Control

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a decidedly mid-range experience in Control, a 2019 Action Adventure title. The benchmark data shows a system that can comfortably handle 1080p and 1440p gaming, but struggles to maintain high refresh rates at 4K resolution. This combination ranks in the 62nd percentile of all tested combos, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer, it sits firmly above the majority of systems tested for this game.

FAQ

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

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At this resolution, the combo achieves 62.2 FPS on High settings and 92.5 FPS on Low settings, offering a good balance between visual fidelity and smooth gameplay. 1920x1080 is also excellent, with 79.4 FPS on High, but 4K is clearly beyond the GPU's comfort zone.

*Q: How does the combo's overall rank in Control compare to other tested systems?*

A: The combo ranks 1019 out of 1636 tested combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the field, meaning that while it outperforms 617 other combos, the majority of systems tested for this game provide higher frame rates.

Q: What is the performance difference between the CPU and its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K's average benchmark score is 49166. It is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, which is a mere 0.2% faster, and the Intel Core i5-14600KF, which is 0.4% faster. The AMD EPYC 4345P leads the group by 0.9%, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H trails by 1%.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark score compare to its nearest competitors?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT has an average benchmark score of 29024. It is statistically tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, which has a 0.0% delta. The AMD Radeon RX 470 is 0.1% slower, while the Intel Arc A370M and AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH are 0.5% and 0.6% faster, respectively.

Q: At 4K resolution, which settings preset yields a playable frame rate?

A: Only the Low preset achieves a playable frame rate at 3840x2160, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium and High presets drop to 46.4 and 42.3 FPS, respectively, and the Ultra preset falls to 32.4 FPS, which is not ideal for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the performance scaling from 1080p to 1440p on High settings?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers 79.4 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 on the same settings reduces the frame rate to 62.2 FPS. This represents a 21.6% drop in performance, indicating a significant GPU load increase as pixel count rises.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory position it as a versatile desktop component. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 32881 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4642 in single-core, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs tested.

For a game like Control, which is known for its physics-heavy environments and destructible objects, the CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are relevant. The 20 threads can handle the game's background simulation tasks, while the high boost clock ensures that the main game logic runs smoothly. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this system; the deltaPct values against its nearest rivals are all within 1%, meaning its performance is essentially on par with other high-end processors. The data suggests that the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU, especially at lower resolutions where the frame rate is more dependent on the graphics card.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its game clock is 2410 MHz, with a boost clock of 2635 MHz. The GPU's 2048 shading units and 32 ray accelerators give it a solid foundation for modern game rendering. Its FP32 performance is 10.79 TFLOPS, and it achieves a Passmark G3D score of 17166, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs.

In Control, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor. At 4K resolution, the game's texture requirements can strain this memory capacity, which explains the significant frame rate drops at higher settings. The GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, has a nearly identical average benchmark score, indicating that this desktop card performs similarly to a high-end mobile part. The data reveals that the GPU is the primary limiting factor in this combo, particularly at resolutions above 1440p, where its memory bandwidth and capacity are challenged by the game's demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's capabilities across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 125.9 FPS on Low, 90.8 FPS on Medium, 79.4 FPS on High, and 68.9 FPS on Ultra. This resolution is clearly where the combo shines, with all presets offering playable to excellent frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably: 92.5 FPS on Low, 64.7 FPS on Medium, 62.2 FPS on High, and 50.1 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Medium and High is narrow, but the jump to Ultra incurs a 19.4% performance penalty compared to High. At 3840x2160, the system struggles: 61 FPS on Low, 46.4 FPS on Medium, 42.3 FPS on High, and 32.4 FPS on Ultra. The 4K Low preset is the only one that maintains a consistent 60 FPS, while the Ultra preset is effectively unplayable for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1019 out of 1636 tested combinations places it in the 62nd percentile of all systems tested for Control. This suggests that while the system is capable, it is not a high-end performer. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking indicates that it is a strong component, but the GPU's 72nd percentile ranking drags the overall combo down. The data implies that this pairing is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, but it is not optimized for 4K or high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming. The rank reflects a system that is a solid mid-range choice, suitable for gamers who prioritize 1080p performance or are willing to compromise on settings at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the High preset at 1920x1080 offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, with 79.4 FPS. For gamers with 1440p monitors, the High preset at 2560x1440, delivering 62.2 FPS, is the recommended choice, as it provides a smooth experience while maintaining decent visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 1440p (64.7 FPS) is a viable alternative for those who prefer slightly higher frame rates, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often noticeable. At 4K, the Low preset (61 FPS) is the only playable option, but users should be prepared for significant visual compromises. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution above 1080p, as the frame rate drops below 50 FPS at 1440p and below 35 FPS at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU's limitations. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 79.4 FPS at 1080p to 62.2 FPS at 1440p, a 21.6% decrease, and then to 42.3 FPS at 4K, a 46.7% decrease from the 1440p figure. This steep decline indicates that the RX 6650 XT is increasingly overwhelmed as pixel count rises. The scaling is less severe at Low settings, where the drop from 1080p to 4K is from 125.9 FPS to 61 FPS, a 51.5% reduction, but the absolute numbers are still low at 4K. The data suggests that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are the primary bottlenecks at higher resolutions, as the game's asset loading demands exceed what the card can efficiently deliver. The CPU, by contrast, shows no signs of limiting performance, as the frame rate drop is consistent with GPU-bound behavior.