Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 pairing delivers a strong 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, with 4K remaining playable depending on your settings tolerance. The data shows a system where the GPU is the primary scaling factor as resolution increases, while the CPU provides ample headroom for high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates reveal a predictable but significant performance drop as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 122 at 1080p to 92 at 1440p, a decrease of 30 FPS, and then further to 62 at 4K. This pattern strongly indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the workload shifts almost entirely to the graphics card.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep. At High settings, the drop from 92 FPS to 62 FPS represents a 32.6% reduction in performance. This is a typical curve for a GPU-bound scenario, where pixel count increases by 2.25 times from 1440p to 4K, but the frame rate does not halve—it drops by roughly a third. This suggests the RTX 4070’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth are sufficient to prevent a more catastrophic collapse, but the raw compute power of the AD104 chip is still the bottleneck.

At Low settings, the trend is even more pronounced. The average FPS scales from 193 at 1080p down to 146 at 1440p and then to 98 at 4K. The 4K Low result is particularly interesting because it is only 4 FPS higher than the 1080p High result. This shows that when the graphical load is minimized, the system can push very high frame rates, but the 4K resolution still demands a significant amount of GPU work.

The Medium settings preset offers the only rows with min/max FPS data. At 4K, the average is 70 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. At 1440p, the average is 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 119 FPS. At 1080p, the average is 137 FPS with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. This data shows that the frame time consistency is good, with the minimum FPS staying within a reasonable range of the average, indicating a stable experience without major stutters.

The 4K Ultra preset drops to an average of 54 FPS. This is the only preset at 4K that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making it less ideal for smooth gameplay on a standard 60Hz monitor. The scaling from High to Ultra at 4K is a 12.9% performance hit, which is a significant cost for the additional visual fidelity.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with a smooth 60 FPS experience?*

A: Yes, but not on the highest settings. The measured data shows an average of 62 FPS at 4K High and 70 FPS at 4K Medium. The 4K Ultra preset averages 54 FPS, which falls short of 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for a high-refresh-rate monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 137 FPS on Medium and 122 FPS on High. The Low preset reaches 193 FPS, which is well-suited for a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor. 1440p is also viable, with 146 FPS on Low and 92 FPS on High.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1080p, the average FPS goes from 193 on Low to 106 on Ultra, a difference of 87 FPS. At 4K, the difference is 44 FPS, with 98 FPS on Low and 54 FPS on Ultra.

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

A: At 1080p and 1440p with lower settings, the GPU is likely the limiting factor, as frame rates are very high. The CPU’s 10 cores and 10 threads, with a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, provide enough performance to keep up. The bottleneck shifts more heavily to the GPU at 4K.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates like on Medium settings?

A: The data shows a minimum of 59 FPS at 4K, 88 FPS at 1440p, and 116 FPS at 1080p on the Medium preset. These minimums are close to the averages, indicating good frame pacing.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its direct rivals in this context?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37648. The nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, scores 37507, which is 0.4% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, which is 1.3% higher. The data suggests the RTX 4070 is competitive with these parts.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a 10-core, 10-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. With a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, it provides a strong foundation for gaming. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (102.4 GB/s bandwidth) are well-suited for modern game engines.

In the context of Control, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions. The benchmark results show a very high score of 25891 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 3655 in single-core, placing the processor in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. This level of performance ensures that the CPU is not a limiting factor for the frame rates observed.

The nearest rivals to the Core Ultra 5 225 are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and Intel Core i9-12900T. The average benchmark scores for these parts are all within 0.5% of the Intel chip. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945, which is essentially identical (0% deltaPct). The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112, which is 0.5% lower. This suggests that the Core Ultra 5 225 offers competitive CPU performance for this game.

The fact that the frame rates scale so dramatically with resolution and settings indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU load is relatively highest, the system achieves 193 FPS. This high frame rate suggests that the processor’s single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3655 Cinebench R23 score, is more than adequate for the game’s logic and draw calls.

