Control

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a playable but not flawless experience in Control, with performance scaling predictably from resolution to resolution. The data indicates a system where the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rate at higher resolutions, while the CPU's substantial core count ensures consistent frame pacing at lower settings. The measured results show a spread from 140 FPS at 1080p Low to 39 FPS at 4K Ultra, highlighting the title's demanding nature on the graphics card as pixel count increases.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. This configuration provides a substantial amount of parallel processing power, which is reflected in its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,167 and single-core score of 6,235. The processor's L3 cache is 33 MB shared, and it supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving it flexibility in system builds. In the context of Control, this CPU is unlikely to be the bottleneck, as the game's physics and AI systems can benefit from multi-threading, but the sheer single-thread performance also ensures that the game's main logic thread runs efficiently.

The benchmark data supports this assessment. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 140 FPS, which is a high enough frame rate that the CPU must be feeding the GPU adequately. However, the more telling evidence is the scaling from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 88; at 1440p High, it drops to 67; and at 4K High, it falls to 45. This 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K at the same settings indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor, as a CPU-bound scenario would show a smaller FPS drop when the resolution increases. The CPU's percentile rank of 94 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70,163, places it in the top tier of processors, further suggesting it has ample headroom for this title.

The processor's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which has an average score of 69,996 (0.2% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69,515 (0.9% lower). The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is slightly ahead at 70,879, a 1% delta. These margins are negligible in gaming terms, meaning the i7-14700KF's performance in Control is broadly comparable to other high-end CPUs. The processor's TDP is 125 W, and it was released in October 2023 with a launch MSRP of $384, making it a high-end desktop part. For Control, the data shows that at 1080p Low, the system hits 140 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 77 FPS, a 45% decrease. This drop is primarily due to the GPU, but the CPU's consistent delivery of frames at lower resolutions is a sign of its capability.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process node, featuring 3,072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1,830 MHz with a boost clock of 2,460 MHz, and it has 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores. Its FP32 performance is 15.11 TFLOPS, and it has a TDP of 115 W. In Control, which is known for its ray tracing features, the RTX 4060's RT cores are relevant, but the measured data does not specify whether ray tracing is enabled. The GPU's percentile rank is 61 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17,639, indicating it is a mid-range performer.

The benchmark results show a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 71 at Low settings to 39 at Ultra, a 45% drop. At 1440p, the range is from 106 FPS at Low to 58 FPS at Ultra. At 1080p, the range is from 140 FPS at Low to 77 FPS at Ultra. The delta between Low and Ultra settings becomes more pronounced as resolution increases: at 1080p, the difference is 63 FPS; at 1440p, it is 48 FPS; and at 4K, it is 32 FPS. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU can still push more frames, but the GPU's limits are reached as resolution climbs. The RTX 4060's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (0.2% lower score), the AMD Radeon 780M (0.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (0.5% higher), showing that it sits in a competitive mid-range tier.

The 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor at 4K, where textures and effects can consume significant memory. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 39, which is barely playable, and at 4K High, it is 45. The system's minimum FPS is only recorded for Medium settings: 43 FPS at 4K, 64 FPS at 1440p, and 84 FPS at 1080p. These minimums suggest that frame pacing is stable at Medium, which is an important consideration for gameplay smoothness. The GPU's memory clock is 2,125 MHz with a 17 Gbps effective rate, and its bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8. For Control, the data indicates that the RTX 4060 is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming at high settings, but 4K requires lowering settings to Low to achieve a 71 FPS average.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Control?*

A: The highest average FPS is 140, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: At what settings and resolution does the combo reach a minimum FPS of 84?

A: The minimum FPS of 84 is recorded at 1920x1080 resolution with Medium settings, which has an average FPS of 99 and a maximum FPS of 114.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,167. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, has an average score of 69,996, which is 0.2% lower than the CPU's average benchmark score of 70,163.

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is 58, with no minimum or maximum FPS recorded.

Q: Which component is the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that from 1080p to 4K at High settings, the average FPS drops from 88 to 45, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor due to the significant performance decrease as resolution increases.

Q: Does the GPU have ray tracing cores, and how many?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has 24 ray tracing cores, which are part of its Ada Lovelace architecture.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 2,008 out of 3,720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 54th percentile of all configurations. This mid-pack ranking is somewhat surprising given the CPU's high percentile rank of 94, but it is explained by the GPU's lower percentile rank of 61. The system is effectively balanced between a top-tier processor and a mid-range graphics card, with the GPU holding back the overall score. The rank suggests that while the CPU is overqualified for the task, the GPU is the limiting factor in achieving higher frame rates.

