Control

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for Control on this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and Intel Arc B390 shows a clear performance ceiling across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the benchmark results indicate that only the Low preset achieves a playable average frame rate, hitting 65 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution delivers an average of 46 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. High settings at 1080p produce an average of 41 FPS, while the Ultra preset falls to 36 FPS on average.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers drop noticeably across the board. Low settings produce an average of 50 FPS, which falls short of the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings at this resolution average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. High settings average 31 FPS, and Ultra settings yield only 27 FPS on average. The data shows a consistent scaling pattern where each step up in quality costs a significant portion of the frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal for smooth gameplay. Low settings average 33 FPS, Medium settings average 24 FPS with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS, High settings drop to 21 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 18 FPS. None of the 4K configurations approach the 60 FPS threshold, and even the best case at Low settings remains less than half of what would be considered playable. The frame time consistency at 4K also appears poor, as the gap between the Medium preset's minimum and maximum is only 7 FPS, suggesting the renderer is heavily constrained.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's measured results for Control, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 3311 out of 3720 tested combinations. That places the combo in the bottom 11 percent of all tested systems, which is consistent with the frame rate data showing sub-60 FPS performance at most settings. The rank reflects that while the CPU is a modern desktop processor with strong compute capability, the integrated graphics solution is the limiting factor for this game.

The percentile standing for the GPU component reinforces this picture. The Arc B390 sits at the 9th percentile among all GPUs in the database, meaning roughly 91 percent of tested graphics solutions perform better. The CPU, by contrast, ranks at the 90th percentile among all processors, which highlights the massive imbalance in this pairing. For Control, a game that relies heavily on GPU throughput for its visual effects and physics-based rendering, the CPU's strength cannot compensate for the GPU's limited output.

When considering the combo rank in context, the data shows that most other tested combinations deliver better results in this title. The 3720-combo pool includes systems with discrete graphics cards, and the integrated nature of the Arc B390 places this setup at a distinct disadvantage. The ranking is not a judgment on the CPU, which performs admirably in compute workloads, but rather a reflection of the total system's gaming capability.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Arc B390 in the database are all older NVIDIA discrete GPUs, and the performance deltas are narrow. The GeForce GT 520MX scores 1463 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which is 1.3 percent behind the Arc B390's 1482. The GeForce 800M scores 1460, a 1.5 percent difference. The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, 2.5 percent lower, and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, 2.7 percent lower. These figures suggest that in pure GPU compute terms, the Arc B390 is closely matched with these older entry-level parts, and gaming performance in Control would likely be similar, though the database only records measured FPS for the Arc B390 itself.

On the CPU side, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has close rivals that would not change the gaming outcome for this title. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G has an average benchmark score of 49196, which is 0.4 percent lower than the Core Ultra 5 245's 48995. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, 0.5 percent higher. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H scores 48698, 0.6 percent lower, and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618, 0.8 percent lower. None of these CPUs would materially alter the frame rates in Control because the bottleneck is the GPU. Swapping the processor for any of these near-equivalents would keep the system in the same performance class.

For users seeking similar gameplay behavior, the practical takeaway is that any system with a GPU in this performance tier, including the GT 710 or GT 520MX class of parts, would deliver comparable results in Control. The CPU choice matters little at these frame rates, since the renderer is clearly GPU-bound in almost every scenario.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? Based on the verdictByResolution data, the answer is conditional on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold only on the Low preset, where it averages 65 FPS. This is the sole configuration in the entire measured dataset that achieves playable performance. The best settings at 1080p are therefore Low, with an average of 65 FPS. No other setting at 1080p reaches 60 FPS, and the Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below the playable line.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is clear: no settings are playable. The best case is Low at 50 FPS average, which is 10 FPS short of the threshold. The data shows no playable settings at this resolution, and the best settings field is empty, indicating that even the lowest quality preset cannot sustain 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the situation is worse. Low settings average 33 FPS, and Ultra drops to 18 FPS. Again, no playable settings exist at 4K.

The practical verdict is that this combo can run Control at 1080p with Low settings for a smooth experience, but anything higher in resolution or quality will result in frame rates below 60 FPS. For users with a 1440p or 4K display, the system will not meet the playable threshold under any tested configuration. The game is technically playable at lower frame rates, but the recorded averages suggest a compromised experience outside of the single 1080p Low configuration.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a pronounced GPU-bound scenario for Control at all tested resolutions and presets. The Intel Arc B390's integrated nature, with a TDP of 80 W and system-shared memory, means its performance is the primary constraint. The CPU, a 14-core Arrow Lake part with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, provides ample compute headroom, as evidenced by its 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs. However, this headroom goes unused in gaming scenarios where the GPU cannot keep up.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this analysis. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 65 at 1080p to 50 at 1440p, a 23 percent reduction, and then to 33 at 4K, a 34 percent further reduction. This steep decline with resolution is typical of a GPU-limited workload, where increasing pixel count directly stresses the renderer. At Medium settings, the averages are 46, 35, and 24 FPS from 1080p to 4K, showing a similar proportional drop. The CPU's role in this game is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data, but at these low frame rates, the processor is never the limiting factor.

The settings scaling also points to GPU dominance. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces the average from 65 to 36 FPS, a 45 percent drop. At 1440p, the same settings change drops from 50 to 27 FPS, a 46 percent reduction. At 4K, Low to Ultra goes from 33 to 18 FPS, a 45 percent decline. This consistent percentage loss across resolutions indicates that the GPU's shading and fill-rate capabilities are the bottleneck, not the CPU's ability to process game logic. For this title, upgrading the GPU would yield substantial gains, while a faster CPU would produce negligible improvement.

FAQ

Q: What is the best performance this combo can achieve in Control?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 65 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that meets or exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Can this system run Control at 1440p?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the best average is 50 FPS on Low settings, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. All other presets at this resolution are lower.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3 percent higher than the GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5 percent higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5 percent higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7 percent higher than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks at the 90th percentile among all processors, while the GPU sits at the 9th percentile. Frame rates drop consistently with resolution and settings, indicating GPU-bound performance.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The recorded average is 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 53 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Does the system support modern graphics APIs for Control?

A: Yes. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which covers the requirements for Control's rendering paths.