Control

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a functional, if not spectacular, experience in Control. Benchmark data shows the combo achieves a rank of 1366 out of 1636 tested configurations, placing it in the lower-mid tier of the database. The 6-core, 12-thread processor with a 2.90 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clock provides adequate compute, while the RTX 2060’s 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth handles the game’s visual load. The data indicates that resolution and settings dramatically alter performance, with the system shifting from a smooth 106.2 FPS at 1080p Low to a borderline-playable 31.4 FPS at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average framerate this combo can achieve in Control?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 106.2, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This drops to 80.6 FPS at 2560x1440 Low and 52.7 FPS at 3840x2160 Low.

Q: Can this system handle 4K resolution in Control?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 52.7 on Low to 31.4 on Ultra. The High preset yields 34.8 FPS, while Medium produces 38.8 FPS, suggesting 4K is only viable on the Low preset for playable frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU benchmark compared to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14168. It sits 0.4% above the AMD EPYC 7552 (14115) and 0.8% below the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277). It also trails the Intel Core i5-8500 by 1.1% and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 by 1.2%.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile relative to all tested GPUs?

A: The RTX 2060 ranks in the 58th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 16074, placing it 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU show a larger performance gap to their respective rivals?

A: The data shows the GPU has a tighter competitive field. The RTX 2060’s closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, is only 0.5% behind, while the CPU’s nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7552, is 0.4% behind. The GPU falls 1.7% short of both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700, showing a slightly wider deficit on the graphics side.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 80.6 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 42.5 FPS. This represents a 38.1 FPS drop, or roughly 47% less performance when moving from the lowest to the highest visual quality settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in Control, and the measured frame rates show a clear correlation between its specifications and the game’s output. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, built on the TU106 chip with 1920 shading units. Its memory configuration—6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus—provides a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s, which proves adequate for the texture and geometry loads at 1080p but becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the RTX 2060 demonstrates its capability. The average frame rate scales from 106.2 FPS at Low to 70.5 FPS at High, with Ultra still maintaining a respectable 59.1 FPS. This suggests the GPU has enough headroom for smooth gameplay at standard HD resolutions across all presets. The margin between Medium (75 FPS) and High (70.5 FPS) is only 4.5 FPS, indicating that the High preset offers a near-optimal balance of quality and performance at this resolution.

The situation changes markedly at 2560x1440. The average FPS drops to 80.6 on Low, which is still fluid, but the High preset falls to 50 FPS and Ultra to 42.5 FPS. The 6 GB VRAM capacity becomes more relevant here, as the higher pixel count demands more memory for buffers and effects. The GPU’s pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s and texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s are sufficient for 1440p, but the data shows the system is no longer able to maintain 60 FPS on the higher presets.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 is clearly overextended. The average FPS ranges from 52.7 on Low to 31.4 on Ultra, with High and Medium landing at 34.8 and 38.8 FPS respectively. The 192-bit memory bus and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth struggle to feed the massive 4K framebuffer, resulting in sub-60 FPS performance across all settings. The data indicates that 4K gameplay is only feasible on the Low preset, and even then, it barely crosses the 50 FPS threshold.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides the computational foundation for Control, with its 6 cores and 12 threads handling the game's physics, AI, and scene management. The processor’s base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz, combined with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, offer solid single-thread performance for game logic. Its benchmark scores reflect a mid-range standing: the Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 10297, while the single-core score is 1453, and the Geekbench multi-core result is 5783 with a single-core of 1454.

The CPU’s performance percentile of 73 places it above the majority of tested processors, but its nearest rivals show it is not dominant. The i5-10400F scores 0.4% higher than the AMD EPYC 7552 and 1.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-8500, yet it trails the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.8%. In the context of Control, these differences are unlikely to manifest as large FPS swings, as the game is more dependent on GPU throughput.

The 3DMark thread tests provide insight into how the CPU scales with increasing thread utilization. The score rises from 688 in single-thread to 1350 in 2-thread, then to 2560 in 4-thread, 3929 in 8-thread, and 4748 in 16-thread. This scaling pattern indicates that the processor efficiently uses its 12 threads, but the gains diminish beyond 8 threads, suggesting that Control’s core-heavy workloads are well-served but not infinitely scalable. The PassMark multi-thread score of 12115 and single-thread score of 2541 reinforce the CPU’s balanced profile.

In practical terms for Control, the CPU’s 4.30 GHz boost clock ensures that the game’s main thread is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU’s ability to push high frame rates is evident in the 106.2 FPS result. However, at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU takes over as the limiting factor, as evidenced by the steep FPS drops when moving to 1440p and 4K with identical CPU loads.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1366 out of 1636 tested configurations places it in the bottom 20% of all tested combos for Control. This position is notably lower than the individual components’ percentiles might suggest—the CPU sits in the 73rd percentile and the GPU in the 58th—indicating that the pairing does not translate into top-tier gaming performance for this specific title. The rank suggests that while each piece is competent on its own, the combination lacks the aggregate power to compete with higher-end systems.

The data shows this ranking is consistent with the measured frame rates. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 59.1 FPS, which is playable but not exceptional. At 1440p Ultra, the average drops to 42.5 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 31.4 FPS. These figures place the system in a territory where users must make significant trade-offs between resolution and visual quality to maintain smooth gameplay.

Relative to the GPU’s nearest rivals, the RTX 2060’s performance profile is competitive. It edges out the AMD Radeon RX 7600S by 0.5% and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 by 1.8%, but falls 1.7% behind both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700. This suggests that the GPU is not the primary reason for the low overall rank; instead, the combination of this GPU with the i5-10400F at these tested settings yields the observed results.

The rank also reflects the game’s demanding nature at high resolutions. The combo’s performance at 4K is particularly weak, with all presets except Low failing to reach 40 FPS. This is a significant factor in the overall ranking, as systems that can maintain higher frame rates at 4K will naturally occupy higher positions. The data indicates that for users targeting high refresh rates or 4K gaming, this combo requires substantial settings reductions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best balance, with an average of 70.5 FPS that remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 75 FPS provides a slight performance boost, but the visual improvement from Medium to High justifies the 4.5 FPS cost. The Ultra preset at 59.1 FPS is viable but dips below 60, making High the recommended choice for consistent smoothness.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the most sensible option, delivering 59.9 FPS. This is nearly identical to the 1080p Ultra performance, indicating that Medium at 1440p provides a similar experience to Ultra at 1080p. The Low preset at 80.6 FPS offers a significant headroom for high refresh rate monitors, while High at 50 FPS and Ultra at 42.5 FPS fall into a range where frame pacing may become noticeable. Medium is recommended as it maintains playability without sacrificing too much visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option for acceptable performance, with an average of 52.7 FPS. The Medium preset at 38.8 FPS and High at 34.8 FPS are below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and Ultra at 31.4 FPS is borderline unplayable. Users with 4K displays should accept the Low preset’s visual compromises to achieve a fluid experience. The data suggests that this resolution is beyond the ideal operating range for this combo, and users would be better served by running at 1440p with higher settings.

The overall recommendation is to prioritize the High preset at 1080p or Medium at 1440p for the best experience. These configurations deliver frame rates in the 60-70 FPS range, which is suitable for most gaming scenarios. The Ultra preset should be avoided at all resolutions above 1080p, as the performance cost outweighs the visual benefits. For users seeking higher frame rates, the Low preset at 1440p offers 80.6 FPS, providing a smooth experience for competitive play or high refresh rate displays.