Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile delivers a solid, if not spectacular, performance profile in Control. The data reveals a system that is consistently capable across resolutions, though the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them against the hardware's theoretical benchmarks, and provides clear guidance on settings optimization.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 87 FPS. This indicates a very playable experience for most users at the most common resolution.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 Mobile's performance compare to a desktop RTX 3070 Ti?

A: According to the benchmark data, the RTX 5070 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 29,928, which is 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti's score of 29,945. This places them at near-parity in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the best performance setting at 1440p based on the data?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves the highest average FPS at 104, while the Medium preset provides a more balanced experience at 74 FPS. The High preset yields 66 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant drop from Low.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to bottleneck the system in Control?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU, with an 79th percentile ranking, is capable, but the GPU's 75th percentile ranking and the significant FPS drops when increasing resolution and settings point to the graphics card as the limiting factor.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded in the dataset?

A: The only minimum FPS values provided are for the Medium preset. At 4K, the minimum is 42 FPS; at 1440p, it is 63 FPS; and at 1080p, it is 83 FPS. No minimums are listed for the Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Q: How does the combo rank overall in the database for this game?

A: This specific combination of CPU and GPU ranks 2056 out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile is the dominant component in this pairing for Control. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s. The base clock is 907 MHz, with a boost clock of 1425 MHz. The memory operates at a 1500 MHz base with 24 Gbps effective speed.

The GPU's 75th percentile ranking against all GPUs indicates it performs better than the majority of graphics cards. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 20,355 in Passmark G3D and 122,238 in Geekbench OpenCL. Its nearest rival, the RTX 3070 Ti, is only 0.1% faster on average. This close alignment means the 5070 Mobile should deliver a very similar experience to that popular desktop card in Control.

Looking at the measured FPS, the GPU's performance scales predictably with workload. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 137 FPS, showing the GPU has ample headroom when not heavily taxed. However, when pushed to 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 39, a 71.5% reduction from the 1080p Low figure. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU that is being fully utilized, with the 8 GB VRAM likely becoming a factor at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows the GPU is the primary driver of performance, as the FPS scales directly with resolution and graphical load.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. Starting at 1080p, the average FPS for High settings is 87. Moving to 2560x1440, this drops to 66 FPS, a 24.1% decrease. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 44 FPS, a 49.4% decrease from the 1080p baseline.

This scaling pattern strongly indicates a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its 14 cores and 18 threads, is not likely to be the limiting factor at these resolutions. The consistent and significant FPS drops as resolution increases are classic signs of a graphics card reaching its limits. For instance, at 1440p Low, the system hits 104 FPS, but at 4K Low, it manages only 70 FPS. This 32.7% drop at the same settings highlights the raw pixel-pushing demands of 4K.

The data also shows that the gap between settings narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 62 FPS (137 vs 75). At 4K, this difference shrinks to 31 FPS (70 vs 39). This compression of performance at 4K suggests that the GPU is so heavily loaded that even reducing settings cannot fully compensate for the resolution overhead. For users seeking high refresh rates, 1080p is the clear choice, while 1440p offers a good balance of visual fidelity and performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and the RTX 5070 Mobile ranks 2056 out of 3720 combos tested in Control. This places it in the 55th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than half of the combinations in the database. However, it is not a top-tier performer, and the ranking reflects a mid-to-high-end mobile solution.

The ranking is particularly interesting when considering the individual components' percentiles. The CPU is in the 79th percentile, while the GPU is in the 75th percentile. The combo's ranking in the 55th percentile suggests that Control is a game that does not fully utilize the strengths of this particular pairing. The game's engine may be more sensitive to GPU raw power than to CPU multi-threading, which could explain why the combo does not rank as highly as the individual parts might suggest.

When compared to other combos in the database, this system sits in a crowded field. The GPU's near-parity with the RTX 3070 Ti and the CPU's alignment with the Ryzen 7 5800 (0.1% slower) and Core i5-12600K (0.3% slower) places this combo in a competitive segment. For Control specifically, the data shows that this pairing is adequate but not exceptional, struggling to maintain high FPS at 4K Ultra but excelling at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is a 14-core, 18-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The CPU has 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 12,804.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,647.5 in single-core. It achieves a Passmark single-thread score of 3,399 and a multi-thread score of 21,100. These scores place the CPU in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong performance for a mobile processor. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, which is 0.1% slower, and the Intel Core i5-12600K, which is 0.3% slower.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role appears secondary. The measured FPS data shows a system that is clearly GPU-limited. At 1080p Low, the 137 FPS average suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to maintain high frame rates. Even at the lowest settings, the CPU does not appear to introduce a bottleneck, as the FPS is high and the GPU is still the constraining factor.

The CPU's strong single-thread performance, as evidenced by the 1,647.5 Cinebench R23 score, is beneficial for game logic and physics calculations. Control is an action-adventure game that relies on complex physics and particle effects, which can be CPU-intensive. However, the data indicates that the RTX 5070 Mobile is the limiting component in this pairing, as the FPS scales more dramatically with GPU-related changes (resolution and settings) than with CPU-related factors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive overview of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. Below is the detailed breakdown:

3840x2160 (4K):

• High: 44 FPS average
• Low: 70 FPS average
• Medium: 50 FPS average (min 42, max 57)
• Ultra: 39 FPS average

At 4K, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates on higher settings. The Ultra preset dips to 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even the Low preset, which achieves 70 FPS, is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience at this resolution.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• High: 66 FPS average
• Low: 104 FPS average
• Medium: 74 FPS average (min 63, max 85)
• Ultra: 57 FPS average

1440p presents a more balanced picture. The Low preset offers a very smooth 104 FPS, while Medium provides a solid 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 FPS, ensuring no major stutters. High settings yield 66 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS, which is marginally below the 60 FPS target.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• High: 87 FPS average
• Low: 137 FPS average
• Medium: 98 FPS average (min 83, max 112)
• Ultra: 75 FPS average

1080p is where this system shines. All presets achieve playable frame rates, with Low hitting an excellent 137 FPS. Medium provides a great balance at 98 FPS with a minimum of 83 FPS. High settings are also solid at 87 FPS, and even Ultra maintains a respectable 75 FPS, making the game fully playable at the highest settings on this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 4K (3840x2160), the only sensible choice is the Low preset, which achieves 70 FPS. All other settings drop below 60 FPS, with Medium at 50 FPS and High at 44 FPS. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended for any serious gameplay. The data shows that the GPU is too strained at this resolution for higher quality settings.

For 1440p (2560x1440), the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. The 74 FPS average with a minimum of 63 FPS ensures a smooth experience. The Low preset at 104 FPS is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors, while High at 66 FPS is acceptable if visual fidelity is prioritized. The Ultra preset at 57 FPS is borderline and may be playable for slower-paced sections.

For 1080p (1920x1080), the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It delivers 98 FPS with a minimum of 83 FPS, providing a smooth and visually pleasing experience. The High preset at 87 FPS is also excellent, making it a viable alternative for those who prefer higher graphical settings. The Low preset at 137 FPS is ideal for maximum frame rates, while Ultra at 75 FPS remains fully playable, offering the best visuals without sacrificing too much performance.

In summary, the data indicates that the system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming. At 1080p, users can enjoy high settings with ease, while 1440p requires a slight compromise on settings for a consistent 60+ FPS experience. 4K is only viable with the Low preset, making it a less attractive option for this hardware combination.