Control

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, though 4K Ultra remains demanding. This combination ranks in the 53rd percentile of tested configurations, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions and presets. The data shows a CPU that holds its own at 60+ FPS targets and a GPU that provides substantial headroom at lower settings, making this a balanced pairing for a game that rewards both strong single-threaded and multi-threaded performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the expected average frame rate at 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 93.3 FPS. This suggests a smooth experience well above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 39.3 on Ultra to 73.8 on Low. The Medium preset yields 56.4 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate 4K panels.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its closest rivals in overall benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 30109. It is statistically tied with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, which has a deltaPct of 0.0, and is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 570, which has a score of 30158.

Q: What is the CPU's single-core performance relative to its multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23, the i5-9400 scores 1125 in single-core and 7969 in multi-core. The single-core score is strong for the CPU's age, indicating it can handle the main game thread effectively.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The RTX 5060 features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This is a key factor for texture-heavy scenes in Control.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 776 out of 1636 tested combinations for Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all systems tested.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1151 platform. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz are key for Control's engine, which relies on a mix of a few heavily loaded threads for physics and AI, and multiple lighter threads for asset streaming. With a 65W TDP, it is a power-efficient part that does not demand exotic cooling.

Benchmark results show the CPU's capabilities. In Cinebench R23, it scores 1125 points in the single-core test and 7969 in the multi-core test. This single-core score is notably higher proportionally than the multi-core score, suggesting that while the CPU is not a multi-threaded powerhouse, its per-core strength is sufficient to prevent it from bottlenecking the GPU in most scenarios. The CPU's 9 MB of shared L3 cache helps with the game's data locality.

The CPU sits at the 50th percentile when compared to all CPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 2305 places it nearly exactly between its nearest rivals: the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.2% faster) and the Intel Core i7-8809G (0.6% slower). This indicates that the i5-9400 is a dependable mid-range performer. In the context of Control, the data suggests the CPU can easily maintain frame pacing for the 145.7 FPS peak seen at 1080p Low, but at 4K Ultra with 39.3 FPS, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, not the processor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory with a 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, a specification that is crucial for the high-resolution textures and particle effects in Control. The GPU's core clocks are set to a base of 2280 MHz and a boost of 2497 MHz, and its 3840 shading units handle the bulk of the rendering workload.

The RTX 5060's benchmark performance is strong. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 20891 and an average benchmark score of 30109, placing it at the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT with a deltaPct of 0.0, meaning they are essentially equal in synthetic benchmarks. The data shows the RTX 5060 is a capable card for 1440p gaming, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

The GPU's frame delivery is directly tied to the settings preset. At 2560x1440, the average FPS jumps from 62.5 on Ultra to 114.4 on Low, a difference of nearly 2x. This indicates that the GPU has plenty of raw compute power, but the most demanding settings (like Ultra) impose a significant cost. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the combination of resolution and settings pushes the card to its limits, resulting in the lowest measured average of 39.3 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 776 out of 1636 tested combos for Control. This places it approximately in the 53rd percentile of all systems, a solid mid-pack result. The rank reflects a balance: the GPU is a high-percentile performer (73rd), but the CPU is a mid-pack part (50th percentile). This suggests the CPU is not holding the GPU back significantly in most situations, but for CPU-bound scenarios at low resolutions and settings, a stronger processor would yield higher frame rates.

When looking at the performance distribution, the combo’s rank is likely higher in GPU-bound scenarios (4K, Ultra) than in CPU-bound scenarios (1080p, Low). The measured data supports this, as the FPS drop from 1080p Low (145.7 FPS) to 1080p Ultra (79.8 FPS) is a massive 82% reduction, indicating the GPU is the primary driver of performance scaling. The CPU's 6 threads are sufficient to feed the RTX 5060 at lower settings, but the GPU's limitations at higher settings dictate the overall experience. This is a well-matched combo for 1440p High, where the average FPS of 74 is a sweet spot between visual fidelity and smoothness.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of scaling across three resolutions and four presets.

At 1920x1080, the experience is consistently smooth. The Low preset delivers an average of 145.7 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium yields 104.8 FPS, High brings it down to 93.3 FPS, and Ultra still manages a very playable 79.8 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 65.9 FPS, showing a linear scaling with settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but the impact of settings becomes more pronounced. Low averages 114.4 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium drops to 82.5 FPS, and High settles at 74 FPS. Ultra is the first preset to approach the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 62.5 FPS. This makes 1440p Ultra a viable option for those with 60Hz displays.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly taxed. Low settings produce an average of 73.8 FPS, which is surprisingly good for 4K. Medium drops to 56.4 FPS, High to 50.6 FPS, and Ultra to 39.3 FPS. This shows a steep performance cliff; the step from Medium to High is a 5.8 FPS drop, but the step from High to Ultra is an 11.3 FPS drop, indicating that Ultra settings are disproportionately expensive at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal preset depends entirely on the target resolution.

For 1920x1080, the High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 93.3 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard and close to 100 FPS for smoother motion. The jump to Ultra only costs 13.5 FPS (from 93.3 to 79.8) and may be worth it for visual purists, but High offers the best balance of performance and fidelity.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is again the sweet spot. At 74 FPS, it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS and looks significantly better than Medium (82.5 FPS). While Ultra is playable at 62.5 FPS, it sits close to the edge of the 60 FPS target, and any subsequent drop in a busy scene could cause noticeable stutter. High is the safer bet for consistent performance.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only one that provides a consistently high frame rate (73.8 FPS). Medium is playable at 56.4 FPS, but the data suggests it will dip below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for 4K gaming, as the average FPS of 50.6 and 39.3, respectively, do not meet the standard for a smooth action game experience. If 4K is the goal, lowering to the Medium preset with some in-game effects reduced will yield a better experience than the predefined High setting.