Control

The data for Control, captured with an Intel Core i7-13700K and an Intel Arc B370, reveals a configuration that is dramatically constrained by its graphics solution. The benchmark results show a system where the CPU’s substantial processing power is largely sidelined, as frame rates across all resolutions and settings are consistently low, placing this combination in the 2657th position out of 2888 tested combos. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, focusing on the scaling behavior, the roles of each component, and practical recommendations based solely on the provided figures.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1080p to 4K clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 59 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 45 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 30 FPS. This scaling pattern — a roughly 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and another 33% reduction to 4K — is characteristic of a system where the graphics processor is saturated. The frame rate is directly tied to the pixel count, indicating that the renderer is working at its limit.

This behavior is consistent across other settings. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 42 at 1080p, to 32 at 1440p, and down to 21 at 4K. The High preset shows a similar trajectory: 37 FPS at 1080p, 28 at 1440p, and 19 at 4K. The consistent, almost linear, drop in performance with increasing resolution is a textbook sign of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU workload per frame would be similar. Instead, the frame rate falls in near proportion to the number of pixels being processed.

The data suggests that the Intel Core i7-13700K is not the limiting component at any resolution. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU far more frames than the Arc B370 can render. This is evident even at 4K, where the lowest average FPS is 17 (at Ultra settings). The performance ceiling is set by the graphics card, not the processor. This analysis is supported by the fact that the gap between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution is significant, but the gap between resolutions at the same setting is also significant, implying that both resolution and quality level are taxing the same component: the GPU.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 25 W TDP, and its benchmark results reflect its limited capacity for a demanding title like Control. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile is a strong indicator of its performance class. The measured FPS in Control corroborates this, with the highest average FPS recorded being 59 at 1080p Low.

The GPU’s memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the main system memory for its frame buffer. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which implies that performance can be heavily influenced by the speed and architecture of the system's RAM. This shared memory setup is a common bottleneck for integrated graphics, as it introduces latency and bandwidth contention with the CPU. This is a likely reason why the card struggles to maintain high frame rates even at lower resolutions.

The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. Its boost clock is listed as 2400 MHz. Despite these specifications, the raw throughput is low, with an FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS. In the context of Control, a game known for its physics and particle effects, this level of compute power is insufficient to deliver smooth gameplay at high settings. The nearest rivals for the GPU, based on average 3DMark scores, are older discrete cards like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, with delta percentages of -0.5% and -0.7% respectively. This comparison places the Arc B370's performance in the field of legacy entry-level hardware. The data shows that the GPU is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration, as its performance ceiling is reached regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

CPU Role

In stark contrast to the GPU, the Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end desktop processor with a 125 W TDP and 16 cores (24 threads). Its benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116. It sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall processing power. The CPU's boost clock of 5.40 GHz and its 30 MB of shared L3 cache provide ample headroom for gaming workloads.

However, in this specific configuration, the CPU's role is to prepare frames for the GPU, and it is doing so with significant ease. The measured FPS in Control never approaches a level where the CPU would be stressed. The highest average FPS is 59 (1080p Low), which is a modest load for a processor of this caliber. The CPU's performance is effectively masked by the GPU's limitations. The data indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck; its utilization is likely low, and it is waiting for the GPU to finish rendering.

The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, have average scores within 0.3% of the i7-13700K. This confirms that the CPU is a top-tier performer in its own right. Yet, this performance is irrelevant to the final frame rate in this test. The benchmark results show a system where the CPU’s extensive capabilities are untapped, as the frame rate is determined almost entirely by the GPU. This is a clear example of a CPU-GPU mismatch, where the processor has far more power than the graphics solution can utilize.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 59, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 2657th out of 2888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the bottom portion of the database.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the main bottleneck for this game?

A: The data strongly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The frame rates drop significantly with increasing resolution and settings, which is a characteristic of a GPU-limited system, while the CPU has far more performance headroom.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 59 on Low settings to 32 on Ultra settings, a difference of 27 frames per second.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Based on the data, 4K gaming is not viable. The highest average FPS at 4K is 30 on Low settings, with other presets falling to 17-21 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370's 3DMark score is 1184, which is 0.5% lower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, placing it in a similar performance class as those older cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination. Minimum and maximum FPS are provided only for the Medium settings rows.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 59 FPS average
• Medium: 42 FPS average (36 min, 48 max)
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 32 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 45 FPS average
• Medium: 32 FPS average (27 min, 37 max)
• High: 28 FPS average
• Ultra: 25 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 30 FPS average
• Medium: 21 FPS average (18 min, 25 max)
• High: 19 FPS average
• Ultra: 17 FPS average

The data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy. Lower resolutions and settings yield higher frame rates, while higher demands result in a linear decline in performance. The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, showing a 10 FPS range at 1080p (36-48), a 10 FPS range at 1440p (27-37), and a 7 FPS range at 4K (18-25). This suggests some frame time variance, but the overall averages are the primary indicator of the system's capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

For the best playable experience, the data points exclusively to the 1080p Low preset. This is the only configuration that achieves an average FPS near the standard 60 FPS target, hitting 59 FPS. While the 1080p Medium preset offers a higher visual quality, its 42 FPS average is below the ideal smoothness threshold and may result in noticeable stuttering in a fast-paced action game.

All other settings and resolutions produce average frame rates that are too low for a satisfactory experience. The 1440p and 4K options, even on Low settings, fall to 45 FPS and 30 FPS respectively, which are not ideal for a game that requires quick reflexes. The High and Ultra presets at any resolution are not recommended, as they all yield average frame rates below 40 FPS, with 4K Ultra bottoming out at 17 FPS.

Therefore, the recommended configuration is to use the Low preset at 1920x1080. This is the only combination that provides a frame rate that is close to the standard for smooth, responsive gameplay. Any attempt to increase visual fidelity will result in a significant and noticeable drop in performance, making the game less playable. The measured data offers no other viable alternative for a playable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B370 combination is ranked 2657th out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 8th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that it is among the lowest-performing setups in the database for this game. This low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance limitations, as the CPU is a high-end component that would rank much higher on its own.

The GPU's performance percentile of 5% versus the CPU's 89% illustrates the massive disparity in their capabilities. The combo's rank is effectively dragged down by the graphics processor. The data shows that even though the CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates in other scenarios, the Arc B370 cannot keep up, resulting in a system that performs at the level of an entry-level or legacy machine. The ranking is a clear summary of the system's overall gaming capability in this title, reflecting a hardware pairing that is heavily unbalanced in favor of the processor.