Control

# Control with Intel Core i7-14700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a formidable Control experience, with measured frame rates ranging from 74.9 FPS at 4K Ultra to 272.9 FPS at 1080p Low. This combination sits at rank 41 out of 1,636 tested combos, placing it in the top 2.5% of all configurations for this title. The data shows a system that handles the game's physics-heavy combat and particle effects with authority, though the scaling between presets reveals where the bottlenecks appear.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700KF brings 20 cores and 28 threads to the table, running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosting to 5.60 GHz. This Raptor Lake-R architecture chip, built on Intel's 10 nm process, uses a hybrid design with performance and efficiency cores that Control's engine can leverage for background physics simulation while keeping the main game thread fed. The 33 MB of shared L3 cache helps maintain consistent frame pacing during intense combat sequences, where dozens of objects and debris are simulated simultaneously.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU scores 44,557 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6,290 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 19,287. The single-thread performance is particularly relevant for Control, as the game's core logic often depends on a few heavily loaded threads. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,480 indicates strong per-core performance, which explains why frame rates remain high even at lower resolutions where the GPU has headroom to render more frames per second.

The data shows the i7-14700KF sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70,104. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700K, scores 70,074 with a 0% delta, meaning the KF variant performs essentially identically in aggregate benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X posts a score of 70,420, which is 0.4% higher, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 trails at 71,056, giving it a 1.3% advantage over the i7-14700KF. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming, and the CPU's high single-thread performance ensures Control never becomes CPU-bound at the tested settings.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 uses the AD102 chip on TSMC's 5 nm process, packing 76,300 million transistors across a 609 mm² die. With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus delivering 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth, this card has ample resources for Control's highest settings, which include heavy use of volumetric lighting and reflective surfaces. The GPU's base clock runs at 2,235 MHz with a boost of 2,520 MHz, and memory operates at 1,313 MHz (21 Gbps effective).

The RTX 4090's compute capabilities are substantial: 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs, producing 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The 128 ray tracing cores and 512 tensor cores are relevant for Control's use of ray-traced reflections and DLSS support, though the measured FPS data does not specify whether ray tracing was enabled. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 38,194 places it at the 91st percentile among all GPUs, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223.

In benchmark comparisons, the RTX 4090's average score of 66,473 puts it near the NVIDIA Tesla T4, which scores 66,733 with a -0.4% delta, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 at 67,097 with a -0.9% delta. The NVIDIA Quadro P6000 leads slightly at 67,320, a 1.3% advantage. These workstation-class cards are not gaming products, so the RTX 4090's dominance in actual game performance is expected, but the data confirms its position as a top-tier consumer GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the system averages 128.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1920x1080, frame rates exceed 147 FPS even on Ultra, making 1080p the choice for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How much performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: The gap is significant: Low settings produce 140.5 FPS, while Ultra drops to 74.9 FPS. This represents a 65.6 FPS difference, meaning Ultra at 4K still meets the 60 FPS target, but Low offers nearly double the frame rate.

Q: Does the RTX 4090's 24 GB VRAM make a difference in Control?

A: The game is from 2019 and does not appear to require large VRAM allocations. The measured data shows no issues at any resolution or setting, and the 24 GB capacity provides headroom for future titles or modded content, but Control itself does not stress this resource.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 41st out of 1,636 combos, placing it in the top 2.5% of all configurations tested. This indicates it outperforms the vast majority of systems, though some high-end combinations with newer GPUs may edge it out slightly.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 144.4, which is ideal for 144 Hz monitors. This preset balances visual quality with performance, offering a smoother experience than High at 128.6 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low?

A: At 272.9 FPS, the system is clearly GPU-bound, as the CPU's single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,290) is sufficient to feed the RTX 4090 at these frame rates. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs supports this conclusion.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the data points to Medium settings across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, Medium delivers 196.5 FPS, which is only 76.4 FPS less than Low but provides noticeably better image quality. Moving to 2560x1440, Medium hits 144.4 FPS, comfortably driving a 144 Hz display while maintaining detail levels. At 3840x2160, Medium produces 97.3 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth play and represents a 22.4 FPS improvement over High settings.

High settings are viable for those prioritizing visuals over frame rate, with 175.2 FPS at 1080p, 128.6 FPS at 1440p, and 91.2 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings are playable but push frame rates down: 147.4 FPS at 1080p, 113.9 FPS at 1440p, and 74.9 FPS at 4K. Given that Medium offers such high frame rates with minimal visual compromise, it is the recommended preset for most users. Low settings are only advisable for competitive play or high-refresh-rate panels beyond 240 Hz, where the 272.9 FPS at 1080p and 206.2 FPS at 1440p could be utilized.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves rank 41 out of 1,636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 97.5th percentile, meaning only 40 other configurations deliver higher performance in this game. The rank reflects the balance between a top-tier CPU and a flagship GPU, though the CPU's 96th percentile standing among all processors suggests it is not the limiting factor. The GPU's 91st percentile ranking is slightly lower, indicating that other graphics cards may outperform it in certain scenarios, but the measured FPS data shows this combo handles Control with ease at all tested settings.

The nearest CPU rival, the Intel Core i7-14700K, performs within 0% of the KF variant, so users should not expect meaningful differences in game performance between these two chips. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X's 0.4% advantage in average benchmark score is unlikely to translate into measurable FPS gains in Control, given the game's reliance on single-thread performance where the i7-14700KF excels.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080: The system produces its highest frame rates at this resolution. Low settings yield 272.9 FPS, Medium drops to 196.5 FPS, High reaches 175.2 FPS, and Ultra maintains 147.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 125.5 FPS range, indicating that even the most demanding preset remains highly playable on high-refresh-rate monitors.

2560x1440: At 1440p, Low settings deliver 206.2 FPS, Medium provides 144.4 FPS, High achieves 128.6 FPS, and Ultra settles at 113.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 92.3 FPS, with each preset step reducing performance by roughly 25-30 FPS. This resolution offers the best balance for gamers with 144 Hz displays, as even Ultra stays above 100 FPS.

3840x2160: At 4K, Low settings produce 140.5 FPS, Medium delivers 97.3 FPS, High achieves 91.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 74.9 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 65.6 FPS, and while Ultra remains above the 60 FPS threshold, the gap between Medium and High is only 6.1 FPS, making Medium the more attractive option for 4K gaming. The data shows that 4K Ultra is the only configuration that approaches the lower bounds of smooth gameplay, though it still meets the minimum acceptable frame rates.