Control

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and Intel Arc B390 combination presents a significant performance disparity in the database. The CPU sits in the 94th percentile among all tested processors, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile. This pairing produces a system where the processor is overwhelmingly more capable than the graphics solution, a fact that shapes every measurement recorded for Control.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is closely matched by several server and desktop processors. The Intel Xeon 6511P scores 71,051, which is a 0.2% difference from the Ultra 7 265K’s average score, making it the nearest equivalent. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 trails by 0.7% with a score of 71,370. On the desktop side, the Intel Core i7-14700KF is 1% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is 1.3% behind. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame pacing in CPU-limited scenarios, though the Ultra 7 265K holds a marginal edge over the desktop alternatives.

The GPU situation is starkly different. The Intel Arc B390’s only recorded benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, yields a score of 1,482. The nearest rivals are all legacy NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX at 1,463 (1.3% slower), the GeForce 800M at 1,460 (1.5% slower), the GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1,446 (2.5% slower), and the GeForce GT 710 at 1,443 (2.7% slower). These are entry-level graphics solutions from previous generations, indicating that the Arc B390’s raw compute output aligns with very low-end hardware. The database shows no modern discrete GPU within its nearest rival set, which underscores how far the Arc B390 sits from contemporary gaming graphics cards.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database’s tested combinations for Control, this specific pairing ranks 3,311 out of 3,720 total combos. That places it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested for this game. The rank reflects the GPU’s severe limitation, as the CPU’s high percentile cannot compensate for the graphics bottleneck. Among the 3,720 recorded combinations, 409 perform worse, but the vast majority deliver better results. This ranking aligns with the measured FPS data, which shows the system struggling to maintain playable frame rates at most settings and resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for Control shows a clear pattern across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best results. Low settings produce an average of 65 FPS, which is the only measurement across all resolutions that clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings drop to 46 FPS average, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53. High settings average 41 FPS, and Ultra settings average 36 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is substantial, representing a 29% decrease in average frame rate when moving up one preset level.

At 2560x1440, all presets fall below playable levels. Low settings average 50 FPS, which is the closest to the threshold but still 10 FPS short. Medium settings average 35 FPS, with a range of 30 to 40. High settings average 31 FPS, and Ultra settings average 27 FPS. The resolution jump from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 23% of the average FPS at Low settings, and similar proportional drops appear across other presets.

At 3840x2160, performance degrades further. Low settings average 33 FPS, Medium averages 24 FPS with a range of 20 to 27, High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 18 FPS. The 4K resolution at Ultra represents the worst-case scenario, delivering less than one-third of the 60 FPS target. The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step up reduces average FPS by roughly 20-30%, and each preset step up within a resolution reduces performance by a similar margin.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded measurements, this PC can run Control at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where it achieves an average of 65 FPS. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that clears the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, no preset reaches 60 FPS; the best option is Low at 50 FPS average, which is playable but not smooth by the database’s standard. At 3840x2160, all presets fall well below 60 FPS, with Low averaging 33 FPS and Ultra averaging 18 FPS. The verdict is straightforward: the system is suitable for 1080p gaming only at the lowest preset, and it cannot deliver a full 60 FPS experience at higher resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals an extreme bottleneck on the GPU side. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, with its 20 cores and 20 threads, demonstrates capability far beyond what this game requires at the tested settings. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as 35,850 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 23,085 in Geekbench multi-core, place it in the 94th percentile, yet the measured FPS never exceeds 65 at any resolution. The limiting factor is clearly the Intel Arc B390, whose 1,482 Steel Nomad score sits in the 9th percentile.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. When moving from 1080p Low (65 FPS) to 1440p Low (50 FPS), the average drops by 15 FPS, a 23% reduction. The same move from 1080p High (41 FPS) to 1440p High (31 FPS) shows a 24% reduction. These consistent percentage drops across presets indicate that the GPU is saturated at all settings, and the CPU has ample headroom to handle the increased pixel count without becoming a constraint. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the percentage drops would be smaller at higher resolutions, but the data shows the opposite trend.

The preset scaling within a single resolution further illustrates the GPU’s dominance. At 1080p, moving from Low to Medium reduces average FPS from 65 to 46, a 29% drop. From Medium to High, it drops another 11% to 41 FPS, and from High to Ultra, it drops 12% to 36 FPS. These incremental reductions are characteristic of a GPU that is fully utilized at every quality level. The CPU’s role is effectively negligible in this pairing, as it never approaches its performance ceiling during Control gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 60 FPS on a 1080p monitor?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The recorded average at 1920x1080 with Low settings is 65 FPS. Medium settings drop to 46 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best performance this combination can achieve at 1440p?

A: The highest average FPS at 2560x1440 is 50, achieved at Low settings. This is 10 FPS short of the playable threshold, and no preset at this resolution reaches 60 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% faster than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% faster than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% faster than the GeForce GT 710.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the performance in Control?

A: The GPU is the dominant constraint. The CPU scores in the 94th percentile, while the GPU scores in the 9th percentile. Consistent FPS drops across resolutions and presets indicate the GPU is fully saturated, with the CPU never becoming the limiting factor.

Q: What is the worst-case performance scenario recorded?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system averages 18 FPS. This is the lowest average across all tested configurations for this game.

Q: How many tested combinations perform worse than this system?

A: This combo ranks 3,311 out of 3,720 tested combinations, meaning 409 combinations perform worse. The remaining 3,310 combinations deliver equal or better performance in Control.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves the 60 FPS threshold. The highest average is 33 FPS at Low settings, but the database’s playable threshold is not met, so no recommendation is provided.

At 2560x1440, the same situation applies. Low settings average 50 FPS, which is the best result, but it falls short of 60 FPS. The database records no playable settings for this resolution.

At 1920x1080, Low settings is the only playable preset, achieving an average of 65 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold by 5 FPS. Medium settings at 46 FPS, High at 41 FPS, and Ultra at 36 FPS are all below the threshold. For users seeking a stable 60 FPS experience, Low at 1080p is the sole viable configuration, and it does so with a modest margin that leaves little room for scene complexity spikes. The data suggests that even at Low settings, the Intel Arc B390 is working near its limits, as the 65 FPS average is the ceiling for this combination in Control.