Control

Control is a 2019 Action Adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, but with the Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370, the benchmark data reveals a system that is profoundly limited by its graphics solution. The measured frames per second across all resolutions and settings indicate that this combination is not viable for a smooth experience, with the best-case scenario barely reaching 60 FPS at 1080p on Low settings. The data shows a consistent pattern where the powerful 20-core processor is left largely idle while the integrated graphics struggle to keep pace, making the GPU the unequivocal bottleneck in every measurable scenario.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe and tells a clear story about the limiting component in this system. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 37 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same High preset drops the average to 28 FPS, a reduction of 9 FPS or roughly 24%. Pushing further to 4K at High settings yields an average of just 19 FPS, which is a 49% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, as the increased pixel count directly translates to more work for the graphics processor, while the CPU's workload remains relatively static.

The data shows that the scaling is not linear, and the most dramatic drop occurs between 1440p and 4K. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 42 at 1080p, to 32 at 1440p, and then down to 21 at 4K. This represents a 50% total drop from the lowest to the highest resolution. The min FPS figures at Medium settings also reinforce this trend, with the 4K minimum of 18 FPS being exactly half of the 1080p minimum of 36 FPS. Such a consistent halving of performance indicates that the Arc B370's fill rate and memory bandwidth, which is system dependent, are being saturated at higher resolutions.

The fact that performance degrades so predictably with resolution increases points directly to the GPU as the limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-14700KF, with its high boost clock of 5.60 GHz and 20 cores, is not the constraint here. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar FPS numbers across different resolutions, as the CPU's work in preparing frames does not scale with pixel count. Instead, the FPS plummets as resolution rises, which is the signature of a graphics card that is overwhelmed by the rendering demands. The 4K Low preset, at 30 FPS average, is the only way to approach playability at that resolution, but it still falls short of a smooth 60 FPS target.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this system's performance, and the data shows it is a very weak component for gaming. With a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, the GPU sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, indicating that it performs worse than 95% of its peers. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 with a delta of -0.2%, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190 with a delta of -0.5%. These are legacy parts from a different era, highlighting just how low the Arc B370's performance ceiling is.

The GPU's specifications paint a picture of an integrated solution not designed for high-end gaming. It features a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs. The memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it has no dedicated VRAM and relies on the system's main memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical weakness, as the lack of dedicated video memory will cause significant performance penalties in a game like Control, which requires fast access to textures and geometry. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, but these theoretical figures are clearly not translating into playable frame rates in practice.

The benchmark results confirm that the GPU is the primary limiter across all settings. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 59, which is the highest recorded for this combo. This shows that even when the graphics load is minimized, the GPU can only just manage a near-60 FPS average, with no headroom for stability. The fact that the GPU's TDP is only 25 W and it is classified as an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) further underscores that this is not a part meant for demanding titles. The data consistently shows that regardless of the CPU's capability, the Arc B370's raw compute and memory limitations cap the frame rate, making any comparison to a dedicated graphics card moot.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the only settings that come close to providing a playable experience are at 1080p with the Low preset. The average FPS of 59 at this setting is the sole configuration that approaches a standard 60 FPS target. However, the absence of min FPS data for the Low preset means we cannot verify frame pacing or stability. The next best option is 1080p Medium, which produces an average of 42 FPS with a minimum of 36 FPS. This indicates that the game is playable but will have noticeable stutter and will not be smooth. For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, 1080p High yields 37 FPS, but this is a compromised experience.

Moving to higher resolutions is not recommended. At 1440p, even the Low preset only manages an average of 45 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience. At 4K, all presets result in averages below 30 FPS, which is generally considered unplayable for an action game. The data shows that the Ultra preset is the worst performer at every resolution, with averages of 32 FPS at 1080p, 25 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra configuration, with an average of 17 FPS, represents the worst-case scenario and should be avoided entirely.

The recommendation is to play at 1080p with the Low preset if the goal is to achieve the highest possible frame rate. This setting provides a 40% improvement over the Medium preset's average of 42 FPS. If the user is willing to accept a lower frame rate for better visuals, the Medium preset offers a more balanced experience with a min FPS of 36, which is the highest minimum recorded for any settings combination. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they drop the average below 40 FPS at 1080p and below 30 FPS at 1440p, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive. The data is clear that this hardware combination is not suited for high-fidelity gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this CPU and GPU combo can achieve in Control?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 59, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset. This is the only configuration that approaches a 60 FPS target, but stability is unverified as min FPS data is not provided for this setting.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest benchmark rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is a 0.2% difference. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a 0.5% delta, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a 0.7% delta. It performs slightly better than the AMD FirePro M2000, which has a delta of 1.4%.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-14700KF or the Intel Arc B370 the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. This is evidenced by the significant FPS drop when moving from 1080p to 4K. For instance, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 37 at 1080p to 19 at 4K, a pattern that is characteristic of a graphics-bound workload rather than a CPU-bound one.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 4K on the Ultra preset?

A: On the Ultra preset, the average FPS at 1920x1080 is 32, while at 3840x2160 it is 17. This represents a 47% reduction in performance when moving to 4K, further confirming that the integrated GPU is overwhelmed by the higher pixel count.

Q: Can this system run Control at 1440p with a stable frame rate?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the best average FPS recorded is 45 on the Low preset. The Medium preset produces an average of 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 FPS. These figures are below the typical threshold for a smooth experience, indicating that 1440p is not a viable resolution for this hardware.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to the Ultra preset at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 59 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 32 FPS. This means the Low preset delivers an 84% higher average frame rate compared to Ultra, showing the massive impact of settings on this GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end desktop processor, and its specifications suggest it is more than capable of handling the demands of Control. It features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its architecture is Raptor Lake, built on a 10 nm process, and it has a substantial 33 MB of shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 44167 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6235 in single-core, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 70163, which is 0.2% higher than its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, and 0.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

Despite this processing power, the CPU's role in the measured game performance is minimal. The data shows that the frame rates are dictated almost entirely by the GPU. For example, the CPU's high single-core performance, as indicated by the 6235 Cinebench R23 score, does not translate into high FPS in Control. The game's rendering pipeline is clearly stalling at the graphics stage, meaning the CPU is often waiting for the GPU to finish its work. The Passmark physics score of 2961 is a further indication of the CPU's capability in processing game logic, but again, this power is untapped due to the graphics bottleneck.

The comparison with the CPU's nearest rivals shows that it is a top-tier part. It is 1% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, which has a deltaPct of -1. This performance headroom is irrelevant in this specific configuration, as the Arc B370 cannot utilize it. The benchmark results for the CPU alone would suggest a system capable of high frame rates in most games, but the measured FPS data for Control with this GPU shows a different story. The processor is not the limiting factor; it is simply waiting on a graphics solution that is several generations behind in performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields the best result with an average of 59 FPS. The Medium preset follows with an average of 42 FPS, a minimum of 36 FPS, and a maximum of 48 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 37 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 32 FPS. This shows a clear progression where higher settings directly reduce performance, with a 27 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset records an average of 45 FPS. The Medium preset averages 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS. The High preset averages 28 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 25 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 20 FPS at this resolution. The data shows that no setting at 1440p can maintain a 60 FPS average, and the Medium preset's minimum of 27 FPS indicates potential for noticeable stuttering.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset achieves an average of 30 FPS. The Medium preset averages 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS. The High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 17 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 13 FPS at 4K. The minimum FPS of 18 at Medium settings highlights the severe performance ceiling. This data confirms that the Intel Arc B370 is not capable of handling Control at 4K, with all presets falling below the 30 FPS average that is often considered the absolute minimum for playability.