Control

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER places at rank 2560 out of 3720 tested combinations in Control. This positions the pairing in the lower-middle portion of the database for this specific title, meaning a substantial number of other CPU and GPU pairings deliver higher average frame rates. The rank reflects the GPU's age and tier more than the CPU's capability; the processor is a high-end part while the graphics card sits in the mid-range of the previous generation.

Benchmark results indicate the combination is functional but not exceptional. The recorded data shows the system's overall standing is dragged down by the GPU's performance ceiling, especially at higher resolutions where pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor. The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 94th percentile among all processors tested, while the GPU ranks in the 62nd percentile among all graphics cards. That gap between component percentiles explains why the combo rank is not higher: the graphics card cannot fully leverage what the processor offers.

The measured FPS data across all resolutions and presets shows a clear pattern. At 1080p, the combo delivers playable frame rates at every preset, including Ultra. At 1440p, the system remains playable at Low and Medium, but falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at High and Ultra. At 4K, only the Low preset clears 60 FPS, and even then by a narrow margin of 2.2 frames. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 33.5 FPS, a substantial 26.5 frames below the playable threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU in the database provide context for its computational strength. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 0.2% higher on average, placing it essentially at parity. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX trails by 0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X trails by 0.9%. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K leads by 1%. These deltas are small enough that any of these processors would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control when paired with the same GPU, since the game at these settings is unlikely to be CPU-bound at the resolutions tested.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals show a tight cluster. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile scores 0.4% lower, the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 0.5% lower, the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 1.5% lower, and the Intel Arc A770M scores 1.6% lower. These differences are negligible in practical terms. A user with any of these GPUs paired with a similarly strong CPU would see almost identical performance in Control. The RX 460 and Arc A770M being this close to the RTX 2060 SUPER in average benchmark score is notable, though the measured FPS in this specific game could still vary due to driver and architecture differences.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows that the GPU is the dominant constraint for this combo in Control. Evidence comes from the scaling between resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system produces 117.9 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 90 FPS, a 23.7% reduction. Moving to 4K Low further drops it to 62.2 FPS, another 30.9% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline as pixel count rises indicates the graphics card is the bottleneck; a CPU-limited scenario would show much flatter scaling across resolutions.

Preset scaling within a fixed resolution reinforces the same conclusion. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 50.8 FPS (117.9 down to 67.1). At 1440p, that same preset swing is 37.9 FPS (90 down to 52.1). At 4K, the swing narrows to 28.7 FPS (62.2 down to 33.5). The shrinking gap between presets at higher resolutions is classic GPU-bound behavior: once the render resolution saturates the GPU, additional settings overhead has less headroom to express itself.

The CPU's role here is to avoid becoming a limiting factor. The i7-14700KF with 20 cores and 28 threads, boosting to 5.60 GHz, provides ample headroom. Its benchmark scores, such as 44167 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6235 in single-core, place it far above what Control requires. The measured FPS never dips to a range where CPU thread saturation would be suspected. In short, the processor is not the constraint; the RTX 2060 SUPER is.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control, but the experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution and preset. The verdict by resolution is clear from the recorded data.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, averaging 62.2 FPS. Medium averages 41.8 FPS, High 40.2 FPS, and Ultra 33.5 FPS. None of these three meet the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, both Low (90 FPS) and Medium (62.3 FPS) are playable. High averages 55.3 FPS and Ultra 52.1 FPS, both below the mark. At 1920x1080, every preset clears 60 FPS: Low at 117.9, Medium at 82.5, High at 74.4, and Ultra at 67.1. The system is fully capable at 1080p with maximum settings.

The practical takeaway: this combo is a 1080p machine for Control at high quality, a 1440p machine only at reduced settings, and a 4K machine only at the lowest settings. Users targeting 60 FPS should prioritize 1080p Ultra or 1440p Medium depending on their display.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains 12 measured configurations, covering three resolutions and four presets each. All values are average FPS; no minimum or maximum frame data is recorded.

At 3840x2160, the results are as follows. Low settings produce 62.2 FPS. Medium drops to 41.8 FPS. High produces 40.2 FPS. Ultra produces 33.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 20.4 FPS, the largest single-step drop in the entire dataset. Between Medium and High the change is only 1.6 FPS, and between High and Ultra another 6.7 FPS.

At 2560x1440, Low settings yield 90 FPS. Medium yields 62.3 FPS. High yields 55.3 FPS. Ultra yields 52.1 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is 27.7 FPS, the largest drop at this resolution. From Medium to High is 7 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 3.2 FPS. The curve flattens as settings increase, indicating diminishing returns per setting tier.

At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 117.9 FPS. Medium produces 82.5 FPS. High produces 74.4 FPS. Ultra produces 67.1 FPS. The Low to Medium drop is 35.4 FPS. Medium to High drops 8.1 FPS. High to Ultra drops 7.3 FPS. Even at the lowest preset, the system has enough headroom to push well above 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset still maintains a comfortable margin.

Comparing across resolutions at the same preset: Low goes from 117.9 to 90 to 62.2 FPS. Medium goes from 82.5 to 62.3 to 41.8. High goes from 74.4 to 55.3 to 40.2. Ultra goes from 67.1 to 52.1 to 33.5. The pattern is consistent: each resolution step costs roughly 20% to 30% of the frame rate.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that still maintains an average of at least 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Low. The average FPS at Low is 62.2. Medium falls to 41.8, which is below the playable threshold. This means 4K users must accept minimal visual quality to keep the game smooth.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Medium. The average FPS at Medium is 62.3. High drops to 55.3, which fails the threshold. The difference between Medium and High is only 7 FPS, so users who prioritize visuals over a strict 60 FPS lock might still consider High, but the data does not classify it as playable.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra. The average FPS at Ultra is 67.1. All four presets at this resolution clear the threshold, so there is no trade-off required. Users can run the game at maximum settings with a 7.1 FPS margin above the playable line.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which average 62.2 FPS. Medium averages 41.8 FPS, High 40.2 FPS, and Ultra 33.5 FPS, all below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best preset at 1440p?

A: Medium is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, averaging 62.3 FPS. Low averages 90 FPS, while High and Ultra fall short at 55.3 and 52.1 FPS respectively.

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

A: The GPU. The RTX 2060 SUPER ranks in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, while the i7-14700KF ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs. Frame rates drop steeply as resolution increases, which indicates GPU-bound behavior.

Q: Does the system maintain 60 FPS at 1080p with all settings?

A: Yes. Low averages 117.9 FPS, Medium 82.5 FPS, High 74.4 FPS, and Ultra 67.1 FPS. Every preset at 1080p exceeds the playable threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 3060 Mobile scores 0.4% lower, the Radeon Pro 5700 scores 0.5% lower, the Radeon RX 460 scores 1.5% lower, and the Arc A770M scores 1.6% lower in average benchmark scores.

Q: What is the single largest frame rate drop in the measured data?

A: The step from Low to Medium at 1080p, dropping from 117.9 to 82.5 FPS, a loss of 35.4 FPS. The next largest is the Low to Medium step at 1440p, dropping from 90 to 62.3 FPS, a loss of 27.7 FPS.