Control

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a striking imbalance in Control. The data shows a combination where a high-end 14-core processor is matched with a graphics solution whose performance sits near the bottom of the database. This pairing results in a playable experience only at the most modest settings, with the GPU acting as the definitive bottleneck across all resolutions. The benchmark results indicate that while the CPU has ample headroom, the Arc B390 struggles to maintain frame rates that would be considered smooth by modern standards, making this a configuration defined by its graphics limitation rather than its processing power.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combo in Control reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, but the rate of that decline is telling. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 65 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low preset, the average drops to 50 FPS, a reduction of 15 FPS. Pushing further to 4K at Low yields an average of 33 FPS, which is a significant 32 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling is not linear; the performance penalty becomes more severe at higher resolutions. The transition from 1080p to 1440p represents a 23% decrease in average FPS, while the jump from 1440p to 4K represents a 34% decrease. This accelerating drop-off is a classic indicator that the limiting component is the GPU, as pixel throughput demands increase exponentially.

The pattern holds across other settings. At High settings, the averages are 41 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 4K at High is 20 FPS. This consistent halving of performance from 1080p to 4K across different presets suggests a fixed hardware limitation rather than a software or driver quirk. The data implies that the Arc B390's rendering pipeline is saturated by the pixel count, and reducing the resolution is the only effective lever to improve frame rates. The fact that 4K Ultra produces an average of just 18 FPS confirms that this combo is not designed for high-resolution gaming, as the GPU's compute and memory resources are simply overwhelmed.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for Control, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 holds a combo rank of 2551 out of 2888 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 12% of all systems tested for this game. The rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations. The CPU's own benchmark percentile is high, ranking in the 90th percentile against all other CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48618. However, the GPU's percentile is a stark contrast, sitting at only the 9th percentile with an average score of 1482. This massive disparity between the CPU and GPU performance tiers is the primary reason for the poor overall combo ranking. The data suggests that the CPU is capable of far more, but it is held back by a GPU that is not designed for this type of demanding workload.

The nearest rivals for the GPU in terms of its standalone benchmark score are all legacy or entry-level parts, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1.3% faster) and the GeForce GT 710 (2.7% slower). This contextualizes the Arc B390's performance level as being comparable to integrated graphics from a decade ago. When combined with a modern high-end CPU, the bottleneck is so severe that the system's overall ranking in a game like Control is dragged down to the bottom percentile of all tested combos. The benchmark results indicate that this is a pairing that would only be considered for e-sports titles or very light 2D games, not for a visually intensive Action Adventure title like Control.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the principal factor limiting performance in this combination. Its specifications are modest, featuring 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines. It also has 12 ray tracing cores, but the raw shader throughput is low, with a FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS. The boost clock is listed at 2500 MHz, but the base clock is a low 300 MHz, which suggests power management is aggressive. The memory configuration is described as "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system's main memory. This is a critical weakness for Control, a game known for its high-resolution textures and complex visual effects. The memory bandwidth is also "System Dependent," which further limits the GPU's ability to feed its processing units with data.

The benchmarks for the GPU show a score of 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is the only benchmark listed. This score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, confirming its low-end positioning. The nearest rivals are all NVIDIA parts from the GT 600 and 800 series, which are extremely old. The data implies that the Arc B390 is an integrated-class solution, despite being listed as a separate component. In Control, this translates to an inability to handle the game's effects at any resolution above 1080p with acceptable smoothness. The 4K Ultra result of 18 FPS is a direct consequence of the shared memory bandwidth and low fill rate. The GPU's role is to be the primary bottleneck, and all measured FPS data points to its performance ceiling being the defining characteristic of this combo.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's capabilities at three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the performance ranges from an average of 65 FPS on Low to 36 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 1080p yields an average of 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. This shows that even at the lowest resolution, the Ultra preset is not viable for smooth gameplay, as the average dips below 40 FPS. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a consistently playable frame rate at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops across the board. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, the High preset averages 31 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a min of 30 and a max of 40. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls to an average of 27 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1440p is only playable on the Low preset, and even then, the average is not particularly high. The data suggests that any setting above Low at this resolution will result in a sub-30 FPS experience, which is generally considered unplayable for an action game.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently poor. The Low preset averages 33 FPS, but the High preset drops to 21 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 24 FPS (with a min of 20 and a max of 27). The Ultra preset at 4K is the worst result in the entire dataset, with an average of just 18 FPS. The data shows a clear hierarchy: for a smooth experience, the user must play at 1080p Low, which is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS barrier. All other settings and resolutions fall below this threshold, with the majority of configurations falling below 40 FPS, which would result in noticeable stuttering and input lag during fast-paced combat.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in Control?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 65 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

*Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in Control?*

A: The data shows it is not. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 33 FPS on Low to 18 FPS on Ultra, all of which are below the generally accepted threshold for smooth, playable performance.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its closest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score is 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, is 1.3% faster, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% slower.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The average FPS drops from 50 FPS on Low to 27 FPS on Ultra at 2560x1440, a difference of 23 FPS.

*Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested combinations for Control?*

A: This combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2551 out of 2888 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 12% of systems.

Q: Does the CPU have a significant impact on the gaming performance in this combo?

A: The benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Intel Core i5-14600K ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs with a multi-core score of 24491 in Cinebench R23, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile, making the GPU the clear performance bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the only configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience is the Low settings preset at 1920x1080, which yields an average of 65 FPS. This is the recommended setting for any user who prioritizes frame rate and responsiveness. The Medium preset at 1080p is a viable alternative, with an average of 46 FPS, but it will result in a less fluid experience, especially in combat scenarios where the frame rate may dip to 40 FPS. For users who are willing to sacrifice frame rate for visual fidelity, the High preset at 1080p offers an average of 41 FPS, but this is borderline for a game that requires quick reactions.

At higher resolutions, the recommendations are more restrictive. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 50 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 35 FPS, is not recommended for a playable experience. At 4K, no settings preset achieves a playable frame rate, with even the Low preset falling to an average of 33 FPS. The data suggests that the best experience for this combo is to play at 1080p with the Low preset. If the user insists on higher visual quality, they would need to accept a sub-40 FPS average, which is not ideal for this genre. The Medium preset at 1080p appears to be a reasonable compromise, offering a 46 FPS average, but the Low preset is the only one that provides a clear margin above the 60 FPS target.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a high-performance processor that is completely underutilized in this pairing. It features 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its architecture is Raptor Lake, built on a 10 nm process. The CPU has a substantial 24 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its standalone benchmarks are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064. Its average benchmark score is 48618, which puts it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (0.2% slower) and the AMD EPYC 4345P (0.3% faster), indicating it is a top-tier part.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data. The data shows that the CPU is far more powerful than the GPU. The GPU's percentile rank of 9 versus the CPU's percentile rank of 90 is a clear indication of this imbalance. The measured FPS is almost entirely dependent on the GPU's capabilities. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely not being stressed at all, and the 65 FPS average is a reflection of the GPU's peak output. The CPU's high thread count is irrelevant for this game, as the bottleneck is in the rendering pipeline. The benchmark results imply that upgrading the GPU to a more powerful model would yield a massive increase in FPS, as the CPU has the headroom to support a much faster graphics card. The current setup leaves the CPU in a state of waiting, with its performance potential entirely untapped by the Arc B390.