Control

Control with the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D presents a fascinating case study in component scaling, where a 10th-generation mid-range processor is paired with a flagship 50-series graphics card. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that consistently delivers high frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings, yet the underlying performance dynamics shift significantly depending on the workload. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS results to understand how the CPU and GPU each contribute to the game's output, where the bottlenecks lie, and what users can expect from this specific pairing.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 65W TDP. This is a solid foundation for gaming, but its synthetic benchmark scores place it in the 68th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a capable but not top-tier performer. In multi-threaded tests, the CPU scores 4,318 in Cinebench R20 and 10,283 in Cinebench R23, while its single-thread scores are 609 and 1,451 respectively. The data shows that while the processor can handle the demands of modern games, its performance ceiling is notably lower than what the RTX 5090 D can feed it.

In the context of Control's measured results, the CPU's influence is most apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are high, but the spread between settings suggests the CPU is starting to become a limiting factor. The jump from Low to High settings at 1080p results in a drop from 170 FPS to 144 FPS, which is a significant 26 FPS difference. This indicates that the CPU is working hard to keep up with the GPU's output, and as settings increase, the additional CPU overhead for physics and game logic begins to cap the potential frame rate. The processor's maximum multi-threaded 3DMark score of 4,735 and its Passmark multithread score of 12,115 are respectable, but they do not represent the kind of headroom needed to push the RTX 5090 D to its absolute limits in a title like Control.

Comparing the i5-10400F to its nearest rivals in the database, the performance deltas are tight. It sits 0.2% above the Intel Xeon 6756E and 0.5% above the AMD EPYC 7552 in average benchmark scores, while being 0.3% below the Intel Core 7 160UL and 0.6% below the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C. This places the i5-10400F in a competitive position for its class, but it is crucial to note that these rivals are often in different market segments, and the data underscores that the CPU is not a high-end part. The 68th percentile ranking confirms that it is an upper-midrange processor, which has direct implications for the overall combo's performance in Control, especially when the GPU is not the primary constraint.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a monolithic powerhouse, built on the 5 nm Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a massive 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. It features a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, and it is equipped with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a staggering 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. With 21,760 shading units and 170 RT cores, the GPU is designed to obliterate any graphical workload, and its 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms its elite status. The GPU's raw compute power is reflected in its 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 performance and its Passmark G3D score of 44,065.

In Control, the RTX 5090 D's immense capabilities are the primary driver of the high frame rates observed. At 4K Ultra settings, the combo still manages an average of 83 FPS, which is an impressive feat for a demanding title. The GPU's role becomes more dominant as resolution increases, where the sheer number of pixels and the memory bandwidth required favor the RTX 5090 D's strengths. The data shows a clear trend: at 4K, the frame rate scales more predictably with settings, suggesting the GPU is the primary bottleneck. For instance, moving from Low to Ultra at 4K reduces the average FPS from 136 to 83, a 53 FPS drop that is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload.

Interestingly, the RTX 5090 D's nearest rivals in the database are not other high-end desktop cards but rather mobile and professional parts. It sits 1.1% above the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 2.1% above the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB in average benchmark scores, while being 1.6% below the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. This is a data quirk, as the 5090 D's raw performance is far superior to these parts, but it highlights the database's comparative scoring. The GPU's 92nd percentile ranking, however, is the more telling metric, placing it firmly in the top tier of all tested graphics cards. In this specific combo, the RTX 5090 D is the clear star, and its performance is only constrained by the CPU at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear picture of how the combo performs across different quality presets, and the optimal choice depends on the user's resolution and performance targets. For the best experience, the High preset emerges as the sweet spot, balancing visual fidelity with high frame rates. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 144 FPS average, which is excellent for smooth gameplay. At 1440p High, it delivers 131 FPS, still well above the 120 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 4K High, the combo manages 96 FPS, which is very playable and offers a significant visual upgrade over lower presets.

