Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure from Remedy Entertainment, is a visually dense game that pushes hardware through its physics-heavy environments and particle effects. The pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K with the Intel Arc B570 produces a dataset that reveals a clear story about where this combo's strengths and limitations lie. The measured frames per second across three resolutions and four quality presets show a component stack that behaves predictably under load, with the GPU emerging as the primary gatekeeper for higher resolutions. The data suggests a system tuned for 1080p gaming, but with enough headroom in the CPU to suggest that the graphics card is the element to watch when scaling up. This analysis will break down the measured performance, contextualize the scores against the nearest rival components, and offer a clear picture of what this combination delivers in Control.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data from 1080p to 4K shows a steep and consistent decline, pointing directly at the Intel Arc B570 as the limiting component. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers 63 FPS. Dropping to 1440p High reduces that to 48 FPS, a 23.8% loss. Moving from 1440p to 4K High, the average falls to 32 FPS, another 33.3% drop from the 1440p figure. This pattern of diminishing returns as resolution climbs is classic GPU-bound behavior. The CPU, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, is not the bottleneck here; the Arc B570's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and 160-bit bus are being saturated by the increasing pixel count.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this. At 1080p Low, the system hits 101 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 55 FPS—a 45.5% reduction. At 4K, the difference between Low (51 FPS) and Ultra (28 FPS) is also stark, a 45.1% reduction. The fact that the percentage drop from Low to Ultra is nearly identical at both ends of the resolution spectrum indicates that the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are the determining factors, not the CPU's ability to feed frames. The i5-14600K, with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz and strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2064), is more than capable of keeping up with the Arc B570's output.

Comparing the 1440p Medium result (54 FPS) to the 4K Medium result (36 FPS) shows a 33.3% decrease, while the 1080p Medium (71 FPS) to 1440p Medium (54 FPS) is a 23.9% drop. The scaling is not linear; the jump from 1440p to 4K is consistently more punishing than the jump from 1080p to 1440p. This is because 4K has roughly 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p, while 1440p has about 1.78 times the pixels of 1080p. The Arc B570's 380.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth is a fixed resource, and the data suggests it is exhausted more quickly as resolution climbs. The GPU's FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS is also a hard ceiling; the measured frames show that ceiling being hit with increasing frequency as the resolution demands more raw shading work.

The implication is clear: for gamers targeting 4K, this combo will struggle to maintain playable framerates above Medium settings, and even then, it hovers just above 30 FPS. The 1440p results are more viable, with High settings producing 48 FPS, but the 1080p results are where this combo shines, with High settings at 63 FPS and Low at over 100 FPS. The data does not suggest any CPU-side stalling; the i5-14600K is not the reason for the FPS drops. Instead, the Arc B570's architecture, with its 2304 shading units and 144 texture mapping units, simply runs out of throughput as the pixel workload increases.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K with the Intel Arc B570 produces an average of 63 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings in Control.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 28, which is the lowest measured result in the dataset. This is below the 30 FPS threshold often considered a minimum for playability.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game at higher resolutions?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases (from 63 FPS at 1080p High to 32 FPS at 4K High), while the CPU's strong multi-threaded and single-threaded benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core 24491, single-core 2064) suggest it has ample headroom to feed the GPU.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to exceed 60 FPS?

A: Only at 1920x1080 with Low settings does the combo exceed 60 FPS, reaching 101 FPS. At 1080p Medium, it hits 71 FPS, and at 1080p High, it achieves 63 FPS. No 1440p or 4K settings reach 60 FPS in the measured data.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combos in Control?

A: The combo rank is 2307 out of 2888 total tested combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the database for this specific game.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for Medium settings?

A: The dataset includes minimum FPS only for Medium settings. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 61 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 46 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 31 FPS.

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 benchmark results show a processor with substantial headroom for gaming. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 places it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the single-core score of 2064 is equally impressive. In the context of Control, this CPU is not the constraint. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (101 FPS) versus 1080p High (63 FPS) shows a 37.6% drop, which is a far larger change than what a CPU bottleneck would produce. If the CPU were limiting, the FPS would remain relatively flat across settings changes, as the CPU workload (draw calls, physics, game logic) does not scale linearly with graphical preset.

The fact that the FPS drops consistently as settings increase points to the GPU being the primary influence. The i5-14600K's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) provide a solid foundation for feeding the Arc B570. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 38682 and integer math score of 125737 indicate strong computational throughput, which is useful for Control's physics simulation. However, the game's frame rate is ultimately dictated by the graphics card's ability to render frames, not the CPU's ability to calculate game state.

The nearest rivals to the i5-14600K in CPU benchmark scores include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H (avg score 48698, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 (avg score 48995, delta -0.8%). These small deltas (all within 1%) suggest that the i5-14600K's raw compute performance is competitive with other high-end processors. Yet, the combo rank in Control of 2307 out of 2888 indicates that this CPU's power is not translating into top-tier gaming performance when paired with the Arc B570. This is because the GPU's performance percentile (65th) is significantly lower than the CPU's (90th), creating an imbalance. The CPU is ready for more, but the GPU cannot deliver the frames to match. At 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU's capabilities shine through, allowing the system to hit 101 FPS at Low settings. At 4K, the CPU's role is diminished, and the GPU's limitations dominate, resulting in 28 FPS at Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo shows its strongest performance. Low settings yield an average of 101 FPS. Medium settings produce 71 FPS (min 61, max 82). High settings drop to 63 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 55 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 45.5% reduction, showing that the Arc B570 has enough headroom at this resolution to handle higher presets, though the gap between High and Ultra (63 to 55 FPS) is a modest 12.7% loss for the visual uplift.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages decline notably. Low settings produce 76 FPS. Medium settings average 54 FPS (min 46, max 62). High settings are at 48 FPS, and Ultra drops to 42 FPS. The drop from 1080p High (63 FPS) to 1440p High (48 FPS) is a 23.8% reduction, which is consistent with the increased pixel workload. At 1440p Ultra, the 42 FPS average is still playable, but it shows the GPU is working harder. The minimum FPS for Medium at 1440p is 46, which is close to the average for High, indicating some frame timing variability.

