Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure title, presents a demanding environment that stresses both the GPU’s raw throughput and the CPU’s ability to feed it. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, based exclusively on the provided benchmark data. The combination achieves a rank of 518 out of 2888 tested combos, placing it in the upper quintile of all configurations, which indicates a strong overall balance for this title. The following sections break down how this specific pairing behaves across resolutions and settings, detailing the roles of the graphics card and processor in shaping the final frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern as resolution increases, though the magnitude of the drop is heavily influenced by the chosen quality preset. At 1080p, the system produces an average of 208 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 157 FPS at 1440p and further to 106 FPS at 4K. This represents a 49% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K on Low settings, demonstrating that even at the lowest graphical fidelity, the pixel throughput demands of 4K significantly tax the Radeon RX 7900 XT.

Moving to Medium settings, the scaling becomes steeper. The average frame rate falls from 148 FPS at 1080p to 112 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 75 FPS at 4K. The transition from 1080p to 4K on Medium results in a 49% performance loss, which is similar in percentage to the Low preset, but the absolute frame rates are lower, indicating that the additional shading work compounds the resolution penalty. The gap between 1440p and 4K narrows to 37 FPS, suggesting that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor, as the workload per pixel increases.

The High preset shows a similar trajectory but with a more pronounced absolute drop. From 131 FPS at 1080p, the average dips to 99 FPS at 1440p and then to 67 FPS at 4K. This is a 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K, consistent with the other presets, yet the 4K result of 67 FPS is approaching the threshold where gameplay fluidity could be compromised on displays with high refresh rates. Ultra settings exhibit the most demanding behavior, with frame rates falling from 114 FPS at 1080p to 86 FPS at 1440p and finally to 58 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured value in the dataset, showing that the combination of maximum quality and high resolution pushes the GPU to its limits.

The data indicates that the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is relatively mild, with average losses of 25-29 FPS across the Medium, High, and Ultra presets. However, the jump from 1440p to 4K incurs a larger penalty, averaging 27-32 FPS for those same presets. This nonlinear behavior suggests that the memory bandwidth of 800.0 GB/s and the 20 GB frame buffer are sufficient to handle the intermediate resolution, but the sheer pixel count at 4K begins to saturate the rendering pipeline. The limiting component is clearly the GPU, as the CPU’s role diminishes at higher resolutions, which is a typical characteristic of this game’s engine.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the dominant component in this configuration, and its specifications directly correlate with the measured performance. The GPU’s architecture, RDNA 3.0, is built on a 5 nm process and features 5376 shading units, which handle the bulk of the graphical computations. The boost clock of 2394 MHz provides the necessary speed for single-threaded rendering tasks, while the game clock of 2025 MHz represents a sustained frequency under load. These clock speeds, combined with the 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, deliver a memory bandwidth of 800.0 GB/s, which is crucial for feeding the shaders at high resolutions.

In Control, the GPU’s role is evident in the frame rate differences between presets at the same resolution. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Ultra costs 94 FPS (208 to 114), while at 4K, the same preset change costs 48 FPS (106 to 58). The absolute cost is lower at 4K because the GPU is already saturated, but the relative impact is similar. The VRAM capacity of 20 GB is unlikely to be a bottleneck in this game, as Control’s textures are not excessively large, but the bandwidth is critical for maintaining high fill rates during particle-heavy combat sequences. The pixel rate of 459.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 804.4 GTexel/s are theoretical maximums that align with the observed performance scaling.

The GPU’s benchmark scores provide context for its standing. It achieves a Passmark G3D score of 29009, which places it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. However, the nearestRivals data shows that its average benchmark score of 13745 is closely matched by the AMD Radeon 660M (13812, delta -0.5%) and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821, delta -0.5%), while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT trails slightly (13543, delta 1.5%). This suggests that while the RX 7900 XT is a high-end part, its synthetic benchmark average is not dramatically ahead of some lower-tier mobile or older desktop parts, yet in Control, the measured FPS indicates it performs robustly, likely due to its high memory bandwidth and shader count.

