Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination delivers a wide range of performance in Control, scaling from a demanding 4K experience to a high-refresh-rate 1080p setup. The measured data shows a clear progression: as resolution drops, average frame rates climb substantially, with the most significant gains occurring between 1440p and 1080p. This analysis breaks down the exact frame rates, identifies the best settings for each resolution, and contextualizes the hardware pairing against its nearest rivals.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the system’s performance is heavily dependent on the preset. On Low settings, the average frame rate is 81 FPS, which is the only 4K preset that clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings drop the average to 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS, indicating noticeable dips below the target. High settings yield an average of 51 FPS, while Ultra is the most demanding, producing an average of 44 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 37 FPS, showing that the preset choice has a massive impact on playability.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance headroom expands considerably. Low settings produce an average of 120 FPS, which is a 39 FPS increase over the 4K Low result. Medium settings average 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 FPS and a maximum of 98 FPS. High settings follow at 76 FPS average, and Ultra settings maintain an average of 66 FPS. All four presets at 1440p stay above the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra being the only one that comes close to the line. The spread from Low to Ultra at this resolution is 54 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the combination shows its strongest performance. Low settings reach an average of 158 FPS, which is the highest recorded in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 112 FPS, with a minimum of 96 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS. High settings average 100 FPS, and Ultra settings average 87 FPS. Every preset at 1080p is far above the 60 FPS threshold, with even the most demanding Ultra preset providing a comfortable margin. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 71 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU has ample headroom at this resolution.

The minimum and maximum frame rates are only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 4K Medium, the 49 FPS minimum shows that the system can drop below the playable threshold even when the average is close to it. At 1440p Medium, the 72 FPS minimum ensures a consistent experience above 60 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the 96 FPS minimum is robust, indicating that frame pacing is unlikely to cause noticeable stutters.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, which achieves an average of 81 FPS. The data shows that Medium, High, and Ultra all fall short of the playable threshold, so Low is the only viable option for a smooth 4K experience. This setting provides a significant performance buffer over the 60 FPS line, making it the clear choice for 4K gameplay.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, but the best settings are Ultra, which averages 66 FPS. This is a notable result because it means the system can run the game at its highest visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate above the 60 FPS target. The 66 FPS average leaves little room for drops, but it is technically the best playable preset. For users who prioritize a larger performance cushion, High at 76 FPS or Medium at 85 FPS are safer alternatives.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 87 FPS. This is a more comfortable margin over the 60 FPS threshold than the 1440p Ultra result. The system can handle the highest preset at 1080p without any concerns about dropping below the playable line. The data indicates that 1080p Ultra is the optimal balance of visual fidelity and performance for this hardware combination.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals that the GPU is the primary performance driver in Control for this system. At 4K, the average frame rate drops from 81 FPS on Low to 44 FPS on Ultra, a 45.7% reduction. At 1440p, the same preset change goes from 120 FPS to 66 FPS, a 45% reduction. At 1080p, the drop is from 158 FPS to 87 FPS, a 44.9% reduction. The consistent percentage decline across all resolutions indicates that the GPU’s workload scales uniformly with preset quality, and the CPU is not introducing a bottleneck at any setting.

The resolution scaling further confirms the GPU’s dominance. When moving from 1080p to 1440p on the same preset, the average frame rate drops by 20 FPS on Low (158 to 120), 27 FPS on Medium (112 to 85), 24 FPS on High (100 to 76), and 21 FPS on Ultra (87 to 66). The drop from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced: 39 FPS on Low (120 to 81), 28 FPS on Medium (85 to 57), 25 FPS on High (76 to 51), and 22 FPS on Ultra (66 to 44). These reductions are consistent with the GPU being the limiting factor, as the pixel count increases faster than the frame rate drops, which is typical for a graphics-bound scenario.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245, with 14 cores and 14 threads, provides sufficient processing power to keep up with the RTX 3070 at all tested resolutions. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648, indicate a strong processor that is unlikely to hold back the GPU in a game like Control. The lack of any resolution where the frame rate plateaus suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as a CPU bottleneck would typically show similar frame rates across different resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU’s nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G has an average benchmark score of 49196, which is 0.4% lower than the Core Ultra 5 245’s score. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is also close, with a score of 49228, just 0.5% lower. On the other side, the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H scores 48698, which is 0.6% higher, and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618, which is 0.8% higher. These differences are minimal, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Control when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which has an average score of 17083, just 0.7% lower than the RTX 3070’s score. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, which is 1% lower, and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17019, which is 1.1% lower. The NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, which is 1.5% higher. These deltas are all under 2%, so a system with any of these GPUs would produce frame rates very close to those measured here. For example, a build with the Core Ultra 5 245 and an RX 7600 XT would likely see 4K Low performance within a frame or two of the 81 FPS average recorded for the RTX 3070.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control, but the playable experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution. At 3840x2160, the system is limited to Low settings, which achieves an average of 81 FPS. This is the only 4K preset that clears the 60 FPS threshold, so users must accept reduced visual quality to play at this resolution. The data shows that Medium, High, and Ultra at 4K all fall below 60 FPS, making them unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the system can run the game at Ultra settings with an average of 66 FPS, which is above the playable threshold. This is a strong result, as it allows for the highest visual fidelity at 1440p. All other presets also exceed 60 FPS, with Low at 120 FPS, Medium at 85 FPS, and High at 76 FPS. This resolution offers the best balance of quality and performance for this hardware.

At 1920x1080, the system excels, running Ultra settings at an average of 87 FPS. Every preset is well above the 60 FPS threshold, with Low reaching 158 FPS. This resolution is where the combination truly shines, providing a high-refresh-rate experience without any compromises. The verdict is clear: 1080p and 1440p are fully playable at the highest settings, while 4K requires dropping to Low settings to maintain playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1607 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, though not in the top tier. The rank reflects the balance of a strong mid-range CPU and a capable GPU that can handle 1440p and 1080p gaming with ease, but struggles at 4K with high presets. The percentile of 90 for the CPU and 61 for the GPU indicates that the processor is a stronger component relative to its peers than the graphics card, which is consistent with the GPU-bound behavior observed in the frame rate data.

The fact that this combo sits at the 43rd percentile of all tested combos suggests that there are many systems with better overall performance, likely featuring higher-end GPUs or more recent hardware. However, the measured frame rates show that this specific pairing is well-suited for 1440p and 1080p gaming, which is a common target for many users. The rank should be interpreted as a relative measure of raw performance, not an indicator of playability, which is clearly established by the measured FPS data.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only on Low settings, which achieves an average of 81 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra settings at 3840x2160 all fall below the 60 FPS playable threshold, with averages of 57, 51, and 44 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The best preset at 2560x1440 is Ultra, which averages 66 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the highest quality playable option. For more headroom, High averages 76 FPS and Medium averages 85 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, while the RX 7600 XT scores 17083, which is 0.7% lower. This means the two GPUs would perform nearly identically in Control, with frame rates within a few FPS of each other.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary factor. The frame rate drops consistently by about 45% when moving from Low to Ultra presets across all resolutions, and the frame rate scales inversely with pixel count, which are both signs of GPU-bound performance.

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

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the average frame rate is 100 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold, providing a smooth experience. Ultra settings at 1080p still average 87 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 1607 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, with the CPU ranking in the 90th percentile and the GPU in the 61st percentile relative to their respective peers.