Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure from Remedy, presents a fascinating case study in hardware scaling. The measured data for the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination reveals a system that is clearly capable of delivering a highly playable experience, but the performance curve across resolutions points to a nuanced balance between the CPU and GPU. The benchmark results show a distinct shift in bottleneck behavior as the resolution increases, with the 1080p data suggesting a scenario where the processor's headroom is being tested, while the 4K results place the graphical workload squarely on the GPU. This analysis will break down the measured FPS to understand where this pairing excels and where its limitations lie.

Resolution Scaling

The most telling data comes from observing how average frame rates plummet as resolution climbs. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves a commanding 174 FPS. This high frame rate, nearly triple the 4K result at the same settings, indicates that at this resolution, the system is not yet fully saturated; there is ample performance headroom. Moving to 2560x1440 on Low settings, the average drops to 132 FPS, a significant 24% reduction. Finally, at 3840x2160 on Low, the average falls to 89 FPS, which is a further 33% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep and consistent decline as pixel count increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

The scaling pattern holds true across all settings presets. For High settings, the FPS goes from 110 at 1080p, to 83 at 1440p, and finally to 56 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows a similar trajectory, starting at 96 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 72 FPS at 1440p, and settling at 49 FPS at 4K. The consistency of these drops suggests that the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The workload of rendering more pixels scales directly with the GPU's fillrate and memory bandwidth, and the data reflects this.

However, the scaling between 1080p and 1440p is less severe than the scaling between 1440p and 4K (for Low settings: 132/174 = 0.76, 89/132 = 0.67). This slight difference in the rate of decline hints that at 1080p, the system might be partially limited by another component, likely the CPU. The Intel Core i5-14600K, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is powerful, but at 1080p Low, the game's draw calls and physics calculations can become a bottleneck. The data suggests that while the GPU is the dominant constraint at 1440p and 4K, the CPU's role is more pronounced at 1080p, preventing the frame rate from scaling as high as the GPU's raw potential might allow.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this specific CPU-GPU pairing at rank 1254 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This position, roughly in the 66th percentile of all combinations, is a strong showing. It indicates that this system outperforms a majority of the tested configurations in this specific title. The rank is a holistic measure, reflecting the combined capability of the i5-14600K and RX 7800 XT to produce frames in this game's engine.

To contextualize this rank, it helps to look at the individual components' standing. The Intel Core i5-14600K sits at the 90th percentile against all CPUs in the database, a very high placement that speaks to its excellent multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and Intel Core Ultra 5 245, are within a 0.8% performance delta, indicating the i5-14600K is at the top tier of processor performance. In contrast, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is at the 51st percentile against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 and AMD Radeon Pro 5500M, are within a 1.8% delta, but this is a much lower relative standing than the CPU.

This creates an interesting dynamic. The CPU is a top-10% performer, while the GPU is an average performer. The combo's overall rank of 1254 out of 3720 is likely dragged down by the GPU's more modest standing. The data implies that in Control, the RX 7800 XT is the component that holds this pairing back from achieving a higher rank. A more powerful GPU would likely push this combination significantly higher in the rankings, as the i5-14600K has the processing headroom to feed it.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is the workhorse of this system for rendering Control's visuals. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a substantial 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth VP. This is a critical asset for a game like Control, which is known for its complex textures and effects. The generous memory pool ensures that at 4K resolution with High or Ultra settings, the GPU is unlikely to run out of memory, which would cause stuttering or texture pop-in. The benchmark data does not show any anomalous min FPS dips beyond what would be expected, supporting the idea that the 16 GB buffer is sufficient.

The GPU's clock speeds are also relevant. With a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2430 MHz, the card has a significant dynamic range. The 'game' clock of 2124 MHz is likely where the card operates under sustained load. The data shows that the GPU can push frame rates well above 60 FPS at 1080p and 1440p on lower presets. Its raw compute power, rated at 37.32 TFLOPS FP32, is what allows for the high frame rates seen at 1080p Low (174 FPS). The performance at 4K, however, shows the limits of this compute power. At 4K Ultra, the card averages only 49 FPS, indicating that the 37.32 TFLOPS are not sufficient to maintain a locked 60 FPS at the highest fidelity and resolution.

