Control

Control with the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 presents a classic case of a modern, high-end GPU paired with a strong mid-range processor. The benchmark data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, with the CPU only beginning to show its influence at the 1080p setting. The measured FPS figures reveal a clear hierarchy across the four tested presets, and the system’s overall rank among thousands of combos indicates a top-tier configuration for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking trend in the data is how average FPS scales downward as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 209.7 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 156.1 FPS, a reduction of roughly 25.6%. At 4K, the Low preset yields 104.2 FPS, which is another 33.2% drop from the 1440p figure. This pattern strongly suggests that the RTX 5070 is the primary limiting component at 1440p and 4K, as the workload scales directly with pixel count.

The High preset tells a similar story: 132.8 FPS at 1080p, 98.1 FPS at 1440p, and 66.5 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K here shows a 32.2% reduction in performance, which is almost identical to the drop seen in the Low preset. This consistency across presets is a hallmark of GPU-bound scenarios, where the processor has ample headroom to feed the graphics card. The data implies that if you are gaming at 1440p or 4K, the i5-14400F is not the bottleneck; the RTX 5070’s raw rendering throughput dictates the final frame rate.

However, the 1080p results hint at a shift. The jump from 156.1 FPS at 1440p Low to 209.7 FPS at 1080p Low is a 34.4% increase, which is larger than the proportional increase in pixel count (from 3.7 million to 2.1 million pixels, a 43% difference). This incomplete scaling suggests that the CPU is starting to exert some influence at 1080p, preventing the GPU from achieving its full theoretical gain. The effect is most pronounced on the Low preset, where the GPU has less work to do, making the processor’s frame-time contribution more significant.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its benchmark results show a strong single-threaded performance, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2333 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3093. These figures, alongside a Passmark single-thread score of 3723, are crucial for gaming, as most game engines rely heavily on a few primary threads.

The data indicates that the i5-14400F’s multi-core capabilities are also robust, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21914 and a Passmark multithread score of 25783. This suggests the processor is more than capable of handling modern game engines that utilize multiple cores for physics, AI, and streaming. In Control, which is known for its complex physics and destruction systems, this multi-threaded headroom likely prevents any CPU-related stutters or frame dips, even when the scene is filled with debris and particle effects.

The processor’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory further bolster its gaming credentials. The percentileVsAllCpus of 88 indicates it outperforms the vast majority of all CPUs in the benchmark database. Compared to its nearest rivals, it trades blows with the Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, showing a deltaPct of 0 and 0.2 respectively, meaning its average benchmark score is virtually identical to those parts. This places it in a performance tier where it is more than sufficient for a GPU like the RTX 5070, except in the most extreme CPU-bound scenarios at 1080p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the star of the show, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with 6144 shading units and a boost clock of 2512 MHz. Its 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is critical for 4K gaming, as it allows the GPU to quickly access high-resolution textures without becoming a bottleneck itself. The data suggests this bandwidth is sufficient for Control, as the 4K frame rates, while not extremely high, are consistent and playable.

The GPU’s raw performance is substantial. Its Passmark G3D score of 29137 places it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077 and the Geekbench Vulkan score of 179413 further underscore its DirectX 12 and Vulkan capabilities, which are relevant for a modern title like Control. The data shows a clear GPU-bound scenario at 4K: the average FPS at High settings is 66.5, which is a significant drop from the 132.8 FPS at 1080p. This is the expected behavior for a high-resolution workload.

Interestingly, the RTX 5070’s nearest rival in the benchmark database is the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, with a deltaPct of 0.2, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, with a deltaPct of 0.6. While these are from different generations, their average benchmark scores are remarkably close, suggesting the RTX 5070 offers a level of performance that rivals the previous generation’s flagship. In Control, this translates to a smooth experience at 1440p, where the combo achieves 98.1 FPS on High and 87.5 FPS on Ultra, indicating the GPU handles the game’s demanding effects with ease at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the i5-14400F and RTX 5070 achieves a combo rank of 310 out of 1636 tested combinations in Control. This places it in the top 19% of all systems tested, a strong showing that underscores the balance of this pairing. The high rank is primarily attributable to the GPU’s dominance in this title, as the game’s rendering workload is heavily weighted toward the graphics card.

This ranking suggests that, for Control specifically, the RTX 5070 is the key driver of performance. The i5-14400F, while not the absolute fastest processor, provides enough headroom to avoid being a significant liability, especially at 1440p and 4K. The data implies that upgrading the CPU to a higher-tier model would yield diminishing returns in this game, as the frame rates are already constrained by the GPU at higher resolutions. The rank of 310 out of 1636 also indicates that this system is more powerful than the vast majority of user-configured builds, making it a very capable platform for playing Control at high settings.

FAQ

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

A: At 1440p with High settings, the combo achieves 98.1 FPS, which is a strong balance of visual quality and smoothness. 4K is also playable at 66.5 FPS on High, but 1440p provides a higher frame rate headroom for more demanding scenes.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data shows a GPU bottleneck at 1440p and 4K, as frame rates scale directly with resolution. At 1080p, the scaling is not perfectly linear, indicating the CPU begins to play a more significant role.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 41687. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 and 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, showing it is closely matched with those parts in synthetic tests.

Q: How does the i5-14400F's single-core performance compare to its multi-core performance?

A: The processor scores 2333 in Geekbench single-core and 11209 in multi-core. Its Cinebench R23 scores are 3093 for single-core and 21914 for multi-core, indicating a strong balance between single-thread and multi-thread capabilities.

Q: What is the system's overall rank among all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 310 out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the top 19% of all systems.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the performance envelope is broad. The Low preset achieves an average of 209.7 FPS, which is exceptionally high. The Medium preset delivers 149.9 FPS, while High produces 132.8 FPS. The Ultra preset, which applies the highest level of graphical fidelity, still manages a very playable 117.3 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system has significant headroom, and even the most demanding settings are easily handled.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates become more moderate. The Low preset scores 156.1 FPS, Medium hits 111.3 FPS, and High drops to 98.1 FPS. The Ultra preset yields 87.5 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, offering a substantial visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining high frame rates.

At 4K, the system’s limits become apparent. The Low preset manages 104.2 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K. The Medium preset drops to 78 FPS, and High falls to 66.5 FPS. The Ultra preset produces 57.6 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. The data shows a clear progression: for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the maximum viable option, while those seeking higher frame rates should consider 1440p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience depends on the user’s display and refresh rate. For 4K displays, the High preset at 66.5 FPS is the best choice for a smooth, visually rich experience. The Ultra preset at 57.6 FPS is playable but may be less consistent, so High offers a better balance of fidelity and performance. If a user has a high-refresh-rate 4K monitor, the Medium preset at 78 FPS is a viable alternative.

For 1440p monitors, the Ultra preset at 87.5 FPS provides the best visual experience without sacrificing smoothness. The High preset at 98.1 FPS is also excellent, offering a slight performance boost over Ultra at a minor visual cost. Users with 144Hz or higher refresh rate displays could opt for the Medium preset at 111.3 FPS to get closer to their monitor’s maximum refresh rate.

At 1080p, the system has so much headroom that the Ultra preset at 117.3 FPS is the clear recommendation. It provides the highest visual quality and still delivers a frame rate that exceeds most 1080p monitors’ refresh rates. The Medium preset at 149.9 FPS is unnecessary unless a user has a 144Hz or faster display and prioritizes frame rate above all else. The Low preset at 209.7 FPS is only useful for competitive play where maximum FPS is paramount, but it sacrifices the game’s atmospheric visuals.