Control

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a formidable combination for Control, a 2019 Action Adventure title. Measured data shows this setup delivers exceptional performance across all tested resolutions, with average frame rates that far exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold. The benchmark results paint a clear picture: this system does not merely run the game; it dominates it, offering headroom for maximum settings at every resolution from 1080p to 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination is comprehensive, covering three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the performance is staggering. With Low settings, the average frame rate hits 246 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 175 FPS, with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS. High settings still produce an average of 156 FPS, and even at the demanding Ultra preset, the average remains a very high 135 FPS. This indicates the system is heavily GPU-bound at this resolution, with the CPU having ample headroom to feed the graphics card.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptionally strong. The Low preset delivers an average of 186 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 132 FPS, with a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS. High settings average 118 FPS, while the Ultra preset still maintains an average of 102 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a predictable performance cost, but the frame rates remain high enough for any high-refresh-rate monitor.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system continues to impress. The Low preset yields an average of 126 FPS. Medium settings provide an average of 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS. High settings average 79 FPS, and the Ultra preset, the most demanding configuration tested, still achieves an average of 69 FPS. This is the only resolution where the average frame rate dips below the triple digits, but it stays comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows a consistent, predictable drop in performance as resolution increases, with the gap between 1440p and 4K being the most significant.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data provides a clear verdict for optimal settings at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, which maintains an average of 135 FPS. This is the highest quality preset available, and the system has more than enough power to run it with a massive performance buffer. At 2560x1440, the best setting is also Ultra, with an average of 102 FPS. This confirms that the RTX 4080 has the raw horsepower to handle the most demanding visuals at this popular resolution while still exceeding 100 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the best setting is Ultra, with an average of 69 FPS. This is the most demanding scenario tested, and while the average frame rate is lower than at other resolutions, it still clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data suggests that users can confidently max out the game's settings at 4K without experiencing significant drops below the playable threshold. For every resolution tested, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice, as it delivers the best visual fidelity while maintaining an average frame rate above 60 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

Examining the performance scaling across resolutions reveals a typical pattern for a high-end gaming PC. The most significant finding is that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 111 FPS (from 246 FPS to 135 FPS). At 1440p, this difference narrows to 84 FPS (from 186 FPS to 102 FPS). At 4K, the gap narrows further to 57 FPS (from 126 FPS to 69 FPS). This indicates that as resolution increases, the demand on the GPU grows, making the graphics card the limiting factor.

The CPU's role is most pronounced at lower resolutions and with lower graphics settings. The jump from 1080p Low to 1440p Low is a 60 FPS drop, while the jump from 1440p Low to 4K Low is a 60 FPS drop. This suggests the CPU is less of a constraint as resolution increases. The Intel Core i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, is more than capable of feeding the RTX 4080, as evidenced by the remarkably high frame rates at 1080p. The data implies that for this specific game, the GPU is the dominant factor in determining performance, especially at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU's strength is showcased at 1080p where frame rates are exceptionally high.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data includes nearest rivals for both the CPU and GPU, providing context for the performance of this combo. For the Intel Core i9-14900K, the closest competitor is the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which has an average benchmark score that is -0.3% different. This indicates that the i9-14900KF would perform nearly identically in this game. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is also very close, with a -0.6% performance delta, and the AMD EPYC 7413 is similarly matched at -1.2%. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is slightly slower, with a 1.7% higher average score, meaning it would be marginally faster in the CPU-bound sections of the game.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, the nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, with a performance delta of 0.1%. This suggests that the two cards would produce virtually identical frame rates in Control. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is a bit further behind at -1.1%, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are -2.6% and -2.7% slower, respectively. In practical terms, these rivals would deliver a slightly lower, but still very playable, experience. The data shows that this specific combination of CPU and GPU sits at the top of its class, with only the RTX 4080 SUPER offering a comparable level of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 achieves a rank of 241 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the top 6.5% of all systems tested for this game. This ranking is a strong indicator of the combo's overall capability. The high ranking is expected given the premium nature of both components. The data suggests that the vast majority of other systems, which would include lower-tier CPUs and GPUs, would not be able to match the frame rates achieved by this combination. This result confirms that the i9-14900K and RTX 4080 are a top-tier pairing for playing Control at high settings and resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the system achieves an average of 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves?

A: The highest average frame rate is 246 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings large at 1440p?

A: The drop from High to Ultra at 2560x1440 is 16 FPS (from 118 FPS to 102 FPS), which is a modest reduction for a significant visual quality increase.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its direct successor?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has a performance delta of 0.1% compared to the RTX 4080, meaning their performance in this game is effectively identical.

Q: At which resolution does the average FPS dip closest to the 60 FPS threshold?

A: The closest is at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, where the average FPS is 69, still 9 FPS above the playable threshold.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this system?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 76 FPS, observed at 3840x2160 with Medium settings.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally shows that this system can run Control with exceptional performance. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with the best being Ultra at an average of 135 FPS. At 2560x1440, all settings are again playable, with Ultra being the best at 102 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system can also run the game with all settings playable, with Ultra providing an average of 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination provides a flawless experience, allowing players to max out the game's visuals at any resolution without concern for performance. This is a top-tier system for this title.