The ranking relative to other combos can be interpreted through the lens of the measured FPS. At 1080p, the combo achieves 88 FPS on High and 77 FPS on Ultra, which are solid numbers for a 60 Hz display but not exceptional for high-refresh monitors. At 1440p, the same settings yield 67 FPS and 58 FPS, respectively, which are playable but require adjustments for competitive play. At 4K, the combo falls below 60 FPS on all settings except Low, which hits 71 FPS. The combo's rank of 2,008 out of 3,720 means it outperforms roughly 54% of tested configurations, but it is not in the top tier for this game. The data shows that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are the primary constraints, as the CPU's 20 cores and high clock speeds are more than sufficient for Control's demands.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers the best balance, with an average FPS of 99 and a minimum FPS of 84, ensuring smooth gameplay. High settings at 1080p drop the average to 88 FPS, which is still playable, but Ultra reduces it to 77 FPS. For 1440p, Medium is again the recommended preset, with an average of 75 FPS and a minimum of 64 FPS, which is sufficient for most players. High at 1440p averages 67 FPS, which is acceptable but may show stutter in intense scenes. At 4K, the Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS, hitting 71 FPS, but Medium is also viable at 51 FPS average with a minimum of 43 FPS, though this may be below the comfort threshold for some.

The data indicates that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for this hardware, as it provides the best combination of visual fidelity and performance. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium is only 41 FPS (from 140 to 99), but the visual improvement is significant. At 1440p, the jump from Low to Medium is 31 FPS, and at 4K, it is 20 FPS. The Ultra preset, while offering the highest visual quality, comes with a substantial performance penalty: at 1080p, it is 22 FPS lower than Medium, and at 4K, it is 12 FPS lower. Therefore, for a consistent experience, Medium is recommended, with High being a reasonable alternative for users prioritizing visuals over frame rate. The minimum FPS data for Medium (84 at 1080p, 64 at 1440p, 43 at 4K) shows that frame pacing is stable, reducing the risk of hitches.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is as follows: Low settings achieve 71 FPS, Medium achieves 51 FPS with a minimum of 43 and maximum of 58, High achieves 45 FPS, and Ultra achieves 39 FPS. This shows a clear progression, with Low being the only setting that exceeds 60 FPS. At 2560x1440, the averages are 106 FPS for Low, 75 FPS for Medium (minimum 64, maximum 86), 67 FPS for High, and 58 FPS for Ultra. The 1440p results show that Low and Medium are both above 60 FPS, while High is close, and Ultra falls below. At 1920x1080, the averages are 140 FPS for Low, 99 FPS for Medium (minimum 84, maximum 114), 88 FPS for High, and 77 FPS for Ultra. All settings at 1080p are above 60 FPS, with Low and Medium providing high refresh rate capabilities.

The data reveals that the performance difference between Low and Ultra is consistent across resolutions: at 1080p, the gap is 63 FPS; at 1440p, it is 48 FPS; and at 4K, it is 32 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as the absolute FPS drops, reducing the impact of settings changes. The Medium settings are the only ones with recorded minimum and maximum FPS, providing insight into frame variability. At 1080p, the minimum of 84 FPS and maximum of 114 FPS show a 30 FPS range, which is moderate. At 1440p, the range is 22 FPS (64 to 86), and at 4K, it is 15 FPS (43 to 58). This suggests that at higher resolutions, frame pacing becomes more consistent, likely due to the GPU being more heavily loaded.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is a critical indicator of the system's bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS decreases from 88 at 1080p to 67 at 1440p (a 24% drop) and then to 45 at 4K (a 33% drop from 1440p). The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 43 FPS, or 49%. This large drop is characteristic of a GPU-bound system, where the increased pixel count directly impacts the render load. At Low settings, the drop is from 140 FPS at 1080p to 106 FPS at 1440p (a 24% drop) and then to 71 FPS at 4K (a 33% drop from 1440p), for a total reduction of 69 FPS, or 49%. The consistent percentage drop across settings indicates that the scaling is resolution-driven, not settings-driven.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is proportional to the pixel count increase (2.25x from 1080p to 4K). If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain more constant as resolution increases, but the measured results show a near-linear decline. For example, at Medium settings, the FPS drops from 99 at 1080p to 75 at 1440p and 51 at 4K, which is a 48% reduction from 1080p to 4K. This pattern is consistent across all settings, confirming that the RTX 4060's GPU compute and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The 8 GB VRAM may also contribute to the 4K performance drop, as texture data exceeds the available memory, but the data does not specify VRAM usage. The scaling analysis suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, users must accept Low settings, while 1440p offers a better balance with High settings achieving 67 FPS.