Control

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, but the data shows that 4K Ultra settings will push the GPU to its limits. This pairing places the CPU in the 85th percentile of all tested processors, while the GPU sits in the 72nd percentile, creating a balanced system where the graphics card is typically the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 1237th out of 2888 tested combinations in Control, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all systems evaluated. This percentile positioning—roughly the 57th percentile—indicates that while this setup is not a top-tier enthusiast configuration, it outperforms a majority of tested combos. The ranking reflects a system that can handle the game comfortably at mainstream resolutions but will not dominate at 4K with maximum settings.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 36938 puts it nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, which scores 36945 with a 0% deltaPct. It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D by only 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 by 0.4%, while sitting 0.5% below the Intel Core i9-12900T. This tight grouping shows the Core Ultra 5 225 is competitive with established mid-range processors, making it a capable foundation for this GPU.

On the graphics side, the RTX 5060's average benchmark score of 26331 places it 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which scores 26011. It leads the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 by 0.3% each, though those comparisons involve lower-tier integrated and entry-level parts. The GPU's 72nd percentile ranking confirms it as a mainstream performer rather than a high-end solution, and the measured FPS data in Control supports this classification.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 60 FPS on 1440p?

A: Yes, at 1440p with High settings the average FPS is 71, and with Medium settings it reaches 80 FPS. Low settings push it to 113 FPS, while Ultra drops to 62 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold but with less headroom.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 scores 36938 on average, which is within 0.5% of all four nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F matches it exactly at 0% deltaPct, while the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is 0.2% faster, the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 0.4% faster, and the Core i9-12900T is 0.5% faster.

Q: Is 8 GB of video memory sufficient for Control at 4K?

A: The measured data shows playable results at 4K with Medium settings at 54 FPS and High at 48 FPS. Low settings achieve 76 FPS, but Ultra drops to 42 FPS. The 8 GB GDDR7 memory appears adequate for the game's requirements at these settings, though Ultra does strain the GPU.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The sweet spot is 1440p, where the system delivers 71 FPS on High and 80 FPS on Medium. At 1080p, the performance is excellent with 94 FPS on High and 149 FPS on Low, but the higher resolution offers a better balance of visual quality and frame rate.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to the RX 6750 XT?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331, which is 1.2% higher than the RX 6750 XT's 26011. This makes the two cards very close in raw compute performance, though the RTX 5060 has a slight edge.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates scale significantly with settings, but at 4K, the performance drops substantially across all presets, indicating the graphics card is the primary constraint rather than the 10-core processor.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 94 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops this to 71 FPS, a 24.5% reduction, and at 4K it falls to 48 FPS, a 48.9% reduction from 1080p. This scaling curve is typical for a mid-range GPU like the RTX 5060, where pixel throughput becomes the limiting factor.

The Low settings preset shows more dramatic scaling. At 1080p, the system hits 149 FPS, which drops to 113 FPS at 1440p (24.2% decrease) and 76 FPS at 4K (49.0% decrease). This proportional drop across all presets confirms that the GPU's rendering pipeline, not the CPU, is the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Medium settings follow the same trend, with 106 FPS at 1080p, 80 FPS at 1440p, and 54 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are similar—24.5% from 1080p to 1440p and 49.1% from 1080p to 4K—reinforcing that resolution scaling is consistent regardless of preset. This uniformity suggests the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions.

Ultra settings show the steepest absolute decline, falling from 82 FPS at 1080p to 62 FPS at 1440p (24.4% decrease) and 42 FPS at 4K (48.8% decrease). The consistency across all four presets—roughly 24% for the first resolution step and 49% for the full jump to 4K—indicates a well-balanced system where the GPU scales predictably with pixel count.

