Control

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 presents a compelling case study for running Control, a title that scales significantly across resolutions and presets. The benchmark data reveals a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p but encounters a hard ceiling at 4K Ultra. This analysis examines the measured FPS, component roles, and comparative standing of this combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains at least 60 FPS on average at 1920x1080?

A: At 1080p, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 77.8 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. High (87.7 FPS), Medium (100.9 FPS), and Low (141.1 FPS) also clear this mark.

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with High settings without dropping below 60 FPS?*

A: No. At 3840x2160, the High preset yields an average of 45.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The only playable setting at this resolution is Low, which averages 73.2 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X?

A: The i7-14700K is effectively tied with the Ryzen 9 7950X. The data shows a deltaPct of -0.2% for the Ryzen 9 7950X relative to the i7-14700K, meaning their average benchmark scores are nearly identical.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking compared to all other GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks in the 61st percentile among all GPUs, indicating it is positioned above the median but not in the top tier of graphics cards.

Q: At which resolution does the system achieve its highest average FPS?

A: The highest average FPS is recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings, reaching 141.1 FPS. This is the most performance-heavy configuration tested.

Q: How many settings presets are playable at 2560x1440?

A: Three presets are playable at 1440p: High (68.8 FPS), Medium (72.6 FPS), and Low (105.8 FPS). The Ultra preset falls short with an average of 55.9 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS for each resolution. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS.

• 1920x1080: Ultra — This is the highest visual quality preset tested, and it averages 77.8 FPS. This provides a significant FPS buffer above the 60 FPS threshold, allowing for consistent performance even in demanding scenes.
• 2560x1440: High — At this resolution, the High preset is the most demanding option that stays playable, averaging 68.8 FPS. While this clears the threshold, the margin is slimmer than at 1080p. The Ultra preset dips to an average of 55.9 FPS, making it unsuitable for a smooth experience.
• 3840x2160: Low — The 4K resolution is the most challenging for this hardware. The Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS, scoring 73.2 FPS. All other presets (Medium: 48.6, High: 45.4, Ultra: 37.6) fall below the playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a clear shift in component bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2160, is likely sufficient to feed the GPU, allowing the RTX 4060 to push high frame rates. The scaling from Low (141.1 FPS) to Ultra (77.8 FPS) shows a 63.3 FPS drop, meaning the GPU is the primary factor as settings increase.

At 1440p, the gap between Low and Ultra narrows in percentage terms but remains significant, dropping from 105.8 FPS to 55.9 FPS. This suggests the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor, but the CPU still has headroom. The fact that the Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS while High stays above it (68.8 FPS) points to the GPU being the decisive component at this resolution.

At 4K, the GPU is almost certainly the bottleneck. The average FPS for all presets is much lower than at other resolutions, with the Ultra preset hitting just 37.6 FPS. The difference between Low (73.2 FPS) and High (45.4 FPS) is a 27.8 FPS drop, highlighting the immense pixel-pushing load on the RTX 4060’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 15.11 TFLOPS of compute power. The CPU’s role diminishes as the GPU struggles to keep up with the rendering workload.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearestRivals data, other hardware would behave similarly in this game. For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is the closest match, with an average benchmark score only 0.2% lower than the i7-14700K. In gaming scenarios, this translates to nearly identical performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F are also very close, with deltaPct values of -0.7% and -0.9%, respectively, meaning they would produce almost the same frame rates.

For the GPU, the situation is more nuanced. The nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which has an average score 0.2% lower than the RTX 4060. This indicates that despite being an older card, its performance profile is similar in this benchmark suite. The AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Radeon Pro 460 are 0.5% and 0.7% slower, respectively. These alternatives would provide a comparable experience, though the RTX 4060’s modern feature set, such as DirectX 12 Ultimate support, might offer advantages beyond raw FPS.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that this combination can run Control effectively, but with significant caveats depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable, running every preset at or above 77.8 FPS, including Ultra. This is the ideal resolution for this hardware, providing a high-quality, high-performance experience.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable but requires a step down from the highest quality. The High preset averages 68.8 FPS, which is solid, but the Ultra preset’s 55.9 FPS average means it cannot sustain a consistent 60 FPS. Players should stick to High or lower for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the system is not suitable for high-fidelity gaming. Only the Low preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 73.2 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fail to reach 60 FPS, making them unplayable. The verdict is that this PC can run the game, but 4K gaming is only viable with significantly reduced visual settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 2047th out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all systems. The rank reflects a balance between the high-performing CPU, which is in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and the mid-range GPU, which is in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. The GPU’s lower relative performance compared to the CPU is the primary factor preventing a higher overall rank.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS recorded for each resolution and settings preset combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | :------ |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 37.6 |

| | High | 45.4 |

| | Medium | 48.6 |

| | Low | 73.2 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 55.9 |

| | High | 68.8 |

| | Medium | 72.6 |

| | Low | 105.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 77.8 |

| | High | 87.7 |

| | Medium | 100.9 |

| | Low | 141.1 |