Control

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B370 is a combination that produces a clear, if limited, result in Control. The benchmark data shows this system struggles to deliver a smooth experience at most settings, and it only approaches the 60 FPS threshold at the lowest settings on a 1080p display. The measurements indicate a hardware pairing that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor, despite the CPU’s strong processing capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this specific combo in Control presents a consistent pattern across all resolutions: average frame rates are low, and playability is restricted to the most modest configurations. The database shows no scenario where this PC reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold, with the closest result being a 59 FPS average at 1080p Low settings.

At 4K (3840x2160), the results are uniformly poor. The High preset delivers an average of 19 FPS. Dropping to Medium yields a 21 FPS average, with recorded minimum and maximum values of 18 and 25 FPS, respectively. The Low preset improves the average to 30 FPS, while the Ultra preset sinks to a 17 FPS average. These numbers indicate that the Arc B370 is overwhelmed at this resolution, and none of these settings approach a fluid frame rate.

Moving to 1440p (2560x1440) shows a modest improvement but still lands far from the target. The High preset averages 28 FPS. Medium settings produce a 32 FPS average, with a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 37 FPS. The Low preset reaches a 45 FPS average, and Ultra drops to 25 FPS. While the Low preset result is better than the 4K equivalent, it still falls short of the 60 FPS threshold by a significant margin.

At 1080p (1920x1080), the combo performs at its best. The High preset records an average of 37 FPS. Medium settings deliver a 42 FPS average, with minimum and maximum values of 36 and 48 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 32 FPS, and the Low preset comes closest to success with a 59 FPS average. This 1080p Low result is the only measurement in the entire dataset that is within one frame of the 60 FPS playable threshold, but it does not clear it.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data indicates that this system cannot maintain 60 FPS at any resolution with any preset. The verdict section of the database lists no playable settings for 4K, 1440p, or 1080p. The playable threshold is fixed at 60 FPS, and every measured average falls below it.

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays closest to 60 FPS is Low, with a 30 FPS average. This is the only 4K setting that reaches a 30 FPS baseline, but it is still only half the target frame rate. For 2560x1440, the Low preset again provides the highest average at 45 FPS. This is the best result at this resolution, though it still represents a 15 FPS deficit. For 1920x1080, the Low preset produces a 59 FPS average. This is the single best result in the dataset, but it does not meet the 60 FPS requirement for playability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the Intel Arc B370 ranks at position 3436 out of 3720 tested combos in the database for Control. This places it in the bottom portion of all recorded configurations, specifically around the 8th percentile of tested systems. The ranking reflects the GPU’s performance ceiling, as the CPU is a top-tier processor, but the integrated graphics solution holds the entire system back.

Benchmark results indicate that the CPU itself is a high performer, with a 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs. However, the GPU sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, and its single recorded benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 highlights its limited graphical throughput. The combo ranking is therefore a direct consequence of pairing a strong processor with a very weak graphics solution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database provides nearest rival comparisons for both the CPU and the GPU, which helps contextualize what other hardware might produce similar results. For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the closest match, with an average benchmark score of 83807, representing a 0.2% delta from the 290K Plus’s 84003 average. The AMD EPYC 4584PX (83090, 1.1% delta) and the AMD EPYC 9135 (82980, 1.2% delta) are also close, while the AMD EPYC 7F72 (85072, -1.3% delta) slightly outperforms it. In practice, swapping the CPU for any of these would have a negligible effect on Control’s frame rates, as the game is not CPU-bound in this configuration.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are all older or lower-tier parts. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, a -0.2% delta from the Arc B370’s 1184. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (-0.5% delta), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (-0.7% delta), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4% delta). These comparisons confirm that the Arc B370’s performance in Control is on par with integrated graphics solutions from over a decade ago. Any of these GPU alternatives would deliver essentially the same frame rates in this game.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on any settings?

A: No. The database shows that the highest average frame rate achieved is 59 FPS at 1080p Low settings. All other presets and resolutions fall below the 60 FPS playable threshold, and the verdict lists no playable settings for any resolution.

Q: What is the best performance I can expect at 1080p?

A: The best 1080p result is a 59 FPS average at Low settings. Medium settings drop to a 42 FPS average, High settings to 37 FPS, and Ultra settings to 32 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to other GPUs in the database?

A: The Arc B370 sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, all with benchmark scores within 0.7% of the Arc B370’s 1184 score.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this combination?

A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus ranks in the 96th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 84003. The frame rates are limited entirely by the integrated GPU, not the processor.

Q: What resolution provides the closest to playable performance?

A: 1920x1080 with Low settings provides a 59 FPS average, which is the closest measurement to the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p, the best average is 45 FPS, and at 4K, it is 30 FPS.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate stays consistently above 30 FPS?

A: Yes. At 1440p Low, the average is 45 FPS. At 1080p Low, the average is 59 FPS, and at 1080p High, the average is 37 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset also records a minimum of 36 FPS.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: this PC cannot run Control at a playable level. The verdict by resolution confirms that there are no playable settings at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, or 1920x1080. The 60 FPS threshold remains out of reach in every scenario.

At 4K, the system delivers between 17 and 30 FPS depending on the preset, making it a slideshow by modern standards. At 1440p, the results improve to between 25 and 45 FPS, but the Low preset’s 45 FPS average is still 25% below the target. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves a 59 FPS average, which is tantalizingly close to 60 FPS, but it does not clear the bar. The High, Medium, and Ultra presets at 1080p produce 37, 42, and 32 FPS averages, respectively.

For any gamer expecting a smooth experience, this combination is not suitable for Control. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end processor, but the Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution with performance on par with GPUs from the early 2010s. The benchmark results show a system that is entirely GPU-bound in this title, and the graphics solution simply lacks the raw throughput to handle the game’s demands at any resolution. If 60 FPS is the goal, this PC requires a different graphics solution, as the current configuration falls short in every measurable scenario.