Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the recorded data for this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 reveals a system that is highly resolution-dependent. The benchmark results show that achieving a smooth 60 FPS experience requires careful attention to both resolution and graphical presets, as the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions while the CPU provides ample headroom. The measurements indicate that this pairing is capable of delivering playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with the right settings, but it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 4K across all tested presets.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the data shows that no preset achieves the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest recorded average frame rate at this resolution is 55 FPS on the Low preset, which still falls below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset delivers an average of 39 FPS, High drops to 35 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 30 FPS. Since the verdictByResolution field lists no playable settings for 4K, the recommendation is that this resolution is not viable for maintaining 60 FPS with this hardware combination.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves, but only marginally. The Low preset is the sole setting that clears the 60 FPS bar, with an average of 81 FPS. This is the best settings option at this resolution, as the next closest preset, Medium, averages 58 FPS, which is just below the threshold. High and Ultra presets average 51 FPS and 45 FPS respectively, both of which are not playable at 60 FPS. Therefore, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1440p is Low, with an exact average of 81 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system finds its comfort zone. The High preset is the most demanding option that still maintains a 60 FPS average, hitting exactly 68 FPS. The Medium preset also clears the threshold with 76 FPS, and Low is even higher at 107 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, which is just one frame short of the 60 FPS target, making it unsuitable for a consistent 60 FPS experience. The best settings for 1080p, balancing visual quality and performance, is High at 68 FPS.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as evidenced by the significant frame rate scaling between presets. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 48 FPS (from 107 FPS down to 59 FPS), which highlights how sensitive the RTX 2060 is to graphical load. The CPU, with its 24 cores and high single-thread performance, is not the limiting factor at this resolution. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz and a Passmark single-thread score of 5068, provides more than enough processing power to feed the GPU at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU's role becomes even more dominant. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p on the same preset is substantial: the Low preset falls from 107 FPS to 81 FPS, a reduction of 26 FPS, while the High preset drops from 68 FPS to 51 FPS. This scaling indicates that the RTX 2060 is being pushed harder as pixel count increases, and the CPU's performance headroom remains largely untapped. The CPU utilization is likely lower at 1440p, as the GPU takes longer to render each frame.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is almost entirely responsible for the frame rate. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is only 25 FPS (from 55 FPS to 30 FPS), which is a narrower gap than at lower resolutions. This suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU is struggling to keep up with the 4K pixel count, and the CPU is barely stressed. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has ample headroom across all resolutions, but the RTX 2060's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width become limiting factors as resolution scales upward. The data indicates that the GPU is the decisive component for this game at every resolution, with the CPU playing a supporting role that never becomes a bottleneck.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded data shows the following average frame rates: Low at 55 FPS, Medium at 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS, High at 35 FPS, and Ultra at 30 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data, showing a frame time variance that keeps it well below the 60 FPS target. The gap between Low and Ultra is 25 FPS, indicating that even the lowest settings cannot push this resolution into playable territory.

At 2560x1440, the measurements are more varied. The Low preset achieves an average of 81 FPS, which is the only playable setting at this resolution. Medium averages 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS, showing that it occasionally dips below 60 FPS but can also spike above it. High averages 51 FPS, and Ultra averages 45 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra here is 36 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU has more room to scale at 1440p compared to 4K.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best across all settings. Low averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 76 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS, High averages 68 FPS, and Ultra averages 59 FPS. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 65 FPS, which means it never drops below the 60 FPS threshold, making it a stable choice. The High preset, while averaging 68 FPS, does not have min/max data recorded, but its average suggests it is consistently above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 59 FPS average, is just shy of the target, and its lack of min/max data means it could dip lower.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in the database are closely matched in average benchmark score. The Intel Xeon 6520P has an average score of 93786, which is essentially identical to the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus's 93785, a delta of 0%. The AMD EPYC 4564P scores 95183, which is 1.5% higher, while the AMD EPYC 9175F scores 95615, 1.9% higher, and the AMD EPYC 4565P scores 95764, 2.1% higher. These deltas are minimal, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly the same performance in Control, as the game is not CPU-bound at the tested resolutions. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, so swapping to any of these rivals would have a negligible impact on frame rates.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are also very close in average score. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 has an average score of 15283, a delta of 0% from the RTX 2060's 15290. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, which is 0.1% lower, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, 0.6% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, 0.8% lower. These small deltas suggest that all four GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control. However, the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM could be a differentiator in texture-heavy scenes, but the benchmark data shows comparable overall scores. The GTX 580, despite being an older architecture, matches the RTX 2060's average score almost exactly, which is surprising given the generational gap. This means that for this specific game, any of these GPUs would behave similarly, with frame rates within a few percent of each other across all resolutions and presets.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that this PC can run Control, but the experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on High, Low, and Medium presets, with the best playable setting being High at an average of 68 FPS. This is a fully playable experience with good visual quality. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset achieves 60 FPS, averaging 81 FPS, while all other settings fall short. This makes 1440p playable but with reduced graphical fidelity. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS, with the best average being 55 FPS on Low, so 4K is not a viable option for this hardware combination.

The verdictByResolution data confirms this: 1080p is playable on three settings, 1440p is playable only on Low, and 4K has no playable settings. For users who prioritize smooth gameplay over visual fidelity, 1440p Low is the highest resolution that can maintain 60 FPS. For those who want a balance of quality and performance, 1080p High is the recommended choice, as it delivers 68 FPS while still looking good. The 60 FPS playable threshold is met at 1080p and 1440p (with limits), but not at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2950 out of 3720 tested combinations in the database for Control. This places it in the lower 21st percentile of all tested systems, which reflects the GPU's limitations in this title. The CPU is a top-tier part, ranking in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, but the GPU's 58th percentile standing pulls the overall combo down. The rank of 2950 suggests that there are 770 other tested combinations that perform worse, but also that a majority of systems in the database deliver better frame rates in Control.

The ranking is likely driven by the GPU's inability to handle higher resolutions and presets, as the CPU clearly has headroom. In the context of the database, this combo is positioned as a mid-to-low tier performer for Control, suitable for 1080p gaming but not for higher resolution demands. The rank of 2950 out of 3720 puts it below the median, indicating that most other tested combos achieve better performance, which aligns with the RTX 2060's age and end-of-life production status.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 1080p with 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 the system achieves 60 FPS on High (68 FPS), Medium (76 FPS), and Low (107 FPS) presets. The Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, just below the threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the only preset that clears 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 81 FPS. Medium averages 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: No, at 3840x2160 the highest average frame rate is 55 FPS on Low settings. All other presets (Medium at 39 FPS, High at 35 FPS, Ultra at 30 FPS) fall well below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score is 15290. Its closest rival, the GTX 580, scores 15283 (0% delta), and the RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199 (0.6% lower). These differences are negligible for Control.

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

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at all tested resolutions. The CPU, with a Passmark single-thread score of 5068, provides ample headroom, while the GPU's performance drops significantly as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the database for Control?

A: This combination ranks 2950 out of 3720 tested systems, placing it in the lower portion of the database. The CPU ranks in the 96th percentile, but the GPU's 58th percentile score holds the combo back.