Control

# Control on Intel Core i9-14900K + AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

This combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT delivers a strong Control experience, ranking 600th out of 1,636 tested combos. The data shows a setup that comfortably handles 1080p and 1440p at high frame rates, with 4K remaining viable at reduced settings. The CPU's massive thread count and the GPU's 16 GB VRAM create a pairing that leans GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the processor's single-core strength ensures no bottleneck at lower settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 6.00 GHz. Its benchmark profile is exceptional: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 49,872 and a single-core score of 7,040 place it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs. The Geekbench multi-core score of 20,370 and single-core score of 3,064 reinforce this positioning. In Control, this CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU efficiently; at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 171.5 FPS, indicating the CPU can sustain very high frame rates without becoming the limiting factor.

The nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark database show how tight the competition is at this tier. The AMD EPYC 7413 scores essentially identically with a delta of -0.3%, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF is 0.7% ahead and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF matches at 0.7%. The Core Ultra 7 265K trails by 0.9%. This means the i9-14900K is statistically tied with its closest competitors in raw compute, but for gaming, its 6.00 GHz boost clock provides a meaningful advantage in lightly-threaded workloads that Control's engine utilizes.

The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help with the game's asset streaming, while the 10 nm process node and 125 W TDP indicate a power-hungry but capable part. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,697 and multi-thread score of 58,674 demonstrate that both single-core and multi-core performance are top-tier. For Control, which is not heavily multi-threaded, the single-core strength matters most; the data confirms this by showing that the CPU keeps up even at 1080p Low where frame rates exceed 170 FPS.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The boost clock is 2,430 MHz with a game clock of 2,124 MHz. This GPU sits in the 76th percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 24,176 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,157.

In Control, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM is a significant asset, allowing high-resolution textures without memory pressure. The nearest GPU rivals in the database include the AMD FirePro S9300 X2 with a delta of 0.2%, the NVIDIA P104-100 at -0.4%, and the NVIDIA T600 Mobile at -0.7%. These deltas are small, but the RX 7800 XT's advantage in real gaming scenarios comes from its modern architecture and driver support, not just raw compute scores. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 139,381 and Vulkan score of 143,060 indicate strong compute capabilities that translate to consistent frame pacing.

The GPU's 60 ray tracing cores and 96 ROPs are relevant for Control's visual effects, though the game's implementation is modest. The FP32 performance of 37.32 TFLOPS provides ample headroom for the game's physics and particle effects. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 94.9 FPS, showing the GPU is the primary driver of performance at higher settings. The 624.1 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming at 4K doesn't cause stutters, which is confirmed by the 4K Ultra result of 46.8 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound pattern, but with some nuance. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 171.5 FPS at 1080p to 134.1 FPS at 1440p (a 21.8% reduction) and then to 87.2 FPS at 4K (a 49.2% reduction from 1440p). This steep decline at 4K indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at this resolution, even on Low settings.

At High settings, the scaling is more linear: 113 FPS at 1080p, 83 FPS at 1440p (26.5% drop), and 54.1 FPS at 4K (34.8% drop from 1440p). The Ultra settings tell a similar story: 94.9 FPS at 1080p, 70.7 FPS at 1440p, and 46.8 FPS at 4K. The consistent pattern shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution, as the frame rate scales predictably with pixel count.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the combo is slightly CPU-limited at Low settings (171.5 FPS), but at Ultra settings, the GPU takes over. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component across all settings, as the 16 GB VRAM and bandwidth are sufficient but the raw compute power caps performance. The 4K Low result of 87.2 FPS versus the 4K Ultra result of 46.8 FPS demonstrates that settings have a larger impact than resolution at this tier.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K High, the combo averages 54.1 FPS, which is playable. At 4K Ultra, it drops to 46.8 FPS, while reducing to Low settings boosts it to 87.2 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i9-14900K is statistically tied with the AMD EPYC 7413 (-0.3% delta), Intel Core i9-14900KF (0.7% ahead), and Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (0.7% ahead). It edges out the Core Ultra 7 265K by 0.9%.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: 1440p provides the best balance, with 83 FPS at High and 70.7 FPS at Ultra. At 1080p, frame rates exceed 100 FPS at High and Ultra, but 1440p offers more visual fidelity while staying above 70 FPS.

Q: How much VRAM does the RX 7800 XT have and does it matter for Control?

A: The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. This is ample for Control's highest textures at 4K, as evidenced by the stable frame rates even at Ultra settings.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: The data indicates no CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 171.5 FPS, and the frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with GPU-bound behavior across all settings.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking and what does it mean?

A: The RX 7800 XT ranks in the 76th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly three-quarters of the database. Its PassMark G3D score of 24,176 confirms it is a solid mid-high tier card.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers excellent performance across all settings. Low settings produce 171.5 FPS, Medium reaches 126 FPS, High achieves 113 FPS, and Ultra drops to 94.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 76.6 FPS, showing that settings have a substantial impact at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong. Low settings yield 134.1 FPS, Medium drops to 91.6 FPS, High hits 83 FPS, and Ultra falls to 70.7 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra here is 63.4 FPS, slightly less than at 1080p, indicating the GPU is becoming more of a factor.

At 3840x2160, performance becomes more demanding. Low settings produce 87.2 FPS, Medium manages 61.1 FPS, High achieves 54.1 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 46.8 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 40.4 FPS, the smallest gap of all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is saturated at 4K regardless of settings. The 4K Ultra result of 46.8 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold, while 4K Low comfortably exceeds it.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting 60 FPS as a baseline, the data suggests different settings per resolution. At 4K, High settings (54.1 FPS) fall just short, while Medium (61.1 FPS) clears the threshold. Low settings at 4K (87.2 FPS) provide significant headroom but sacrifice visual quality.

At 1440p, High settings (83 FPS) offer the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, comfortably above 60 FPS. Ultra at 1440p (70.7 FPS) is also viable for players prioritizing image quality, as it remains above 60 FPS. For competitive play, Low settings at 1440p (134.1 FPS) provide a substantial frame rate advantage.

At 1080p, all settings exceed 90 FPS, with Ultra delivering 94.9 FPS and High reaching 113 FPS. The recommendation is Ultra for single-player immersion, as the 94.9 FPS average is smooth, while High offers a modest boost to 113 FPS with minimal visual difference. The Medium setting at 126 FPS is a compromise for players with high-refresh displays. The data clearly shows that Medium at 4K (61.1 FPS) is the minimum recommended preset for a playable 4K experience, while 1440p High provides the best overall experience.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ranks 600th out of 1,636 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 36.7% of all configurations. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU's top-tier performance and the GPU's mid-high tier capability.

Relative to other combos in the database, this pairing is competitive but not elite. The CPU's 97th percentile ranking is stronger than the GPU's 76th percentile, suggesting the processor has more headroom than the graphics card. This asymmetry means that in GPU-bound scenarios like 4K Ultra, the CPU's power is underutilized, while at 1080p Low, the GPU is the limiting factor.

The rank of 600 out of 1,636 indicates that many higher-ranked combos likely feature more powerful GPUs paired with similar CPUs, as the i9-14900K is rarely the bottleneck in Control. However, the RX 7800 XT's 16 GB VRAM and modern architecture ensure that this combo delivers a smooth experience in most scenarios. The data confirms this is a well-matched pairing for 1440p gaming, with acceptable 4K performance at Medium settings. For players seeking higher 4K frame rates, the GPU would be the first upgrade target, as the CPU has demonstrated it can sustain frame rates well above 170 FPS without issue.