Control

# Control: Intel Core i5-14600KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

This combo ranks at position 460 out of 1,636 tested processor/graphics-card combinations for Control, placing it in the upper 28% of all configurations. The pairing of Intel's Core i5-14600KF with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers a balanced platform for this 2019 Action Adventure title, with benchmark results showing the system can handle demanding 4K Ultra settings while maintaining playable framerates. The measured FPS data across all resolutions reveals a system that scales predictably with settings changes, though the gap between Low and Ultra presets becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 460 out of 1,636 tested combinations indicates a strong but not top-tier position for Control. This places the configuration in the 72nd percentile of all tested pairings, suggesting that while the i5-14600KF and RTX 3080 Ti work well together, there are faster combinations available for this title. The CPU's performance profile, with a 93rd percentile ranking among all processors, suggests the processor is not the primary limiter in most scenarios. The GPU's 83rd percentile among all graphics cards reinforces this interpretation — the graphics card is the more modest component in this pairing.

Looking at the measured FPS data, the system achieves 54.5 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action sequences. At 1440p Ultra the system reaches 78 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra it hits 108.4 FPS. These figures indicate the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and smooth 1440p experiences, with 4K requiring settings compromises. The rank relative to all combos suggests that users seeking maximum Control performance would need a more powerful GPU, but this configuration represents a capable middle ground.

The CPU's nearest rivals show minimal performance deltas: the Core i5-14600K is 0.4% faster in average benchmark score, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is 0.6% faster. These tiny margins indicate the i5-14600KF is positioned in a highly competitive performance tier. The GPU's nearest rivals, including the RTX 3090 at 0.5% faster and the RTX 5070 at 1.1% faster, show similarly tight competition. This means the combo's rank is not limited by either component being drastically outclassed by direct alternatives.

GPU Role

The RTX 3080 Ti brings 12 GB of GDDR6X memory across a 384-bit bus, yielding 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is substantial for Control, which benefits from high-bandwidth access to textures and geometry. The GPU's base clock of 1365 MHz and boost clock of 1665 MHz are paired with 10,240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, providing the raw compute throughput needed for this game's particle-heavy effects and physics simulations.

In Control, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 41.3 FPS (95.8 vs 54.5), showing that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at this resolution. The memory bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s proves adequate for 4K texture streaming, as evidenced by the playable 54.5 FPS at Ultra settings. The GPU's 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores support DirectX 12 Ultimate features, though the measured FPS data does not isolate ray tracing performance specifically.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 41,224 places it slightly below the RTX 3090 (41,441) and RTX 5070 (41,687), with deltas of -0.5% and -1.1% respectively. This positioning confirms the 3080 Ti remains competitive in modern titles, though newer architectures offer marginal gains. For Control specifically, the 4K Ultra result of 54.5 FPS suggests the GPU is nearing its limits at the highest settings and resolution, while the 1080p Low result of 191.6 FPS shows ample headroom for competitive play.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but just barely. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 54.5 FPS, which is playable but leaves little margin for demanding scenes. Dropping to High settings at 4K raises the average to 62.7 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its closest competitors?

A: The Core i5-14600KF's average benchmark score of 49,367 is 0.4% lower than the Core i5-14600K (49,166) and 0.6% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (49,062). The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 49,595, which is 0.5% higher than the i5-14600KF.

Q: What resolution provides the best balance of quality and performance?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves 90.2 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining framerates well above 60 FPS. The 1440p Ultra setting still delivers 78 FPS, making it the highest quality preset that remains comfortably playable.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The GPU's 83rd percentile ranking versus the CPU's 93rd percentile suggests the graphics card is the limiting factor in most scenarios. The 4K Ultra result of 54.5 FPS reinforces this, as the CPU's strong single-thread performance (2,778 Geekbench single-core) is unlikely to constrain the GPU at this resolution.

