Control

The benchmark data for Control on the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combo reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the CPU providing ample headroom. The measured FPS across the board indicates a consistent scaling pattern that points to the graphics card as the primary performance limiter, especially when pushing beyond 1080p. The combination of a 20-core Raptor Lake CPU with a 16 GB RDNA 3 GPU creates a pairing where the CPU rarely bottlenecks, allowing the RX 7700's capabilities to define the gaming experience.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a predictable and pronounced drop in frame rates as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average FPS falls from 93 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p, a reduction of roughly 24%. The most significant drop occurs when moving to 4K, where the average FPS plummets to 48, a 32% decrease from the 1440p figure. This substantial decline at 4K strongly suggests that the Radeon RX 7700's rendering throughput is the limiting factor, as the number of pixels being processed overwhelms the GPU's fill rate and shading power.

The scaling pattern is even more telling at the Low preset. Here, the average FPS goes from 148 at 1080p to 112 at 1440p, and finally to 76 at 4K. The 4K figure at Low settings is still higher than the 1080p Ultra result of 81 FPS, which implies that while the GPU is the bottleneck, it is not a severe one at lower settings. The consistent drop across all presets—roughly 25-30% between each resolution step—indicates that the system is not hitting a hard CPU wall, but rather a smooth, predictable curve of GPU load. If the CPU were the constraint, we would expect to see a plateau or less severe drop at higher resolutions where the CPU has more time to prepare frames.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 67 FPS (148 vs 81), but at 4K, it narrows to 35 FPS (76 vs 41). This convergence at higher resolutions is a classic sign of GPU limitation; at 4K, even the Low preset demands enough pixel processing that the GPU becomes the sole determinant of performance, minimizing the impact of other settings. The data implies that for competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset unlocks the full potential of the i7-14700F, but for a visually rich experience at 4K, even the Medium preset's 54 FPS average shows the GPU is working at its limits.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database for Control, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 holds a rank of 1294 out of 2888 tested combos. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, specifically in the 55th percentile. While not a top-tier enthusiast setup, this ranking indicates that the combo delivers a solid, above-average performance for this title. The rank suggests that the pairing is well-balanced for a 1440p gaming experience, where the measured FPS figures are more than adequate for smooth gameplay.

The ranking is a composite measure that considers the synergy between the CPU and GPU. The i7-14700F, with its high benchmark scores (a 91st percentile vs all CPUs), contributes a strong foundation, but the RX 7700's 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs likely drags the overall combo rank down. This imbalance is reflected in the game's performance, where the GPU is the bottleneck. The 1294 rank out of 2888 combos means there are many systems that perform better, but also a significant number that perform worse. Notably, the data shows this combo sits in a crowded field, as the GPU's nearest rivals—the AMD Radeon R9 370X and AMD Radeon Pro W5500—have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with delta percentages of -0.1% and +1.1% respectively.

This ranking context suggests that while the i7-14700F could support a more powerful GPU, the RX 7700 provides a reasonable match for Control's demands. The 41 FPS average at 4K Ultra and 48 FPS at 4K High are playable, but they are not high-refresh-rate territory. The combo rank reflects this reality: it is a capable mid-range performer, not a high-end one. For users targeting 60 FPS at 1440p with high settings, this combo's 71 FPS average at High comfortably clears that threshold, validating its position in the upper half of the rankings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. In the context of Control, this CPU is never the limiting factor. The benchmark results show that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 148 FPS, which is a very high frame rate that any modern CPU should manage. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958, indicate it has substantial headroom. The high single-core performance is particularly relevant for gaming, as Control likely relies on a few primary threads for game logic and physics.

The data suggests that the i7-14700F's role is to feed the GPU with enough data to keep it busy. Since the FPS scaling is so heavily tied to resolution, it is clear that the CPU is not introducing a bottleneck. Even at 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work, the 148 FPS average is likely limited by the GPU's raw output, not the CPU's frame generation speed. The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support provide a fast data pathway, ensuring that the GPU is not starved of texture and geometry data.