The limiting component is clearly the GPU. At 1080p, the CPU can push frame rates above 149 FPS on Low settings, but the RTX 5060 cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra. The CPU's 10 cores and 10 threads provide adequate processing power for this game, as evidenced by the strong 1080p results, but the graphics card's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus become the constraint at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce an average of 149 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings achieve 106 FPS with a minimum of 90 FPS and maximum of 122 FPS, providing a smooth experience with good visual quality. High settings reach 94 FPS, while Ultra drops to 82 FPS. All 1080p presets stay comfortably above 60 FPS, making this resolution the most flexible for the system.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains playable but requires more careful settings selection. Low settings still deliver 113 FPS, which is impressive for a mid-range GPU. Medium settings produce 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS and maximum of 92 FPS, maintaining a solid frame rate with moderate visual fidelity. High settings achieve 71 FPS, and Ultra falls to 62 FPS. The 1440p results show that the RTX 5060 can handle this resolution well, though Ultra settings leave little margin for demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings produce 76 FPS, which is playable but requires significant visual compromises. Medium settings drop to 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS and maximum of 62 FPS, putting the experience on the edge of smoothness. High settings achieve 48 FPS, and Ultra falls to 42 FPS. The 4K results indicate that this resolution is not ideal for the combo, as even Low settings barely exceed 60 FPS.

The Medium settings preset provides the most complete data, as it is the only one with min and max FPS recorded. At 1080p, the range is 90 to 122 FPS, showing consistent performance. At 1440p, the range narrows to 68 to 92 FPS, and at 4K it tightens further to 46 to 62 FPS. This narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests the GPU becomes more consistently loaded, reducing frame-time variance.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p gaming, High settings at 94 FPS offer the best balance of visual quality and performance. The jump from High to Ultra only costs 12 FPS, dropping to 82 FPS, but the visual improvements may not justify the loss in headroom. Medium settings at 106 FPS provide a smoother experience for players who prioritize frame rate, while Low settings at 149 FPS are ideal for maximum responsiveness.

At 1440p, Medium settings at 80 FPS are the recommended choice. This preset maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while delivering acceptable visual quality. High settings at 71 FPS are also viable for players who prefer better graphics, but the 9 FPS difference between Medium and High may be noticeable in fast-paced action scenes. Ultra settings at 62 FPS are borderline, as any demanding sequence could push the frame rate below 60.

For 4K gaming, Low settings at 76 FPS are the only preset that consistently exceeds 60 FPS. Medium settings at 54 FPS are playable but will experience occasional dips below that threshold, as shown by the 46 FPS minimum. High and Ultra settings at 48 FPS and 42 FPS respectively are not recommended for smooth gameplay, as the frame rates are too low for an action-adventure title with significant combat sequences.

The data suggests that 1440p Medium is the optimal configuration for this combo. It provides a frame rate of 80 FPS, which is 33% higher than the 60 FPS target, leaving room for GPU load spikes without dropping below playable levels. The measured minimum of 68 FPS confirms that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains a smooth experience. For players with 1080p displays, High settings are the best choice, offering 94 FPS with a good balance of visual fidelity and performance headroom.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 features 10 cores and 10 threads, a configuration that provides solid multi-threaded performance for modern games. The processor operates at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts up to 4.90 GHz, with a 65 W TDP that keeps power requirements modest. Built on Intel's Arrow Lake architecture using a 3 nm process from TSMC, the CPU includes 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, which helps reduce memory latency in gaming workloads.

Synthetic benchmarks show the CPU's capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 25891 multi-core and 3655 single-core, indicating strong performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded tasks. The single-core score of 3655 is particularly relevant for Control, as the game's engine benefits from strong per-core performance. The PassMark single-thread score of 4412 further confirms the CPU's ability to handle the game's primary thread efficiently.

The CPU's nearest rival comparisons show it is well-matched to other mid-range processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945, virtually identical to the Core Ultra 5 225's 36938. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with its 3D V-Cache technology, scores 37018, a 0.2% advantage. This suggests that the Core Ultra 5 225 provides similar gaming performance to these established competitors, making it a capable partner for the RTX 5060.

In the context of Control, the CPU's 10 cores are more than sufficient, as the game does not heavily utilize more than a handful of threads. The boost clock of 4.90 GHz ensures that the game's main thread has access to high clock speeds, which is crucial for maintaining consistent frame rates. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the system achieves 149 FPS at 1080p Low settings, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck at that resolution.

The 65 W TDP and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate memory throughput for the game. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes ensures the RTX 5060 has sufficient bandwidth, though the GPU uses a PCIe 5.0 x8 connection. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all tested processors places it above the majority of CPUs, reinforcing that it is not the limiting factor in this combo for Control.