Ultra preset still clearing the 60 FPS line by a 5.7 FPS margin. All four settings at this resolution remain playable, though the margin at Ultra is notably thinner than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. The Low preset delivers an 81.5 FPS average, which is the only setting at this resolution that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. Medium drops to 58.2 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. High falls further to 49.3 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 45.8 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a 44% performance loss, consistent with the other resolutions, but the absolute numbers are much lower, pushing most presets into unplayable territory.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, which yields an average of 89.8 FPS. This is the most demanding preset tested, and it remains well above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving headroom for dips without dropping below playability.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the best choice, producing 65.7 FPS. While this is above the 60 FPS threshold, the margin is only 5.7 FPS, meaning any demanding scene could potentially push it lower. Still, the data shows that the full visual experience is accessible at this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Low, which achieves 81.5 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 58.2 FPS, missing the 60 FPS mark. This means that to play at 4K on this hardware, users must sacrifice most visual quality presets, as only the lowest settings maintain a playable frame rate.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear pattern in how the CPU and GPU contribute to performance in Control. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high enough that the GPU is likely the primary bottleneck, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed frames quickly. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 68.2 FPS, indicating that the GPU's workload scales significantly with settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance drop from 1080p is substantial. The Low preset falls from 158 FPS to 119 FPS, a 25% reduction, while the Ultra preset falls from 89.8 FPS to 65.7 FPS, a 27% reduction. This consistent scaling suggests that the GPU is the dominant factor, as the resolution increase directly impacts the GPU's fill rate and shading workload.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's role becomes even more pronounced. The Low preset at 4K (81.5 FPS) is actually lower than the Medium preset at 1440p (88.2 FPS), showing that the resolution increase has a larger impact than the settings change. The Ultra preset at 4K (45.8 FPS) is only slightly above half the speed of the Ultra preset at 1080p (89.8 FPS). This pattern indicates that Control is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the CPU's role diminishing as the resolution increases.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The answer depends entirely on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable, running every preset above 60 FPS, with the Ultra preset delivering 89.8 FPS. This makes it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors with maximum settings.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable across all settings, with the Ultra preset at 65.7 FPS. While this clears the 60 FPS threshold, the margin is narrow enough that users may prefer the High preset (76.5 FPS) for additional stability.

At 3840x2160, the system can only run the Low preset (81.5 FPS) above 60 FPS. The Medium preset (58.2 FPS) falls just short of the playable mark, and High (49.3 FPS) and Ultra (45.8 FPS) are not viable for smooth gameplay. The verdict is that this combination is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K play limited to low visual settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X has an average benchmark score of 69515, which is 0.2% higher than the i7-14700K's score of 69355. The AMD EPYC 9115 scores 69288, a 0.1% difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, which is 0.7% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, 0.9% higher. These processors would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Control, as the performance deltas are all within 1%.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT has an average score of 17083, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3070's 17208. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, a 1% difference, and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019, a 1.1% difference. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher. These GPUs would deliver very similar frame rates in Control, with the RX 7600 XT being the closest match for gaming purposes.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 1080p with maximum settings?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 89.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 produces 65.7 FPS, making it the most demanding setting that remains above 60 FPS.

Q: Is 4K playable on this hardware?

A: Yes, but only with Low settings, which achieve 81.5 FPS at 3840x2160. Medium settings fall to 58.2 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

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

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 158 at 1080p to 81.5 at 4K, a 48% reduction. At Ultra settings, it drops from 89.8 to 45.8, a 49% reduction.

Q: What GPU is closest in performance to the RTX 3070?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT has an average benchmark score of 17083, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3070's 17208, making it the closest equivalent.

Q: What CPU rival would perform similarly in this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X has an average score that is 0.2% higher than the i7-14700K, so it would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1584 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all configurations, reflecting its ability to handle 1080p and 1440p gaming with ease, while being limited at 4K. The ranking suggests that while this is not a top-tier setup for this game, it outperforms a majority of tested hardware combinations, with the primary limitation being the GPU's performance at ultra-high resolutions.