Control

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a solid, if not spectacular, showing in Control. The benchmark data reveals a combination that is heavily influenced by resolution and settings, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck at higher presets. The measured frame rates show a clear hierarchy of performance scaling, allowing for a precise analysis of where this hardware excels and where it begins to struggle.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable, yet steep, decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the "High" settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 81.8 FPS at 1080p to 60.7 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 39.4 FPS at 4K. This represents a 26% reduction in performance from 1080p to 1440p and a further 35% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling pattern indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the limiting component at these higher resolutions, as the workload shifts almost entirely to the GPU's rasterization and shading units.

The pattern is even more pronounced at the "Ultra" preset. Here, the average FPS falls from 73.2 at 1080p to 52.1 at 1440p, and then plummets to 37.4 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest in the entire dataset, suggesting that the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical fidelity is too demanding for this GPU. The delta between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is a 49% reduction in average FPS. This steep curve is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU has ample headroom but the graphics card cannot keep up with the pixel count and shader complexity.

Conversely, the "Low" preset scaling tells a different story. At Low settings, the average FPS is 132.2 at 1080p, 97.1 at 1440p, and 66.4 at 4K. The relative drop from 1080p to 4K is 50%, which is similar in magnitude to the Ultra preset, but the absolute frame rates are much higher. This indicates that even at Low settings, the GPU remains the primary constraint, though the lower workload allows it to produce frame rates well above the 60 FPS threshold at 1440p. The data shows that for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, one must drop to the "Low" preset, where the 66.4 average FPS provides the necessary headroom.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database of tested hardware combinations for Control, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER holds a combo rank of 996 out of 1636 tested combos. This places it in the 61st percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly 61% of all other CPU and GPU pairings tested in this game. While not a top-tier configuration, this rank indicates a competent mid-range setup that should handle the game's core mechanics without significant issues at moderate settings.

The rank is somewhat surprising given the GPU's age and tier, but it is buoyed by the CPU's strong performance. The i5-11400F sits at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17181. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (avgScore 17189, deltaPct 0) and the Intel Core i7-1260P (avgScore 17212, deltaPct -0.2), indicating the CPU is competitive with modern mobile and low-power desktop parts. This strong CPU performance helps prevent the combo from being dragged down by processor bottlenecks in less GPU-intensive scenes.

The GPU itself is ranked at the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22206. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A400, has an average score of 22307, a delta of -0.5%, showing the 2070 SUPER is marginally slower than that workstation card. The data suggests the combo's overall rank is a direct result of the GPU's mid-pack standing, as the CPU is relatively stronger. The 996th rank is a fair reflection of the hardware's combined capability, sitting in the upper-middle tier of the 1636 tested configurations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal experience depends heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the "High" preset is the clear sweet spot, delivering an average of 81.8 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive experience that takes advantage of the game's visual detail without sacrificing fluidity. The "Ultra" preset at 1080p is also viable, with 73.2 FPS, but the incremental visual gain over High is not worth the 10% performance hit, especially when High already maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the "High" preset remains the best choice, with an average of 60.7 FPS. This lands just above the 60 FPS target, making it the highest visual quality setting that can consistently hit this mark. The "Medium" preset also performs admirably at 69.1 FPS, but High offers a better visual experience for only a modest performance cost. The "Ultra" preset at 52.1 FPS is playable but will show noticeable stutter in action-heavy sequences, making it a less desirable option.

For 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The "Low" preset is the only setting that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, with an average of 66.4 FPS. The "Medium" preset, at 48.4 FPS, is below the ideal threshold but still playable for a slower-paced title like Control. The "High" preset at 39.4 FPS is not recommended for a consistent experience, as the frame rate becomes unpredictable. The data shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires a significant compromise on visual fidelity to achieve playable performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset for 1080p gaming with this combo?

A: The "High" preset at 1920x1080 yields an average of 81.8 FPS, which is the best balance of performance and visual quality. It provides a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS target.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, just barely. At 2560x1440 with the "High" preset, the average frame rate is 60.7 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that consistently maintains an average above 60 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with the RTX 2070 SUPER?

A: Only at the "Low" preset, where the average FPS is 66.4 at 3840x2160. Higher presets drop below 50 FPS, which is not ideal for a smooth experience.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested configurations?

A: The combination holds a rank of 996 out of 1636 tested combos, placing it in the 61st percentile of all tested hardware pairings for Control.

Q: Which component is the performance bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rates drop significantly with higher resolutions and presets, while the CPU's strong benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: Is the "Ultra" preset ever worth using?

A: Only at 1080p, where it achieves 73.2 FPS. At 1440p it drops to 52.1 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 37.4 FPS, making it unsuitable for a consistent experience at those resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the dominant factor in this combo's gaming performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the textures and assets in Control at 1080p and 1440p. However, at 4K, the higher memory pressure and pixel throughput requirements cause the GPU to become the clear limiting factor, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops. The measured results show that the GPU's 8 GB frame buffer is not a major issue at lower resolutions, but the processing power is insufficient for the highest presets at 4K.

The GPU's specifications support its mid-range standing. It has a base clock of 1605 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, with 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs. These specifications contribute to a pixel rate of 113.3 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 283.2 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 9.062 TFLOPS is a reasonable figure for a Turing-generation card, but it is outclassed by newer architectures. This is reflected in its 65th percentile rank among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 22206, which is only 0.5% lower than the RTX A400.

Furthermore, the GPU's ray tracing and tensor cores (40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores) are present but do not appear to be heavily utilized in the measured data, as the frame rates are primarily dictated by raw rasterization performance. The 215 W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this performance class. The data shows that while the RTX 2070 SUPER can deliver a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p, its limitations are fully exposed at 4K, making it the definitive bottleneck for this configuration in Control.