Control

# Control with Intel Core i7-13700K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

The Intel Core i7-13700K pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 to deliver a compelling Control experience, landing at rank 503 out of 1636 tested combos. This places the pairing in the upper third of all configurations, with the data indicating a system that comfortably handles the game's demands across most settings. The measured frame rates reveal a consistent pattern: the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads provide ample headroom, while the RTX 3080's 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and Ampere architecture become the deciding factor at higher resolutions. Benchmark results show the i7-13700K achieving a 93rd percentile score among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 47282, while the RTX 3080 sits at the 80th percentile for GPUs with an average score of 35787. The combination of these two components produces a system where the GPU typically becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, but the CPU ensures that even at 1080p with low settings, the game never becomes CPU-bound in a way that hampers playability.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K brings substantial processing power to Control, featuring 16 cores and 24 threads based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz can boost up to 5.40 GHz, and the CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 2 MB L2 per core and 80 KB L1 per core, provides the kind of memory hierarchy that benefits modern game engines. The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce this capability: a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 39000 and a single-core score of 5505 indicate strong both multi-threaded and single-threaded performance, which is relevant for Control's engine that uses multiple threads for physics, AI, and rendering tasks.

In the measured results, the CPU's role becomes apparent when examining the FPS scaling across settings at the same resolution. At 1080p, moving from Low (184.2 FPS) to Ultra (100.2 FPS) shows a drop of 84 FPS, which is primarily driven by the GPU's workload increasing. However, the CPU must feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic; the i7-13700K's single-thread performance, evidenced by its PassMark single-thread score of 4333 and Geekbench single-core score of 2850, ensures that this feeding process does not become a bottleneck. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 2262 and 4-thread score of 4469 demonstrate that even when the game uses only a few cores, the CPU delivers sufficient throughput.

Compared to its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, the i7-13700K shows a delta of -0.1% against the Core i7-13700KF, 0.3% against the AMD EPYC 4364P, 0.4% against the Core i9-12900F, and -0.5% against the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945. These tight margins, all within 0.5% of each other, indicate that the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its class, and any differences in Control's frame rates would be attributable to other system components rather than CPU choice. The data suggests that the i7-13700K's 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier allow it to sustain boost clocks during extended gaming sessions, which is crucial for maintaining consistent frame delivery in a game like Control that features intense combat sequences with destructible environments.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its closest CPU rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The i7-13700K scores 47282 on average, which is -0.1% behind the Core i7-13700KF (47334), 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4364P (47131), 0.4% ahead of the Core i9-12900F (47081), and -0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527).

Q: What is the RTX 3080's percentile ranking among all GPUs, and how does it compare to the 880M?

A: The RTX 3080 sits at the 80th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 35787. It is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon 880M (35646) and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (36101).

Q: What is the best FPS recorded for this combo at 1440p?

A: The highest average FPS at 2560x1440 is 138.4 FPS, achieved with Low settings. Medium settings deliver 99.2 FPS, High settings produce 89 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 79 FPS.

Q: How much FPS does the system lose when going from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra?

A: The frame rate drops from 100.2 FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra to 50.3 FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra, representing a reduction of 49.9 FPS, or roughly half the performance.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations for Control?

A: This combo ranks 503rd out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the top 30.7% of all systems measured.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the frame rates range from 92.9 FPS at Low to 50.3 FPS at Ultra, with the GPU's workload increasing significantly. The RTX 3080's 10 GB VRAM and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth become the primary constraint, while the CPU's performance remains sufficient to avoid bottlenecking.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data for this combo reveals a clear hierarchy of performance across settings and resolutions, allowing for informed recommendations. At 1920x1080, all settings produce playable frame rates, with Low at 184.2 FPS, Medium at 129.7 FPS, High at 114.4 FPS, and Ultra at 100.2 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium costs 54.5 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 15.3 FPS, and High to Ultra costs 14.2 FPS. Given that High settings maintain over 114 FPS at 1080p, this preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for most players, as the difference between High and Ultra is relatively small in frame rate terms but Ultra may introduce demanding effects.

At 2560x1440, the pattern shifts slightly: Low produces 138.4 FPS, Medium 99.2 FPS, High 89 FPS, and Ultra 79 FPS. Here, Medium settings deliver nearly 100 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, while High stays above 85 FPS and remains smooth. Ultra at 79 FPS is still playable but begins to approach the threshold where frame pacing becomes noticeable in fast-paced action. The data indicates that High settings at 1440p provide the best experience, as the 89 FPS average keeps the game fluid without sacrificing the visual quality that Control's atmospheric environments benefit from.

At 3840x2160, the choices become more constrained: Low gives 92.9 FPS, Medium 70.1 FPS, High 62.2 FPS, and Ultra 50.3 FPS. For 4K gaming, Medium settings offer the best compromise, delivering 70.1 FPS which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play, while High dips to 62.2 FPS and Ultra falls below 60 FPS. Players with 4K displays should opt for Medium to maintain consistent performance, while those prioritizing visual quality over frame rate may choose High but should expect occasional dips during intense scenes. Low at 4K yields high frame rates but underutilizes the game's visual potential, making it a less compelling choice.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a rank of 503 out of 1636 tested combos for Control, placing it in the 69.3rd percentile of all systems. This position indicates that the pairing performs better than roughly two-thirds of all tested configurations, though it is not among the top-tier systems. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU's strong performance (93rd percentile among CPUs) and the GPU's solid but not exceptional standing (80th percentile among GPUs). The i7-13700K's average benchmark score of 47282 positions it slightly below the Core i7-13700KF (47334) and AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 (47527), but above the AMD EPYC 4364P (47131) and Core i9-12900F (47081). Similarly, the RTX 3080's average score of 35787 is competitive with its nearest rivals, ranging from the AMD Radeon 880M (35646) to the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (36101).

