Control

# Resolution Scaling — How FPS Drops from 1080p to 4K and What It Says About the Limiting Component

The measured FPS data for this Intel Core i9-14900K + AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT combination reveals a clear pattern of resolution-driven scaling in Control. At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset delivers an average of 50 FPS, while dropping to High at the same resolution yields 58 FPS. Moving down to Medium at 4K shows 65 FPS, and Low at 4K reaches 92 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 4K is 42 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is the dominant constraint at this resolution, as the gap between presets creates meaningful performance differences.

At 2560x1440, the data shows High producing 86 FPS and Low reaching 136 FPS — a 50 FPS difference. Interestingly, the percentage drop from 1440p High to 4K High is approximately 33% (86 to 58), while the drop from 1440p Low to 4K Low is about 32% (136 to 92). This relatively consistent scaling across settings suggests the bottleneck shifts predictably with resolution.

When examining the 4K preset progression, the jump from Low (92 FPS) to Medium (65 FPS) represents a significant 29% reduction, while Medium to High (58 FPS) is an 11% decrease, and High to Ultra (50 FPS) another 14% drop. The largest single-step penalty occurs between Low and Medium, indicating that the Medium preset introduces rendering features that substantially increase GPU workload at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 86 FPS, while Low reaches 136 FPS — a 50 FPS difference between those two presets. The 4K Ultra average of 50 FPS sits just at playable thresholds, while 4K Low at 92 FPS demonstrates that even at maximum resolution, this combo has headroom when settings are reduced.

The scaling pattern—from 4K Low at 92 FPS down to 4K Ultra at 50 FPS—shows a 45.7% performance drop from the lowest to highest quality preset at 4K. This substantial reduction across settings at the same resolution points toward GPU-bound behavior. If the CPU were the primary constraint, the delta between Low and Ultra would likely shrink at higher resolutions, as the graphics card becomes the bottleneck earlier in the settings ladder.

Comparing 4K High (58 FPS) to 1440p High (86 FPS), the resolution jump costs 28 FPS, a 32.6% reduction. Similarly, 4K Low (92 FPS) versus 1440p Low (136 FPS) shows a 44 FPS difference, or 32.4% lower performance at 4K. The consistency of this percentage drop across both Low and High settings reinforces that resolution, not settings complexity, is driving the performance change—a hallmark of GPU-limited scenarios.

# Combo Rank

This specific combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ranks at position 1183 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. That places it in the top 31.8% of all tested configurations for this game. The percentile ranking suggests that while this pairing is above average, it is not among the elite tier for Control specifically.

The CPU itself sits at the 95th percentile among all tested processors, while the GPU ranks at the 85th percentile among all tested graphics cards. The combo rank of 1183 out of 3720—roughly the 68th percentile—is lower than either component’s individual percentile ranking would suggest. This gap hints that the pairing could be leaving performance on the table, or that Control’s engine favors different hardware balances than what this configuration provides.

Nearby GPU rivals help contextualize the results. The RX 6800 XT's average benchmark score of 48477 sits 3% behind the Intel Arc A550M (49737) and 3% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (50001), while running 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (47743). In a game like Control, which leans heavily on GPU throughput for its physics-heavy combat sequencesholistic effects, those small aggregate deltas can translate into the 50-58 FPS range seen at 4K Ultra/High.

With a combo rank of 1183 out of 3720 tested combinations, this pairing lands in the top 31.8% of all CPU-GPU combos tested in Control. This percentile placement indicates a strong but not elite configuration. The Radeon RX 6800 XT's 85th percentile standing among all GPUs pairs with a 95th-percentile CPU (the i9-14900K), yet the game-specific combo rank of 1183/3720 suggests that factors beyond raw component percentile—such as Control's specific engine demands—pull this pairing somewhat lower than component-level rankings might predict.

The GPU's nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile, sits 1.5% behind in average benchmark score, while the Intel Arc A550M trails by 2.5% and the NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti leads by 3%. This tight grouping around the RX 6800 XT's average benchmark score of 48477 means small percentage deltas translate into meaningful placement shifts in the overall combo rankings. The CPU's nearest competitor, the Intel Core i9-14900KF, scores 0.3% higher, which is within run-to-run variance but still places this CPU slightly behind its KF sibling in the aggregate.

