Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti pairing delivers a robust Control experience, placing in the 339th spot out of 2888 tested combos. This puts it comfortably in the top 12% of systems, a strong position for a game that demands both solid CPU throughput and substantial graphics muscle. The data indicates this combo is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p high-refresh gaming, while still being capable of handling 4K with some adjustments.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 339 out of 2,888 tested combinations places it in the upper echelon of tested systems, outperforming roughly 88% of all configurations in this benchmark database. This is a clear indicator that the pairing of the Core Ultra 5 225 and RTX 4070 Ti is well-matched for Control, without a single component acting as an obvious bottleneck. The GPU, being the primary driver of frame rates in this title, holds an 84th percentile ranking among all GPUs, which is a strong foundation. The CPU also holds up its end, sitting in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. When you combine these two high-percentile parts, the result is a system that delivers a smooth and responsive experience across the board.

Looking at the GPU's nearest rivals, the RTX 4070 Ti's performance is within a narrow margin of other high-end cards. It sits just 0.8% behind the RTX 5090 Mobile and 1.3% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, while leading the RTX A6000 by 1.6%. This tight grouping suggests that the 4070 Ti's performance is in a highly competitive tier, and the small deltas mean real-world frame rates will be nearly indistinguishable from these other cards in most scenarios. The CPU's nearest rivals also show a very tight cluster, with the Core Ultra 5 225 essentially matching the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0% delta), and trailing the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and Intel Core i9-12900T by only 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.5% respectively. This indicates that the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its class, and its modest average benchmark score difference of less than 0.5% against its closest competitors will not translate to a meaningful difference in gameplay.

CPU Role

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 from TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. While Control is not typically a CPU-bound title at higher resolutions, the processor's single-thread performance is critical for maintaining high frame rates and ensuring smooth frame pacing. The CPU's strong single-core score of 3655 in Cinebench R23 suggests it has the headroom to handle the game's physics and logic threads without becoming a limiting factor, even when the GPU is producing high frame rates.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s via dual-channel DDR5 is adequate to feed the GPU. More importantly, its 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency. In a game like Control, which features complex environments and destructible objects, this can help maintain consistent frame times. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 226 FPS, a scenario where CPU overhead is most likely to surface. The fact that it reaches this figure indicates the Ultra 5 225 is not holding back the RTX 4070 Ti, even in a best-case scenario for the CPU. The processor's overall performance, as indicated by its 85th percentile ranking, ensures it is a capable partner for the GPU in this title.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K?

A: Yes, it can. The measured data shows an average of 63 FPS at 3840x2160 on Ultra settings and 73 FPS on High settings. Both are playable, though you may prefer the higher frame rate of the High preset for a smoother experience.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors?

A: At 2560x1440, the combo delivers 171 FPS on Low, 121 FPS on Medium, 108 FPS on High, and 94 FPS on Ultra. This resolution provides an excellent balance of visual fidelity and high frame rates, making it ideal for 144Hz displays.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 Ti compare to its closest rivals?

A: The benchmark data shows it is very closely matched. It trails the RTX 5090 Mobile by 0.8% and the Radeon Pro 5500 XT by 1.3%, but it is 1.6% ahead of the RTX A6000. These differences are negligible in practice.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 a good match for this GPU?

A: The data suggests yes. The CPU sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and its performance is within 0.5% of top rivals like the Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Core i9-12900T. It provides enough speed to avoid bottlenecking the GPU in Control.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The jump from Low to Ultra at 2560x1440 results in a 77 FPS drop in average frame rate, from 171 FPS down to 94 FPS. This is a significant 45% decrease, but it still leaves the game in a very playable state.

Q: At 1080p, does the CPU or GPU become the limiting factor?

A: The high frame rates at 1080p, such as 226 FPS on Low, suggest the GPU is still the primary driver. However, the close gap between the Low and Medium settings (226 vs 161 FPS) indicates that as settings increase, the load shifts more heavily onto the GPU, but the CPU keeps up without issue.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional performance. On the Low preset, it averages 226 FPS, making it perfect for competitive play or extremely high refresh rate displays. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 161 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS. The High preset still provides a very smooth 143 FPS average. For maximum visual quality, the Ultra preset maintains an average of 124 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent. The Low preset averages 171 FPS, which is still high enough for 144Hz monitors. Medium settings average 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 140 FPS. The High preset provides a solid 108 FPS average, which is ideal for a smooth 100+ FPS experience. The Ultra preset, while demanding, still yields a very playable 94 FPS average, ensuring that you do not have to sacrifice much to get the best visuals.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed harder. The Low preset averages 115 FPS, demonstrating the raw power of the RTX 4070 Ti. Medium settings drop to an 82 FPS average, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. The High preset is still very comfortable at 73 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only one that dips below the 60 FPS mark, with a 63 FPS average. This shows that 4K Ultra is achievable, but you will be right at the edge of the ideal smoothness threshold.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear scaling trend as resolution increases. At 1080p High, the average is 143 FPS. This drops to 108 FPS at 1440p, a 24% decrease, and then to 73 FPS at 4K, a 49% decrease from 1440p and a 49% decrease from 1080p. This pattern indicates that the RTX 4070 Ti's rendering load is scaling predictably with the number of pixels. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, and the drop to 4K is even more pronounced, which is typical for a demanding title like Control.

This scaling behavior reveals that the system is primarily GPU-limited at higher resolutions. The GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are the key factors in determining the final frame rate. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases, as the GPU takes more time to render each frame. The fact that the 1080p Low setting yields 226 FPS, a scenario where the CPU is most likely to be a factor, and the GPU is still able to push such high numbers, suggests the Core Ultra 5 225 is not a limiting factor at any resolution. The system is, therefore, well-balanced, with the GPU being the primary driver of performance from 1080p all the way to 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on your display and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity.

For 1080p users with high refresh rate monitors (144Hz or higher), the High preset is the sweet spot, delivering 143 FPS. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium while still maintaining a frame rate high enough to take advantage of most high-refresh displays. If you have a 240Hz monitor, the Low preset at 226 FPS is the only way to get close to that refresh rate, but the visual compromises are steep. The Medium preset, with a 161 FPS average, is also a great option for 144Hz panels if you want more visual detail than Low.

For 1440p users, the High preset is the clear recommendation. At 108 FPS, it offers an excellent balance of visual quality and performance, making it ideal for 100Hz or 120Hz displays. If you prefer maximum visual fidelity, the Ultra preset is still very playable at 94 FPS. The Medium preset at 121 FPS is a good choice for those who want to prioritize a higher frame rate for a 144Hz monitor, but the jump in quality from Medium to High is substantial and worth the 13 FPS cost.

For 4K users, the High preset is the best choice for a consistently smooth experience, with an average of 73 FPS. This is a significant improvement over the Ultra preset's 63 FPS and provides a more stable frame rate. The Medium preset at 82 FPS is also a viable option if you are willing to lower a few settings for extra headroom. The Ultra preset at 63 FPS is technically playable, but the lower average frame rate makes it more susceptible to noticeable dips, so High is the safer and more practical recommendation for a game like Control.