Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a decisive performance outcome for Control: this combination is fully capable of running the game at maximum settings in both 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires a slight compromise to High settings to maintain a smooth experience. Benchmark data shows the combo achieving 106 FPS on Ultra at 1920x1080 and 80 FPS on Ultra at 2560x1440, confirming that the system has substantial headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors at those resolutions. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset drops to 54 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, but the High preset recovers to 62 FPS, making it the optimal choice for 4K gaming.

Best Settings per Resolution

1920x1080: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 106 FPS. This is the maximum quality setting available, and the system still delivers a frame rate nearly double the playable threshold. The data shows no reason to reduce settings at this resolution, as even the most graphically intensive mode remains comfortably playable.

2560x1440: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 80 FPS. This result indicates that the RTX 4070 has enough performance headroom at 1440p to run Control at its highest visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. The 20 FPS margin above the 60 FPS threshold provides a buffer for demanding scenes, though the minimum recorded FPS at Medium settings (88 FPS) suggests that Ultra likely maintains similar stability.

3840x2160: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, with an average of 62 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution drops to 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Medium preset offers 70 FPS, but High is the superior choice because it provides better visual quality while still clearing the 60 FPS bar. The difference between Medium and High is only 8 FPS, making High the clear recommendation for 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K with maximum settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system achieves an average of 54 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset at 4K delivers 62 FPS, making it the highest playable setting at that resolution.

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

A: The benchmark data shows an average of 80 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings. This comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, leaving a 20 FPS margin for demanding in-game moments.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 sufficient for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the system averages 106 FPS. Lower settings push this much higher, with Low settings reaching 193 FPS and Medium achieving 137 FPS, making the combo suitable for 144Hz displays at maximum quality.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K Medium settings compared to High?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 averages 70 FPS, while High averages 62 FPS. Both are above the 60 FPS threshold, but High offers better visual quality for only an 8 FPS cost, making it the preferred option.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded across all tested configurations?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 59 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. This is just 1 FPS below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that even the most demanding playable configuration rarely dips below playable levels.

Q: Does the system maintain consistent frame times at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 104, with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 119 FPS. The 31 FPS spread between minimum and maximum suggests generally consistent performance, with the minimum remaining well above the 60 FPS threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 904th out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the top quarter of all systems evaluated. This percentile position reflects the balance between the CPU's strong single-threaded performance and the GPU's high overall throughput. The CPU achieves an 85th percentile ranking among all processors, while the GPU sits at an 81st percentile among all graphics cards, indicating that neither component is a significant bottleneck for this title. The rank of 904 suggests that while many higher-end systems exist, this combo places comfortably ahead of the majority of tested configurations, with the measured frame rates at 1080p and 1440p confirming its capability for high-quality gameplay.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Benchmark data from the CPU's nearest rivals shows that several processors deliver nearly identical average scores, meaning systems built with these CPUs would likely produce comparable frame rates in Control. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has an average score of 36945, which is exactly 0% different from the Core Ultra 5 225's 36938 average. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37018, a 0.2% difference, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093, a 0.4% difference. The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112, showing a 0.5% difference. These four processors are effectively interchangeable in terms of overall benchmark performance, so swapping any of them into this system would yield nearly identical frame rates in Control.

On the GPU side, the nearest rivals to the RTX 4070 show similar performance characteristics. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 has an average score of 37628, just 0.1% higher than the RTX 4070's 37648. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37507, a 0.4% difference, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, showing a 1.3% difference in the opposite direction. The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37157, a 1.3% difference. These alternatives would deliver nearly identical performance in Control, meaning systems configured with these GPUs alongside the Core Ultra 5 225 would likely match the frame rates documented in this analysis.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080: The benchmark results at this resolution show a clear scaling pattern across settings. At Low settings, the system achieves an average of 193 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 137 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. High settings produce an average of 122 FPS, while Ultra settings still deliver a robust 106 FPS. All configurations at 1080p remain far above the 60 FPS threshold, with even the most demanding setting providing more than 75% headroom over the playable minimum.

2560x1440: At 1440p, the system continues to perform strongly. Low settings average 146 FPS, while Medium settings average 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 119 FPS. High settings produce an average of 92 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 80 FPS. The minimum recorded FPS at Medium (88 FPS) is still nearly 50% above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the system handles 1440p with considerable margin across all quality levels.

3840x2160: The 4K results reveal the system's limits. Low settings average 98 FPS, which is highly playable. Medium settings average 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. High settings average 62 FPS, barely clearing the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings drop to 54 FPS, falling below playable levels. The spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 44 FPS, demonstrating that resolution scaling has a significant impact on this configuration's performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly indicates that this system can run Control with excellent performance at most resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the verdict is fully playable at Ultra settings with 106 FPS, and all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) exceed the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the system is also fully playable at Ultra settings with 80 FPS, with all presets maintaining frame rates well above 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the verdict is playable at High, Low, and Medium settings, with High being the best choice at 62 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is not playable, averaging 54 FPS.

For users prioritizing maximum visual quality, the optimal experience is at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, which delivers 80 FPS and combines high fidelity with smooth gameplay. For 4K users, the High preset at 62 FPS is the recommended choice, offering a balance of quality and performance. The data shows no configuration below 60 FPS except for 4K Ultra, meaning the vast majority of gaming scenarios will result in a smooth, responsive experience. This system is well-suited for Control, with the only compromise occurring at the highest resolution with maximum settings.