Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 Action Adventure, presents a demanding environment that stresses both the processor and the graphics card. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B570 across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data reveals a configuration that is capable of smooth 1080p play but struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at higher resolutions, with the GPU emerging as the primary bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent pattern: as resolution increases, average frame rates drop substantially. At 1080p High, the combo delivers 63 FPS. Moving to 1440p High reduces this to 48 FPS, a 23.8% decrease. The jump to 4K High is even more punishing, with the average falling to 32 FPS, which is a further 33.3% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling behavior is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound workload.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. For instance, at Low settings, the average frame rate goes from 101 FPS at 1080p, to 76 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 51 FPS at 4K. The consistent decline suggests that the Intel Arc B570's rendering throughput, rather than the CPU's processing power, is the limiting factor as pixel count increases. If the Core i7-14700F were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in performance at lower resolutions or a less dramatic drop-off when moving to 4K, as the CPU would be waiting on the GPU to finish rendering frames.

The data implies that the game's visual complexity at 4K, combined with the Arc B570's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory and 160-bit bus, is insufficient to maintain high frame rates. The 380.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth may also be a constraint at higher resolutions, where texture and geometry data demands increase significantly. This combination results in a situation where the very capable 20-core, 28-thread CPU is left underutilized, as it can feed frames to the GPU faster than the GPU can render them.

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. Its substantial L3 cache of 33 MB (shared) helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores. With a 91st percentile ranking against all CPUs, its general processing power is well above average. Its performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122, further underscores its high-end capabilities.

However, the measured FPS data in Control suggests that this CPU power is not the deciding factor for this specific game at the tested settings. The fact that frame rates drop so sharply with resolution indicates that the CPU is not the primary constraint. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 101 FPS, which is a strong result, but it does not go higher. This could be due to the game's engine or a driver-level limit, but more likely, the GPU is already at its maximum output even at this lower resolution. The CPU has ample headroom to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls.

The data suggests that the Core i7-14700F provides a stable and powerful foundation, ensuring that it will not cause stutters or frame drops in this title. Its performance is far beyond what is necessary to keep up with the Arc B570. For context, its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, show a delta of only 0.6%, indicating that this processor is in the top tier of performance. This means the user's experience will be dictated almost entirely by the graphics card's capabilities.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage) and features 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. It has a boost clock of 2500 MHz and is equipped with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its 65th percentile ranking against all GPUs places it in the mid-to-upper tier of graphics cards. In synthetic tests like 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12), it scores 2649, and its Passmark G3D score is 14195.

In Control, the GPU's role is clearly the limiting factor. The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a classic GPU-bound scenario. The Arc B570's compute power, rated at 11.52 TFLOPS FP32, is simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra, where it averages only 28 FPS. Even at 4K Low, the 51 FPS average is below the 60 FPS target many users prefer. The 10 GB VRAM buffer is likely sufficient for this game, but the memory bandwidth and raw shader throughput are the bottlenecks.

The GPU's performance is consistent with its position in the market. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Arc A750, which has a delta of -0.1%, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, with a delta of 0.1%. This indicates that the B570 is a solid mid-range performer, but it lacks the firepower for high-refresh-rate 1440p or smooth 4K gaming in a demanding title like Control. The data shows that to get a playable experience, the user must significantly lower the resolution or the graphical presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a complete picture of the combo's performance. At 1080p, the setup is quite capable. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 101 FPS, ensuring a very smooth experience. Medium settings yield 71 FPS (with a min of 61 and max of 82), which is still highly playable. High settings drop to 63 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 55 FPS. All 1080p presets are above or right at the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution the sweet spot for this hardware.

Stepping up to 1440p, the performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings average 76 FPS, which remains excellent. Medium settings average 54 FPS (min 46, max 62), putting it in a playable but not perfect range. High settings average 48 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 42 FPS. At this resolution, users will likely need to compromise on settings to maintain a consistent 60 FPS, or accept frame rates in the 40s and 50s for higher visual fidelity.

At 4K, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The highest average is 51 FPS at Low settings. Medium settings average 36 FPS (min 31, max 42), High settings average 32 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 28 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is not a viable option for this configuration in Control, except perhaps at the very lowest settings, and even then, the frame rate is not ideal. The data clearly shows a system that is well-suited for 1080p gaming, acceptable for 1440p with some compromises, and not suitable for 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of CPU and GPU for Control at 2307 out of 2888 total tested combos. This places it in the lower half of all possible configurations, which is an interesting finding given the strength of the individual components. The ranking suggests that while the CPU is top-tier and the GPU is mid-range, their combined performance in this particular game is not as strong as one might expect.

This relatively low rank is almost certainly due to the GPU bottleneck. The Core i7-14700F is powerful enough to be paired with a much faster graphics card. When paired with the Arc B570, the system's overall gaming performance is capped by the GPU's limits. This is a crucial insight for potential buyers: the CPU has significant headroom, and the system's performance in Control is entirely dependent on the graphics card.

The rank of 2307 out of 2888 means that 581 other combinations (about 20%) perform worse. However, it also means that a large majority of other tested combos perform better. This is not a reflection of poor hardware, but rather a mismatch in balance. The data implies that if a user were to upgrade the GPU in this system, the CPU would be more than capable of supporting it, potentially moving the combo much higher in the rankings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware depends heavily on the target resolution. For users with a 1080p monitor, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering a solid 63 FPS average. This offers a great balance between visual quality and performance. For users who prioritize high refresh rates, the Medium preset at 71 FPS (with a max of 82 FPS) is the better option, as it easily clears the 60 FPS mark and provides a smoother experience.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point. It averages 54 FPS, which is playable, but users sensitive to frame drops may prefer to use the Low preset, which achieves 76 FPS. The High and Ultra presets, at 48 FPS and 42 FPS respectively, are less ideal for a smooth experience. For 4K, the data suggests that this combo is not suitable for a high-quality experience. The Low preset at 51 FPS is the only one that breaks the 50 FPS barrier, but it is still not ideal. Users with a 4K monitor would have to accept significant visual compromises.

The data shows that the Ultra preset is rarely worth the performance cost. Moving from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 8 FPS (from 63 to 55), and at 1440p it costs 6 FPS (from 48 to 42). The visual difference between High and Ultra in most games is often subtle, while the performance hit is clear. Therefore, the High preset offers the best performance-to-quality ratio in this title, with Medium being a viable alternative for higher frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Control?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all presets achieve an average above 50 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average drops below 60 FPS on Medium settings and above, and at 3840x2160, no preset averages above 51 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra settings in Control?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 28 FPS, which is not a smooth or playable experience. Even at Low settings, the average is only 51 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700F or the Intel Arc B570 the bottleneck in this game?

A: The performance scaling indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. As resolution increases, frame rates drop significantly, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU has a 91st percentile ranking and is much more powerful than necessary for this game.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rival, the Intel Arc A750?

A: In the GPU benchmark database, the Arc B570 has an average score of 20556, while the Arc A750 has an average score of 20582. This results in a delta of -0.1%, meaning the two cards perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a 60 FPS target at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 63 FPS, which meets the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset averages 71 FPS and offers a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the database for this game?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B570 combination is ranked 2307 out of 2888 tested combos for Control, placing it in the lower half of all configurations tested.