Control

# Control with Intel Core i9-14900K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a strong Control experience across all tested resolutions, but the data reveals a clear pattern: this combo is firmly GPU-limited at 4K, CPU-headroom-rich at 1080p, and best suited for high-refresh 1440p play. The measured frame rates show that the RTX 4070's 12 GB VRAM and Ada Lovelace architecture handle Control's physics-heavy environments well, while the i9-14900K's 24 cores and 6.00 GHz boost clock ensure the CPU never becomes the bottleneck in this title. The combo ranks 904th out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the upper quartile of all tested systems for this game.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, indicating that the RTX 4070 is the primary limiting component as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 193 at 1920x1080 to 98 at 3840x2160, a 49.2% reduction. This dramatic scaling suggests that even at the lowest graphical preset, the GPU's rendering workload at 4K nearly halves the output, while the CPU's role diminishes as pixel count rises.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 137 FPS at 1080p drops to 104 FPS at 1440p (a 24.1% reduction), then further to 70 FPS at 4K (a 32.7% reduction from 1440p). The 4K Medium result of 70 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS shows the system maintains playable frame rates, but the margin above 60 FPS is thin. High settings tell a similar story: 122 FPS at 1080p, 92 FPS at 1440p, and 62 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result sits right at the 60 FPS threshold, making it a borderline experience for smooth gameplay.

Ultra settings produce the most significant scaling penalty. The average FPS drops from 106 at 1080p to 80 at 1440p (a 24.5% reduction), then to 54 at 4K (a 32.5% reduction from 1440p). The 4K Ultra result of 54 FPS falls below the 60 FPS target, indicating that this combo cannot maintain smooth frame rates at maximum settings in 4K. The scaling pattern across all settings reveals that the RTX 4070's compute resources — its 29.15 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth — are progressively saturated as resolution increases, while the i9-14900K's processing power becomes increasingly irrelevant.

The resolution scaling data suggests that the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p, where the GPU still has enough headroom to deliver high frame rates without being overwhelmed. At 1080p, the CPU's 24 cores and 32 threads are likely underutilized, as evidenced by the 193 FPS Low result, which suggests the GPU is still the limiting factor even at this resolution. The gap between 1080p and 1440p results is relatively modest (roughly 20-30% depending on settings), while the jump to 4K imposes a much larger penalty, confirming that the RTX 4070 is the component that determines the ceiling for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 904 out of 3720 tested combinations places it in the top 24.3% of all systems tested for Control. This percentile position reflects a configuration that is well above average for this title, though not at the very top tier of performance. The ranking suggests that while this combo delivers excellent frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, it is not optimized for maximum 4K performance, which would require a more powerful GPU.

The i9-14900K's individual benchmark percentile of 95 versus all CPUs indicates that the processor is among the top 5% of all CPUs tested, and its average benchmark score of 79097 places it in elite company. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF with a score of 79371 (0.3% higher) and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus with 79574 (0.6% higher), while the AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041 (1.2% higher) and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 77740 (1.7% lower). This tight clustering shows that the i9-14900K is essentially at parity with the best consumer and workstation CPUs available, meaning the CPU is not holding back the combo's ranking.

The RTX 4070's percentile of 81 versus all GPUs places it in the top 19% of all GPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (37628, 0.1% higher), the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507, 0.4% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38135, 1.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 (37157, 1.3% lower). This grouping suggests the RTX 4070 is a mid-to-high tier GPU that competes closely with other capable cards, but it is not in the same league as flagship GPUs.

Given that the GPU's percentile rank (81) is significantly lower than the CPU's percentile rank (95), the combo's 904th overall ranking is likely constrained by the GPU's performance in Control. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the ranking would be lower relative to the GPU's capability. Instead, the data indicates that the RTX 4070 is the component that determines the combo's position in the rankings, and upgrading the GPU would yield a more substantial improvement in Control than upgrading the CPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 plays the dominant role in determining Control's performance, particularly at higher resolutions. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for Control's texture-heavy environments at 1440p and adequate at 4K, though the 4K Ultra result of 54 FPS suggests the memory subsystem is strained at maximum settings. The GPU's base clock of 1920 MHz and boost clock of 2475 MHz, combined with its 5888 shading units, deliver 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is the key metric for rasterization-heavy titles like Control.

The GPU's architecture, Ada Lovelace on TSMC's 5 nm process, includes 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores, though Control's implementation of ray tracing is not reflected in the measured FPS data. The benchmark results show that the GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3854 and Passmark G3D score of 26927 place it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. These synthetic benchmarks correlate with the measured Control performance, where the GPU delivers playable frame rates at all settings except 4K Ultra.

The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is a notable factor in Control's performance. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU likely has sufficient memory headroom, as evidenced by the high average frame rates (193 FPS at 1080p Low, 146 FPS at 1440p Low). However, at 4K Ultra, the combination of higher resolution textures and maximum settings may approach the 12 GB limit, contributing to the 54 FPS average. The GPU's 64 ROPs and 184 TMUs handle pixel and texture processing efficiently, but the 4K results show that the GPU's raw throughput becomes the limiting factor.

