Control

Control is an action-adventure title from 2019 that stresses both the CPU and GPU depending on resolution and settings. With the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, the data shows a system that is firmly playable at 1080p and 1440p across all presets, but one that requires a settings drop at 4K to maintain smooth framerates. The CPU holds a 90th percentile ranking among all tested processors, while the GPU sits at the 72nd percentile, making this a balanced pairing where the graphics card becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. Below is a breakdown of performance, alternatives, and what the measured FPS numbers actually mean for gameplay.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 48, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The only playable 4K preset is Low, which delivers an average of 76 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p for this combo?

A: Ultra is fully playable at 2560x1440, with an average of 62 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that still clears the 60 FPS threshold at this resolution, and it is listed in the playable settings alongside High, Medium, and Low.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995, placing it within 0.8% of the Intel Core i5-14600K (48618) and 0.5% below the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49228). It is essentially tied with these alternatives in overall processing power.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331, which is 1.2% higher than the RX 6750 XT’s 26011. The difference is minor, so the two cards should behave nearly identically in Control.

Q: Is the 8GB VRAM of the RTX 5060 a concern for Control?

A: The measured data does not indicate a VRAM limitation. At 1080p Ultra, the system averages 82 FPS, and at 1440p Ultra it averages 62 FPS. The game runs within playable ranges at all tested presets below 4K, suggesting the memory capacity is adequate for this title.

Q: What is the best 1080p preset for maximum smoothness?

A: Low settings produce the highest average at 149 FPS, but Ultra also clears the threshold comfortably at 82 FPS. For the best visual quality while maintaining high framerates, Ultra is the recommended choice since it remains well above 60 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the system scales from 149 FPS on Low to 82 FPS on Ultra, a drop of 67 FPS. The CPU’s strong single-thread performance—evidenced by its 4648 Cinebench R23 single-core score—keeps the framerate high even at Low settings, where the GPU is less burdened. At 1080p, the RTX 5060 is rarely the limiting factor; the processor’s 14 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock ensure the graphics card can push maximum output.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings drops from 149 to 113, while Ultra falls from 82 to 62. The GPU begins to assert its influence here, but the CPU still provides enough headroom. The RTX 5060’s 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth are sufficient to keep Ultra at 62 FPS, which is exactly at the playable threshold. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 51 FPS, indicating that both components contribute meaningfully to scaling.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. Low settings average 76 FPS, but Medium drops to 54 FPS, High to 48 FPS, and Ultra to 42 FPS. This steep decline—34 FPS from Low to Ultra—shows that the RTX 5060’s 8GB GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus are stretched at 4K. The CPU’s role diminishes; even with its high multi-core score of 32924 in Cinebench R23, it cannot compensate for the GPU’s inability to sustain 60 FPS above Low settings. For this game, the GPU is the decisive component at 4K, while the CPU matters most at 1080p where framerates are highest.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, the nearest rivals in average benchmark score are all within a narrow band. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, which is 0.4% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, 0.5% higher. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is 0.6% lower at 48698, and the Intel Core i5-14600K is 0.8% lower at 48618. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical framerates in Control, since the differences are well under 1%. Gamers upgrading from an i5-14600K would see no meaningful change in CPU-bound scenarios, while those considering a Ryzen 9 7900 could expect the same performance with more cores for other workloads.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5060’s nearest rivals are similarly close. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26401, just 0.3% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26421, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary is 0.8% lower at 26553, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is 1.2% lower at 26011. These deltas are negligible for gaming. A system with an RX 6750 XT would produce average framerates within 1-2 FPS of the RTX 5060 in Control. The RTX 5060 does support newer technologies like DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, but for raw rasterization in this 2019 title, the alternatives would feel identical.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Control, and it does so with room to spare at the two most common gaming resolutions. At 1920x1080, every preset—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—is playable, with Ultra averaging 82 FPS and Low reaching 149 FPS. The verdict data confirms all four settings clear the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the same holds true: High averages 71 FPS, Medium 80 FPS, Low 113 FPS, and Ultra 62 FPS, with all four listed as playable. For 1440p users, Ultra is the best choice, as it delivers exactly 62 FPS average, which is above the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

The situation changes at 3840x2160. Only Low settings are playable, with an average of 76 FPS. Medium drops to 54 FPS, High to 48 FPS, and Ultra to 42 FPS—all below the 60 FPS line. If you own a 4K monitor, you will need to play on Low to get a smooth experience. The best settings at 4K are Low, and the average FPS at that preset is 76. This is not a 4K-capable configuration for Control at high quality, but it is fully capable at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings. The verdict is clear: for the vast majority of players on standard monitors, this is a strong pairing that exceeds the playable threshold at every preset below 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest framerates. Low settings produce an average of 149 FPS. Medium settings average 106 FPS, with a minimum of 90 FPS and a maximum of 122 FPS. High settings average 94 FPS. Ultra settings average 82 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 67 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution; even the most demanding preset stays well above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but scales down noticeably. Low settings average 113 FPS. Medium settings average 80 FPS, with a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 92 FPS. High settings average 71 FPS. Ultra settings average 62 FPS, which is just above the playable mark. The minimum FPS at Medium (68 FPS) indicates that even in demanding scenes, the system does not drop below the threshold, though Ultra’s average leaves less margin for fluctuation.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 76 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. High settings average 48 FPS. Ultra settings average 42 FPS. The minimum FPS at Medium (46 FPS) shows noticeable dips that would be visible during gameplay. The data shows a 34 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K, compared to a 67 FPS difference at 1080p, confirming that the GPU’s workload scales steeply with resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

Among all tested hardware combinations in the database for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1665th out of 3720 combos. That places it in the 55th percentile of all systems tested, meaning roughly 45% of configurations perform better and 55% perform worse. The ranking reflects a mid-to-upper tier position, consistent with a CPU that outperforms 90% of all processors and a GPU that outperforms 72% of all graphics cards.

The rank of 1665 indicates that while this system is not a top-tier performer, it sits comfortably above the median. The CPU’s high percentile (90th) compensates for the GPU’s more modest percentile (72nd), resulting in a balanced overall score. In practical terms, this combo outperforms the majority of tested systems in Control, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing 60+ FPS at all presets up to 1440p. However, the 4K performance gap—where only Low settings are playable—explains why the combo does not rank higher; systems with stronger GPUs would achieve playable framerates at Ultra 4K, pushing them into the upper percentiles. For a 1080p or 1440p gamer, this rank reflects a very capable machine; for a 4K enthusiast, it is a clear indicator that a GPU upgrade would be necessary to move up the leaderboard.