Control

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a classic high-refresh-rate 1080p build that still has legs for 1440p in less demanding titles. For Control, this combination delivers a playable experience across most settings, but the data clearly shows where its limits lie. The CPU, a 6-core/12-thread Rocket Lake part with a 4.40 GHz boost, is more than capable of feeding this GPU. The GTX 1080 Ti, with its 11 GB of GDDR5X memory and 484.4 GB/s of bandwidth, is the primary driver of performance, and the benchmark results reflect a system that is balanced but ultimately bound by the graphics card's Pascal architecture. This analysis focuses solely on the measured data for this specific combination.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?*

A: The data indicates 1920x1080 is the strongest resolution, with all settings producing average frame rates above 75 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset maintains an average above 100 FPS, while 3840x2160 is only viable at Low settings, where the average is 69 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17181. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, scores 17189, a delta of 0%. The Intel Core i7-1260P and Intel Core Ultra 7 164U are both 0.2% behind, while the Intel Core i5-1240U is 0.2% ahead. This places the CPU in a very tight competitive pack.

Q: What is the impact of switching from High to Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Moving from High to Ultra at 2560x1440 reduces the average frame rate from 62.1 FPS to 53.3 FPS, a drop of 8.8 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset's additional graphical features cost a noticeable amount of performance without a proportional gain in smoothness.

Q: Is the GTX 1080 Ti's VRAM a limiting factor in this game?

A: With 11 GB of GDDR5X memory, VRAM capacity is not a bottleneck at any of the tested resolutions. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s is substantial, but the performance drops at higher resolutions are more attributable to the core's raw compute limits than to memory capacity.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average frame rate is 69 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 51.1 FPS on Medium, 43.9 FPS on High, and 34.3 FPS on Ultra. None of the High or Ultra presets meet the 60 FPS target at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank against all other tested combinations?

A: This specific configuration ranks 974th out of 1636 total combos tested for Control. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, indicating it is not a top-tier performer for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

For a smooth experience prioritizing frame rate, the Low preset is the clear winner across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, it produces an average of 131.9 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 2560x1440, the Low preset maintains an excellent 100.3 FPS average, making it the only viable option for competitive or high-refresh-rate 1440p play. At 3840x2160, Low is the only preset that approaches playability, with an average of 69 FPS.

For a balance of visual fidelity and performance, the High preset is the best choice at 1920x1080, delivering an average of 82.2 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while still maintaining frame rates well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the High preset's 62.1 FPS average is playable, but it is close to the edge for gamers sensitive to frame drops. The Medium preset is a good middle ground at 1080p, with a 94.8 FPS average, but at 1440p it dips to 71 FPS.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for this combo. It is only playable at 1920x1080, where it achieves a 75.1 FPS average. At 1440p and 4K, the Ultra preset's average frame rates of 53.3 FPS and 34.3 FPS, respectively, fall below the standard for a smooth experience. The data suggests that for the best experience, users should stick to High at 1080p or Low at 1440p, avoiding Ultra unless they have a specific need for maximum visual quality at lower frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the decisive component in this pairing's performance in Control. Its 11 GB of GDDR5X memory is more than sufficient for the game's demands, even at 4K, where the average frame rates are limited by the GPU's processing power, not its memory capacity. The card's memory bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s and its boost clock of 1582 MHz are high for its generation, but the data shows a clear performance ceiling.

The benchmark results show a consistent pattern where the GTX 1080 Ti is the bottleneck. For instance, at 2560x1440, the difference between Low and High settings is 38.2 FPS, and from High to Ultra there is a further 8.8 FPS drop. This scaling suggests that the GPU's compute units are being saturated by the higher graphical loads. The GPU's average benchmark score is 19402, placing it at the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780, scores 19405, a 0% delta, indicating they are near-identical in raw compute benchmarks. However, the TITAN Xp is 1.1% ahead, showing the performance gap within NVIDIA's own lineup.

In Control, the GPU's role is clear: it is the primary determinant of frame rate. The CPU provides enough headroom to avoid becoming a limiting factor, as evidenced by the CPU's high percentile rank of 75. The GTX 1080 Ti's performance at 4K, where the average FPS drops from 69 on Low to 34.3 on Ultra, confirms that this card is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across resolutions and presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo is very capable. The Low preset achieves the highest average at 131.9 FPS. The Medium preset follows with 94.8 FPS, and High is next at 82.2 FPS. The Ultra preset is the lowest performer at 1080p, with an average of 75.1 FPS. All presets at this resolution are above the 60 FPS threshold, making 1080p the most versatile resolution for this setup.

At 2560x1440, performance begins to show strain. The Low preset still delivers a strong 100.3 FPS average. The Medium preset drops to 71 FPS, and High falls to 62.1 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only one that dips below 60 FPS, with an average of 53.3 FPS. This resolution is viable for all but the Ultra preset, which requires a lower resolution for smooth play.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1080 Ti is clearly out of its comfort zone. The Low preset is the only one that provides a playable average, hitting 69 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 51.1 FPS, and High falls to 43.9 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst performer, with an average of only 34.3 FPS. None of the higher presets at this resolution meet the 60 FPS standard.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database of tested combinations for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks 974th out of 1636 entries. This places it in the 60th percentile of all tested combos. While this rank might seem low, it is important to consider that the database includes many newer and more powerful components.

The rank indicates that this is a mid-tier configuration for this specific game. It is not among the top performers, but it is also far from the bottom. The ranking is a reflection of the GTX 1080 Ti's age and its performance limits at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance is solid, as evidenced by its 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in this title. The combo's rank is a direct result of the GPU's inability to maintain high frame rates at 1440p and 4K with higher graphical presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F plays a supporting role in this combo. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, provide ample processing power for Control. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14372 and a single-core score of 2029. This indicates a capable processor that is unlikely to bottleneck the GTX 1080 Ti in most gaming scenarios.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 17181 places it at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it performs better than 75% of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and Intel Core i7-1260P, have nearly identical scores, confirming that it is a solid mid-range performer. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are sufficient for the game's demands.

The benchmark results for Control suggest that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The frame rate drops observed when increasing resolution or settings are consistent with GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see more consistent frame rates across different resolutions at the same settings. Instead, the data shows that the GPU's workload is the primary driver of the FPS changes, confirming that the i5-11400F is doing its job without holding the system back.