The 10 threads may seem modest compared to higher-core-count processors, but for a game like Control, which is not typically heavily multithreaded, this configuration is more than sufficient. The data implies that a user could pair this CPU with a more powerful GPU in the future without experiencing a significant CPU-induced bottleneck at lower resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system’s performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset delivers an average of 193 FPS, which is ideal for competitive or high-refresh-rate play. Medium settings reduce the frame rate to 137 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. High settings average 122 FPS, while the Ultra preset, which includes the most demanding visual effects, still manages a very playable 106 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 146 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience on 144Hz monitors. The Medium preset averages 104 FPS, with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 119 FPS. High settings drop to 92 FPS, which is still comfortably above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 80 FPS, providing a high-fidelity experience without needing a high-refresh-rate display.

At 3840x2160, the GPU workload increases significantly. The Low preset is the standout, averaging 98 FPS, which is surprising for 4K. This indicates that the RTX 4070 has substantial headroom when effects are minimised. The Medium preset averages 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS, which is right at the edge of a 60 FPS V-sync target. High settings average 62 FPS, which is playable but leaves little headroom for drops. The Ultra preset averages 54 FPS, which is the only configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is for maximum frame rates, 1440p is the sweet spot for balancing quality and speed, and 4K is for those who prioritize resolution over frame rate. The Medium preset at 4K, with a 59 FPS minimum, offers the best chance of a locked 60 FPS experience, though it requires accepting lower visual quality.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the driving force behind the frame rates in Control. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, it features 5888 shading units, 46 RT cores, and 184 tensor cores. Its boost clock of 2475 MHz and 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provide a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s.

The GPU’s role is clearly demonstrated by the scaling of performance with resolution. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 3854 and the Passmark G3D score of 26927 place the RTX 4070 in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. This indicates a high level of performance, but its nearest rivals show that it is not the absolute fastest. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37507, which is 0.4% lower, while the NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 37628, which is just 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, a 1.3% advantage.

In Control, the 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game’s textures and assets, even at 4K Ultra. The data does not show any signs of memory-related performance cliffs, such as sudden frame rate drops. The 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth is also adequate, as the system can achieve 98 FPS at 4K Low, which is a high throughput scenario.

The RTX 4070’s compute capabilities are the limiting factor at 4K. The drop from 62 FPS at High to 54 FPS at Ultra demonstrates that the additional visual effects, such as ray tracing and higher resolution textures, place a significant load on the GPU. The data suggests that the card is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it can consistently deliver over 80 FPS on the highest settings.

The GPU's performance, combined with its 200 W TDP, makes it a practical choice for a mid-to-high-end build. It is a dual-slot card, 240 mm in length, and requires a 550 W power supply, which are all reasonable specifications for a modern system.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings depend heavily on your display and performance goals. For a 1080p monitor with a high refresh rate (144Hz or higher), the Low or Medium presets are the best choices. The Low preset’s 193 FPS average is perfect for maximizing refresh rates, while Medium’s 137 FPS average with a 116 FPS minimum still provides a very smooth experience with better visuals.

For 1440p users, the High preset is the recommended starting point. It averages 92 FPS, which is excellent for a 144Hz display, and offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium. If you prefer to prioritize frame rate stability, the Medium preset at 104 FPS average and 88 FPS minimum is also a strong option. The Ultra preset at 80 FPS is viable if you have a 60Hz or 75Hz monitor and want the best image quality.

At 4K, the recommendation is more nuanced. The Medium preset is the safest choice for a smooth 60 FPS experience, with an average of 70 FPS and a minimum of 59 FPS. This ensures that the frame rate rarely dips below the V-sync threshold. The High preset, with an average of 62 FPS, is also playable, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, so there is a small risk of more significant drops. The Low preset’s 98 FPS average is ideal for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors, but the visual quality will be noticeably lower.

The Ultra preset should be reserved for 1080p and 1440p use. At 4K, the 54 FPS average is below the standard 60 FPS target, which may result in a less fluid experience. For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions, the High preset at 1440p offers the most compelling experience in the data, combining high frame rates with the visual improvements that the game has to offer.