Control

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is an exceptionally potent combination for Control, delivering a flawless 60 FPS experience at every tested resolution and settings preset. The data confirms this pairing is overkill for maximum visual fidelity, as even the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K produces an average of 69.4 FPS, comfortably clearing the playability threshold. Benchmark results indicate that this combo ranks in the 92nd percentile among 3,720 tested configurations, ensuring that users can expect top-tier performance across the board.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 69.4 FPS, which surpasses the 60 FPS playable threshold.

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

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 99.9 FPS at 2560x1440, which is well above the playability threshold and provides the highest visual quality.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K scores an average of 70,879 in benchmarks. It is 1% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700KF and 1.3% faster than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, while being 0.2% slower than the Intel Xeon 6511P.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER significantly better than the standard RTX 4080?

A: The performance difference is minimal. The RTX 4080 SUPER averages 54,209 in benchmarks, while the RTX 4080 averages 54,247, showing the SUPER is 0.1% slower in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded across all tests?

A: The lowest average FPS is 69.4, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This remains above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Does the combo rank highly among all tested systems?

A: Yes, it ranks 301st out of 3,720 total combos, placing it in the top 8% of all configurations tested for this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The workload distribution between the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER shifts dramatically depending on resolution and settings. At 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, evidenced by the massive frame rate headroom: Low settings produce 242.6 FPS, which is 79% higher than the Ultra preset's 135.5 FPS. This indicates that at lower resolutions, the GPU is not the limiting factor, and the CPU's 20 cores and 20 threads are more than capable of feeding frames to the graphics card.

As resolution increases to 1440p, the GPU begins to assert its dominance. The difference between Low and Ultra settings narrows to 84.8 FPS (184.7 vs 99.9), showing that the RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 736.3 GB/s bandwidth are being utilized more effectively. The scaling from 1080p Ultra to 1440p Ultra results in a 35.6 FPS drop, which is a 26% reduction, highlighting the increasing pixel throughput demand.

At 4K, the GPU is unequivocally the primary bottleneck. The RTX 4080 SUPER's raw compute power (52.22 TFLOPS FP32) becomes the determining factor, with the Ultra preset yielding 69.4 FPS and Low settings reaching 126.9 FPS. The CPU's role diminishes further, as the 4K pixel count creates a substantial GPU workload that masks any potential CPU limitations. The data shows that from 1440p to 4K at Ultra settings, there is a 30.5 FPS drop (99.9 to 69.4), a 31% reduction, which is significantly larger than the 14% drop from 1080p to 1440p (135.5 to 99.9). This progression confirms that higher resolutions place exponentially more strain on the graphics card while the CPU remains comfortably ahead of the demand curve.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates extraordinary performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 242.6 FPS, while Medium produces 175.8 FPS and High reaches 156.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, despite being the most demanding, still maintains an impressive 135.5 FPS average. The spread between Low and Ultra is 107.1 FPS, indicating that even at maximum settings, the combo has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent but shows the expected scaling impact. Low settings deliver 184.7 FPS, which drops to 130.9 FPS at Medium and 117.7 FPS at High. The Ultra preset settles at 99.9 FPS, narrowly missing the 100 FPS milestone but still providing a smooth experience on 144Hz displays. The delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 84.8 FPS, showing a tighter performance envelope than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4080 SUPER's capabilities are fully exercised. The Low preset produces 126.9 FPS, which is still exceptionally playable for competitive scenarios. Medium settings yield 88.7 FPS, while High manages 77 FPS. The Ultra preset, representing the pinnacle of visual quality, achieves 69.4 FPS. This final figure is notable because it demonstrates that even the most punishing configuration remains above the 60 FPS threshold, making 4K Ultra gaming a viable option for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination ranks 301st out of 3,720 tested combos, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all configurations evaluated for Control. This ranking is particularly impressive considering the breadth of hardware tested, as it places this system ahead of 3,419 other combinations while trailing only 300 more powerful setups.

The rank reflects the synergy between the CPU's 94th percentile standing among all processors and the GPU's 86th percentile among all graphics cards. The CPU's strong multi-threaded performance (35,850 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) and the GPU's high-end ray tracing capabilities (80 RT cores) combine to deliver a cohesive gaming experience. The data indicates that this combo outperforms the vast majority of systems, with only the most extreme enthusiast configurations (likely featuring flagship GPUs or multi-GPU setups) ranking higher.

In practical terms, this ranking means the combo is in the top tier of systems capable of running Control. The 69.4 FPS minimum average at 4K Ultra confirms the balanced nature of this pairing, as neither component creates a significant bottleneck that would drag performance down. For users seeking a system that can handle any resolution or settings combination without compromise, this rank validates the choice.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals provide insight into comparable processing power. The Intel Xeon 6511P scores 71,051, which is 0.2% higher than the Core Ultra 7 265K's 70,879, making it a virtually identical performer. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 achieves 71,370, a 0.7% advantage, while the Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70,163, trailing by 1%. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F completes the group with 69,996, a 1.3% deficit. These four alternatives would all deliver similar frame rates in Control, with differences of less than 2% being imperceptible in real-world gameplay.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 sits at 54,247, a mere 0.1% above the RTX 4080 SUPER's 54,209, meaning users would see no practical difference between the two cards. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54,828, a 1.1% advantage, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB achieves 55,698, a 2.7% lead. The AMD Radeon 8060S tops this group at 55,757, 2.8% higher. While these AMD options show slightly higher synthetic scores, the actual FPS differences in Control would be minimal, and the NVIDIA card's specific optimizations for this game's engine likely preserve its competitiveness.

Users considering alternatives should note that the Xeon processors target server/workstation workloads, while the Core i7-14700KF and Ryzen 7 9700F are direct consumer replacements. Similarly, the Pro W5700X is workstation-focused, making the RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and Radeon 8060S the more logical consumer alternatives to the RTX 4080 SUPER.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Control, and it does so with exceptional authority across every resolution and preset combination tested. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with Ultra settings achieving 135.5 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS threshold and ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming. The 2560x1440 resolution maintains this trend, with Ultra delivering 99.9 FPS, ensuring a fluid experience on 144Hz monitors without sacrificing visual quality.

The most demanding scenario, 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, still produces 69.4 FPS, clearing the playability threshold by 9.4 FPS. This means users can enjoy the game at maximum visual fidelity in 4K without any compromises. The verdict is clear: this combo not only meets but exceeds the 60 FPS requirement at every tested configuration, making it a definitive recommendation for Control players who demand the highest settings and resolutions.

The data conclusively shows that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a future-proof pairing for this title. With the lowest recorded average FPS being 69.4, there is no scenario where this system dips below playable levels. Users can confidently select the Ultra preset at any resolution and expect a smooth, immersive experience with no need to dial back settings for performance reasons.