Control

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a highly capable Control experience, with the data showing that the most demanding settings remain playable at every tested resolution. At 4K, the combo achieves 60.8 FPS on High settings, which is the highest preset that stays above the 60 FPS playable threshold. For 1440p and 1080p, the Ultra preset is fully playable, with average frame rates of 76.8 FPS and 104.9 FPS respectively. This system is clearly suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at lower resolutions and maintains smooth performance even at 4K, though the Ultra preset at 4K dips to 52.3 FPS, falling short of the playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured FPS data indicates that the optimal balance of visual quality and performance varies significantly across resolutions. At 3840x2160, the High preset is the most demanding configuration that remains at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 60.8 FPS. While the Medium preset runs faster at 68.3 FPS and Low hits 95.7 FPS, the High preset delivers the best visual fidelity without sacrificing the playable threshold. The Ultra preset at this resolution averages 52.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable line, making it unsuitable for a locked smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is fully playable, averaging 76.8 FPS. This is the best-looking option available, and it still provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset runs at 91 FPS, Medium at 99.8 FPS, and Low at 142.7 FPS, but since Ultra meets the target, it is the recommended setting for 1440p displays.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, with an average of 104.9 FPS. This leaves substantial headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset runs at 118.6 FPS, Medium at 135 FPS, and Low at 184.4 FPS, but the Ultra preset offers the maximum visual quality while still delivering well over 100 FPS, making it the best setting for 1080p gaming.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate that the RTX 3080 is the primary performance driver in this configuration, especially at higher resolutions. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a clear pattern: at 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 104.9, at 1440p Ultra it drops to 76.8, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 52.3. This represents a roughly 27% performance drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 32% drop from 1440p to 4K, demonstrating that the GPU is heavily taxed as pixel count increases.

At lower resolutions and settings, the CPU’s role becomes more pronounced. The i7-14700KF, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is more than capable of feeding the GPU. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system reaches 184.4 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate to suggest strong CPU performance, though the RTX 3080 is still the limiting factor. 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 among all CPUs, indicating it is unlikely to bottleneck the GPU in this title.

The scaling between presets further clarifies the GPU’s dominance. At 4K, moving from Low to Ultra results in a 45% FPS reduction (95.7 to 52.3), while at 1080p, the same move from Low to Ultra causes a 43% drop (184.4 to 104.9). This consistent reduction across resolutions indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck, as the CPU’s performance headroom is sufficient to handle the increased draw calls and physics calculations at lower settings without significant impact.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the RTX 3080 delivers an average of 60.8 FPS on High settings, which is the only preset above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset runs at 68.3 FPS, providing a small buffer for those who prefer slightly lower quality with more headroom. Low settings achieve 95.7 FPS, while Ultra drops to 52.3 FPS, making it the only non-playable configuration at this resolution. The data shows a clear progression: each step from Low to Ultra reduces performance by roughly 10-15 FPS, with the Ultra preset being the most demanding.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable. Ultra averages 76.8 FPS, which is the best visual option. High runs at 91 FPS, Medium at 99.8 FPS, and Low at 142.7 FPS. The gap between Ultra and High is 14.2 FPS, while the gap between High and Medium is 8.8 FPS, and between Medium and Low is 42.9 FPS. This suggests that the jump from Medium to Low yields the largest performance gain, while the difference between Ultra and High is relatively modest.

At 1920x1080, the system excels across the board. Ultra averages 104.9 FPS, High runs at 118.6 FPS, Medium at 135 FPS, and Low at 184.4 FPS. The performance headroom at this resolution is substantial, with even the Ultra preset providing over 100 FPS. The data indicates that the GPU is not fully utilized at lower settings, as the CPU’s strong single-thread performance (Geekbench single-core score of 2578) allows for high frame rates without bottlenecking.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this CPU and GPU pairing in Control is 1046 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the top 28% of all systems evaluated. This is a strong result, considering the GPU’s overall percentile rank is 68 among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 94th percentile. The pairing of a top-tier CPU with a high-end last-generation GPU yields a balanced system that performs well in this title.

The rank suggests that while the RTX 3080 is not the fastest GPU available, it is well-matched with the i7-14700KF, which provides ample compute power to avoid bottlenecks. The average benchmark score for the GPU is 23172, and the CPU’s average benchmark score is 70163, both of which are above their respective medians. In the context of Control, this combo outperforms a majority of tested systems, making it a solid choice for 1440p and 4K gaming at high settings, though it may struggle with the most demanding presets at 4K.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700KF performs nearly identically to the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which has an average score of 69996, just 0.2% lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 0.4% slower, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.9% slower. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is 1% faster. For gaming, any of these CPUs would deliver similar frame rates in Control, as the GPU will be the primary bottleneck in most scenarios.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals to the RTX 3080 include the NVIDIA P106-100, which is 0.3% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, also 0.3% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M is 0.4% faster, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X is 0.4% faster. These alternatives are within a fraction of a percent in average benchmark scores, meaning they would produce nearly identical FPS in Control. However, it is important to note that these rivals may have different feature sets, such as ray tracing capabilities, which could affect performance in specific scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with the highest settings?

A: No. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 52.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset is the best option at 4K, achieving 60.8 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset is fully playable at 2560x1440 with an average of 76.8 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance in this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF is not a bottleneck at any tested resolution. Its strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6235) ensures the GPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the consistent FPS scaling across presets.

Q: Is the RTX 3080’s 10 GB VRAM sufficient for Control?

A: The measured data shows no VRAM-related performance issues at any resolution or preset tested. The GPU maintains playable frame rates at 4K High, indicating that the 10 GB memory capacity is adequate for this game.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 averages 104.9 FPS, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. The system has enough headroom to maintain smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems?

A: This pairing ranks 1046 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the top 28%. It outperforms the majority of systems, though it is not in the top tier due to the RTX 3080’s mid-range position among GPUs.