Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that pushes both processor and graphics hardware, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT reveals a combination that is clearly balanced, though with distinct behavioral shifts across resolutions. The measured frames per second (FPS) across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K with four quality presets provide a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies and how the hardware scales under load. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics, ranking context, and component-specific roles to determine what this combo delivers in practice.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and tells a clear story about the limiting component in this pairing. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 89 FPS at 1920x1080 to 67 FPS at 2560x1440, and then further down to 46 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 48% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, which is a substantial hit that points directly at the GPU as the primary constraint. The RX 6700 XT, with its 12 GB of VRAM and 384.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, is being pushed harder as pixel count increases, and the data shows it struggling to maintain high frame rates at the top resolution.

Looking at the Low preset, the scaling pattern is even more revealing. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 141 FPS, which drops to 107 FPS at 1440p and then to 72 FPS at 4K. The relative drop between 1440p and 4K is 32.7%, which is less severe than the High preset's 31.3% drop between the same resolutions, but still substantial. Interestingly, the gap between Low and High presets narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 52 FPS (141 vs 89), but at 4K it shrinks to 26 FPS (72 vs 46). This convergence suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes so saturated that the graphical fidelity settings matter less for overall throughput.

The Medium preset provides the only complete min/max FPS data, offering additional insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the combo delivers an average of 100 FPS with a minimum of 85 and maximum of 115, showing a 30 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 76 FPS with a spread of 22 FPS (65 to 87). At 4K Medium, the average falls to 51 FPS with a 15 FPS spread (44 to 59). The narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is working closer to its limit, reducing the variability that comes from less demanding scenes. This is a typical sign of a GPU-bound scenario where the render pipeline is consistently saturated.

What the data implies is that this combination is GPU-limited at 4K, but likely CPU-limited at 1080p. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235, with its 14 cores and boost clock of 5.00 GHz, has enough processing power to feed the RX 6700 XT at lower resolutions, but as resolution increases, the GPU's raw pixel throughput becomes the deciding factor. The 4K Ultra preset result of 40 FPS reinforces this, as it is the lowest score in the entire dataset and shows that the most demanding settings are simply too much for this GPU to handle at that resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's overall ranking in Control is 1484 out of 2888 tested combinations, placing it in the 51st percentile of all systems. This is a middle-of-the-road position, suggesting that while this pairing is competent, it is not exceptional for this specific game. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, and the data indicates that the RX 6700 XT is the weaker link. The GPU's percentileVsAllGpus is 72, meaning it outperforms 72% of all GPUs, while the CPU's percentileVsAllCpus is 89, indicating it outperforms 89% of all CPUs. This mismatch in relative performance explains why the combo rank is not higher—the GPU drags down the overall potential.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its performance. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, deltaPct -0.1). This places the CPU in a tight cluster of high-performing processors, meaning the CPU is not a limiting factor in this game. The GPU, meanwhile, has an average benchmark score of 27425, which is also close to its nearest rivals. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile scores 27435 (deltaPct 0), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 scores 27565 (deltaPct -0.5). This indicates the RX 6700 XT is performing at a level comparable to these other options, but none of them are top-tier.

Given that the combo ranks at 1484 out of 2888, it suggests that many other pairings achieve better results in Control. This could be due to the GPU's 72nd percentile ranking, which, while respectable, is not in the upper echelon. The data implies that to improve this combo's standing, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the CPU has headroom to support it. The 4K results, where the combo falls to 40-46 FPS on higher presets, are the primary reason the rank is not higher, as many competing combos likely maintain above 60 FPS at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60+ FPS?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 with Medium settings achieves 76 FPS average, and 1920x1080 with High settings achieves 89 FPS average. The 4K resolution only exceeds 60 FPS on the Low preset (72 FPS), so 1440p Medium is the highest quality setting that comfortably stays above 60 FPS.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the difference is 64 FPS (141 vs 77). At 2560x1440, it is 48 FPS (107 vs 59). At 3840x2160, it narrows to 32 FPS (72 vs 40). The gap shrinks as resolution increases, indicating GPU saturation reduces the impact of settings.

Q: Is this combo CPU-bound or GPU-bound in Control?

A: The data shows a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the combo delivers 141 FPS on Low, which is high and suggests CPU headroom. At 4K, the FPS drops to 46-72 depending on settings, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

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

A: The RX 6700 XT has an average benchmark score of 27425, with the RTX 4070 Mobile at 27435 (deltaPct 0) and the RTX 3090 at 27565 (deltaPct -0.5). This places it nearly identical to these options, within 0.5% performance.

Q: What is the CPU's ranking relative to other processors?