The GPU's performance tier, as indicated by its 51st percentile ranking, is a key factor. It is a mid-range performer by the database's standards, and the Control results reflect this. While it can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease on most presets, it struggles to maintain high refresh rates at 4K with the most demanding visual settings. The data suggests that for a 4K experience, the user must be willing to compromise on settings, perhaps targeting Medium or High presets to achieve a more stable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities. Here is the complete breakdown:

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: 174 FPS average
• Medium: 124 FPS average, with a min of 105 and a max of 142
• High: 110 FPS average
• Ultra: 96 FPS average

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: 132 FPS average
• Medium: 94 FPS average, with a min of 80 and a max of 108
• High: 83 FPS average
• Ultra: 72 FPS average

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: 89 FPS average
• Medium: 63 FPS average, with a min of 54 and a max of 73
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 49 FPS average

The data consistently shows that the step from Medium to High to Ultra has a significant impact on performance. For example, at 1440p, moving from Medium (94 FPS) to High (83 FPS) is an 11 FPS drop, and moving from High to Ultra (72 FPS) is another 11 FPS drop. This linear degradation is typical for GPU-bound scenarios. At 4K, the Ultra preset (49 FPS) is only 78% of the High preset's performance (56 FPS), and High is 89% of Medium's performance (63 FPS). This suggests that the Ultra preset, while visually superior, carries a heavy performance penalty that may not be worth the marginal visual gains at this resolution.

The min FPS values, available for Medium settings, are also informative. At 1080p Medium, the min of 105 FPS is quite high, indicating a smooth experience. At 1440p Medium, the min drops to 80 FPS, still a solidly playable number. However, at 4K Medium, the min FPS of 54 suggests that there are moments where frame pacing can dip below the 60 FPS threshold, which could be noticeable on a 60Hz display. This points to the GPU being at its limit at 4K Medium, with the minimum frame times becoming a concern.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a formidable processor, and the data suggests it is not the primary bottleneck in this system for most of the tested configurations. Its 14 cores (6 performance and 8 efficient) and 20 threads, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, provide ample processing power for game logic. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and single-core score of 2064 place it in the top tier of CPUs, and its 90th percentile ranking against all CPUs confirms its strength.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 174 FPS. This is an excellent result, but it is likely not the absolute maximum the CPU could push. The frame rate is still high, which shows the CPU is keeping up, but the scaling from 1080p to 1440p (a 24% drop) is less than what a purely GPU-bound system might see. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU's single-thread performance is a contributing factor to the final frame rate. The i5-14600K's high boost clock of 5.30 GHz is crucial here, as Control's engine can be sensitive to single-core speed.

However, as resolution increases, the CPU's workload becomes relatively less demanding compared to the GPU's. The fact that the frame rate drops consistently across all settings at 4K points to the GPU being the definitive limiter. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with data fast enough at 4K, as the FPS is almost entirely determined by the GPU's rendering speed. The data indicates that the i5-14600K is a perfect match for the RX 7800 XT in this game, providing enough headroom to ensure the GPU is the primary performance arbiter at high resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo can achieve in Control?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 174, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain a 60 FPS average at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K, the average FPS is 63 on Medium settings)Skip, which just barely exceeds the 60 FPS target. On High and Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 56 and 49, respectively, indicating that a locked 60 FPS is not achievable on the higher presets.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K is within a 0.8% performance delta of its nearest rivals, including the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and Intel Core Ultra 5 245. Its average benchmark score is 48618, which is nearly identical to the Xeon Gold 5318H's 48698.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the main bottleneck at 2560x1440?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p. The consistent frame rate drops as settings increase (from 132 FPS at Low to 72 FPS at Ultra) show that the graphics card's rendering capabilities are dictating performance, not the CPU.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank for Control in the database?

A: The combo ranks 1254th out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the upper third of all results.

Q: Does the 16 GB of VRAM on the GPU appear to be a limiting factor?

A: No. The benchmark data shows no unusual performance anomalies or stutters that would indicate memory capacity issues. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s and 16 GB capacity are sufficient for the game's requirements at the tested settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For a 1080p monitor with a high refresh rate (144Hz or higher), the Low preset at 174 FPS is the only way to truly maximize the display's potential. However, the Medium preset at 124 FPS is still an excellent choice, offering a much better visual experience while remaining well above the 100 FPS mark. The High preset at 110 FPS is also a strong contender for a buttery-smooth experience.

For 1440p, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. With an average of 94 FPS and a minimum of 80 FPS, it provides a great balance of visual fidelity and performance, ensuring smooth gameplay without significant dips. The High preset at 83 FPS is also viable for users who prioritize visuals, but the lower minimum frame rates could introduce occasional hitches. The Ultra preset at 72 FPS is playable, but it sacrifices a noticeable amount of performance for the highest settings.

At 4K, the situation is more delicate. The Medium preset is the recommended choice for a playable experience, as its 63 FPS average and 54 FPS minimum are the only configuration that consistently stays near the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 56 FPS is a compromise for visual quality, but users should be prepared for the average to dip below 60. The Ultra preset, at 49 FPS, is best avoided if a smooth experience is the priority, as the 11 FPS drop from High is a significant cost. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the Low preset at 89 FPS is the safest bet, though it will result in a noticeable reduction in graphical detail. Ultimately, the data suggests that the i5-14600K and RX 7800 XT are best suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring careful settings management.