Control

Control with the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti presents a classic pairing of a modern, high-core-count CPU with a last-generation flagship GPU. The benchmark data shows this combination ranking 970th out of 1636 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This is a system where the GPU is the primary constraint, and the FPS figures across resolutions reinforce that the experience is heavily dependent on graphical settings rather than the processor's capabilities.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a steep penalty as resolution increases, which is the expected behavior when the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo averages 71.1 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 54.1 FPS, a reduction of 17 FPS, and then 4K Ultra falls to 34.5 FPS, another 19.6 FPS lower. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings shows a total loss of 36.6 FPS, or roughly half the frame rate, indicating that the GTX 1080 Ti is being pushed to its limits by the increased pixel count.

The pattern is consistent across all settings levels. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 85.4 at 1080p to 64.2 at 1440p and finally 40.5 at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K narrows slightly at lower settings, but the trend remains clear. At Low settings, the combo still drops from 134.3 FPS at 1080p to 100.4 at 1440p and 71 at 4K. This consistent drop-off suggests that even with reduced graphical load, the GPU's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor, as the CPU is not being stressed enough to cause a plateau.

The fact that 4K Low settings (71 FPS) perform nearly identically to 1080p Ultra (71.1 FPS) is telling. It shows that the GTX 1080 Ti has a ceiling around 70 FPS for this title when the load is high, whether that load comes from resolution or graphical effects. The data indicates that for smooth 4K gameplay, users must significantly compromise on settings, while 1080p remains the sweet spot for maintaining higher frame rates across all quality presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. It belongs to the Raptor Lake architecture and has a substantial 33 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a powerful workstation-class CPU, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35,443 and single-core score of 5,003. Its percentile rank of 94 against all CPUs indicates it outperforms the vast majority of processors in synthetic tests.

However, in this gaming scenario, the CPU's role is largely secondary. The benchmark results show that the FPS is dictated by the GPU at every resolution. If the CPU were a limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 4K at the same settings, as the CPU would be unable to feed frames faster to the GPU. Instead, the massive drops in FPS at higher resolutions point to the GTX 1080 Ti being the bottleneck.

The CPU's high multi-threaded performance, such as its PassMark multi-thread score of 41,765, is irrelevant for this title since the game's frame rate is not constrained by CPU threads. The single-core performance, which is more relevant for gaming, is still strong, but it does not act as a ceiling here. The data suggests that this processor has ample headroom, and users could pair it with a much more powerful GPU without the CPU becoming a limiting factor in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 970 out of 1636 places this configuration in the 59th percentile, meaning roughly 59% of tested combinations perform better. This is a low ranking, which is expected given the age of the GTX 1080 Ti. The GPU's own percentile rank is 61 against all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 19,402 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780, which scores 19,405 with a 0% delta. This indicates that the GTX 1080 Ti's performance level is comparable to much older cards in the database.

The ranking is not a reflection of the CPU's capability, but rather the GPU dragging the combo down. The i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 54,097, and it sits close to the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, which scores 54,450 with a delta of -0.6%. This shows the CPU is a top-tier performer. Yet, the combo's FPS results are mediocre, confirming that the GPU is the decisive factor. Users looking at this ranking should understand that the CPU is not the reason for the low position; it is the graphics card that limits the overall gaming experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all settings. Low settings yield an average of 134.3 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. Medium settings drop to 95.4 FPS, and High settings further reduce to 85.4 FPS. Ultra settings produce 71.1 FPS, which is still smooth for most players. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 63.2 FPS drop, indicating that the GPU is handling the extra graphical work.

At 2560x1440, the performance is more demanding. Low settings still provide a high average of 100.4 FPS, but Medium dips to 72.6 FPS. High settings average 64.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 54.1 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra is 17 FPS, which is significant. Users aiming for 1440p gaming will need to adjust settings from Ultra to High or Medium to maintain a stable 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1080 Ti struggles. Low settings yield an average of 71 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 47.6 FPS, and High falls to 40.5 FPS. Ultra settings produce an average of 34.5 FPS, which is not smooth for most action games. The data shows a clear boundary: 4K requires Low settings for a consistent 60 FPS experience, and even then, it is borderline. The step from Low to Medium at 4K costs 23.4 FPS, showing a steep penalty for any quality increase.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is built on the Pascal architecture with a 16 nm process node from TSMC. It features 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1481 MHz and a boost clock of 1582 MHz. Its compute capabilities include 11.34 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a texture rate of 354.4 GTexel/s. The card is end-of-life, and its successor is the GeForce 20 series.

The GPU's memory size and bandwidth are sufficient for this title, as the FPS drops at higher resolutions are not due to memory limitations but rather raw compute power. The benchmark results show that the GPU's performance is its main weakness. Its PassMark G3D score of 18,600 is modest, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,231 reflects its age. The GPU's TDP of 250 W is high, but that is a power draw consideration, not a performance metric.

The data indicates that the GTX 1080 Ti is a capable 1080p card and a passable 1440p card, but it is not suited for 4K gaming with high settings. The FPS numbers at 4K Ultra (34.5) are below the threshold for a smooth experience, and even High settings (40.5) are marginal. The GPU's performance ceiling is clearly lower than modern cards, and this is the primary reason for the combo's low rank.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming with this combo?

A: For 1080p, Ultra settings are viable with an average of 71.1 FPS. If you prefer higher frame rates, High settings yield 85.4 FPS, while Low settings reach 134.3 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which average 71 FPS. Medium settings drop to 47.6 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 34.5 FPS, which is not smooth.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The GTX 1080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 19,402, which is essentially identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (19,405) with a 0% delta. It is 1.1% faster than the NVIDIA TITAN Xp.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: No. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a significant drop, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's performance is more than sufficient for this title.

Q: What is the CPU's relative performance among all processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F ranks in the 94th percentile against all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 54,097, placing it close to the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X.

Q: What are the FPS differences between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings average 100.4 FPS, while Ultra settings average 54.1 FPS. This represents a 46.3 FPS drop when moving to the highest quality preset.