Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU’s physics and rendering logic and the GPU’s raw throughput. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT produces a system that is clearly balanced toward 1080p and 1440p gameplay, with 4K requiring significant settings compromises. Benchmark results indicate that this pairing ranks in the lower-middle tier of tested configurations, placing 2054th out of 2888 combos, which suggests that while it is capable, it is not optimized for maximum fidelity at high resolutions.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. This configuration provides solid single-thread performance, which is critical for Control’s gameplay loop that often relies on a primary thread for game logic and physics. The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce latency for frequently accessed data, which is relevant for maintaining consistent frame pacing in fast-paced combat scenarios.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra 5 225 achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4412 places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong per-core performance. The nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with an average score of 36945 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018 (-0.2%), and the Intel Core i9-12900T at 37112 (-0.5%). These deltas are negligible, meaning the Core Ultra 5 225 is statistically tied with those processors in general compute tasks. For Control, this level of CPU performance is more than adequate; the measured FPS data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 118 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target and suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions.

The processor’s 10 threads might seem modest compared to higher-core-count rivals, but Control’s engine does not scale perfectly with many cores. The data shows that even at 4K with Ultra settings, where the GPU is heavily loaded, the average FPS drops to 33, which is a GPU limitation rather than a CPU one. The Core Ultra 5 225’s single-core strength ensures that the game’s main thread does not become a limiting factor, allowing the RX 6600 XT to be the performance ceiling in most scenarios.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip, using a 7 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1968 MHz, a boost clock of 2589 MHz, and a game clock of 2359 MHz. With 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, it delivers 10.60 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. This configuration is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity can become a constraint at 4K with higher texture settings.

In Control, the GPU’s role is dominant, as evidenced by the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system hits 118 FPS, but this drops to 89 FPS at 1440p and 60 FPS at 4K for the same settings. This 50% reduction from 1080p to 4K indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter as resolution increases. The RX 6600 XT’s benchmark scores reinforce this: it has a PassMark G3D score of 16461 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1804, placing it in the 70th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (0.7% faster), Intel Arc A350M (-0.8%), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (1.1% faster), showing that the RX 6600 XT is roughly on par with older high-end cards but not competitive with modern mid-range offerings.

The 8 GB VRAM is a notable factor for Control, which can use over 8 GB at 4K with high-resolution textures. The measured data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 33, which is unplayable, and even at 4K High, it is 38 FPS. This is likely due to both GPU compute limits and memory bandwidth constraints. At 1440p, the GPU has more headroom, with High settings achieving 56 FPS and Medium hitting 63 FPS, suggesting that the RX 6600 XT is best utilized at this resolution with moderate settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 25-30% across all settings. For instance, at High settings, FPS goes from 74 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p, a 24% reduction. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is more severe: at High settings, FPS falls from 56 to 38, a 32% reduction. This accelerating decline is typical of a GPU that is running out of compute and memory bandwidth as pixel count increases.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced: 118 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K. This represents a 49% drop from 1080p to 4K. The fact that 4K Low still achieves 60 FPS indicates that the GPU can handle the resolution if the visual load is reduced, but the CPU is not the bottleneck even at this lower settings level. The data suggests that the RX 6600 XT is the limiting component in all configurations, as the FPS scales inversely with resolution, which is a classic GPU-bound signature. The CPU’s performance remains constant, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of frame rate as resolution increases.

The implication is that for this combo, 1080p is the sweet spot for high refresh rates, while 1440p is viable for 60 FPS gameplay with medium-to-high settings. 4K is only playable at Low settings, and even then, it just barely reaches 60 FPS. This is not a combo designed for 4K gaming, and users should expect to prioritize resolution or fidelity, not both.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ranks 2054th out of 2888 tested combinations in Control. This places it in the 71st percentile of all combos, meaning it outperforms roughly 71% of configurations but is behind the top-tier systems that feature high-end CPUs and GPUs. The rank reflects the GPU’s mid-range positioning; the CPU is not the limiting factor, as evidenced by its high percentile rank (85th) for CPUs. The bottleneck is clearly the GPU, which has a 70th percentile ranking.

Compared to other combos, this system is likely paired with CPUs that are either weaker or similar, but the RX 6600 XT holds the system back from reaching higher ranks. For instance, if the same GPU were paired with a faster CPU, the rank might improve slightly, but the GPU’s capabilities would still cap performance. Conversely, pairing the Core Ultra 5 225 with a stronger GPU would yield a much better rank, as the CPU has headroom to support higher frame rates. The data shows that in Control, this combo is sufficient for 1080p gaming but not for competitive or high-fidelity 4K play, which is consistent with its ranking in the lower-middle tier.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and frame rate. For 1080p, the best experience is achieved at High settings, which delivers 74 FPS, providing a smooth and visually rich experience. Medium settings at 1080p yield 84 FPS, which is also playable but with reduced visual quality. Low settings at 1080p hit 118 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors but sacrifices significant visual fidelity. Ultra settings at 1080p drop to 65 FPS, which is still playable but not worth the performance cost over High.

For 1440p, Medium settings are the recommended choice, delivering 63 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS, ensuring a consistent experience. High settings at 1440p achieve 56 FPS, which is playable but may have occasional dips. Low settings at 1440p hit 89 FPS, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. Ultra settings at 1440p drop to 49 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and not recommended.

For 4K, Low settings are the only viable option, achieving exactly 60 FPS. Medium settings at 4K drop to 43 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and High and Ultra are unplayable at 38 FPS and 33 FPS, respectively. Therefore, for a balanced experience, 1080p High or 1440p Medium is the sweet spot, while 4K should only be used with Low settings for a playable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination, with minimum and maximum values where available.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 118 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 84 | 71 | 96 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 74 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 65 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 89 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 63 | 54 | 73 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 56 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 49 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 60 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 43 | 36 | 49 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 38 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 33 | - | - |

The data shows that the Medium settings at 1440p and 1080p have the most complete measurements, with minimum and maximum FPS indicating some frame pacing variance. At 1080p Medium, the range is 71-96 FPS, which is a 25 FPS spread, suggesting occasional dips during intense scenes. At 1440p Medium, the range is 54-73 FPS, a 19 FPS spread, which is more stable relative to the average. At 4K Medium, the range is 36-49 FPS, which is a 13 FPS spread, but the average is too low for smooth gameplay.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?

A: The best resolution is 1920x1080, where the system achieves 74 FPS on High settings and 118 FPS on Low settings, providing a smooth experience. 1440p is also viable with Medium settings at 63 FPS, but 4K is only playable at Low settings (60 FPS).

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produces an average of 60 FPS. Medium settings drop to 43 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. High and Ultra settings are unplayable at 38 FPS and 33 FPS, respectively.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945, 0% delta) and slightly lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2%) and Intel Core i9-12900T (37112, -0.5%). The differences are negligible.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is in the 70th percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 16461 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1804. It is comparable to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 and RTX 2080 SUPER in benchmark scores.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this combo?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck, as evidenced by the FPS dropping significantly as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the system hits 118 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 60 FPS, indicating the GPU’s compute and memory limits are the main constraint.

Q: What settings should I use for a 60 FPS target?

A: For 1080p, use High settings (74 FPS) or Medium (84 FPS). For 1440p, use Medium (63 FPS) or Low (89 FPS). For 4K, only Low settings achieve 60 FPS; all other settings fall below this target.