Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the data for the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while still maintaining excellent frame rates. The benchmark results provide a clear picture of how this combination scales across settings and resolutions, making it a strong contender for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming and a capable 4K performer.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER achieves a rank of 283 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the system comfortably within the top 7.6% of all tested configurations, indicating a very high level of performance. The ranking reflects the synergy between a strong modern CPU and a high-end GPU, which together are able to handle the game's physics and rendering demands without a significant bottleneck.

This top-tier percentile positioning is supported by the individual component benchmarks. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 49394 places it in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU’s average score of 54209 puts it in the 86th percentile among all GPUs. The fact that both components are in the upper echelon of their respective categories ensures that the combo rank is not held back by a weak link. The data shows that this pairing is well-balanced for a game like Control, which is known for its complex environments and particle effects.

When compared to other high-end setups in the database, this combo's rank suggests it will deliver a premium experience. The system is not just about raw power; the data indicates that the frame rates achieved are consistently high, which is a direct result of the hardware's capabilities. The rank of 283 is a strong indicator that users can expect a smooth and responsive experience, even when pushing the game to its visual limits.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, providing substantial single-thread performance that is crucial for game logic and physics calculations. The CPU’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce latency, allowing for quicker access to frequently used data. In the context of Control, these specifications are more than sufficient to feed the GPU.

The benchmark data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 245 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. However, as resolution increases, the frame rate drops, indicating that the GPU is taking on the primary workload. The CPU's performance, as measured by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32544 and single-core score of 4594, shows it has ample headroom to handle the game's threading requirements without becoming a bottleneck.

The processor's high boost clock and strong single-core performance are particularly important for Control, which often has scenes with many interactive objects and destructible environments. The data shows that even at the highest settings, the CPU is able to maintain frame rates that are only limited by the GPU's rendering capacity. The CPU's performance is so robust that it effectively becomes a non-issue, allowing the RTX 4080 SUPER to work at its full potential.

FAQ

Q: How does this combo perform at 1440p with High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 117 FPS. This is a very strong result, indicating that the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors at this resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 125 on Low settings to 69 on Ultra settings, a change of 56 FPS. This significant drop with increased graphical load points to the GPU being the limiting component, as the CPU's workload does not scale as heavily with resolution.

Q: What is the expected performance at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS for 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 174 FPS, with a minimum of 148 FPS and a maximum of 200 FPS. This suggests a very smooth and consistent experience, well above the threshold for high-refresh-rate gaming.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its direct predecessor in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, has a score of 54247, which is a delta of -0.1%. This indicates the SUPER variant performs essentially identically to the original RTX 4080 in these tests.

Q: What kind of frame rates can be expected at 4K with High settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with High settings, the system delivers an average of 79 FPS. This is a playable and fluid experience for a visually demanding title like Control, though it does not hit the 100+ FPS territory seen at lower resolutions.

Q: Does the CPU's performance align with other high-end processors?

A: Yes. With an average benchmark score of 49394, the i5-14600KF is within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and 0.8% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. It is also 0.8% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, showing it is competitive with a wide range of modern high-end chips.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combo show a clear and predictable pattern across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. On Low settings, it produces an average of 245 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 174 FPS with a minimum of 148 and a maximum of 200. High settings yield an average of 155 FPS, and Ultra settings bring it down to an average of 134 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is capable of exceeding the refresh rate of even the fastest gaming monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very high. The Low setting average is 185 FPS. The Medium preset offers an average of 132 FPS, with a range of 112 to 152 FPS. High settings deliver an average of 117 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 102 FPS. This resolution provides an excellent balance, with all settings remaining comfortably above 100 FPS on average.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload increases significantly. The Low setting average is 125 FPS. The Medium preset produces an average of 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 102. High settings drop the average to 79 FPS, and Ultra settings result in an average of 69 FPS. While 4K performance is lower, the average frame rates remain playable across all settings, showcasing the strength of the RTX 4080 SUPER.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K illustrates the shift in bottleneck from a balanced load to a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the system hits 245 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 185 FPS, a reduction of 24.5%. Moving to 4K Low, the FPS drops to 125, which is a 32.4% reduction from 1440p and a 49.0% reduction from 1080p. This trend shows that as pixel count increases, the GPU has to work much harder to fill those pixels.

The scaling is even more pronounced at higher graphical settings. For the High preset, the system produces 155 FPS at 1080p, 117 FPS at 1440p, and 79 FPS at 4K. This represents a 24.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 32.5% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total decrease from 1080p to 4K is 49.0%. This consistent pattern strongly suggests that the CPU is able to maintain its performance across resolutions, and the GPU becomes the sole limiting factor at 4K.

The data indicates that the i5-14600KF provides a stable platform that does not restrict the GPU at any resolution. The frame rate drops are directly proportional to the increase in rendering resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. For users, this means that to achieve higher frame rates at 4K, the graphical settings must be reduced, as the CPU has no more performance to give in this scenario.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as it delivers an average of 134 FPS, which is high enough for a smooth experience while providing the best visual fidelity. The High preset at 155 FPS could be preferred for competitive play, but the visual difference is often minimal, and the frame rate increase is not necessary for most.

At 1440p, the High preset offers an excellent compromise, with an average of 117 FPS. This is a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors, providing a fluid experience without sacrificing much visual quality. The Ultra preset, at 102 FPS, is also a strong option for those who prioritize image quality over a few extra frames. The Medium preset, with an average of 132 FPS, is a good fallback if a higher, more consistent frame rate is desired.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the recommended starting point, as it provides a solid average of 79 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for a demanding title. The Medium preset, at 89 FPS, offers a noticeable performance boost and is the better choice for those who prefer a smoother experience. The Ultra preset, while visually impressive at 69 FPS, is best suited for players who can tolerate lower frame rates. The Low preset at 125 FPS is viable for maximizing frame rate, but it severely compromises the game's atmosphere and effects. The data clearly shows that the High or Medium presets provide the best balance of performance and visual quality for 4K on this hardware.