At rank 1183 out of 3720 tested combinations, this pairing sits in the 68.2nd percentile of all combos tested for Control. That places it firmly above the median but not among the elite tier, reflecting a GPU that is strong but not top-of-the-line in current terms, paired with a CPU that has plenty of headroom.

FAQ

Q: Why does the 4K Ultra preset only hit 50 FPS average?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 pushes the Radeon RX 6800 XT to its limits. With a 50 FPS average, this combination delivers a playable but not smooth experience for a fast-paced action game. The GPU's 300 W TDP and 2250 MHz boost clock are being fully utilized, and the 16 GB of GDDR6 memory at 512.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient, but the sheer pixel count at 4K with Ultra settings exceeds what this card can handle above 60 FPS consistently.

Q: Will lowering settings from Ultra to High at 4K provide a significant improvement?

A: Yes. Moving from Ultra (50 FPS) to High (58 FPS) at 4K yields a 16% performance increase. This is a meaningful jump that could push the experience from borderline to smoother, especially in action sequences. The jump from High to Medium (65 FPS) adds another 12%, while Low (92 FPS) nearly doubles the Ultra result Mend.

Q: How does this combination compare to other CPU/GPU pairings tested for Control?

A: The combo ranks 1183 out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the 68th percentile of all tested configurations. This means roughly 32% of tested combos perform better in Control, while the majority perform worse. Given that the CPU holds a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU sits in the 85th percentile among all GPUs, the rank reflects a balanced but not extreme pairing.

Q: Is 4K playable with this combo?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At Medium settings, 4K averages 65 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS, which is playable. Low at 4K reaches 92 FPS, while High drops to 57 FPS and Ultra to 50 FPS. For competitive play, Low or Medium at 4K provides smoother frame rates, whereas High and Ultra dip close to or below 60 FPS averages, risking noticeable stutter during demanding scenes.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threading performance influence Control's results?

A: The Core i9-14900K's 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with its 125 W TDP, deliver strong synthetic scores: 39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 21,693 in Geekbench multi-core. However, Control's frame rates scale more directly with GPU throughput at 4K, as evidenced by the consistent FPS drop from 4K Low (92 FPS) to 4K Ultra (50 FPS). The CPU's 6.00 GHz boost clock and 32 threads keep the game well-fed at every resolution tested, meaning the GPU becomes the determining factor.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-14900K the bottleneck in this Control configuration?

A: At 4K, the evidence points to the GPU as the limiting factor. The CPU’s 24 cores and 6.00 GHz boost clock provide substantial headroom; the 4K Ultra score of 50 FPS versus 4K Low at 92 FPS represents a 42 FPS swing purely from graphical settings with resolution held constant. This scaling pattern indicates the Radeon RX 6800 XT is saturated before the CPU becomes a constraint. The CPU’s benchmark results (39,399.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 2,262.5 single-core) place it at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, suggesting it is unlikely to bottleneck any current GPU.

Q: How does this combo compare to others in the database for Control?

A: With a rank of 1183 out of 3720 tested combinations, this setup sits in the 68.2nd percentile of all CPU+GPU pairings tested in Control. That means roughly 68% of tested combos perform worse, placing this in the upper-middle tier. The GPU’s own percentile (85th among all GPUs) is higher than the combo’s percentile, indicating the CPU pairing may be slightly limiting the overall result.

Q: Which preset at 1440p offers the smoothest experience?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 86 FPS average, while Low achieves 136 FPS and Medium 111 FPS. The High preset at 1440p (86 FPS) is 48% faster than 4K High (58 FPS), making 1440p High the recommended balance for visual quality and smoothness. The jump from Low to Medium at 1440p costs 25 FPS (136 to 111 FPS), while Medium to High costs another 25 FPS (111 to 86 FPS), showing a linear scaling pattern.

Q: Is the 1440p High result closer to the 4K Low or 4K Medium outcome?