The Medium preset is a viable alternative for those who want a bit more headroom, particularly at 4K. At 4K Medium, the average FPS rises to 108, with a minimum FPS of 92, which ensures a stable experience. This is a 12.5% performance increase over High at the same resolution, but it comes at the cost of some graphical detail. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p or 1440p monitors, the Low preset is the only way to fully leverage the GPU's power, but it is not recommended due to the significant visual compromises. At 1080p Low, the average FPS reaches 170, and at 1440p Low, it hits 155, but these numbers are only marginally better than Medium or High, indicating that the CPU is starting to limit the gains.

The Ultra preset, while visually stunning, is the least efficient choice. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 83, which is still playable but represents a 13.5% drop from High. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 137 FPS, which is only 7 FPS lower than High, showing that the CPU is the limiting factor at this resolution. Therefore, the data strongly suggests that High is the recommended preset for a balanced experience, offering the best combination of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. Users prioritizing maximum frame rates at 1080p might consider Medium for a 6 FPS gain over High, but the visual trade-off is generally not worth it.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination achieves a rank of 231 out of 2,888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 8% of all configurations, which is a strong result, but it also highlights the potential imbalance of the pairing. The high rank is primarily driven by the GPU's exceptional performance, which carries the combo to frame rates that most systems cannot match. However, the rank also suggests that there is untapped potential, as many other combos with more balanced CPU-GPU pairings are ranked higher.

The 231st rank out of 2,888 reflects the raw power of the RTX 5090 D, but it is not a top-100 placement. This indicates that while the combo is very fast, the CPU is holding it back in certain scenarios. The data shows that at 1080p, the combo's performance is not significantly better than what a lower-tier GPU might achieve with a faster CPU, as the i5-10400F becomes the bottleneck. At 4K, the rank is more justified, as the GPU's workload increases and the CPU's limitations are less pronounced. The combo's rank is a reflection of its ability to deliver high frame rates, but it also serves as a warning that the CPU is a limiting factor in less demanding scenarios. For a user with a high-refresh-rate 1080p monitor, this combo is overkill and poorly balanced, while for a 4K gamer, it is a formidable, albeit slightly mismatched, powerhouse.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of scaling that identifies the primary bottleneck at each level. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS at High settings drops from 144 to 131, a 9% decrease. This relatively small drop indicates that the CPU is a significant constraint at 1080p, as the GPU has plenty of headroom and is not being fully utilized. When moving from 1440p to 4K, the average FPS at High settings drops from 131 to 96, a 26.7% decrease. This much larger drop shows that the GPU is now the limiting factor, as the increased pixel count and shading requirements fully engage the RTX 5090 D.

The scaling pattern is even more telling when comparing the lowest and highest settings. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 33 FPS (170 to 137), which is a 19.4% difference. At 4K, the same settings comparison shows a 53 FPS difference (136 to 83), a 39% drop. This disparity confirms that the CPU is the bottleneck at 1080p, as it cannot keep up with the GPU's frame generation capacity, preventing the settings from having a full impact. At 4K, the GPU's workload is so high that the CPU's limitations are masked, and the settings have a more pronounced effect on performance. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1440p and 4K gaming, where the GPU is the primary driver, and the CPU's limitations are less of a concern.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance across all tested settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 170 at Low to 137 at Ultra. The Medium preset delivers 150 FPS with a minimum of 127 and a maximum of 172. High settings result in 144 FPS average. These numbers show that at 1080p, the combo is capable of extremely high frame rates, but the CPU's ceiling is apparent, as the difference between Low and Ultra is not as large as one might expect from such a powerful GPU.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low is 155, dropping to 136 at Medium, 131 at High, and 124 at Ultra. The Medium preset's minimum FPS is 116, with a maximum of 157. This resolution offers a good balance, with the GPU starting to take on more work, but the CPU still exerting some influence. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 31 FPS, which is a 20% drop, showing a more pronounced GPU dependency than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. The average FPS at Low is 136, dropping to 108 at Medium, 96 at High, and 83 at Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 53 FPS, a 39% drop, which clearly indicates that the RTX 5090 D is being fully utilized. The data shows that 4K High and Ultra are playable, but for a locked 60 FPS experience, even 4K Ultra is achievable, as the average of 83 FPS is well above that threshold. The measured results confirm that this combo is a 4K-capable machine, with the GPU carrying the load, and the CPU providing sufficient support to avoid major stutters, as evidenced by the minimum FPS figures at Medium settings.