Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a clear performance picture in Control, with results that scale predictably across resolutions and presets. The data indicates a system that can comfortably handle the game at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires careful settings management. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, identifies optimal configurations, and contextualizes the hardware within its performance class.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a consistent hierarchy across all three resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system starts strong: Low settings produce an average of 140 FPS, Medium drops to 99 FPS, High maintains 88 FPS, and Ultra settles at 77 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, but even the most demanding preset remains well above playable thresholds. Notably, the Medium preset provides a min FPS of 84 and a max of 114, indicating tight frame pacing.

Moving to 2560x1440, the same pattern emerges but with lower absolute numbers. Low settings deliver 106 FPS average, Medium drops to 75 FPS (with a min of 64 and max of 86), High achieves 67 FPS, and Ultra falls to 58 FPS. The data shows that the transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 24-32% of average FPS depending on the preset, with High being the most affected. The Ultra preset at this resolution dips below the 60 FPS threshold, which is a critical data point for gamers seeking maximum visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the performance envelope narrows considerably. Low settings produce 71 FPS average, which is the only preset to clear 60 FPS at this resolution. Medium manages 51 FPS (with a min of 43 and max of 58), High drops to 45 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 39 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep: High loses 22 FPS, Medium loses 24 FPS, and Low loses 35 FPS. This suggests the RTX 4060's memory bandwidth and pixel throughput become limiting factors at 4K, particularly as settings increase.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data. The measured variance at 1080p (84-114) and 1440p (64-86) shows a consistent ~30 FPS range, while 4K shows a narrower 15 FPS range (43-58). This indicates that at higher resolutions, the system is more consistently bottlenecked, producing steadier but lower frame rates.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the only playable option is Low settings, which achieves an average of 71 FPS. This is a significant compromise, as it means sacrificing most visual features to maintain smooth gameplay. The data shows a stark cliff: Medium drops to 51 FPS, which is 20 FPS below the 60 FPS threshold. There is no middle ground at 4K — either accept Low or lower the resolution.

At 2560x1440, High settings is the best playable preset, delivering 67 FPS average. This is a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, and it allows for substantially better visual quality than Low or Medium. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is just below the threshold, so players wanting maximum settings would need to accept occasional frame drops. The Medium preset at 75 FPS is also viable but offers diminishing returns over High.

For 1920x1080, Ultra settings is the clear winner, producing 77 FPS average. This is the only resolution where the system can run the game at maximum visual quality while maintaining a comfortable frame rate. Even with Ultra settings, there is headroom above the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting the CPU and GPU combination is well-balanced at this resolution. The Low preset at 140 FPS is available for high-refresh-rate displays, but the data supports Ultra as the recommended configuration.

CPU and GPU Roles

Analyzing the scaling between resolutions reveals which component dominates performance. At 1080p, the system shows strong scaling from Low (140 FPS) to Ultra (77 FPS), a 45% drop. This wide spread indicates the GPU is the primary driver, as the CPU (Intel Core Ultra 5 225) has sufficient headroom at lower resolutions to let the RTX 4060 work at full capacity. The Core Ultra 5 225's benchmark scores — including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4412 — suggest it is not a limiting factor at 1080p.

At 1440p, the scaling narrows: Low (106 FPS) to Ultra (58 FPS) is a 45% drop, similar to 1080p. However, the absolute numbers are lower, indicating the GPU is starting to become more constrained. The RTX 4060's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely contributors to this constraint, as higher resolutions demand more memory throughput.

At 4K, the scaling pattern changes dramatically. Low (71 FPS) to Ultra (39 FPS) is a 45% drop, but the absolute values are much lower. The fact that even Low settings barely clear 60 FPS suggests the GPU is heavily saturated. The CPU's role diminishes at this resolution, as the RTX 4060's 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 118.1 GPixel/s pixel rate become the bottleneck. The data implies that upgrading the GPU would yield larger gains at 4K than upgrading the CPU.

The comparison between presets reinforces this analysis. At 1080p, going from Low to Medium costs 41 FPS, while at 1440p it costs 31 FPS, and at 4K it costs 20 FPS. This narrowing delta indicates that as resolution increases, the GPU has less headroom to absorb settings changes, making it the dominant performance factor.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU provide context for how this processor compares. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has an average benchmark score of 36945, which is essentially identical to the Core Ultra 5 225's 36938 (0% delta). The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37018 (-0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112 (-0.5%). These tiny deltas mean any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control, assuming the GPU remains the same. The Core Ultra 5 225's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a strong performer, but its rivals are equally matched.

For the GPU, the situation is more nuanced. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666 (-0.2% delta), the AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588 (+0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scores 17551 (+0.5%), and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 scores 17509 (+0.7%). These are all within 1% of the RTX 4060's 17639 average score. However, the RTX 4060's 61st percentile ranking among all GPUs tells a different story — it is a mid-range GPU, and its rivals here are either older or integrated solutions. In practice, swapping to one of these alternatives would produce similar FPS in Control, but they may lack features like DLSS or ray tracing that the RTX 4060 supports via its 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores.

The combination's rank of 2008 out of 3720 tested combos (roughly the 54th percentile) suggests that while this pairing is competent, it is not exceptional. Many other CPU-GPU combinations would outperform it, particularly those with higher-end GPUs.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Control, but the experience varies significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS on all presets, including Ultra at 77 FPS average. This is the ideal resolution for this combo, offering maximum visual quality with smooth performance. At 2560x1440, High settings at 67 FPS is the best option, with Ultra falling just short at 58 FPS. The data shows this resolution is playable with minor settings compromises.

At 3840x2160, the system only clears 60 FPS on Low settings (71 FPS). Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the threshold, with Ultra bottoming out at 39 FPS. For 4K gaming, this combination requires significant visual compromises, and players would need to decide between resolution and quality. The verdict by resolution is clear: 1080p Ultra is the sweet spot, 1440p High is viable, and 4K is limited to Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

Among the 3720 tested combinations in the database, this CPU-GPU pairing ranks 2008th. This places it in the lower-middle tier of tested systems, which is consistent with the RTX 4060's mid-range positioning. The CPU's strong performance (85th percentile) is offset by the GPU's more modest standing (61st percentile). The ranking suggests that while this system is fully capable of running Control at 1080p and 1440p, it is not a top-tier performer. Gamers seeking higher frame rates at 4K or maximum settings would need to consider a more powerful GPU. The ranking also implies that the CPU has headroom — upgrading the GPU alone would likely improve the combo's standing more than upgrading the CPU.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is optimal, with Ultra settings achieving 77 FPS average. This is the only resolution where all presets clear the 60 FPS threshold.

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K?*

A: Yes, but only on Low settings, which produces 71 FPS average. Medium (51 FPS), High (45 FPS), and Ultra (39 FPS) all fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 is within 1% of the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666), Radeon 780M (17588), Radeon Pro 560 (17551), and Radeon Pro 460 (17509). This means similar frame rates in Control.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. The CPU's benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core 25891, PassMark single-thread 4412) and its 85th percentile ranking suggest it has sufficient headroom at 1080p, where the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: What settings should I use for 1440p gaming?

A: High settings at 67 FPS is the best playable option. Ultra runs at 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, while Medium (75 FPS) and Low (106 FPS) are also viable.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: It ranks 2008th out of 3720 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This reflects the GPU's mid-range position despite the CPU's strong performance.