Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is an exceptionally capable combination for Control, clearing the 60 FPS threshold at every preset and resolution tested. The data shows this system delivers a flawless experience, with the only question being how much headroom you want above the baseline. At 4K Ultra, the combo still produces 72 FPS average, meaning even the most demanding settings are comfortably playable, while lower resolutions push frame rates well past 140 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers outstanding performance across all settings. Low settings produce a 255 FPS average, which is a massive figure that indicates the CPU and GPU are nowhere near their limits. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 181 FPS, with a minimum of 154 FPS and a maximum of 209 FPS. High settings yield 161 FPS average, while Ultra still maintains a robust 140 FPS average. The gap between Low and Ultra is 115 FPS, showing that the visual settings have a significant impact, but even the most demanding preset leaves enormous headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains exceptional. Low settings produce 193 FPS average, while Medium delivers 137 FPS with a minimum of 117 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS. High settings drop to 122 FPS average, and Ultra maintains a solid 106 FPS average. The step from Medium to High costs 15 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra costs another 16 FPS. The minimum frame rate at Medium is 117 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, indicating consistent frame pacing without significant dips.

At 3840x2160, the system still performs admirably, though the frame rates naturally decrease. Low settings produce 130 FPS average, while Medium delivers 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. High settings drop to 82 FPS average, and Ultra maintains a playable 72 FPS average. The variance between settings is more pronounced at 4K: the difference between Low and Ultra is 58 FPS. The minimum frame rate at Medium is 79 FPS, which is still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that even in demanding scenes, the system avoids noticeable stutter.

The data reveals a consistent scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p, the system is heavily GPU-bound at lower settings but becomes more balanced as settings increase. At 1440p, the performance scales predictably with settings, and at 4K, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, though it never falls below the playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, which maintains an average of 140 FPS. This is the most demanding preset available, and it still delivers more than double the 60 FPS playable threshold. There is no reason to compromise on visual quality at this resolution, as even the highest settings provide a buttery-smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 106 FPS. This represents the highest visual fidelity preset while still maintaining a frame rate well above the playable threshold. The 106 FPS average provides enough headroom for most high-refresh-rate displays, and the minimum frame rate at Medium settings was 117 FPS, suggesting that Ultra likely stays above 90 FPS in most scenes.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 72 FPS. This is the most demanding configuration tested, and it still clears the 60 FPS threshold by a 12 FPS margin. The data shows that this system can run Control at maximum settings in 4K without any compromises, which is a remarkable achievement for a game released in 2019. The 72 FPS average provides a comfortable buffer above the playable threshold, ensuring that most scenes remain fluid.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU benchmarks place the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36938. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores 36945, representing a 0% delta. This means the two processors perform virtually identically in synthetic benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37018, which is 0.2% higher, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093, 0.4% higher. The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112, 0.5% higher. These deltas are negligible in real-world gaming, so any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control.

The GPU benchmarks place the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 at the 87th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 56083. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon 8060S, which scores 55757, representing a 0.6% delta in favor of the RTX 5080. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698, which is 0.7% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, 2.3% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 57367, which is 2.2% higher than the RTX 5080. These small deltas mean that swapping to any of these GPUs would result in nearly identical performance in Control, with the RX 9070 GRE offering a slight edge and the Pro W5700X trailing by a small margin.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that this PC can run Control at 60 FPS or higher at every resolution and preset combination tested. At 1920x1080, the verdict is that all settings are playable, with the best settings being Ultra at 140 FPS average. At 2560x1440, all settings are also playable, with Ultra delivering 106 FPS average. At 3840x2160, the same conclusion applies: all settings are playable, with Ultra maintaining 72 FPS average.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination never dips below the 60 FPS threshold in any tested configuration. The lowest recorded average was 72 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is still 12 FPS above the playable threshold. The data shows that this system is not just playable but exceptionally smooth, with even the most demanding settings at the highest resolution providing a comfortable margin. For gamers who prioritize visual fidelity, the 4K Ultra preset is the recommended choice, as it delivers 72 FPS without sacrificing any graphical features.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 72 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves?

A: The highest average FPS is 255, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 compare to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 36938 in average benchmarks, which is essentially identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36945, a 0% delta.

Q: Is the RTX 5080 significantly faster than the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE?

A: No, the RTX 5080 scores 56083, while the RX 9070 GRE scores 57367, which is 2.2% higher, meaning the AMD card is slightly faster in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: Does the frame rate drop below 60 FPS in any tested scenario?

A: No, the lowest average FPS recorded across all resolutions and settings is 72 FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 2560x1440 Medium settings is 117 FPS, with an average of 137 FPS and a maximum of 158 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination ranks 204th out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the top 5.5% of all configurations. This high ranking reflects the system's ability to maintain high frame rates across all resolutions and settings. The 85th percentile CPU and 87th percentile GPU contribute to a balanced pairing that avoids significant bottlenecks. The rank of 204 indicates that most other tested combos are slower, and only a small fraction of systems can outperform this configuration in this specific game. Given that the combo clears 60 FPS at 4K Ultra, the ranking is well-deserved, and users can expect a top-tier experience with no need for settings compromises.