Control

Control is a 2019 Action Adventure title that stresses both the CPU's physics and the GPU's rendering pipeline, and this particular pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER produces a compelling dataset. The measured frames per second across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is consistently capable, but the relationship between the processor's 14 cores and the graphics card's 12 GB of memory dictates where the bottlenecks appear. The data suggests a configuration that excels at high refresh rate 1440p gaming while remaining viable for 4K, though the scaling patterns hint at a GPU that is doing most of the heavy lifting at lower resolutions.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This is a modern desktop part that sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs according to the benchmark data, indicating that it is a high-performing chip relative to the entire market. In the context of Control, a game that uses physics-based destruction and complex AI routines, the core count is less critical than the single-thread performance, as the game's engine typically scales better with higher clock speeds on fewer threads rather than utilizing all 14 cores simultaneously.

The benchmark results for this CPU show a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14769 and a single-core score of 2085, which places it in a strong position for gaming workloads. The single-core score is particularly relevant for Control, as it suggests the processor can handle the game's primary game thread without becoming a limiting factor. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 235 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, showing a delta of just 0.1% in average benchmark score, and it is also within 0.1% of the Intel Core i9-13900HX. This means that for CPU-bound scenarios, the performance is virtually indistinguishable from these other high-end parts.

The PassMark single-thread score of 4516 further reinforces this, showing that the chip has excellent per-core performance. In Control, this translates to high frame rates in less demanding scenes, but the 14 threads are still useful for background tasks and for the game's streaming systems. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared, which is a reasonable amount for a modern game, and the memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s on a dual-channel DDR5 setup provides enough data throughput to avoid starving the GPU. The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration, as the frame rates scale more dramatically with resolution changes than with settings changes, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 438th out of 2888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 15% of all configurations. This is a strong showing, but the rank is more indicative of the GPU's strength than the CPU's, as the RTX 4070 SUPER is a high-end graphics card that can push frame rates higher than most processors can keep up with. The percentile rank of the combo suggests that there are many other systems with faster processors and similar or better graphics cards, but this pairing is still in the upper echelon of what is available.

Looking at the GPU's nearest rivals provides context for this ranking. The RTX 4070 SUPER is just 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile, and 1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile. This is surprising, as the RTX 4090 Mobile is a flagship laptop part, but the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER with its higher clock speeds and power budget manages to outperform it in this game. The fact that the combo rank is 438 out of 2888, while the GPU is in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, indicates that the CPU is holding the system back slightly, as a more powerful processor might push this combo higher up the list.

The data implies that this is a balanced system for Control, but not optimized. The CPU's performance is comparable to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Core i9-13900HX, both of which are also high-end parts, so the bottleneck is not severe. However, if a user were to pair the RTX 4070 SUPER with a top-tier CPU, they would likely see a higher combo rank, as the GPU has headroom to push more frames in less demanding scenes. The measured FPS data supports this, as the frame rates at 1080p are very high, suggesting that the CPU is just barely keeping up with the GPU's output.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375's score of 46030, and 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i9-13900HX's score of 46098. This places the CPU in a dead heat with these two processors, meaning that in synthetic tests, there is no meaningful performance difference.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming based on the measured data?

A: At 2560x1440, the "High" preset delivers an average of 102 FPS, while the "Ultra" preset drops to 89 FPS. The "Medium" preset offers 115 FPS, and "Low" reaches 162 FPS. For a balance of visual fidelity and performance, "High" is the best choice, as it maintains over 100 FPS without sacrificing significant graphical quality.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB of VRAM sufficient for Control at 4K?

A: The measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with "High" settings, the average FPS is 69, and with "Ultra" settings, it drops to 60 FPS. While the VRAM is not directly measured, the performance at 4K suggests that the 12 GB capacity is sufficient for this game, as the frame rates remain playable even at the highest settings.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there from 1080p to 4K at "Medium" settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with "Medium" settings, the average FPS is 152, while at 3840x2160 with "Medium" settings, it drops to 78 FPS. This represents a 49% reduction in frame rate, which indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 438 out of 2888 indicate about the system's balance?

A: The rank of 438 out of 2888 puts this combo in the top 15% of all tested configurations. This suggests a well-balanced system, but the fact that the GPU is in the 83rd percentile while the CPU is in the 89th percentile indicates that the CPU is slightly weaker relative to the GPU, preventing the combo from ranking higher.

Q: Can the RTX 4070 SUPER maintain 60 FPS at 4K with "Ultra" settings?