The RTX 4070's performance in Control aligns with its overall benchmark profile. Its Passmark G3D score of 26927 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 174152 indicate strong DirectX 12 and Vulkan performance, which Control's engine leverages. The GPU's 21 Gbps effective memory speed and 158.4 GPixel/s pixel rate provide the bandwidth and fill rate needed for Control's particle effects and physics-based interactions, but the 4K Ultra result of 54 FPS demonstrates that even this capable GPU cannot maintain 60 FPS at maximum settings in 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers consistently high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 193 FPS, which is well above any modern display's refresh rate and indicates that the GPU is not heavily stressed at this resolution. Medium settings average 137 FPS with a minimum of 116 FPS and maximum of 157 FPS, providing smooth gameplay with a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High settings average 122 FPS, still excellent for competitive or fast-paced play. Ultra settings at 1080p average 106 FPS, which remains above 100 FPS and demonstrates that the RTX 4070 has ample headroom at this resolution even with maximum settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected scaling. Low settings average 146 FPS, still very high and suitable for high-refresh monitors. Medium settings average 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and maximum of 119 FPS, providing a smooth experience with some margin for demanding scenes. High settings average 92 FPS, which is above 90 FPS and ideal for 1440p gaming. Ultra settings at 1440p average 80 FPS, which is a solid result that maintains smooth gameplay while offering maximum visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly, and the experience becomes more variable depending on settings. Low settings average 98 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K and suggests the GPU can handle lower-quality rendering at this resolution. Medium settings average 70 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 80 FPS, which is playable but shows noticeable frame dips below 60 FPS. High settings average 62 FPS, which is right at the 60 FPS threshold and may produce occasional stutter in intense scenes. Ultra settings at 4K average 54 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target and indicates that this combo cannot deliver smooth maximum-settings performance at 4K.

The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is entirely GPU-bound but with sufficient headroom, 1440p is the optimal balance of visual quality and performance, and 4K is playable only at lower settings or with compromises. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings — 116 FPS at 1080p, 88 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K — illustrate the increasing performance pressure as resolution rises. The maximum FPS values follow a similar pattern, with 157 FPS at 1080p, 119 FPS at 1440p, and 80 FPS at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

For 4K gaming, the data suggests that Medium settings provide the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 70 FPS and a minimum of 59 FPS. This preset maintains playable frame rates while offering a significant improvement over Low settings (98 FPS average). High settings at 4K produce an average of 62 FPS, which is technically playable but leaves no headroom for demanding scenes, making it a riskier choice. Ultra settings at 4K should be avoided, as the 54 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS target and may result in noticeable stuttering.

For 1440p gaming, High settings are the recommended choice, delivering 92 FPS average with excellent visual quality. This preset provides a smooth experience well above 60 FPS while showcasing the game's graphical features. Ultra settings at 1440p average 80 FPS, which is also excellent and may be preferable for players who prioritize maximum visual fidelity over a few extra frames. Medium settings at 1440p (104 FPS average) are a valid option for players with 144 Hz or higher refresh rate monitors, as they provide the frame rate needed to take full advantage of such displays.

For 1080p gaming, Ultra settings are the clear recommendation, with a 106 FPS average that is well above 60 FPS and provides the best visual experience. High settings at 1080p (122 FPS) are also excellent for high-refresh monitors, while Medium settings (137 FPS) and Low settings (193 FPS) are suitable for competitive play or players with 240 Hz displays. The 1080p results show that the RTX 4070 has substantial headroom at this resolution, making Ultra the best choice for most players.

Across all resolutions, the data indicates that the combo performs best when the GPU is not pushed to its limits. At 4K, Medium is the safest choice; at 1440p, High offers the best combination of performance and quality; at 1080p, Ultra is recommended. Players who prioritize frame rate over visual quality can drop one preset level for a significant FPS boost, as demonstrated by the 41 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p (193 vs 106 FPS).

CPU Role

The Intel Core i9-14900K's role in Control is largely supportive, as the game is GPU-bound at most settings and resolutions. The CPU's 24 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 6.00 GHz, provide far more processing power than Control requires. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and single-core score of 2262.5 demonstrate its exceptional capability, but the measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this title.

The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache ensure that game logic, physics calculations, and AI processing are handled without bottlenecking the GPU. Control's physics-heavy combat and destructible environments benefit from the CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 4697, but the frame rates across all settings suggest that even the most demanding scenes do not stress the CPU significantly.

At 1080p Low settings, the 193 FPS average indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU with enough frames to reach nearly 200 FPS, but the GPU's rendering capacity becomes the limiting factor beyond this point. The i9-14900K's memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, with dual-channel configuration, provides sufficient bandwidth for the GPU to access textures and assets without delay. The CPU's integrated UHD Graphics 770 is not utilized in this configuration, as the discrete RTX 4070 handles all rendering.

The CPU's benchmark percentile of 95 versus all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 79097 place it among the fastest processors available, and its nearest rivals — the i9-14900KF (0.3% faster) and Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (0.6% faster) — show that it is within 1% of the absolute fastest CPUs. This level of performance ensures that the CPU does not introduce any frame pacing issues or stuttering in Control. The CPU's TDP of 125 W and boost clock of 6.00 GHz indicate that it can sustain high performance during extended gaming sessions, but the temperature and power management are not factors in the measured FPS data.

The data suggests that the i9-14900K is overkill for Control, as the game does not utilize the CPU's full multi-threading capabilities. However, this excess CPU headroom provides a benefit: it ensures consistent frame times and eliminates CPU-induced frame drops, allowing the RTX 4070 to perform at its full potential. The CPU's role is to provide a stable platform for the GPU, and in this regard, it performs flawlessly, with no measurable impact on the frame rates at any resolution or settings combination.