Control

# Control with Intel Core i7-14700K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers the top-performing combination in Control, ranking 1st out of 2,888 tested combos. This is a decisive result: the 20-core, 28-thread Raptor Lake processor combined with the Blackwell 2.0 flagship GPU produces frame rates that exceed 298 FPS at 1080p Low and never dip below 83 FPS at 4K Ultra. The data indicates a system with overwhelming headroom at every resolution and settings tier, making it the benchmark reference point for this Action Adventure title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: Control scales aggressively with resolution on this hardware, but even the most demanding configuration leaves substantial performance in reserve. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 298 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 225 FPS, a 24.5% reduction. At 4K Low, the average settles at 152 FPS, which represents another 32.4% drop from the 1440p figure. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low is a 49.0% reduction in average FPS, showing that pixel throughput becomes an increasingly significant factor as resolution climbs.

When settings are raised to High, the pattern holds but with different magnitudes. The 1080p High average is 188 FPS, 1440p High produces 142 FPS, and 4K High delivers 96 FPS. The step from 1080p to 1440p High is a 24.5% drop, nearly identical to the Low settings scaling. However, the 1440p to 4K High transition shows a 32.4% reduction, matching the Low settings percentage exactly. This consistency suggests the limiting component shifts predictably with resolution rather than settings.

The Medium settings tier provides the only measured minimum and maximum FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the combo averages 211 FPS with a minimum of 180 and maximum of 243. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 160 FPS with a range of 136 to 184. At 4K Medium, the average is 108 FPS with a spread of 92 to 124. The minimum-to-maximum spread narrows at higher resolutions: 63 FPS at 1080p, 48 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K. This tightening range indicates that at 4K, the GPU is working closer to its sustained capability, reducing frame-time variance.

Ultra settings show the steepest resolution penalty. The 1080p Ultra average is 163 FPS, 1440p Ultra drops to 124 FPS, and 4K Ultra falls to 83 FPS. The 1080p to 1440p reduction is 23.9%, while the 1440p to 4K reduction is 33.1%. The 4K Ultra figure of 83 FPS is the lowest measurement in the entire dataset, yet it still clears 60 FPS comfortably. The data suggests that even at maximum settings and 4K resolution, the combo is not fully saturated, as the 83 FPS average leaves room for demanding scenes.

The resolution scaling analysis points to a GPU-bound scenario at 4K, particularly at Ultra settings, but the CPU remains capable of feeding frames at all tested resolutions. The 1080p Low result of 298 FPS indicates the Intel Core i7-14700K can drive very high frame rates without becoming the bottleneck, while the 4K Ultra result of 83 FPS shows the RTX 5090 D's rendering throughput is the primary constraint at that configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K brings 20 cores and 28 threads to Control, operating with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This Raptor Lake-R architecture, built on a 10 nm process, features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with PCIe Gen 5 providing 16 lanes from the CPU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-14700K demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33,440.5 and a single-core score of 2,160. The Geekbench results show 20,767 in multi-core and 2,569 in single-core. PassMark scores further illustrate the processor's profile: multi-thread at 52,392, single-thread at 4,472, physics at 2,964, and integer math at 182,876. These figures place the CPU in the 94th percentile among all processors.

The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database provide context for the i7-14700K's standing. The AMD EPYC 9115 scores 69,288 with a delta of 0.1%, essentially matching the i7-14700K's average of 69,355. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69,515, a 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX posts 69,875, 0.7% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F reaches 69,996, 0.9% higher. These sub-1% deltas indicate the i7-14700K sits in a tightly contested performance tier, yet in Control specifically, the combo achieves rank 1.

For Control, the CPU's contribution is most evident at 1080p Low, where the 298 FPS average suggests the processor can sustain extremely high frame delivery. The boost clock of 5.60 GHz provides the single-thread performance that older game engines often rely on, and the 33 MB L3 cache helps maintain data locality for game logic. The 20-core configuration ensures that background tasks and engine threads do not starve the main game thread.

The data shows that at 1440p and 4K, the CPU role diminishes relative to the GPU. The consistent 24.5% drops from 1080p to 1440p across Low and High settings, and the 23.9% drop at Ultra, indicate that resolution scaling is not CPU-limited. The i7-14700K's 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest it can sustain boost clocks under gaming loads, though the measured FPS data does not capture clock behavior directly.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware in Control?

A: The data shows the combo produces 298 FPS at 1080p Low, 225 FPS at 1440p Low, and 152 FPS at 4K Low. At Ultra settings, it delivers 163 FPS at 1080p, 124 FPS at 1440p, and 83 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure of 83 FPS remains above 60 FPS, making it the most demanding viable configuration.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 298 to 152, a 49.0% reduction. At High settings, it drops from 188 to 96, a 48.9% reduction. At Ultra settings, it drops from 163 to 83, a 49.1% reduction. The scaling is nearly uniform across settings tiers.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D bottleneck the i7-14700K at any tested configuration?

A: At 1080p Low, the 298 FPS average indicates the GPU is the primary limiter, as the CPU would need to sustain extremely high frame rates. At 4K Ultra, the 83 FPS average shows the GPU's rendering throughput is the constraint. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking and the consistent resolution scaling suggest the GPU is the bottleneck across most settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 1st out of 2,888 tested combos in Control. The nearest CPU rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, are within 0.9% in average benchmark scores, yet this specific pairing achieves the top position.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows a 108 FPS average at 4K Medium, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. This provides a 92 FPS floor, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes.

Q: Is the 32 GB VRAM on the RTX 5090 D necessary for Control?