Q: How does the system perform at 1080p for high-refresh-rate displays?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 191.6 FPS on Low settings, 135.2 FPS on Medium, 119.4 FPS on High, and 108.4 FPS on Ultra. All presets exceed 100 FPS, making this an excellent configuration for 144Hz displays at 1080p.

Q: What is the memory configuration and does it affect performance?

A: The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory with 912.4 GB/s bandwidth. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The GPU's memory bandwidth is substantial for Control, allowing high-resolution textures to load without stuttering, as indicated by the consistent FPS measurements across all tested settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system ranges from 191.6 FPS on Low to 108.4 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Medium reduces performance by 56.4 FPS (191.6 to 135.2), while Medium to High costs another 15.8 FPS (135.2 to 119.4). The jump from High to Ultra costs 11 FPS (119.4 to 108.4), showing diminishing returns at the highest preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern shifts. Low settings produce 145.1 FPS, Medium drops to 106.4 FPS, High reaches 90.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 78 FPS. The Low-to-Medium gap is 38.7 FPS, which is proportionally smaller than at 1080p. The Medium-to-High difference is 16.2 FPS, and High-to-Ultra costs 12.2 FPS. At this resolution, the system remains above 60 FPS at all settings, making 1440p a sweet spot for this combo.

At 3840x2160, performance tightens considerably. Low settings yield 95.8 FPS, Medium drops to 69.5 FPS, High reaches 62.7 FPS, and Ultra falls to 54.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 41.3 FPS, with the largest single drop occurring between Low and Medium (26.3 FPS). At 4K, only Low settings exceed 90 FPS, while Medium and High hover near 60-70 FPS, and Ultra dips below the 60 FPS threshold. This data suggests 4K gaming is viable with settings compromises, while 1440p offers the best overall experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF features 14 cores and 20 threads based on the Raptor Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. With a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz, this processor delivers strong single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its 4,643 score in Cinebench R23 single-core testing. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample capacity for game data, while the dual-channel memory controller supports both DDR4 and DDR5 modules.

In Control, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU but still relevant at lower resolutions. The processor's 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a high-performing part, with an average benchmark score of 49,367. The multi-threaded performance, shown by the 32,889 Cinebench R23 multi-core score, ensures the CPU can handle background tasks while gaming. The 5.30 GHz boost clock helps maintain high framerates in CPU-bound scenarios, such as the 1080p Low setting where the system reaches 191.6 FPS.

The CPU's nearest rivals show it is tightly clustered with other high-end processors. The Core i5-14600K averages 49,166 (0.4% lower), while the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X scores 49,062 (0.6% lower). The AMD EPYC 4345P leads the group at 49,595 (0.5% higher). These small deltas suggest the i5-14600KF offers performance parity with its direct competitors. For Control specifically, the CPU's 14-core configuration provides sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking the RTX 3080 Ti, though the GPU remains the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080 displays, Ultra settings deliver 108.4 FPS, which exceeds 60 FPS and approaches 120 FPS. This makes Ultra the recommended preset for 1080p, as it provides the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. Users with 144Hz displays may prefer High settings at 119.4 FPS for a slightly higher refresh rate, though the visual difference between High and Ultra is modest.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 90.2 FPS offer the best quality-to-performance ratio. This preset maintains framerates above 90 FPS while providing significant visual improvements over Medium. Ultra at 78 FPS is also viable for users prioritizing image quality, as it remains well above 60 FPS. The 1440p Medium preset at 106.4 FPS is a solid choice for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, though the visual compromise over High may be noticeable.

For 3840x2160, the recommended setting is High at 62.7 FPS, which stays above 60 FPS while offering good visual quality. Medium at 69.5 FPS provides a small performance boost with reduced visual fidelity. Ultra at 54.5 FPS is playable but may exhibit occasional drops below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. Low at 95.8 FPS is viable for competitive play at 4K, though the visual sacrifices are substantial. The data suggests that 4K users should prioritize High settings for the best balance, while 1440p users can comfortably use Ultra if they prefer maximum visual quality.