Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an extreme combination for a game like Control, a 2019 Action Adventure title. The benchmark data shows this system delivers playable frame rates at every tested resolution and preset, with performance scaling predictably as resolution and graphical demands increase. The data indicates a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the CPU's role becoming more apparent only at 1080p. This analysis walks through the measured performance, component roles, and how this specific combo ranks against other tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset I can use at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160 resolution, the Ultra preset is playable, with an average frame rate of 76 FPS. The verdict by resolution confirms that all four tested presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 172 FPS at 1920x1080 to 88 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a significant performance reduction of approximately 49% when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. For instance, at 4K Medium settings the average is 99 FPS, which is lower than the 130 FPS seen at 1440p High. The CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p, where frame rates are extremely high, exceeding 270 FPS on Low settings.

Q: Can this PC run Control at a steady 60 FPS?

A: Yes, the data indicates the combination clears the 60 FPS playability threshold at every tested resolution (1080p, 1440p, and 4K) and every preset, from Low to Ultra. The most demanding preset tested, Ultra at 4K, still yields an average of 76 FPS.

Q: Is there a significant difference between Medium and High presets?

A: The performance difference varies by resolution. At 4K, the average FPS drops from 99 on Medium to 88 on High, a about 11% decrease. At 1080p, the drop is from 194 FPS on Medium to 172 on High, which is a slightly smaller relative decrease of around 11.3%.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates recorded for this system?

A: The measured FPS data includes minimum and maximum values only for Medium settings at each resolution. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 84 FPS; at 1440p Medium, the minimum is 124 FPS; and at 1080p Medium, the minimum is 165 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

Examining the scaling between 1920x1080 and 3840x2160 reveals a system where the GPU is the dominant bottleneck in most scenarios. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 272 FPS at 1080p to 139 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 133 FPS. This indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at very high frame rates at the lower resolution, but the GPU becomes saturated as the pixel count increases.

The gap narrows with higher graphical presets, which are more demanding on the GPU. At Ultra settings, the frame rate goes from 149 FPS at 1080p to 76 FPS at 4K. This is a drop of 73 FPS, but the percentage drop is similar, highlighting that the GPU workload is the primary factor. The CPU's role appears more pronounced at 1080p, where the frame rates are nearly double those at 4K, indicating that the GPU is not the sole limiter there, but the processor is also working to keep up with the frames.

At 1440p, the performance sits between the two extremes, with averages of 206 FPS on Low and 113 FPS on Ultra. This confirms that the GPU's rendering load scales linearly with the number of pixels, and that the system is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate gaming at this resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080: The lowest tested resolution shows the system's maximum potential. At Low settings, the average FPS is 272. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 194 FPS, with a minimum of 165 FPS and a maximum of 223 FPS. High settings produce an average of 172 FPS, while the Ultra preset still delivers a robust 149 FPS average. The system is clearly far above the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p.

2560x1440: Performance at 1440p remains exceptionally high. Low settings reach an average of 206 FPS. The Medium preset yields 146 FPS average, with a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 168 FPS. High settings result in a 130 FPS average, and Ultra settings stay well above the playable threshold at 113 FPS.

3840x2160: Even at 4K, the system handles Control with ease. Low settings average 139 FPS. Medium settings (with the only complete frame time data set) average 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 and a maximum of 114 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 88 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 76 FPS. All presets clear the 60 FPS mark, confirming a fully playable experience at 4K.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control extremely well. The data shows that the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a "playable" verdict at every resolution for every preset tested. The verdict by resolution confirms that all settings — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable at 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160.

The most demanding scenario is 4K Ultra, which still achieves an average of 76 FPS, comfortably clear of the 60 FPS threshold. For users targeting a 60 FPS experience, this system offers headroom at every resolution. The data indicates that the system is not only capable of running the game but is designed to handle it at the highest graphical fidelity without compromise.

How This Combo Ranks

In a database of 3,720 tested combinations, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks at position 121 for Control. This places the combination in the top percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a high-performing setup. The data suggests that while there are 120 other combinations that deliver higher average frame rates in this game, the majority of tested hardware falls below this configuration's performance.

This high rank is consistent with the measured FPS numbers, which show the system exceeding 60 FPS at 4K Ultra. The GPU's high performance, reflected in its 88th percentile rank among all GPUs, is the main driver of this result. The CPU, which ranks in the 89th percentile, is still a strong performer, but the FPS data shows that the RTX 4090 is the component that ensures the high frame rates are achieved.

Best Settings per Resolution

For the best visual quality while staying at or above the 60 FPS playability threshold, the data points to the highest preset available.

At 1920x1080, the system can handle the Ultra preset with an average of 149 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the highest playable preset is also Ultra, with an average of 113 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset remains the best choice, achieving an average of 76 FPS.

These settings all provide a significant margin over the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring a smooth experience even in demanding scenes.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU, other components would provide a similar experience in this game.

For the processor, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the closest match, with an average benchmark score within 0.1% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235. The Intel Core i9-13900HX is also nearly identical, with a score 0.1% lower. The AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303 are also within 0.2% of the CPU's score. These processors would deliver effectively identical CPU-bound performance in Control, meaning the GPU would still be the primary bottleneck.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score that is exactly the same (0% delta) as the RTX 4090. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is slightly higher, with a delta of 0.3%, while the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% faster. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% slower. Swapping the RTX 4090 for any of these cards would result in minimal performance changes in this game, keeping the frame rates well above the 60 FPS threshold at all tested resolutions.