Control

Control is a demanding Action Adventure title that stresses both processor and graphics hardware, and the pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER produces a system that sits in the lower-middle tier of tested configurations. With a combo rank of 3176 out of 3720 tested combinations, this setup is positioned for playable, but not high-refresh, experiences at mainstream resolutions. The benchmark data reveals a system where the CPU's substantial compute headroom is consistently held back by the GPU's output limits, making settings and resolution choices critical for achieving a smooth frame rate.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and can boost up to 5.40 GHz, providing a wide performance envelope for both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The processor includes a substantial cache hierarchy, with 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 30 MB L3 cache. Its benchmark scores reflect this capability, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116, alongside a Passmark multithread score of 45887.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle the game's physics and AI systems. The data indicates that this processor is far from a bottleneck in this pairing. The i7-13700K's 3DMark scores, including 12412 for max threads and 1136 for single thread, show it has ample throughput for the game's engine. The processor’s 89th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms its top-tier status, and its average benchmark score of 46881 places it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971 (a delta of -0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 at 47022 (a delta of -0.3%). The i7-13700K is actually slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535, both with scores of 46654 and 46653 respectively, by 0.5%.

However, the measured FPS in Control shows that the CPU's power is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 91 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 25 FPS. This massive performance swing is directly attributable to the graphics card, not the processor. The CPU's high clock speeds and core count ensure that it can maintain high frame rates in less GPU-bound scenarios, but the actual gameplay experience is dictated by the GPU's ability to render frames. The data suggests that in this specific game and resolution range, the i7-13700K provides a stable foundation, but its performance headroom is left largely unused due to the GTX 1660 SUPER's limitations.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is the primary determinant of performance in this configuration. It is based on the TU116 chip using the Turing architecture, manufactured on a 12 nm process by TSMC. The card features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. Its clocks are set at a base of 1530 MHz and a boost of 1785 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The GPU has 1408 shading units, 88 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, and it delivers a pixel rate of 85.68 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 157.1 GTexel/s. Its FP32 performance is rated at 5.027 TFLOPS.

The GTX 1660 SUPER's benchmark results place it in the mid-range of GPUs, with a 53rd percentile ranking versus all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 12986, which puts it in close proximity to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile (scoring 12940, a delta of 0.4%) and the AMD Radeon RX 580 (scoring 12928, a delta of 0.4%). It slightly outperforms the AMD Radeon 740M (12870, a delta of 0.9%), but trails the NVIDIA Tesla M2090 (13075, a delta of -0.7%). This positioning is clearly reflected in the game's measured FPS.

The GPU's 6 GB VRAM capacity and its compute power are the central constraints in Control. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is just 29, and it drops to 25 at Ultra. The card's performance is more serviceable at lower resolutions, but the data shows a consistent pattern of the GPU struggling to maintain high frame rates as graphical load increases. The card's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1278 and Passmark G3D score of 12699 further underscore its midrange capabilities. In this pairing, the GTX 1660 SUPER is unequivocally the performance ceiling, and any attempt to raise settings or resolution results in a direct and significant FPS penalty.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a 60+ FPS average?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, achieving an average of 91 FPS. At 2560x1440 Low, the average is 69 FPS, also above 60.

Q: How does this combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the system is not playable at high settings. The average FPS ranges from 46 at Low to 25 at Ultra, with Medium achieving 33 FPS and High at 29 FPS.

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

A: The GPU is the definitive bottleneck. The i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881 and is in the 89th percentile, while the GTX 1660 SUPER has an average score of 12986 and is in the 53rd percentile. The FPS data shows a strong correlation with GPU load and resolution changes.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 91 on Low to 50 on Ultra, a difference of 41 FPS. This shows a significant performance cost for higher graphical fidelity.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: This specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 3176 out of 3720 total tested combos in Control, placing it in the lower portion of the overall distribution.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for this game?

A: The GPU has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory. The performance data shows significant drops at higher settings, which is consistent with the GPU's compute limits rather than a specific VRAM capacity issue, but the 6 GB capacity is a limiting hardware specification.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested configurations for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER holds a rank of 3176 out of 3720 total combos. This places it in the 85th percentile from the bottom, indicating that a large majority of other tested systems deliver higher frame rates. The ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's midrange standing, as the CPU is a high-end component. The i7-13700K's performance is comparable to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which has a negligible 0.2% lower average score, but the GTX 1660 SUPER's performance is closely matched with the AMD Radeon RX 580, which has a 0.4% higher score.

This combination creates a significant imbalance. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking suggests it is capable of powering much more potent graphics cards, but the GPU's 53rd percentile ranking holds the system back. The result is a combo that is more powerful than entry-level setups but falls far short of high-performance ones. The rank of 3176 suggests that users with this configuration will likely experience frame rates that are below average for the database, particularly at higher resolutions and settings. The data indicates that this is not a balanced pairing for Control, as the CPU's potential is effectively wasted when paired with a GPU that cannot translate its processing power into higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system performs best. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 91 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 64 FPS, with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74 FPS. High settings yield an average of 57 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 50 FPS. This shows that 1080p is the most viable resolution for this combo, with playable frame rates up to High settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings produce an average of 69 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium settings average 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56 FPS. High settings average 43 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 38 FPS. This resolution is playable at Low and Medium settings, but the frame rates at High and Ultra may be too low for a smooth experience for some users.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles significantly. Low settings are the only playable option, with an average of 46 FPS. Medium settings average 33 FPS, with a minimum of 28 and a maximum of 38 FPS. High settings average 29 FPS, and Ultra settings average 25 FPS. The data confirms that 4K resolution is not a viable option for this hardware in Control, as even Low settings fall short of a stable 60 FPS target.

The pattern is consistent: each step up in resolution or settings results in a significant FPS drop, highlighting the GPU's limited headroom. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K are 55, 41, and 28 FPS respectively, indicating that frame pacing can be inconsistent under load.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 resolution. To achieve a frame rate that is consistently above 60 FPS, the Low preset is the only option, yielding an average of 91 FPS. However, for a better visual experience while maintaining playability, the Medium preset at 1080p is a strong choice, with an average of 64 FPS and a minimum of 55 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. The High preset at 1080p, with an average of 57 FPS, is also viable, but users may notice occasional dips below 60 FPS.

For users who prioritize higher resolution, 2560x1440 at Low settings is the best option, with an average of 69 FPS. This delivers a sharper image than 1080p while still maintaining a frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 49 FPS, is playable but requires a tolerance for lower frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the data does not support a recommended setting for a good experience. Even the Low preset, which averages 46 FPS, is below the standard 60 FPS target. Therefore, it is advised to avoid 4K resolution with this hardware in Control. The best overall experience according to the measured rows is the 1080p Medium preset, which offers a frame rate that is close to the 60 FPS target while providing a significant improvement in visual quality over Low settings. This is the recommended configuration for most users.