At 3840x2160, the results are the most constrained. Low settings average 51 FPS. Medium settings average 36 FPS (min 31, max 42). High settings are at 32 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 28 FPS. The jump from 1440p High (48 FPS) to 4K High (32 FPS) is a 33.3% loss. At 4K Ultra, the 28 FPS average is below the 30 FPS playability threshold, and even 4K High at 32 FPS is borderline. The 4K Medium minimum of 31 FPS suggests that the system can occasionally dip below 30 FPS, making 4K a challenging target for this combo. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the sweet spot, 1440p is acceptable with tweaks, and 4K is only viable at Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2307 out of 2888 combinations. This places it in the 20th percentile overall, meaning that roughly 80% of tested combos perform better in this game. The rank is a holistic measure that likely accounts for average FPS across resolutions and settings, and it reflects the GPU's limitations. The CPU's percentile rank is 90th, while the GPU's is 65th, which suggests that the GPU is dragging the combo down relative to what the CPU could support.

The nearest rival GPUs to the Arc B570 in terms of average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (avg score 20534, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Arc A750 (avg score 20582, delta -0.1%). The deltaPct values are minimal, indicating that the Arc B570's raw compute performance is very close to these other cards. However, the combo rank in Control suggests that this raw performance does not always translate to gaming efficiency, as the Arc B570's driver overhead or specific architectural features may not be optimized for this title. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD EPYC 4345P (delta 0.3%) and Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX (delta 0.7%), are not paired with the same GPU in this dataset, so the rank is specific to this exact combination.

The rank of 2307 indicates that while the CPU is a high performer, the system as a whole is not competitive in Control. This is not a surprise given the GPU's 65th percentile ranking. For context, a combo ranking near the top of the database would require a GPU with a higher performance percentile. The data does not support the idea that this combo is a top-tier choice for Control; it is a mid-to-low-tier performer that can handle 1080p well but struggles at higher resolutions. The rank also implies that users seeking higher frame rates in Control would benefit more from a GPU upgrade than a CPU upgrade, as the i5-14600K is already a strong processor.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with High settings, which produces an average of 63 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay and represents a good balance between visual quality and performance. The drop to Medium settings at 1080p yields 71 FPS, a 12.7% improvement over High, but the visual fidelity loss may not be worth it for most users. At 1080p Ultra, the 55 FPS average is still playable, but the 12.7% drop from High to Ultra suggests diminishing returns for the extra visual effects.

For users with 1440p monitors, High settings at 48 FPS is the recommended preset, though it requires accepting a frame rate below 60. Medium settings at 1440p produce 54 FPS, which is a 12.5% improvement over High and may be the better choice for those prioritizing smoothness over visual detail. The 4K results are less favorable; the only playable option is Low settings at 51 FPS, but the visual quality is significantly reduced. At 4K Medium, the 36 FPS average is borderline, and High and Ultra settings are not recommended due to the sub-30 FPS averages.

The data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1080p, where it can achieve near-60 FPS or higher on most settings. The Medium preset at 1080p (71 FPS) offers the best headroom for demanding scenes, as the minimum FPS of 61 is still above 60. For 1440p, Medium is the safest bet, as the minimum FPS of 46 is still above the 30 FPS playability threshold, but High at 48 FPS average leaves less margin. In all cases, the 4K resolution should be avoided unless the user is willing to play at Low settings, as the higher presets do not consistently maintain playable frame rates.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance in Control. Its 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical resource for a game like Control that uses high-resolution textures and heavy post-processing effects. The GPU's base and boost clocks are both 2500 MHz, and it has 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. The FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS is a measure of its raw compute capability, and the measured FPS shows that this compute is the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 20556. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (delta 0.1%) and the Intel Arc A750 (delta -0.1%), indicating that it is a mid-range performer. In Control, this translates to 1080p performance that is solid but not exceptional, and 4K performance that is insufficient for high settings. The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited memory bandwidth and shading throughput. The 10 GB VRAM is not exhausted at 4K in this dataset, as the game likely fits within that budget, but the 160-bit bus is a constraint.

The GPU's ray tracing capabilities, with 18 RT cores, are not explicitly tested in the measured FPS data, but the rasterization performance is what matters here. The fact that the GPU's performance drops by about 45% from Low to Ultra at both 1080p and 4K suggests that the graphics card is doing the heavy lifting, and its efficiency at handling the game's shader complexity is the limiting factor. The Arc B570's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 is relevant for modern titles, but the measured data for Control shows that it cannot sustain high frame rates at higher resolutions. For users of this combo, understanding that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance is key to setting expectations. The CPU is a capable partner, but the Arc B570's mid-range status means that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a compromise and 4K being a stretch.