Control

Control with the Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B580 is a pairing that lands in the lower half of the database’s tested combinations, ranking 1276th out of 1636 combos. The benchmark data shows a system that is capable of solid 1080p play but falls short of smooth 4K performance, with the GPU acting as the primary limiter. The measured frames per second indicate that this setup is best suited for high-refresh 1080p gaming or 1440p with adjusted settings, rather than pushing maximum detail at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combo in Control?

A: The combination ranks 1276th out of 1636 tested combos for this game, placing it in the lower 22% of all systems tested.

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves at 1080p?

A: The highest average FPS recorded at 1920x1080 is 114.8, achieved with Low settings. Medium settings deliver 80 FPS, High settings deliver 69.5 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 61.3 FPS.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 32.3 on Ultra to 60.9 on Low. Only the Low preset reaches a playable 60 FPS threshold, while Medium (42.7) and High (35.4) fall short of smooth performance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B580’s average benchmark score of 23021 is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, which scores 23181. It is also 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon 760M and 0.3% higher than the NVIDIA P106-100.

Q: What are the key specifications of the Intel Core i7-14700F?

A: The CPU features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It has 33 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the Intel Arc B580?

A: The GPU comes with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. Its memory clock runs at 2375 MHz, translating to 19 Gbps effective.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this pairing at rank 1276 out of 1636 combos tested in Control, which signals a below-average standing for this specific title. The ranking reflects the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings, and the results show that while the CPU is a high performer in general workloads, the GPU holds the system back in this game. The combo is not in the top half of the database, meaning that many other CPU-GPU pairings deliver higher frame rates in Control.

This rank is driven by the Arc B580’s mid-range positioning. In the GPU’s own benchmark pool, it sits at the 66th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 23021. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, scores 23181, which is only 0.7% higher, indicating that the Arc B580 is competitive with that card in abstract terms. However, in Control’s specific workload, the measured FPS suggests the GPU struggles at higher resolutions, which pulls the combo’s overall rank down.

The CPU, by contrast, is a strong performer. The Intel Core i7-14700F ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54097. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, scores 54450, a mere 0.6% difference. This indicates that the processor is not the bottleneck here; the GPU is. The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile and the combo’s low rank points directly to the Arc B580 as the limiting factor in this game.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the decisive component in this combo’s Control performance. With 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 192-bit bus, the memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s is sufficient for most textures, but the GPU’s raw compute power is modest. The card has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 80 ROPs, with a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz. Its FP32 performance is rated at 13.67 TFLOPS, which is below the threshold needed for demanding 4K workloads in this title.

The GPU’s synthetic benchmark scores confirm its mid-range status. Its PassMark G3D score is 15748, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3068. In the database, it sits at the 66th percentile, with an average score of 23021. The nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, is only 0.7% faster in average score, but in Control’s measured results, the Arc B580 shows significant frame rate drops as resolution increases, indicating that its compute resources are stretched thin.

The 12 GB VRAM is not the issue here, as Control’s requirements are well within that capacity. Instead, the limiting factor is the GPU’s processing power. At 1080p, the card can push high frame rates, but at 1440p and 4K, the pixel count overwhelms its 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput. The data shows that the GPU’s performance scales poorly with resolution, which is a hallmark of a card that is not designed for high-end 4K gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of this combo’s capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 114.8 FPS on Low settings, 80 FPS on Medium, 69.5 FPS on High, and 61.3 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that 1080p is the sweet spot, with even Ultra settings clearing the 60 FPS bar.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop to 85.2 FPS on Low, 63.7 FPS on Medium, 55.5 FPS on High, and 48.8 FPS on Ultra. At this resolution, only Low and Medium settings maintain smooth frame rates, while High and Ultra begin to dip below the 60 FPS threshold. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, with the High preset losing 14 FPS and Ultra losing 12.5 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance takes a steep decline. The averages are 60.9 FPS on Low, 42.7 FPS on Medium, 35.4 FPS on High, and 32.3 FPS on Ultra. Only the Low preset achieves a playable frame rate, and even that is barely above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset is nearly half the speed of the 1080p Ultra result, showing that 4K is beyond this GPU’s comfortable range.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 114.8 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 60.9 FPS, a reduction of 46.9%. The High preset shows a similar trend, falling from 69.5 FPS at 1080p to 35.4 FPS at 4K, a 49.1% decrease. This halving of performance when doubling the pixel count is typical of a GPU-limited scenario.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would stay relatively flat across resolutions, as the processor would cap the maximum FPS. Instead, the FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU that is running out of compute power. The Arc B580’s 13.67 TFLOPS is simply not enough to feed the pixel pipeline at 4K.

This scaling pattern also shows that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is not the primary constraint. The 456.0 GB/s bandwidth is ample for 1080p, but at 4K, the sheer number of pixels requires more shading and texturing work, which the GPU’s 2560 shading units cannot deliver fast enough. The result is that users should expect roughly half the frame rate at 4K compared to 1080p, regardless of the quality preset.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a high-end processor that is far more capable than what this game demands. With 20 cores and 28 threads, it has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache is ample for gaming, and its multi-threaded performance is excellent, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35443 and Geekbench multicore score of 16571.

In Control, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. Given the CPU’s 94th percentile ranking and its average benchmark score of 54097, it is unlikely to be a bottleneck. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, scores 54450, which is only 0.6% higher, confirming that the i7-14700F is in the top tier of processors.

The single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5003 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2711. This is important because Control’s game engine relies heavily on a few main threads. The data shows that the CPU can easily handle the game’s demands, as the frame rates are consistently limited by the GPU across all resolutions. The CPU is not the reason for the combo’s low rank; it is the GPU that holds it back.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with High settings, which delivers an average of 69.5 FPS. This provides a balanced mix of visual quality and smoothness, staying well above the 60 FPS threshold. For players who prioritize frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p offers 114.8 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh monitors.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, averaging 63.7 FPS. This is the only way to maintain a playable frame rate while keeping some visual fidelity. The High preset at 55.5 FPS and Ultra at 48.8 FPS are playable but will feel less smooth, especially in fast-paced action sequences. For 1440p gaming, Medium is the sweet spot.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that this combo is not suitable for quality gaming. The Low preset averages 60.9 FPS, which is just playable, but the visual downgrade is severe. The Medium preset drops to 42.7 FPS, which is below the smooth threshold. The Ultra preset at 32.3 FPS is not recommended for anything other than screenshots. For 4K, users should either lower the resolution or accept significant compromises in settings. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with 61.3 FPS, is a better choice than High at 1440p, as it offers higher fidelity with a similar frame rate.