Control

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a playable but demanding experience in Control, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and settings. The combo ranks 1090th out of 1636 tested configurations, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. Measured data shows that 1080p is the sweet spot for high refresh rates, while 4K requires significant compromises to maintain playable frame rates. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, measured FPS across all settings, and provides clear recommendations based on the available data.

FAQ

*Q: What is the combo's overall ranking for Control?*

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination ranks 1090th out of 1636 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle percentile of configurations tested for this game.

Q: What is the best 1080p setting for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 120.2, while the Ultra preset still achieves 63.6 average FPS. For a balanced experience, the High preset offers 76.9 average FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 the combo provides playable frame rates across all settings. The Low preset reaches 89.4 average FPS, while Ultra drops to 47.4 average FPS, which remains above the 30 FPS threshold for playability.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32508, which is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-12800H (32513, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (32446, 0.2% delta). It sits slightly below the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (32584, -0.2% delta).

Q: What is the GPU's benchmark percentile?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER falls in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19774. It performs nearly identically to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, which has a 0.3% delta.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth using at any resolution?

A: The Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, where it yields 63.6 average FPS. At 1440p it drops to 47.4, and at 2160p it falls to 35.6 average FPS, which may be too low for fast-paced action.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's position at 1090th out of 1636 tested configurations (roughly the 33rd percentile) indicates that it sits firmly in the mid-to-low range for Control. This ranking reflects the combined capabilities of the CPU and GPU, but the data suggests the GPU is the primary constraint. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 63rd percentile standing among all GPUs is notably higher than the combo's in-game rank, implying that other factors—such as the game's optimization or the CPU's interaction with the GPU—are limiting overall performance.

Within the measured FPS data, the combo shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p Low is the only configuration that breaks 120 FPS, while 4K Ultra is the only one that drops below 40 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is substantial—at 1080p, the difference is 56.6 FPS (120.2 vs. 63.6), and at 4K it narrows to 27.4 FPS (63 vs. 35.6). This suggests that the GPU becomes more of a bottleneck at higher resolutions, where the CPU's impact diminishes.

Compared to the GPU's nearest rivals, the RTX 2060 SUPER's average score of 19774 is nearly identical to the GeForce GTX TITAN (19706, 0.3% delta) and the RTX 2070 (19680, 0.5% delta). This means the combo's performance is representative of what users could expect from similar-generation hardware, with no significant outlier behavior in Control.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Core 14th Gen series, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65W TDP. In Control, which is an Action Adventure title, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle physics, AI, and game logic. The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios, as frame rates scale more dramatically with resolution changes than with settings changes when the CPU is not saturated.

The CPU's benchmark scores highlight its multi-threaded strength: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 11209. Its single-core performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3093. These numbers suggest that the i5-14400F can handle the demands of Control without becoming a limiting factor, especially at 1080p where the GPU is more likely to be the constraint.

The CPU's nearest rivals—the Intel Core i7-12800H, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, AMD Ryzen 7 250, and Intel Core i7-13705H—all have average scores within 0.2% of the i5-14400F's 32508. This places the CPU in a highly competitive performance band, meaning that any differences in Control frame rates would be due to the GPU or game-specific optimizations, not the CPU. In practice, the measured FPS data shows that the CPU allows the GPU to reach its full potential, particularly at lower resolutions where the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset achieves 120.2 average FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset to exceed 120 FPS. Medium follows at 85.9, High at 76.9, and Ultra at 63.6. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 47% drop in frame rate, but even the Ultra preset remains comfortable for most displays. This resolution is clearly where the combo shines, offering smooth gameplay across all settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops but remains playable. Low yields 89.4 average FPS, which is still excellent for competitive play. Medium drops to 65.7, High to 55.2, and Ultra to 47.4. The gap between Low and Ultra is 42 FPS, representing a 47% reduction. This resolution is a viable option for users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, as even the Ultra preset stays above the 45 FPS mark.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low is the only setting that breaks 60 FPS, achieving 63 average. Medium drops to 45.9, High to 40.2, and Ultra to 35.6. The Ultra preset is the only configuration in the entire dataset that falls below 40 FPS. While these numbers are technically playable, they are far from ideal for a fast-paced action game. The data clearly shows that 4K is not the intended use case for this combination.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset consistently provides the highest frame rates, with the delta between Low and Ultra increasing at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference is 56.6 FPS; at 1440p, it is 42 FPS; at 4K, it narrows to 27.4 FPS. This pattern indicates that the GPU's workload grows disproportionately with resolution, making settings adjustments less impactful at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is based on the Turing architecture and manufactured on a 12 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, with 2176 shading units and 34 RT cores. Its FP32 performance is rated at 7.181 TFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards but adequate for Control at lower resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark results show a Passmark G3D score of 16462 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2011. Its 63rd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates that it is a mid-range performer, which aligns with the measured FPS data in Control. The GPU's nearest rivals—the GeForce GTX TITAN, RTX 2070, Quadro K5200, and Tesla K40m—all have average scores within 1.3% of the RTX 2060 SUPER's 19774, confirming that this is a well-established performance tier.

In Control, the GPU's role is dominant, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling with resolution. At 1080p, the combo can exceed 120 FPS on Low settings, but at 4K, even Low settings only reach 63 FPS. This 47% drop in performance from 1080p Low to 4K Low (120.2 vs. 63) demonstrates the GPU's memory bandwidth and compute limits. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for most settings, but the 448.0 GB/s bandwidth may be a constraint at higher resolutions where texture data demands increase.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's 175W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a power-hungry component, but the data does not show any thermal throttling issues in the measured results. The GPU's performance in Control is consistent with its overall benchmark standing, making it a predictable choice for this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance goals. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers the best balance between visual quality and performance, delivering 76.9 average FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and allows for smooth gameplay. For users with high refresh rate monitors, the Low preset at 120.2 FPS is the only option that fully utilizes a 120Hz display, but the visual compromise may not be worth it for a single-player game.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides 65.7 average FPS while still offering reasonable visual fidelity. The High preset at 55.2 FPS is also viable for users who prefer better graphics, but the 10 FPS drop compared to Medium is noticeable. The Low preset at 89.4 FPS is ideal for competitive play, but the Ultra preset at 47.4 FPS should be avoided unless the user prioritizes visuals over smoothness.

For 3840x2160, the only settings that produce playable frame rates are Low at 63 FPS and Medium at 45.9 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 40.2 and 35.6 FPS, respectively, are below the 40 FPS threshold that most users consider acceptable for an action game. The data suggests that 4K gaming is not a strength of this combo, and users should either lower their expectations or reduce the resolution.

Overall, the best experience per the measured rows is achieved at 1080p with High settings, which offers a strong 76.9 average FPS. This configuration provides a good balance of visual detail and performance without requiring significant compromises. For 1440p users, Medium is the safest choice, while 4K users should stick to Low settings to maintain frame rates above 60 FPS.