A: Yes, the measured data shows that at 3840x2160 with "Ultra" settings, the average FPS is exactly 60. This means the system can achieve a stable 60 FPS experience at the highest graphical preset, though it leaves no headroom for frame rate dips.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its peak performance. With "Low" settings, the average FPS is 214, which is an extremely high frame rate that is likely limited by the CPU's single-thread performance. Moving to "Medium" settings, the average drops to 152 FPS, with a minimum of 130 and a maximum of 175, showing a typical range of frame times. "High" settings yield an average of 135 FPS, while "Ultra" settings produce an average of 118 FPS. The scaling from "Low" to "Ultra" is a 45% reduction in frame rate, which is a significant but expected drop as the GPU's workload increases with more demanding visual effects.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are still very high but show a clear shift towards GPU limitation. "Low" settings produce an average of 162 FPS, which is still a fantastic experience for competitive play. "Medium" settings average 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 and a maximum of 133, providing a very smooth experience. "High" settings average 102 FPS, and "Ultra" settings average 89 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at "Ultra" settings is from 118 FPS to 89 FPS, a 25% reduction, which is less than the settings-based drop at the same resolution, indicating that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck.

At 3840x2160, the system is clearly GPU-bound. "Low" settings average 110 FPS, which is impressive for 4K, but "Medium" settings drop to 78 FPS, with a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 90. "High" settings average 69 FPS, and "Ultra" settings average exactly 60 FPS. The jump from "Low" to "Ultra" at 4K is a 45% reduction in frame rate, which is similar to the drop at 1080p, but the absolute values are much lower. The data shows that for a 60 FPS experience at 4K, "Ultra" is just barely achievable, while "High" provides a small buffer for frame time consistency.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a desktop graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU has a boost clock of 2475 MHz and a base clock of 1980 MHz, which are high clock speeds that contribute to its strong performance. In Control, the GPU's role is critical, as the game uses advanced DirectX 12 features and ray tracing effects that heavily tax the graphics processor. The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for this game at all tested resolutions, as the frame rates do not show a sudden drop that would indicate memory swapping.

The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 29995 places it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, which is a strong result. When compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4070 SUPER is 0.1% faster than the Quadro M6000 24 GB and the RTX 5050 Mobile, and 1% faster than the RTX 4090 Mobile. This is notable because the RTX 4090 Mobile is a higher-tier product, but the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER's higher power envelope and clock speeds allow it to outperform it in this game. The data implies that the RTX 4070 SUPER is a very capable 1440p card that can also handle 4K gaming at reduced settings.

The GPU's memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s is a key factor in its performance at higher resolutions. At 4K, the frame rates drop significantly from 1080p, but the scaling is consistent with a card that has adequate memory bandwidth. The 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores are also important for Control's ray tracing features, though the measured FPS data does not differentiate between ray tracing on and off. The GPU's TDP of 220 W is reasonable for this performance level, and the data shows that it is the primary driver of frame rates in this configuration.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For the best overall experience, the "High" preset at 2560x1440 is the sweet spot, delivering an average of 102 FPS with no minimum frame rate data provided, which suggests a stable experience. This resolution offers a significant visual improvement over 1080p while maintaining frame rates well above 100 FPS. If a user prioritizes maximum frame rates, "Low" settings at 1920x1080 provides 214 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play, but the visual fidelity is greatly reduced.

At 4K, the "High" preset is the recommended choice, as it averages 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The "Ultra" preset at 4K averages exactly 60 FPS, but this leaves no headroom for dips in demanding scenes, making "High" a safer option. The "Medium" preset at 4K averages 78 FPS, which is a good balance between quality and performance, but the "High" preset offers a better visual experience with only a 9 FPS penalty.

For users with 1080p displays, the "Ultra" preset is the best choice, as it averages 118 FPS, which is still very high and provides the most visually impressive experience. The "High" preset at 1080p averages 135 FPS, but the difference in visual quality between "High" and "Ultra" is often noticeable in this game, so the frame rate reduction is worth it. The data suggests that the system is well-suited for high refresh rate 1080p gaming with all settings maxed out.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. At "Medium" settings, the average FPS drops from 152 at 1080p to 115 at 1440p, a 24% reduction, and then to 78 at 4K, a further 32% reduction. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound system, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant while the GPU's workload increases quadratically with resolution. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 49%, which is a significant reduction but not as severe as it would be with a weaker GPU.

At "Ultra" settings, the scaling is similar: 118 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 60 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25%, and from 1440p to 4K is 33%. This consistent pattern across settings confirms that the RTX 4070 SUPER is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance, while strong, is not the primary factor in the frame rate drops, as the same CPU would produce similar frame rates with a more powerful GPU at 1080p.

The data implies that for this game, the RTX 4070 SUPER is best utilized at 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates with all settings. At 4K, the GPU's limitations become apparent, as the frame rates drop to around 60-78 FPS depending on the settings. The CPU's 14 cores and high clock speeds are sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p, but at higher resolutions, the GPU's rendering capabilities are the deciding factor. This analysis suggests that if a user wants to achieve higher frame rates at 4K, they would need to upgrade the GPU, while the CPU has more headroom for future upgrades.