The rank of 503 suggests that while this combo handles Control well, there are 502 other combinations that achieve higher frame rates, likely featuring more powerful GPUs or newer CPU architectures. The data implies that this system is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with high settings, but for 4K Ultra, it may struggle to maintain 60 FPS consistently, which is reflected in its mid-tier ranking. The percentile position also indicates that the RTX 3080, while capable, is not the top performer in the current GPU landscape, and the i7-13700K, despite its strong scores, faces competition from newer processors. The combination's rank is a function of both components' individual standings and how they interact in Control's specific workload.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals how this combo scales from 1080p to 4K, providing insight into which component limits performance. At Low settings, the system delivers 184.2 FPS at 1080p, 138.4 FPS at 1440p, and 92.9 FPS at 4K. This represents a 24.9% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 49.6% drop from 1080p to 4K. The scaling suggests that at Low settings, the GPU is still the primary constraint, as the CPU's performance headroom allows it to feed the GPU efficiently at all resolutions.

At Medium settings, the frame rates are 129.7 FPS at 1080p, 99.2 FPS at 1440p, and 70.1 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 23.5% from 1080p to 1440p and 46% from 1080p to 4K, showing a similar scaling pattern to Low settings. This consistency indicates that the GPU's workload is scaling predictably with resolution, and the CPU is not introducing any additional bottlenecks at higher resolutions.

At High settings, the system produces 114.4 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 62.2 FPS at 4K. The drops are 22.2% and 45.6% respectively, which is slightly less severe than at Lower settings. This suggests that as settings increase, the GPU becomes even more dominant as the limiting factor, since the additional visual effects tax the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth more heavily. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 100.2 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p, and 50.3 FPS at 4K, with drops of 21.2% and 49.8%. The 4K Ultra performance of 50.3 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the RTX 3080's 10 GB VRAM and 320-bit memory bus are insufficient for the highest settings at this resolution.

The scaling analysis points to the GPU as the limiting component across all settings and resolutions. The CPU's 16 cores and high boost clock ensure that it can keep up with the GPU's demands, even at 1080p Low where frame rates exceed 180 FPS. The consistent percentage drops across settings indicate that the GPU's architecture, with its 8704 shading units and 68 RT cores, is being fully utilized, and any performance gains would require a more powerful GPU rather than a stronger CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 184.2 FPS, which is the maximum measured for this configuration. Medium settings yield 129.7 FPS, High settings achieve 114.4 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 100.2 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 84 FPS, with the largest single drop occurring between Low and Medium at 54.5 FPS. The data shows that even at Ultra settings, the system maintains triple-digit frame rates, making 1080p gaming smooth and responsive across the board.

At 2560x1440, frame rates remain strong but begin to show the GPU's limitations. Low settings deliver 138.4 FPS, which is still above the 120 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate gaming. Medium settings produce 99.2 FPS, just shy of 100 FPS, while High settings achieve 89 FPS and Ultra settings yield 79 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 39.2 FPS, from Medium to High is 10.2 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 10 FPS. This indicates that at 1440p, the GPU's workload increases significantly, but the system remains capable of delivering playable frame rates at all settings.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance is more constrained. Low settings produce 92.9 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS and suitable for most displays. Medium settings yield 70.1 FPS, maintaining smooth gameplay, while High settings drop to 62.2 FPS, just above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings result in 50.3 FPS, which falls below 60 FPS and may cause noticeable stuttering in fast-paced scenes. The drops from Low to Medium (22.8 FPS), Medium to High (7.9 FPS), and High to Ultra (11.9 FPS) show that the GPU is heavily taxed at 4K, particularly at Ultra settings where the 10 GB VRAM may be insufficient for the game's textures and effects.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 plays a decisive role in this combo's Control performance, with its 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 320-bit memory bus providing 760.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock of 1440 MHz and boost clock of 1710 MHz, along with its 8704 shading units, 272 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, determine how efficiently it can process the game's rendering tasks. The RTX 3080's 68 RT cores and 272 tensor cores are particularly relevant for Control, which features ray tracing effects that can be enabled at higher settings, though the measured data does not specify whether ray tracing was active.

The GPU's benchmark scores indicate its overall capability: a PassMark G3D score of 25086 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 167014, with Vulkan performance at 145176. These scores place the RTX 3080 at the 80th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35787. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro Duo (35860, -0.2% delta), AMD Radeon 880M (35646, 0.4% delta), AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (36101, -0.9% delta), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile (35435, 1% delta). The RTX 3080's performance is closely matched with these competitors, suggesting that in Control, the GPU's frame rates are typical for its class.

The GPU's VRAM capacity of 10 GB is a critical factor at 4K Ultra settings, where the measured 50.3 FPS indicates that the memory bandwidth and capacity may be limiting factors. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU's 760.3 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient to maintain high frame rates, but at 4K, the increased texture sizes and resolution tax the memory subsystem. The GPU's 68 RT cores, if utilized for Control's ray tracing features, would further increase the workload, though the measured FPS data does not differentiate between ray tracing enabled or disabled. The GPU's 29.77 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 164.2 GPixel/s pixel rate provide the raw compute power needed for the game's particle effects and physics simulations, while its 465.1 GTexel/s texture rate handles the detailed environmental textures. The RTX 3080's end-of-life production status and 320 W TDP indicate that it is a previous-generation component, but its performance in this benchmark demonstrates that it remains a capable GPU for Control at most settings and resolutions.