The data shows that the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates, especially at 4K where the CPU overhead is negligible. The 58 FPS average at 4K Ultra is a playable result, but it highlights that the RX 7900 XT is not overkill for this title at maximum settings. The combination of the 20 GB frame buffer and the 320-bit memory interface ensures that there is no VRAM spillover, allowing the GPU to maintain consistent performance without stutter from memory swapping.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 131 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual fidelity and speed for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset at 114 FPS is also viable, but the 13 FPS gain from Ultra to High is minimal compared to the visual difference, making High the more efficient choice. For players seeking maximum smoothness, the Low preset at 208 FPS is excessive for most displays, so Medium at 148 FPS offers a better compromise between quality and speed.

At 1440p, the High preset produces 99 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for standard monitors and suitable for 100 Hz panels. The Ultra preset at 86 FPS is still playable, but the Medium preset at 112 FPS provides a noticeable performance buffer. The data suggests that Medium or High at 1440p is the sweet spot, as the difference between High and Ultra is only 13 FPS, while Low at 157 FPS sacrifices too much visual quality for a marginal gain in speed. The 4K resolution presents a challenge, as the High preset averages 67 FPS and the Ultra preset drops to 58 FPS. For a locked 60 FPS experience, High is the recommended preset, as it offers a 9 FPS advantage over Ultra while remaining visually rich. The Medium preset at 75 FPS provides a safer margin for dips, but the Low preset at 106 FPS is the only way to achieve a consistently high frame rate at this resolution, though it will compromise the game’s atmospheric lighting and texture detail.

The measured min FPS data for Medium settings shows that at 1080p, the minimum is 125 FPS, at 1440p it is 95 FPS, and at 4K it is 64 FPS. These minimums are all above 60 FPS, indicating that the combination rarely stutters below playable thresholds on Medium. For the best experience per the measured rows, the recommendation is to use High settings at 1080p or 1440p, as the 131 and 99 FPS averages respectively, provide a smooth experience without the excessive load of Ultra. At 4K, High is the pragmatic choice, as the 67 FPS average is close to the 60 FPS target, and the frame rate is more stable than the Ultra preset’s 58 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this system can achieve in Control?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 208 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, at 4K, the Medium preset averages 75 FPS with a minimum of 64 FPS, and the High preset averages 67 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 58 FPS, which falls below 60 FPS.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K on High settings?

A: The average frame rate drops from 131 FPS at 1080p to 67 FPS at 4K, representing a 49% reduction in performance.

Q: Which preset provides the most stable frame rate at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 1440p averages 112 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS, which is the highest minimum among the measured presets at that resolution.

Q: How does the GPU’s benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 7900 XT has an average benchmark score of 13745, which is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon 660M (13812, -0.5%) and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821, -0.5%), while being slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (13543, +1.5%).

Q: What is the system’s overall ranking among tested configurations?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT combination ranks 518th out of 2888 tested combos in Control.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 plays a supporting role in this configuration, but its specifications are sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at most settings. The CPU features 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This clock speed is crucial for the single-threaded performance that Control’s engine relies on for game logic and physics. The processor’s architecture, Arrow Lake, is built on a 3 nm process and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. This bandwidth is adequate for feeding the GPU, but it is not a limiting factor in the measured FPS data.

The CPU’s benchmark results indicate strong performance. It achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 and a single-core score of 3655, which is competitive for a desktop part. The Passmark single-thread score of 4412 and multithread score of 30459 further confirm its capabilities. In terms of rival positioning, the CPU’s average benchmark score of 36938 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945, 0% delta) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2%) and Intel Core i9-12900T (37112, -0.5%). This suggests that the Core Ultra 5 225 is well-matched to its peers for general compute, and in Control, this translates to a stable frame delivery.

