Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 shows a system that is clearly capable of running the game at high frame rates across most settings. The benchmark results, which are measured rather than estimated, show a wide performance envelope depending on your resolution and graphics preset, ranging from a very playable 60 FPS average at 4K High to a blistering 185 FPS average at 1080p Low. This combination of a 24-core processor and an Ampere-based graphics card provides a strong foundation, though the data indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor, while the CPU's strength is more apparent at lower resolutions and higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this hardware handles Control across three common resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptional across the board. The Low preset delivers an average of 185 FPS, which is more than enough for high-refresh-rate monitors. Moving up to Medium, the average drops to 131 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 151 FPS, indicating smooth and consistent frame pacing. The High preset still achieves a strong 117 FPS average, and even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, maintains a solid 101 FPS average. At this resolution, the system is never under significant strain, and the 60 FPS playability threshold is exceeded by a wide margin in all cases.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong, though the demands on the GPU become more evident. The Low preset produces an average of 140 FPS, which is still excellent for competitive or fast-paced play. The Medium preset delivers an average of 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS, showing that the frame rate remains stable even under load. The High preset yields an average of 88 FPS, and the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding setting, still manages to produce an average of 77 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combination, as it allows for high visual fidelity with all presets clearing the 60 FPS threshold with room to spare.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down as expected, and the GPU's workload becomes the dominant factor. The Low preset delivers an average of 94 FPS, which is still quite playable for 4K. The Medium preset produces an average of 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS; the minimum dips below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that while the average is acceptable, there can be occasional stutters in demanding scenes. The High preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which is playable but leaves no headroom for frame time spikes. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 52 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold and would require a reduction in settings for a smooth experience. The data shows a clear trend: the higher the resolution, the more the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the less headroom there is for the most demanding presets.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested hardware combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks at position 1071 out of 3720 combos for Control. This places it in the upper third of all systems tested, indicating that it is a capable configuration for this game, though it is not at the very top of the performance hierarchy. The rank reflects a balanced system that can handle the game well at most settings, but it is not the absolute highest-performing combination available. This position is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, but with some limitations at 4K Ultra settings. The system is not the absolute best, but it is far from a low performer, and the data suggests it will provide a satisfying experience for most players.

The percentile ranking for the CPU itself is 96, meaning the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus outperforms 96% of all CPUs in the benchmark database. This is a top-tier processor, and its performance is a key reason why the system does not become CPU-bound at lower resolutions. The GPU's percentile is 68, which is a solid mid-to-high ranking, but it is not as dominant as the CPU. This disparity in relative performance explains why the system's overall rank is not higher; the RTX 3080 is a good card, but it is the limiting factor when pushing higher resolutions and graphical settings. The combination of a top-5% CPU with a top-32% GPU creates a system that is well-balanced for gaming, but the GPU will be the first component to struggle with the most demanding tasks.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data clearly delineates the roles of the CPU and GPU in this system for Control. The CPU, with its high core count and strong single-thread performance, is never a bottleneck at any tested resolution. This is evident in the FPS scaling from 1080p to 1440p and 4K; the frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the limiting factor. For example, at Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 101 at 1080p to 77 at 1440p, and then to 52 at 4K. This scaling pattern indicates that the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU at all times, and the performance is dictated almost entirely by the graphics card's ability to render frames.

The GPU's role becomes more prominent as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully stressed, allowing the high frame rates to be achieved. At 1440p, the GPU is working harder, but it still has enough power to maintain high averages. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as evidenced by the significant drop in performance, especially at the Ultra preset where the average FPS falls to 52. The difference between presets also highlights the GPU's importance. At 4K, the gap between Low and Ultra is 42 FPS (94 vs 52), while at 1080p, the gap is 84 FPS (185 vs 101). This shows that the GPU is more sensitive to preset changes at lower resolutions where the CPU is not a factor. In short, the CPU provides a stable, high-performance foundation, but the RTX 3080 is the component that determines playability at higher resolutions and settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003. The closest competitor is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83807, a difference of only 0.2%. This means that in a real-world scenario, the 285K would perform virtually identically in Control, providing the same level of CPU performance. The AMD EPYC 4584PX is also very close, with a score of 83090 and a deltaPct of 1.1%, indicating it is about 1% slower. The AMD EPYC 9135 is similarly close, with a score of 82980 and a deltaPct of 1.2%. On the other side, the AMD EPYC 7F72 scores higher at 85072, which is 1.3% faster than the 290K Plus. For gaming, these differences are negligible, and any of these CPUs would not cause a noticeable difference in frame rates in Control.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals are surprisingly close in score, but they are very different cards. The NVIDIA P106-100 has a score of 23249, which is 0.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 has a score of 23250, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M has a score of 23273, which is 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X has a score of 23276, also 0.4% higher. While these scores are similar, it is important to note that these are aggregate benchmark scores, and actual gaming performance can vary. In the context of Control, the RTX 3080's specific architecture and drivers will likely provide a different experience than these rivals, but the data suggests that, on average, they are in the same performance ballpark. For a user looking for similar behavior, these cards would be the closest matches according to the database.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, it can. The data shows that at 3840x2160, the system achieves a playable 60 FPS average on High settings, a 67 FPS average on Medium, and a 94 FPS average on Low settings. However, the Ultra preset drops to a 52 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use for a smooth experience at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, meaning they all have an average FPS above 60. The best settings are Ultra, which delivers an average of 77 FPS. If you prefer higher frame rates, the High preset offers 88 FPS, and the Low preset offers 140 FPS.

Q: How does the system perform at 1080p for high-refresh-rate gaming?

A: The system is excellent for this use case. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 185 FPS, the Medium preset 131 FPS, the High preset 117 FPS, and the Ultra preset 101 FPS. All presets are well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it suitable for 144Hz or even 165Hz monitors.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor for this game?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. This is evident because frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. The CPU is powerful enough to keep up at all times, but the RTX 3080's rendering capabilities are what determine the final frame rate, especially at 4K Ultra.

Q: Are there other CPUs that would perform similarly to the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has an average score that is only 0.2% different, meaning it would behave nearly identically. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and AMD EPYC 9135 are also very close, with scores about 1.1% and 1.2% lower, respectively.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this system in the benchmark data?

A: The minimum FPS values were only recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum was 57 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum was 84 FPS, and at 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum was 111 FPS.

The Verdict

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination is a clear "yes" for running Control, with the caveat that you must manage settings at 4K. The verdict by resolution is straightforward. At 1920x1080, every preset—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—is playable, with the Ultra preset delivering a strong 101 FPS average. At 2560x1440, the system also clears the 60 FPS threshold on all presets, with the Ultra preset achieving a 77 FPS average, which is the best setting for this resolution. At 3840x2160, the system can play the game on High, Medium, and Low settings, but the Ultra preset falls short with a 52 FPS average. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages exactly 60 FPS, though this leaves little margin for error in intense scenes.

For most users, this system will provide a smooth and highly enjoyable experience. The sweet spot is clearly 1440p, where you can run the game at maximum settings and maintain a comfortable frame rate. At 1080p, the system is powerful enough for high-refresh-rate displays, and even at 4K, you can achieve a solid 60 FPS by sticking to High settings. The data confirms that this is a well-balanced pairing for Control, with the CPU providing ample headroom and the GPU delivering solid performance, even if it is not quite enough for 4K Ultra. If you are targeting 4K, you will need to compromise on visual fidelity, but for 1440p and 1080p, this is a very capable machine.