Control

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a combination defined by a stark contrast between a top-tier 14th Gen processor and a mid-range Turing GPU. In Control, this pairing produces a bottleneck-heavy experience where the GPU is almost exclusively the limiting factor, resulting in frame rates that range from highly playable at 1080p to demanding even for less intensive settings at 4K. The following analysis breaks down the measured data to clarify the role each component plays and what settings offer the most viable experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall ranking of this CPU and GPU combo for playing Control?

A: The combination ranks at 1337 out of 1636 tested combos for this game, placing it in the lower percentile of systems tested.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this configuration?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a flagship processor with 20 cores and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, while the RTX 2060 is an older, entry-level ray tracing card with 6 GB of memory and a boost clock of 1680 MHz.

Q: What is the best performance you can expect from this setup in Control?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 110.3 FPS, which is achieved at the 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the RTX 2060's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score is essentially on par with its closest competitors. It is 0.5% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700 are 1.7% faster.

Q: How does the i7-14700KF's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-14700KF's average benchmark score is virtually identical to the Intel Core i7-14700K, with a 0% deltaPct. It is also 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 9115 and 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.

Q: Is this a good setup for playing Control at 4K resolution?

A: The data suggests it is not ideal. At 3840x2160, even with Low settings, the average frame rate is only 53.7 FPS, and it drops to 27.4 FPS at Ultra settings, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured performance for this specific combination of an Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 in Control results in a rank of 1337 out of 1636 tested combos. This places the system firmly in the lower quartile of all possible configurations for this title. This ranking is a direct reflection of the vast imbalance between the component's capabilities. The processor is a top-5 percentile performer, while the graphics card sits at the 58th percentile against all GPUs. The 1337 rank is not a measure of the CPU's prowess, but rather evidence of how heavily the RTX 2060 holds the system back in a graphically intensive game like Control. The data shows that while the CPU is capable of feeding frames at an exceptionally high rate, the GPU is unable to render them, capping the experience at a level far below what the processor alone could theoretically support.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary determinant of frame rate in this configuration. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s, which is a modest amount by modern standards. The card's base clock is 1365 MHz, and it boosts to 1680 MHz, with memory running at 14 Gbps effective. These specifications place it at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 16074 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 and Radeon Pro 5600M both being just 1.7% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600S being 0.5% slower.

In Control, the GPU's limitations are immediately apparent. The frame rate scales steeply with resolution. At 1920x1080, the card can produce a very playable 66.1 FPS on High settings. Moving to 2560x1440, that same High preset drops to 50.6 FPS. At 3840x2160, the card is clearly overmatched, delivering only 37.1 FPS on High and 27.4 FPS on Ultra. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is likely a contributing factor to the severe performance penalty at higher resolutions and settings, as the demands of the game's textures and effects can exceed this limit. The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 2060 is a capable 1080p card that struggles to maintain acceptable performance beyond that resolution in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its best performance. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 110.3 FPS, a very fluid experience. This drops to 75.5 FPS on Medium and 66.1 FPS on High. Even at the Ultra preset, the average frame rate remains respectable at 61.8 FPS.

Stepping up to 2560x1440 presents a more significant challenge. The Low preset yields 83.9 FPS, which is still quite smooth. However, the higher presets start to show strain. Medium drops to 57.1 FPS, High falls to 50.6 FPS, and Ultra drops below the 60 FPS target to 46.8 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 is severely overtaxed. The only playable result is with Low settings, which averages 53.7 FPS. The Medium preset yields 39.8 FPS, High drops to 37.1 FPS, and Ultra is nearly unplayable at 27.4 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is a massive 26.3 FPS, illustrating the card's inability to handle the increased shader and texture complexity at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal experience for this combination is at 1920x1080. The data shows that the system can handle the Ultra preset at 61.8 FPS, which is a smooth and visually rich experience that makes full use of the game's effects. For players who prefer a higher refresh rate, the Low preset at 110.3 FPS is the only setting that breaks the 100 FPS barrier, but this comes with a significant reduction in visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the data suggests that the High preset at 50.6 FPS or the Medium preset at 57.1 FPS are the most balanced options. These settings provide a decent visual experience while maintaining frame rates that are close to the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 46.8 FPS is an option for those who prioritize visuals over smoothness, but it is not recommended for fast-paced action.

At 3840x2160, the data is less encouraging. The Low preset is the only viable option for acceptable gameplay, offering an average of 53.7 FPS. Any settings above Low will result in an average frame rate below 40 FPS, which is generally considered too choppy for a game like Control. The recommendation is to stick with 1080p for the best balance of quality and performance, or to make significant compromises in visual fidelity if 4K is a requirement.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF plays a supporting but consistently reliable role in this configuration. With 20 cores and 28 threads, it has immense processing power, capable of handling any game's physics, AI, and logic without breaking a sweat. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz can boost up to 5.60 GHz, and its benchmark scores are exceptional, placing it at the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 70104 is essentially tied with its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-14700K (0% delta), AMD EPYC 9115 (0.3% delta), and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (-0.4% delta).

In Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and process the game's world simulation. Given its performance, it is highly unlikely that the i7-14700KF ever becomes the limiting factor in this pairing. The measured FPS across all resolutions and settings shows a pattern that is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where frame rates scale inversely with resolution and graphical load. The CPU is so powerful that it can easily handle the demands of the game at even the highest settings; the RTX 2060 simply cannot keep up with the data the processor is capable of providing. This means the CPU is not a source of performance issues, but rather a wasted resource, as its full potential is never utilized in this specific combination.