The role of the CPU becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 208 FPS, which is a high frame rate that could expose CPU limitations in other titles, but the data shows no such bottleneck here. The fact that the frame rate scales consistently with resolution and settings indicates that the CPU is not the primary constraint. The 10 threads are sufficient for Control’s multi-threaded tasks, and the boost clock of 4.90 GHz ensures that the main game thread is processed quickly. The CPU’s L3 cache of 20 MB is shared across the cores, which helps with data locality, but it is not a distinguishing factor in this game’s performance.

The data shows that the CPU’s contribution is to maintain a high floor for frame rates, preventing drops that would occur with a weaker processor. At 4K Ultra, the 58 FPS average is entirely GPU-bound, as the CPU has ample headroom to render frames at that rate. The combination of the Core Ultra 5 225’s strong single-thread performance and the RX 7900 XT’s raw power results in a balanced system where the GPU is the clear limiting factor at all tested resolutions, which is the desired behavior for a gaming-focused build.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 208 FPS on Low, 148 FPS on Medium, 131 FPS on High, and 114 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 125 FPS and a maximum of 170 FPS, indicating a consistent frame delivery. The gap between Low and Medium is 60 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is only 17 FPS, showing diminishing returns at the highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 157 FPS on Low, 112 FPS on Medium, 99 FPS on High, and 86 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset’s minimum is 95 FPS and maximum is 128 FPS, which is a narrower range than at 1080p, suggesting tighter frame pacing. The drop from Low to Medium is 45 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 13 FPS. At 3840x2160, the averages are 106 FPS on Low, 75 FPS on Medium, 67 FPS on High, and 58 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS, which means the frame rate fluctuates by 23 FPS, potentially causing noticeable stutter in fast-paced scenes.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the Low preset offers the highest frame rates but sacrifices significant visual quality, while the Ultra preset provides the lowest frame rates with maximum detail. The Medium and High presets offer the best balance, with Medium providing a 13-17 FPS advantage over High at each resolution. The minimum FPS data, available only for Medium settings, shows that the system never drops below 64 FPS even at 4K, which is a positive indicator for gameplay smoothness. The maximum FPS values are only recorded for Medium, and they show that the system can reach 170 FPS at 1080p, but this is an outlier compared to the averages.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT achieves a rank of 518 out of 2888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 18% of all configurations. This ranking is a strong result, indicating that the pairing is well-suited for this game. The rank is determined by the measured FPS across all settings and resolutions, and the data shows that the system excels at 1080p and 1440p, where it can push high frame rates, but it is less exceptional at 4K Ultra, where the 58 FPS average is lower than what top-tier combos might achieve.

The CPU’s percentile versus all CPUs is 85, which means it outperforms 85% of all processors in synthetic benchmarks, while the GPU’s percentile versus all GPUs is 55. This discrepancy suggests that the CPU is a relatively stronger component than the GPU in this pairing, but in Control, the GPU is the bottleneck. The combo’s rank of 518 reflects this balance, as it is higher than the GPU’s percentile ranking, indicating that the CPU’s strong performance helps to maximize the GPU’s output. The nearest rivals for the CPU show that it is closely matched with other mid-range processors, while the GPU’s rivals include lower-tier parts, which means the combo’s ranking is likely driven by the CPU’s ability to keep the GPU fed at lower resolutions.

In the context of all tested combos, a rank of 518 places this system in the upper echelon, suitable for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and solid 4K performance. The data shows that the combo is not in the top tier, as those would likely feature higher-end GPUs, but it is far above the median, which is around the 1444th position. The ranking suggests that users with this configuration can expect excellent performance in Control, with the ability to max out settings at 1080p and 1440p, and achieve playable frame rates at 4K with a modest reduction in quality. The combination’s overall standing confirms the RX 7900 XT’s raw power and the Core Ultra 5 225’s efficiency, making it a recommended pairing for this game.