A: The data does not include VRAM usage measurements, but the GPU's 32 GB GDDR7 memory with a 512-bit bus and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth provides ample headroom. The 4K Ultra result of 83 FPS indicates the GPU's compute capability, not memory capacity, is the limiting factor.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination achieves the top rank in Control, placing 1st out of 2,888 tested combos. This is a definitive result: no other configuration in the database produces higher measured FPS in this game. The rank reflects the synergy between the CPU's high single-thread performance and the GPU's massive rendering throughput.

The CPU component, standing in the 94th percentile among all processors, provides a strong foundation. Its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database include the AMD EPYC 9115 with a 0.1% delta, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X with a -0.2% delta, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX with a -0.7% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F with a -0.9% delta. These differences are minimal, yet the i7-14700K's pairing with the RTX 5090 D yields the best Control results.

The GPU, ranking in the 92nd percentile among all graphics cards, similarly has close rivals. The AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT scores 76,904 with a 1.1% delta, the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT scores 78,940 with a -1.6% delta, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB scores 79,396 with a -2.1% delta, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB scores 79,605 with a -2.4% delta. These rivals are within a few percentage points in synthetic benchmarks, but the RTX 5090 D's combination of 32 GB VRAM, 21,760 shading units, and 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 performance proves decisive in Control.

The rank of 1 out of 2,888 combos means this configuration sits at the apex of the database for this game. The measured FPS data confirms the ranking: even the lowest result, 83 FPS at 4K Ultra, exceeds what most configurations achieve at lower settings. The combo's performance margin is substantial, and the data suggests it would take a significant hardware upgrade to displace it from the top position.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant component in this pairing for Control, with its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory, 512-bit bus width, and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth providing massive data throughput. The GPU's 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output units deliver the raw compute needed for high-resolution rendering. The boost clock of 2407 MHz and base clock of 2017 MHz ensure sustained performance under load.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5090 D achieves 44,065 in PassMark G3D and 28,396 in GPU compute. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14,326 indicates strong DirectX 12 performance, which is relevant for Control's modern rendering pipeline. Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan scores of 310,674 and 376,915 respectively show the GPU's compute capabilities extend beyond gaming.

The GPU's role in Control becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the 83 FPS average is the lowest measurement in the dataset, yet it remains above the 60 FPS threshold. The 4K Medium result of 108 FPS with a 92 FPS minimum shows the GPU maintains consistent frame delivery even when the scene complexity varies. The maximum of 124 FPS at 4K Medium indicates the GPU can burst well above its average when the rendering load allows.

The RTX 5090 D's 92nd percentile ranking places it among the top graphics cards, though its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are within 2.4%. The AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT is 1.1% higher in average score, while the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.6% lower, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB is 2.1% lower, and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB is 2.4% lower. In Control specifically, the RTX 5090 D's combination of high FP32 throughput and large memory bandwidth delivers the top combo rank.

The GPU's 5 nm process node from TSMC, with 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die, provides the transistor density necessary for this level of performance. The 170 RT cores and 680 tensor cores support advanced rendering features, though the measured FPS data does not isolate their impact. The 575 W TDP and 950 W suggested PSU indicate the power requirements, but the performance data shows the GPU justifies its specifications in Control.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo in Control covers four settings tiers across three resolutions, providing a complete performance picture.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 152 FPS. Medium settings deliver 108 FPS average, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. High settings reach 96 FPS average. Ultra settings produce 83 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 45.4% reduction in average FPS, from 152 to 83, demonstrating the significant impact of settings on GPU load.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the data shows: Low settings achieve 225 FPS average. Medium settings produce 160 FPS average, with a range of 136 to 184 FPS. High settings reach 142 FPS average. Ultra settings deliver 124 FPS average. The Low to Ultra drop at 1440p is 44.9%, from 225 to 124 FPS, a slightly smaller percentage reduction than at 4K.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the results are: Low settings achieve 298 FPS average, the highest measurement in the dataset. Medium settings produce 211 FPS average, with a minimum of 180 FPS and a maximum of 243 FPS. High settings reach 188 FPS average. Ultra settings deliver 163 FPS average. The Low to Ultra reduction at 1080p is 45.3%, from 298 to 163 FPS.

The settings scaling within each resolution shows consistent patterns. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium costs 87 FPS (29.2%), Medium to High costs 23 FPS (10.9%), and High to Ultra costs 25 FPS (13.3%). At 1440p, Low to Medium costs 65 FPS (28.9%), Medium to High costs 18 FPS (11.3%), and High to Ultra costs 18 FPS (12.7%). At 4K, Low to Medium costs 44 FPS (28.9%), Medium to High costs 12 FPS (11.1%), and High to Ultra costs 13 FPS (13.5%).

The Medium settings tier is the only one with complete min/max data. At 1080p Medium, the 180 FPS minimum and 243 FPS maximum create a 63 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the 136 to 184 FPS range spans 48 FPS. At 4K Medium, the 92 to 124 FPS range spans 32 FPS. This narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates more consistent frame pacing as the GPU approaches its sustained performance envelope.

The highest measured average FPS is 298 at 1080p Low, while the lowest is 83 at 4K Ultra. The difference of 215 FPS between these extremes highlights the wide performance envelope of this hardware. Even at the most demanding configuration, the combo maintains an 83 FPS average, which is well above typical display refresh rates and provides a smooth experience. The data confirms this combo delivers exceptional performance across the entire resolution and settings matrix, with no configuration falling below playable thresholds.