Control

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, though it falls short of high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. This combination sits at rank 1200 out of 1636 tested combos for this title, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. The data shows a clear pattern: the CPU handles the workload at lower resolutions, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution and settings increase.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?*

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the strongest resolution, with average FPS ranging from 64.5 at Ultra settings to 117.5 at Low. At 2560x1440, averages drop to between 49.5 and 90.1, while 3840x2160 yields the lowest results, from 33.1 at Ultra to 58.8 at Low.

Q: How does the CPU benchmark against its nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305, placing it at the 50th percentile of all CPUs. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10305 and the Intel Core i3-1125G4, and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2134. It trails the Intel Core i7-8809G by 0.6%.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest competitors?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 25120, placing it at the 69th percentile of all GPUs. It sits 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700M, 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600, and 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon 890M. It is 0.7% behind the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the jump from Low to Ultra settings is substantial. The average FPS drops from 117.5 at Low to 85.9 at Medium, then to 73.3 at High, and finally to 64.5 at Ultra. This represents a 53.0 FPS difference between the lowest and highest presets.

Q: Is the GPU's VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The measured FPS data shows playable results at all resolutions, suggesting this memory configuration is adequate for Control.

Q: What is the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K?

A: Using High settings as a baseline, the average FPS drops from 73.3 at 1920x1080 to 54.6 at 2560x1440, and further to 36.2 at 3840x2160. This shows a 37.1 FPS decrease between 1080p and 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1200 out of 1636 tested combinations for Control, which places it in the 73rd percentile of tested systems. This is a mid-pack result, indicating that while this pairing is capable, it is not near the top of the leaderboard for this specific title.

The CPU's position at the 50th percentile of all processors aligns with this mid-tier ranking. Its average benchmark score of 2305 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with deltas of only 0.2% to 0.4% against the Intel Core i3-10305, Intel Core i3-1125G4, and Intel Xeon E-2134. The GPU performs better relatively, sitting at the 69th percentile of all GPUs with a score of 25120.

The measured FPS data suggests the combination is well-balanced for 1080p gaming, where it can push past 60 FPS on all presets except Ultra. However, the ranking indicates that many other combinations achieve higher frame rates, likely due to stronger CPUs that can better feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a GPU-bound system at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 117.5 at 1920x1080 to 90.1 at 2560x1440, a 23.3% decrease. Moving to 3840x2160, the average falls to 58.8, a further 34.7% reduction.

This pattern intensifies with higher settings. At Ultra, the average FPS goes from 64.5 at 1080p to 49.5 at 1440p, then to 33.1 at 4K. The 4K results show the GPU hitting its limits: even at Low settings, the average of 58.8 FPS is below the 60 FPS target, and at Ultra it drops to 33.1 FPS.

The CPU's influence is most visible at 1080p Low, where the 117.5 average FPS suggests the i5-9400 can keep up with the RTX 3060 Ti. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the CPU becomes less of a bottleneck. The data indicates that at 1440p and 4K, the RTX 3060 Ti is the primary limiting factor, as the FPS differences between settings become more pronounced.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 117.5 FPS, which is the highest measured result across all configurations. Medium settings average 85.9 FPS, High settings average 73.3 FPS, and Ultra settings average 64.5 FPS. All presets at this resolution maintain averages above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 90.1 FPS, which remains smooth. Medium settings average 65.6 FPS, and High settings average 54.6 FPS. Ultra settings fall to 49.5 FPS, dipping below the 60 FPS threshold for the first time.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 58.8 FPS, just under 60. Medium settings average 44.8 FPS, High settings average 36.2 FPS, and Ultra settings average 33.1 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, and even then, it barely reaches 60 FPS.

The scaling between settings is consistent. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 53.0 FPS. At 1440p, that difference narrows to 40.6 FPS. At 4K, it narrows further to 25.7 FPS. This trend confirms that the GPU's capabilities are being saturated as resolution increases.

GPU Role

The RTX 3060 Ti features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1410 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz. It has 4864 shading units, 152 TMUs, and 80 ROPs.

The GPU's benchmark data shows a PassMark G3D score of 20349 and a PassMark GPU Compute score of 10006. It also scores 2626 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 109075 in Geekbench OpenCL. These numbers place the GPU at the 69th percentile of all GPUs, just behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700M and AMD Radeon RX 6600.

In Control, the GPU's role becomes more critical at higher settings. The measured FPS data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 33.1 FPS, indicating the GPU is heavily loaded. The 8 GB VRAM appears sufficient, as the game runs without issues at all tested configurations. The boost clock of 1665 MHz helps maintain performance during intense scenes, but the 4K results suggest the GPU is the limiting factor at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data suggests prioritizing 1080p gaming. At 1920x1080, High settings offer a strong balance with an average of 73.3 FPS, while Ultra maintains 64.5 FPS. Both are above 60 FPS, so players can choose based on visual preference.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings provide the best compromise with an average of 65.6 FPS. High settings drop to 54.6 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced games, but Medium keeps the experience smooth. Ultra settings at 49.5 FPS are playable but not ideal for fast action.

For 4K gaming, Low settings are the only viable option, averaging 58.8 FPS. Medium settings drop to 44.8 FPS, and High and Ultra fall below 40 FPS. The data clearly shows that this combo is not suited for high-settings 4K play.

The optimal configuration depends on the monitor. For 1080p displays, High or Ultra settings are recommended. For 1440p, Medium settings deliver the best frame rates. For 4K, Low settings are the only way to approach 60 FPS, and players may want to consider lowering the resolution instead.