Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance in Control, far exceeding the 60 FPS playability threshold at every tested resolution and preset combination. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's strong single-threaded performance ensures high frame rates even at 1080p. This combination ranks in the top 2% of all tested configurations, positioning it as a top-tier performer for this title.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160 (4K), the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 78 FPS. This is a significant margin above the playability threshold, indicating the RTX 5090 has substantial headroom even at maximum graphical fidelity. The High preset runs at 90 FPS, while Medium hits 101 FPS, and Low reaches 142 FPS, but Ultra is the recommended choice for maximizing visual quality without sacrificing smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the best settings are also Ultra, delivering an average of 116 FPS. This represents a 48.7% performance increase over the 4K Ultra result, showing how resolution scaling dramatically benefits this configuration. The High preset at this resolution produces 133 FPS, Medium hits 150 FPS, and Low reaches 211 FPS, but Ultra remains the optimal balance for a high-refresh-rate experience.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the best settings are again Ultra, with an average of 153 FPS. This is more than double the 60 FPS threshold, making the game exceptionally fluid. The High preset runs at 176 FPS, Medium at 198 FPS, and Low at 279 FPS. The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU becomes a more significant factor, as the frame rate ceiling is approached regardless of preset, but Ultra still provides the full visual experience without compromise.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a clear division of labor between the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, with the GPU dominating at higher resolutions. Moving from 1080p Ultra (153 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (116 FPS) represents a 24.2% performance drop, and from 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (78 FPS) a further 32.8% drop. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load increases disproportionately with pixel count.

At 1080p, the performance gap between presets narrows considerably. The difference between Low (279 FPS) and Ultra (153 FPS) is 82.4%, whereas at 4K the same preset gap (142 FPS vs 78 FPS) is also 82.1%, but the absolute values are much lower. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU's 10 cores and 10 threads, with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, are capable of feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them at lower settings, but at Ultra settings the GPU still becomes the limiting factor.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent when examining the minimum FPS data available for Medium settings. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 86 FPS, which is 14.8% below the average of 101 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 127 FPS, 15.3% below the average of 150 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 168 FPS, 15.2% below the average of 198 FPS. This consistent variance indicates that frame pacing is stable across resolutions, with no evidence of CPU bottlenecking causing severe dips. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 4412 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655 support its capability to handle the game's logic without becoming a constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination ranks 72nd out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 1.9% of all configurations. This exceptional ranking is driven primarily by the GPU's immense raw power, as evidenced by its PassMark G3D score of 39650, which places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36938, ensures it does not hold back the GPU.

The ranking implies that only 71 other combinations in the database perform better in this specific game. Given the RTX 5090's position as the flagship Blackwell GPU, the combinations ahead of it likely feature even higher-end CPUs, though the performance difference in Control would be marginal at 4K where the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p, a faster CPU could theoretically push frame rates higher than the 153 FPS Ultra result, but the practical difference would be minimal for most users targeting high refresh rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with all settings maxed out?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combination achieves an average of 78 FPS, which is 30% above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 116 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that comfortably clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: At Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops from 153 FPS at 1920x1080 to 78 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 49% reduction in performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU remains the primary bottleneck even at 1920x1080, as the frame rate scales significantly with preset changes. However, the CPU's single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3655) is sufficient to avoid major bottlenecks.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for Medium settings across resolutions?

A: At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum is 86 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 127 FPS. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 168 FPS.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems in the database?

A: It ranks 72nd out of 3720 combinations, placing it in the top 1.9% of all tested configurations for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5090 delivers increasingly higher frame rates as settings are lowered. Ultra settings produce an average of 78 FPS. High settings increase this to 90 FPS. Medium settings achieve 101 FPS, with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS. Low settings yield the highest average at 142 FPS. All presets exceed the 60 FPS threshold by a substantial margin.

At 2560x1440, performance scales impressively. Ultra settings average 116 FPS. High settings reach 133 FPS. Medium settings produce 150 FPS, with a minimum of 127 FPS and a maximum of 172 FPS. Low settings achieve 211 FPS. The gap between Ultra and Low is 95 FPS, demonstrating the GPU's ability to handle even the most demanding settings with ease.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high. Ultra settings average 153 FPS. High settings reach 176 FPS. Medium settings produce 198 FPS, with a minimum of 168 FPS and a maximum of 228 FPS. Low settings deliver an outstanding 279 FPS. The minimum FPS at Medium settings is still nearly three times the playability threshold, ensuring a consistently smooth experience.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally shows that the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 can run Control with maximum settings at all tested resolutions. At 3840x2160, Ultra settings maintain an average of 78 FPS, well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings achieve 116 FPS, providing a high-refresh-rate experience. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 153 FPS, making the game exceptionally fluid.

The verdict by resolution confirms that all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at every resolution. The lowest average FPS recorded across all 12 tested configurations is 78 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is still 30% above the playability threshold. This combination is not just capable of running Control; it excels at it, offering headroom for future patches or more demanding titles. The only limitation is the display refresh rate, as the system can push frame rates far beyond what most monitors can display at 1440p and 1080p.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, based on average score, include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with a score of 36945 (0% difference), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D with 37018 (-0.2%), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 with 37093 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core i9-12900T with 37112 (-0.5%). These CPUs would offer nearly identical performance in Control, as the game is not heavily CPU-bound at higher resolutions.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 has an average benchmark score of 79842, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB with a score of 79605 (0.3% higher), the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB with 79396 (0.6% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT with 78940 (1.1% higher), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X with 80959 (-1.4% lower). While these GPUs show similar average benchmark scores, the RTX 5090's specific architecture and driver optimizations for gaming would likely yield better real-world results in Control than these workstation and mobile alternatives.