A: The CPU has an average benchmark score of 46062, with a percentileVsAllCpus of 89. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, scores 46030 (deltaPct 0.1), showing the CPU is performing at a high level.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K Low, it achieves 72 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it achieves 51 FPS. The High and Ultra presets drop to 46 and 40 FPS respectively, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. The Low preset averages 141 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 100 FPS with a minimum of 85 and maximum of 115, showing good consistency. The High preset averages 89 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 77 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the combo excels, with all presets maintaining playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably but remains respectable. The Low preset averages 107 FPS, which is still above 100. The Medium preset averages 76 FPS with a minimum of 65 and maximum of 87. The High preset averages 67 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 59 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the first instance where the average drops below 60 FPS, indicating that this is the boundary of the GPU's comfortable performance envelope.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles with higher settings. The Low preset averages 72 FPS, which is the only 4K preset to exceed 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS with a minimum of 44 and maximum of 59. The High preset averages 46 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 40 FPS. The data shows a clear decline from Low to Ultra, with a 32 FPS difference between the two extremes. The min FPS at 4K Medium (44) is particularly low, suggesting occasional frame drops that could impact gameplay smoothness.

The FPS breakdown reveals a consistent pattern: the combo performs best at 1080p, is playable at 1440p with most settings, and requires Low settings for a smooth 4K experience. The Medium preset's min/max data across all resolutions shows that frame times are relatively stable, with the spread ranging from 15 FPS at 4K to 30 FPS at 1080p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor from the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, and it has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. In Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations, and the data suggests it does this effectively. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus of 89 indicates it is a high-performing processor, and its average benchmark score of 46062 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals.

The CPU's benchmark scores provide context for its gaming performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 14769 in multicore and 2085 in singlecore. The singlecore score is particularly relevant for gaming, as many games rely heavily on single-thread performance. The Passmark single-thread score of 4516 and the Passmark physics score of 2570 further indicate strong per-core capability. In Control, which is an action-adventure game that may not heavily utilize all 14 cores, the single-thread performance is likely the more critical factor.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and DDR5 support ensure that data can be fed to the GPU quickly, but the data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 141 FPS, which is a high frame rate that requires strong CPU throughput. However, as resolution increases to 4K, the FPS drops significantly, indicating that the GPU is unable to keep up with the CPU's output. The CPU has headroom, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p is more gradual than the drop from 1440p to 4K, but it is the GPU that limits final performance.

The Core Ultra 5 235's 14 cores and 14 threads (no hyper-threading) may seem modest compared to some rivals, but its high boost clock of 5.00 GHz compensates. The data implies that for Control, the CPU is more than sufficient, and any performance issues are attributable to the GPU. The CPU's ranking at 89th percentile versus the GPU's 72nd percentile reinforces this conclusion.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the High preset at 89 FPS is the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it provides a smooth experience well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 77 FPS is also viable, but the 12 FPS gain from High to Ultra may not justify the potential visual improvements, depending on user preference. The Medium preset at 100 FPS is a good option for those who prioritize frame rate over fidelity.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 76 FPS is the recommended choice, as it is the highest setting that maintains an average above 75 FPS. The High preset at 67 FPS is also playable, but the frame rate is closer to the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS dips below 60, which may result in noticeable stuttering in fast-paced scenes. The Low preset at 107 FPS is the best choice for competitive play or if the user wants maximum smoothness, but it sacrifices visual quality.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 72 FPS is the only option that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 51 FPS is borderline, with a minimum FPS of 44 that could cause noticeable drops during intense action. The High and Ultra presets at 46 and 40 FPS respectively are not recommended, as they fall well below the 60 FPS target and may lead to a less enjoyable experience. If 4K is a priority, the Low preset is the only viable choice for this combo.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best overall experience across resolutions, as it provides a balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 100 FPS, which is excellent. At 1440p Medium, it achieves 76 FPS, which is good. At 4K Medium, it achieves 51 FPS, which is below 60 but still playable for less demanding games. Users who prefer higher visual settings should stick to 1080p or 1440p, while those who prioritize frame rate should consider the Low preset at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, featuring 2560 shading units and 40 ray tracing cores. Its base clock is 2321 MHz, with a boost clock of 2581 MHz, and it has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's percentileVsAllGpus of 72 indicates it is a solid mid-range performer, but its average benchmark score of 27425 places it just below some higher-end options.

In Control, the GPU is the primary factor determining performance at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 4K, the FPS drops significantly across all presets, which is a direct result of the GPU's pixel throughput limitations. The GPU's FP32 performance of 13.21 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s are modest by modern standards, and the 4K results reflect this. The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for this game, as none of the presets appear to be limited by memory capacity, but the bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s is a constraint at high resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide additional context. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 2435, and in Passmark G3D, it scores 19786. These scores are comparable to the GPU's nearest rivals: the RTX 4070 Mobile scores 27435 in average benchmark, and the RTX 3090 scores 27565. The deltaPct values are 0 and -0.5 respectively, indicating the RX 6700 XT is essentially tied with these GPUs in overall performance. However, in Control specifically, the GPU's performance at 4K is underwhelming, suggesting the game may favor NVIDIA or other architectures.

The GPU's role is clear: it provides adequate performance at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles at 4K. The 4K results, particularly at High and Ultra settings (46 and 40 FPS), indicate that this GPU is not designed for 4K gaming at high fidelity. The boost clock of 2581 MHz is reasonably high, but it cannot overcome the architectural limitations of the RDNA 2.0 design when faced with 4K pixel counts. The data implies that for this combo, the GPU is the component to upgrade if the user wants to achieve 4K gaming at higher settings.