The processor's 65 W TDP is relatively modest for a 20-core chip, suggesting it is a power-efficient part. This efficiency, combined with its high clock speeds, allows it to maintain consistent performance without thermal throttling, which could otherwise cause frame rate dips. In this game, the CPU's high boost clock of 5.40 GHz is a key asset, as it ensures that the game's main thread has access to maximum single-core performance when needed. The benchmark results show that the CPU's performance is well above what Control requires, confirming that the GPU is the primary component determining the final FPS figures.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of high refresh rates. The Low preset delivers an average of 148 FPS, while Medium and High yield 105 and 93 FPS, respectively. The Ultra preset still manages 81 FPS, which is highly playable. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset at this resolution is 89 FPS, indicating that even the worst-case frame times remain well above 60 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience without stutters.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops but remains solid. The Low preset averages 112 FPS, dropping to 80 FPS on Medium and 71 FPS on High. The Ultra preset falls to 61 FPS, which is just at the edge of the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset's minimum of 68 FPS suggests that the game maintains a playable frame rate even in demanding scenes. At this resolution, the system is well-suited for a 1440p monitor with a 60-144 Hz refresh rate, as it can hit the higher end of that range on lower settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 76 FPS, which is acceptable, but the Medium preset drops to 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS. The High preset averages 48 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 41 FPS. These figures indicate that 4K gaming is possible but requires compromises. To achieve a consistent 60 FPS at 4K, the data suggests that only the Low preset is sufficient. The gap between the Medium and High presets at 4K is 6 FPS, which is a smaller absolute difference than at 1080p, further confirming that the GPU is saturated and the settings have a reduced relative impact on performance.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 32 chip, featuring 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. This provides a substantial memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s, which is crucial for high-resolution textures and heavy memory workloads. The GPU's 40 ray accelerators and 96 ROPs are notable, though their impact on Control's performance is secondary to the raw compute power. The benchmark results show a Passmark G3D score of 20974, which places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's 16 GB VRAM is a significant asset for Control, especially at 4K resolution where texture memory usage can be high. The data shows that the GPU is the performance bottleneck, as the frame rates scale directly with resolution. The core clock speeds, with a base of 1900 MHz and a boost of 2459 MHz, are adequate for the task, but they are not exceptional. The FP32 performance of 25.18 TFLOPS indicates the compute capability of the card, and this is what drives the pixel and texture fill rates. The pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s are the key metrics that determine how fast the GPU can process the image data.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals is telling. The nearest rival in the database, the AMD Radeon R9 370X, has an average benchmark score that is only 0.1% lower, while the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is 1% higher. This suggests that the RX 7700 sits in a specific performance tier. However, the measured FPS in Control shows that this tier is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but struggles with 4K Ultra settings. The GPU's 200 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a mainstream power consumer, and the 16 GB memory buffer is more aligned with higher-end cards, which helps with memory-heavy scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset's 81 FPS average is the best experience, as it provides the highest visual quality while still delivering a frame rate that is well above 60 FPS. The High preset at 93 FPS is also excellent and could be preferred for users with a 144 Hz monitor who want to maximize frame rates. The Low preset's 148 FPS is only recommended for competitive play where maximum frame rate is paramount, as the visual sacrifices are significant.

For 2560x1440, the High preset's 71 FPS average is the recommended balance of quality and performance. It stays above the 60 FPS threshold and offers good visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 80 FPS is a good alternative for those who want a higher frame rate buffer, while the Ultra preset's 61 FPS is just at the edge of playability and may have dips below 60 FPS in intense scenes. The Low preset at 112 FPS is unnecessary for most users unless they have a high refresh rate 1440p monitor.

For 3840x2160, the data clearly shows that the Medium preset's 54 FPS average is the best playable option, though it may not hit a solid 60 FPS. The Low preset at 76 FPS is the only way to achieve a stable 60+ FPS experience at 4K. The High and Ultra presets, at 48 and 41 FPS respectively, are not recommended for smooth gameplay. The minimum FPS of 46 on the Medium preset indicates that there will be noticeable stuttering. Therefore, for 4K, the Low preset is the recommended choice for a playable experience, with Medium being a compromise for better visuals at the cost of smoothness.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve over 100 FPS?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 148 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 105 FPS. This is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 100 FPS, and it requires the Low or Medium preset.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Control?*

A: Yes, but with limitations. The benchmark results show that at 3840x2160, only the Low preset achieves an average of 76 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 54 FPS, and the High preset falls to 48 FPS, indicating that 4K Ultra is not a viable option for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU's core count affect performance in this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has 20 cores and 28 threads, but the performance data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The FPS scales almost entirely with resolution, indicating that the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's high single-core performance is sufficient to keep up with the GPU's output.

Q: Is the GPU's 16 GB VRAM necessary for this game?

A: The 16 GB VRAM is a feature of the AMD Radeon RX 7700, but the measured FPS data does not specifically isolate VRAM usage. However, the significant performance drop at 4K suggests that the GPU's compute capabilities, rather than its memory capacity, are the primary constraint.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 112 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 61 FPS. This represents a difference of 51 FPS, showing that the visual settings have a substantial impact on performance at this resolution.

*Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems for Control?*

A: This combo ranks 1294 out of 2888 tested combos, placing it in the upper half of the database. This rank is a result of the GPU's mid-range performance, as the CPU's benchmark scores are in the 91st percentile.