A: The 1440p High average of 86 FPS sits between 4K Low (92 FPS) and 4K Medium (65 FPS). Interestingly, 1440p High and 4K Low are nearly identical (86 vs 92 FPS), despite 4K Low using much lower graphical settings. This suggests the GPU’s pixel throughput is the deciding factor, not the complexity of the effects. A user could run 4K Low for nearly the same performance as 1440p High, though the visual quality at 4K Low would lack details.

Q: Should someone use this combo for 4K gaming?

A: With 4K Medium at 65 FPS (min 55 FPS) and 4K High at 58 FPS, the combo can handle 4K at medium-high settings with a V-sync target of 60 FPS, albeit with occasional dips. Dropping to 4K Low yields 92 FPS, leaving headroom. The RX 6800’s 16 GB VRAM (leaving 1 of 16 GB potentially usable for future titles) provides enough memory for 4K textures, but the GPU’s raw compute (Passmark 24980) is the bottleneck at 4K Ultra where it falls to 50 FPS.

Q: What about 1080p performance?

A: The measured data does not include 1080p rows, so no definitive statement can be made. However, by comparing 1440p Low (136 FPS) to 4K Low (92 FPS), one can extrapolate that 1080p would be significantly higher, likely exceeding 180 FPS given the linear scaling trend. The CPU’s exceptional single-thread performance (Passmark 4697) suggests minimal CPU-induced frame drops even at lower resolutions, though this cannot be confirmed without direct measurements.

CPU-GPU Balance and Bottlenecks

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a top-tier processor with a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its 32 threads (16 cores with hyperthreading) and high single-core performance ensure it can feed frames to the RX 6800 XT efficiently. However, at 4K Ultra (50 FPS) and 4K High (58 FPS), the GPU's limit is evident—the CPU has capacity to spared. The CPU’s Passmark multithread score of 58674 and physics score of 3140 are more than sufficient for Control’s physics-based gameplay.

The percentile gap is telling: the CPU sits at the 95th percentile while the combo ranks at the 68th percentile in Control. This discrepancy suggests the GPU is holding back the overall result. Had the CPU been paired with a more powerful GPU, the combo percentile would likely rise closer to the GPU's 85th percentile.

The measured data shows no signs of CPU throttling or frame pacing issues. Even at 4K Low where FPS reaches 92, the CPU keeps up with the GPU's output. Similarly, at 1440p Low with 136 FPS, there is no evidence of a CPU ceiling—the single-core performance of 4697 in Passmark and 2935 in Cinebench R23 single-core would only become limiting above roughly 200 FPS in most titles.

Practical Recommendations Based on Data

For users targeting a consistent 60 FPS experience in Control, the 4K Medium preset (65 FPS average, 55 FPS minimum) is the safest choice. The 4K High preset at 58 FPS would require adaptive sync or a tolerance for occasional sub-60 dips. At 1440p, all tested presets (Low 136, Medium 111, High 86) exceed 60 FPS, with High offering a good balance. The absence of an Ultra row at 1440p in the measured data leaves that comparison open, but based on the 4K Ultra to 4K High ratio (50 vs 58 FPS, a 13.8% drop), 1440p Ultra would likely land near 75 FPS.

The RX 6800 XT’s 16 GB of VRAM is another consideration. At 4K Ultra, Control’s texture requirements are well within 16 GB, so memory capacity does not appear to be the limiting factor. The GPU’s Passmark score of 24980, paired with its 85th percentile ranking among all GPUs, aligns with the observed mid-to-high-tier performance. The 3% gap to the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (nearest rival at -3%) and the 2.5% lead over the RTX A1000 Mobile illustrate that this GPU sits in a competitive band, but not at the flagship level.

Ultimately, the data shows a well-matched duo for 1440p High/Ultra and 4K Medium play, with the CPU never becoming the limiting factor at 4K. Users interested in 4K Ultra would need a more powerful GPU, while those targeting 1440p could comfortably run Ultra with V-Sync at 60 FPS or even high-refresh monitors at lower settings. The 300 W TDP of the GPU and the CPU’s 125 W TDP (with a boost to higher clocks) mean this requires a robust power supply—the recommended 300 W for the GPU alone suggests a 650 W or better PSU in practice.