Control

Control pairs the Intel Core i7-14700F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, and the benchmark results reveal a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet still delivers excellent frame rates across the board. The data shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern: as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the average frame rate drops by roughly half, indicating that the RTX 4080 is the primary limiting factor. This combination ranks in the 94th percentile (241 out of 3720 tested combos) for this game, placing it firmly in the enthusiast tier, though the CPU's strong multi-core performance ensures it never becomes a bottleneck even at lower resolutions where frame rates are exceptionally high.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data demonstrates a textbook resolution scaling curve for a high-end GPU. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo averages 135 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that number drops to 102 FPS, a 24% reduction. At 4K, the average falls to 69 FPS, which is a 32% reduction from the 1440p result and a 49% reduction from the 1080p result. This steep decline is the signature of a GPU-limited scenario; the CPU has ample headroom, and the workload is directly tied to the number of pixels being rendered.

This pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, at High settings, the frame rate drops from 156 FPS at 1080p to 118 FPS at 1440p (a 24% decrease) and then to 79 FPS at 4K (a 33% decrease from 1440p). The consistency of this scaling across Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets strongly suggests that the RTX 4080's rendering pipeline is the bottleneck, not the CPU or memory subsystem.

The implications for gamers are clear: at 1080p and 1440p, this combo delivers frame rates that are well beyond the refresh rate of most standard monitors, making the experience exceptionally smooth. At 4K, the system still maintains playable frame rates, with the Ultra preset averaging 69 FPS, which is right at the threshold for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. The data indicates that a 4K 60Hz display would be fully saturated at High settings (79 FPS) and even at Ultra (69 FPS), making this a very capable 4K gaming machine.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 118 frames per second at 2560x1440 resolution with High settings.

Q: Is this CPU or GPU combo more likely to bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the data shows a maximum average of 246 FPS on Low settings and 135 FPS on Ultra. The consistent scaling suggests the GPU is still the primary limiter, as the CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads provide enough throughput to avoid capping performance.

Q: Does the RTX 4080 support DirectX 12 Ultimate?

A: Yes, the GPU's API list includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), along with OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4, which are all relevant for modern game titles like Control.

Q: What is the performance delta between this CPU and its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620, which is 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X's score of 53288, according to the nearestRivals data.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to the RTX 4080 SUPER in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER's score of 54209, placing them effectively at parity in the provided data.

Q: What is the best preset for a 4K 60Hz display?

A: The Ultra preset at 4K averages 69 FPS, which exceeds the 60Hz refresh rate. The High preset also works, averaging 79 FPS, offering a higher frame rate buffer for more demanding scenes.

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 synthetic benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958. These numbers indicate a processor that is more than capable of feeding a high-end GPU like the RTX 4080 in a game like Control.

The role of the CPU in this particular game appears to be secondary to the GPU, given the steep FPS drops at higher resolutions. However, the CPU's performance is still critical for maintaining high frame rates at 1080p. At 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 246 FPS, a figure that would be unattainable if the CPU were the limiting factor. The CPU's high single-thread performance (499 in Cinebench R15 single-core) ensures that game logic and draw calls are processed quickly, while the multi-core performance (3540 in Cinebench R15 multi-core) provides headroom for background tasks and modern game engines that utilize multiple threads.

The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support (DDR4/DDR5) also contribute to its ability to keep the GPU supplied with data. In the context of the nearestRivals data, the i7-14700F is 0.6% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X in average benchmark score, but the real-world game performance is more dependent on the GPU. The benchmark results indicate that this CPU is not a bottleneck in Control, as evidenced by the smooth scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700F and RTX 4080 combination is ranked 241st out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 6.5% of all configurations. This high ranking reflects the balanced nature of the pairing, where the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance meets the GPU's high-end rasterization capabilities. The combo's percentile ranking (94th) is consistent with its performance in the measured FPS data, which shows it capable of handling even the most demanding settings at 4K.

The rank is particularly notable given the age of the game (released in 2019) and the fact that it is not heavily CPU-dependent. The data suggests that the RTX 4080 is the primary driver of this ranking, as the GPU's PassMark G3D score of 34457 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU, in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, complements this well, ensuring that the system never becomes imbalanced. While the combo is not at the absolute top of the ranking, its position among the top 6.5% of all tested configurations indicates that it is a premium solution for this title, delivering frame rates that are competitive with far more expensive setups.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 4K gaming, the Ultra preset provides an average of 69 FPS, which is sufficient for a 60Hz display, but the High preset (79 FPS) offers a more comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring fewer drops below it. The Medium preset at 4K (89 FPS) is the best choice for those with a 4K 120Hz display, as it provides a 25% performance increase over Ultra while still looking visually impressive.

At 1440p, the Ultra preset (102 FPS) is ideal for a 144Hz monitor, while the High preset (118 FPS) is a better fit for a 165Hz display. The Medium preset (132 FPS) is a sweet spot for those seeking maximum smoothness, as it achieves a frame rate that is 30% higher than Ultra. For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset (246 FPS) is the clear winner, offering the lowest latency, but the High preset (156 FPS) is more balanced for those who want a mix of visual quality and high frame rates. The data shows that the Medium preset at 1080p (175 FPS) is a strong all-rounder, providing a 30% boost over High settings while still maintaining a high level of visual fidelity.

In summary, for a 4K 60Hz experience, High is recommended; for 1440p high refresh rates, Ultra or High; and for 1080p esports-style play, Low or Medium. The measurements indicate that this combo has enough power to avoid compromises, but choosing the right preset can maximize the experience for a specific display.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data is drawn directly from the measured FPS rows for this specific CPU and GPU combination.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 246 FPS average
• Medium: 175 FPS average, with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 201 FPS
• High: 156 FPS average
• Ultra: 135 FPS average

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 186 FPS average
• Medium: 132 FPS average, with a minimum of 113 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS
• High: 118 FPS average
• Ultra: 102 FPS average

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 126 FPS average
• Medium: 89 FPS average, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 103 FPS
• High: 79 FPS average
• Ultra: 69 FPS average

The data shows a consistent gap between settings presets. At each resolution, the difference between Low and Ultra is roughly 45-50% of the Low setting's value. For example, at 1080p, the drop from 246 FPS (Low) to 135 FPS (Ultra) represents a 45% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is 45% (186 to 102 FPS), and at 4K, it is 45% (126 to 69 FPS). This uniformity suggests that the performance scaling is predictable and entirely GPU-driven, with the CPU maintaining consistent frame delivery across all presets. The minimum FPS values recorded for Medium settings (149 at 1080p, 113 at 1440p, 76 at 4K) indicate that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate remains well within playable territory, never dropping below the 60 FPS threshold at any resolution tested.