Control

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a specific performance profile in Control, one defined by a strong CPU and a mid-range GPU that scales predictably with resolution. The measured frame rates show a system that is comfortably capable at 1080p, playable with adjusted settings at 1440p, and struggling to maintain smooth motion at 4K. This analysis breaks down the data to clarify exactly where this combination stands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data for this pairing in Control provides a clear picture of performance scaling across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. With the Low preset, the average frame rate is 114 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 72 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset still holds an average of 62 FPS, which is above the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance takes a significant step down. The Low preset averages 86 FPS. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 54 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls further to 47 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, indicating a heavy load on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the data shows the Arc B580 is overextended. The Low preset manages an average of 58 FPS, just shy of the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. The High preset averages 37 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 32 FPS. None of these averages meet the playable threshold, making 4K an unsuitable target for this combination with these settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates that the Intel Core i7-14700KF is not the limiting factor in this configuration for Control. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. This suggests that it has ample headroom to feed the GPU in most scenarios.

The Intel Arc B580, with a PassMark G3D score of 15748 and a 68th percentile ranking, is the primary determinant of frame rates in this game. The scaling of performance across resolutions confirms this. For instance, moving from 1080p Low (114 FPS) to 1440p Low (86 FPS) is a 24.5% drop, and then to 4K Low (58 FPS) is another 32.5% drop. This steep decline as pixel count increases is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU's performance remains constant, but the GPU's workload rises dramatically.

Further evidence is seen in the preset scaling. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 52 FPS (from 114 to 62 FPS). At 1440p, that same preset jump costs 39 FPS (from 86 to 47 FPS). At 4K, the difference is 26 FPS (from 58 to 32 FPS). While the absolute frame rates drop, the relative cost of higher presets is consistent, pointing to the GPU being the bottleneck. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is likely not breaking a sweat, as Control is not a title known for heavy multi-threaded scaling.

Best Settings per Resolution

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

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice. It maintains an average of 62 FPS, which clears the target. This allows for maximum visual fidelity without compromising playability.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the highest quality option that remains playable, with an average of 61 FPS. While the High preset is visually superior, its 54 FPS average falls below the target, making Medium the recommended setting for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves a playable average frame rate. The Low preset comes closest with 58 FPS, but it still misses the mark. Therefore, this combination is not recommended for 4K gaming in Control.

FAQ

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

A: No. The highest average frame rate at 3840x2160 is 58 FPS on the Low preset, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. All other presets average between 32 FPS and 41 FPS.

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

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding setting that stays at or above 60 FPS at 2560x1440, with an average of 61 FPS. The High preset averages 54 FPS, which is below the target.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset achieves an average of 62 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. This makes it the recommended setting for that resolution.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p on the Medium preset?

A: The average frame rate drops from 81 FPS at 1920x1080 to 61 FPS at 2560x1440, a decrease of 20 FPS.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates recorded for this combo?

A: The data includes minimum frame rates for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 69 FPS; at 2560x1440, it is 52 FPS; and at 3840x2160, it is 35 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the bottleneck. The Intel Arc B580's performance drops significantly with resolution increases, while the Intel Core i7-14700KF's high benchmark scores suggest it has sufficient performance headroom.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of hardware ranks 2816 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the lower half of the database, which is consistent with the measured frame rates that show it is not a top-tier performer. The ranking reflects the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions. While the CPU is a high-end part, the overall system performance is capped by the Arc B580's capabilities. The data shows that this is a mid-range gaming solution that excels at 1080p, handles 1440p with some compromises, and is not suitable for 4K.

The Verdict

This system can run Control, but its viability depends heavily on the target resolution and quality settings. At 1920x1080, the answer is a definitive yes. The data confirms that all presets, including Ultra with an average of 62 FPS, clear the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 2560x1440, the system can run the game, but only on Low (86 FPS) or Medium (61 FPS) presets to maintain smooth gameplay. The High and Ultra presets are not playable at this resolution. At 3840x2160, the answer is no. The best average frame rate is 58 FPS on Low, which is below the target. The verdict is clear: this is a capable 1080p machine and a moderate 1440p machine, but not a 4K gaming rig.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-14700KF provide context for its performance level. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score that is 0.2% lower, making it effectively a performance peer. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 0.4% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.9% lower. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is 1% higher in average score. This indicates that any of these CPUs would deliver a similar level of performance in a gaming scenario, as they are all within a 2% performance band.

For the Intel Arc B580, the nearest rivals show a similar cluster of performance. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP has an average score that is 0.2% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is 0.6% higher, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is 0.7% lower. The NVIDIA P106-100 is 1% lower. These deltas are all within a 1.7% range, suggesting that in practical terms, these GPUs would produce very similar frame rates in Control. A user with any of these alternative components could expect a comparable experience to the i7-14700KF + Arc B580 combo.