Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, is a demanding game that stresses both the CPU and GPU, but the data from this benchmark database reveals a clear hierarchy of performance for the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination. At 1920x1080, this pairing delivers a smooth experience across all presets, with the Ultra preset averaging 68 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the system remains playable at Medium and Low settings, but the High preset dips to 59 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset manages to stay above 60 FPS, averaging 63 FPS, while higher settings fall into the 35-45 FPS range, indicating a GPU-bound scenario at 4K resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on a 1920x1080 monitor?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 1920x1080, all four tested presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—achieve average frame rates above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, High averages 78 FPS, Medium averages 88 FPS, and Low averages 124 FPS.

Q: What is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding option that clears the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 67 FPS at this resolution. The High preset falls slightly short, averaging 59 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 52 FPS.

Q: At 3840x2160, which settings are playable?

A: Only the Low preset maintains an average frame rate above 60 FPS at 3840x2160, with an average of 63 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, High averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 35 FPS, all below the playable threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 5050 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT?

A: Based on average benchmark scores, the RTX 5050 is 1.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. This places the RTX 5050 in a close performance tier, with other rivals like the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL and AMD Radeon HD 8970M being 0.6% and 1% slower, respectively.

Q: How does the Intel Core i9-14900K compare to the Intel Core i9-14900KF?

A: The i9-14900K is 0.3% slower than the i9-14900KF in average benchmark scores. The difference is marginal, indicating that for gaming performance in Control, either processor would deliver nearly identical results.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1920x1080 according to the verdict?

A: The verdict data indicates that the best settings preset for 1920x1080 is Ultra, which achieves an average frame rate of 68 FPS. This is the highest preset tested and it still remains comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured frame rate data provides a clear picture of the optimal settings for each resolution, focusing on the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the system can handle the Ultra preset, which delivers an average of 68 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available and provides a fully smooth experience. For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the most demanding option that stays above 60 FPS, with an average of 67 FPS. While the High preset comes close at 59 FPS, it does not meet the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that achieves the target, averaging 63 FPS. The step up to Medium drops to 45 FPS, a significant reduction that highlights the GPU’s limitations at this resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for both components provide context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this game. For the Intel Core i9-14900K, the closest performance match is the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which has an average benchmark score 0.3% lower. This means that swapping in the KF variant would yield nearly identical frame rates in Control. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 0.6% slower, and the AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% slower, though these are less typical choices for a gaming system. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% faster, which could provide a slight uplift in CPU-bound scenarios, though the game’s performance is often limited by the GPU.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is the closest rival, with an average score 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon HD 8970M is 1% lower, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% faster, which could translate to a few extra frames per second in Control’s more demanding presets. These comparisons suggest that the RTX 5050 sits in a narrow performance band, and users with any of these GPUs would see broadly similar performance, with differences of only a few percentage points.

The Verdict

The benchmark data answers the core question: can this PC run Control? The answer is yes, but with significant caveats depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable, with all presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—exceeding the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, and even the most demanding settings provide a smooth experience. This is the resolution where the combination shines, offering the best visual quality without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable, but the choice of settings is more constrained. The Medium preset averages 67 FPS, which clears the threshold, but the High preset drops to 59 FPS, just below the line. The Ultra preset averages 52 FPS, which is not playable by the 60 FPS standard. For a 1440p monitor, Medium settings are the highest that can be recommended for a consistent 60 FPS experience.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Only the Low preset averages above 60 FPS, at 63 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below the threshold, with averages of 45, 40, and 35 FPS respectively. This indicates that the RTX 5050 is the limiting factor at 4K, and users would need to significantly lower settings to achieve a smooth experience. Overall, the verdict is that this PC can run Control well at 1080p, adequately at 1440p with medium settings, and only at the lowest settings for 4K.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets reveals which component plays a larger role in Control’s performance. At 1920x1080, the system shows a wide spread of frame rates across presets, from 124 FPS at Low to 68 FPS at Ultra. This suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as increasing graphical load directly impacts performance. The CPU, an Intel Core i9-14900K with a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, has ample headroom to feed the GPU at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop across all presets, but the pattern remains similar. The Low preset averages 94 FPS, Medium averages 67 FPS, High averages 59 FPS, and Ultra averages 52 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 42 FPS, indicating that the GPU is still the dominant factor. The CPU’s role is less critical here, as the i9-14900K’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 4697, is more than sufficient for the game’s physics and logic.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s dominance becomes even more pronounced. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 45 FPS, a reduction of 18 FPS. The High preset averages 40 FPS, and Ultra averages 35 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 28 FPS, which is smaller in absolute terms than at 1080p, but the frame rates are much lower overall. This indicates that the RTX 5050’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 320.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for higher presets at 4K, causing a severe performance drop. The CPU’s influence is minimal at this resolution, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor.

The data implies that for Control, the GPU is the more important component at all resolutions, but its impact grows as resolution increases. The i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, provides a strong foundation, but it does not compensate for the GPU’s limitations at higher settings. The measured frame rates show that the system is CPU-bound only at low resolutions and low settings, where frame rates are extremely high, such as 124 FPS at 1080p Low.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 ranks 2296 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the lower-middle range of the database. This ranking reflects the fact that while the CPU is a top-tier component, the GPU is only in the 66th percentile among all GPUs. The RTX 5050’s average benchmark score is 21035, which is modest compared to higher-end cards, and this holds back the overall performance of the combo.

The ranking suggests that many other CPU and GPU combinations would outperform this setup in Control. The CPU’s high percentile ranking, at 95%, does not boost the combo significantly because the game’s frame rates are largely GPU-limited, especially at higher resolutions. The combo’s rank of 2296 out of 3720 indicates that roughly 38% of tested combinations perform better, which is a reflection of the GPU’s mid-range standing. Users looking for higher frame rates at 1440p or 4K would benefit from a more powerful GPU, while the CPU could be downgraded without a major impact on Control’s performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data provides a detailed view of performance across all tested resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 124 FPS on Low settings, with no minimum or maximum data provided. The Medium preset averages 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS. The High preset averages 78 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS. All of these averages are well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating a highly playable experience at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down as expected. The Low preset averages 94 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS. The High preset averages 59 FPS, just below the playable threshold, and the Ultra preset averages 52 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 57 FPS shows that there can be occasional dips below 60 FPS, but the average remains playable.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is the only setting that stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 40 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 35 FPS. These numbers indicate that the GPU is overwhelmed at 4K with higher settings, and users should expect a sub-60 FPS experience unless they stick to Low settings.

The lack of minimum and maximum data for several presets, such as 1080p Low, High, and Ultra, and 1440p Low, High, and Ultra, limits the analysis of frame time consistency. However, the available data for the Medium presets at each resolution shows that the minimum frame rates are generally within 10-12 FPS of the average, suggesting relatively stable performance. The maximum frame rates are also higher, indicating that the system can burst above the average in less demanding scenes. Overall, the measured FPS breakdown confirms that the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p at medium settings being a secondary option, and 4K only viable at low settings.