Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, runs exceptionally well on this combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT. The data shows this pairing ranks in the top 20% of all tested combos, securing the 327th position out of 1,636, which indicates a highly capable system for this title. The benchmark results confirm that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, with the CPU providing ample headroom even at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data to explain exactly how this hardware handles the game's demands across different settings and resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured performance places this specific configuration at rank 327 out of 1,636 tested combos, putting it in the 80th percentile of all systems evaluated for Control. This is a strong result, indicating that the pairing of the Core i5-14600KF and Radeon RX 7900 XT is well-balanced for this game, delivering a high-refresh-rate experience without significant bottlenecks. The ranking reflects the synergy between the CPU's strong single-thread performance and the GPU's substantial raw power. A rank in the top fifth of all tested systems suggests that users can expect a smooth and visually impressive experience, though the specific FPS figures vary notably based on the chosen resolution and quality preset. The data confirms that this is not a combination that struggles with the game's engine; rather, it has enough performance headroom to push high frame rates at demanding settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the clear performance leader in this pairing, and its specifications directly explain the high frame rates observed. The GPU's 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus provides 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Control's textures and assets at any resolution. The RDNA 3.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process, features a boost clock of 2394 MHz and a game clock of 2025 MHz, driving the 5,376 shading units. This hardware configuration is reflected in the GPU's strong synthetic scores, such as the Passmark G3D score of 29,009. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the limiting factor when moving from 1080p to 4K, as the FPS drops are consistent with an increase in pixel count, not a CPU limitation. The GPU's 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs underscores its high-end status, and in this game, it translates directly into playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and expected scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 131 FPS at 1080p to 101.6 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 68.9 FPS at 4K. This represents a 47% reduction in FPS from 1080p to 4K, which is a typical load increase for the GPU. The pattern is consistent across all settings; for example, at Ultra settings, the frame rate falls from 117.1 FPS at 1080p to 86.2 FPS at 1440p and then to 56.8 FPS at 4K. This scaling indicates that the RX 7900 XT is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the workload on the CPU does not change significantly with resolution. The fact that the FPS drops are proportional to the pixel count increase confirms that the Core i5-14600KF is not holding the system back, even at 1080p where CPU load is typically highest.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: For a 144Hz or higher monitor, the data suggests that 2560x1440 on High settings, yielding 101.6 FPS, or 1920x1080 on High settings, yielding 131 FPS, are the most appropriate choices. For maximum frame rates, 1080p Low provides 206.2 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, the data shows that 4K is playable. At 3840x2160, the High preset averages 68.9 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 56.8 FPS. For a smoother 4K experience, the Medium preset at 73.7 FPS is a viable option.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance cost?

A: The performance cost is significant. At 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers 86.2 FPS, which is 15.4 FPS lower than the High preset's 101.6 FPS. At 4K, the gap is 12.1 FPS, with Ultra at 56.8 FPS and High at 68.9 FPS.

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

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS scales down consistently as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's strong single-thread score of 4,643 in Cinebench R23 suggests it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 206.2 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 117.1 FPS. This is a performance gap of 89.1 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset demands significantly more from the GPU.

Q: How does the RX 7900 XT compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 38,358. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile, has a nearly identical score of 38,349, resulting in a deltaPct of 0%. This indicates the RX 7900 XT's performance is directly comparable to that mobile part in general compute workloads.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings depend entirely on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K displays, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it provides an average of 68.9 FPS, which is smoother than the Ultra preset's 56.8 FPS. The jump to Ultra at 4K costs 12.1 FPS, a noticeable drop that may not be worth the marginal visual improvement. For 1440p, the High preset is again the sweet spot, delivering 101.6 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance for most gamers. The Medium preset at 112.5 FPS is also a strong option if a higher frame rate is preferred. At 1080p, the High preset at 131 FPS is ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming, while the Low preset at 206.2 FPS is available for competitive play or extremely high refresh rate displays. The Ultra preset is best reserved for users with 4K displays who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, as it still maintains a playable 56.8 FPS at that resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF plays a supportive but crucial role in this configuration. With 14 cores and 20 threads, it offers substantial multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,889. However, for gaming, its single-core performance is more critical, and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4,643 is more than adequate for Control. The processor's boost clock of 5.30 GHz ensures that it can keep up with the GPU's frame generation, particularly at lower resolutions like 1080p where the CPU overhead is higher. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU is most likely to be a bottleneck, the system achieves 206.2 FPS, indicating that the i5-14600KF is not limiting performance. Its 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its high-end status, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600K, is only 0.4% faster on average, making them virtually identical in performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a wide range of performance across the four presets. The Low preset delivers the highest average at 206.2 FPS, followed by High at 131 FPS, Medium at 149.8 FPS, and Ultra at 117.1 FPS. The performance scaling is not linear, with a 57.1 FPS difference between Low and High, and a 32.7 FPS difference between High and Ultra.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show the expected decline. The Low preset averages 156 FPS, which is a 50.2 FPS drop from 1080p. The High preset averages 101.6 FPS, Medium averages 112.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 86.2 FPS. The relative performance order is consistent, with Low being the fastest and Ultra being the slowest.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. The Low preset averages 104.5 FPS, which is still very playable. The High preset averages 68.9 FPS, Medium averages 73.7 FPS, and Ultra averages 56.8 FPS. It is notable that the Medium preset outperforms High at 4K, a 4.8 FPS difference, which may indicate a specific setting within the High preset that is particularly demanding. The data confirms that 4K Ultra is the most demanding configuration, but it remains above the 60 FPS threshold for a smooth experience on this hardware.