Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, exhibits a clear performance hierarchy when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the processor providing ample headroom to push frame rates to very high levels at 1080p. From the 4K Ultra average of 63 FPS to the 1080p Low average of 226 FPS, the scaling pattern tells a definitive story about where the bottleneck lies in this configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, pointing directly at the GPU as the primary limiting factor in this game. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 143 FPS at 1920x1080 to 108 FPS at 2560x1440, a 24.5% reduction, and then further down to 73 FPS at 3840x2160, which is another 32.4% drop from the 1440p figure. This near-linear decline with pixel count is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario; the CPU is not the constraint.

The pattern holds across all quality presets. At Low settings, the system produces 226 FPS at 1080p, which falls to 171 FPS at 1440p and 115 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is 55 FPS, while the delta between 1440p and 4K is 56 FPS. This almost identical absolute drop between each resolution step reinforces the notion that the rendering workload, not the processor's capability, is dictating performance.

Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling, which is expected given the increased pixel and shading demands. The average frame rate of 124 FPS at 1080p falls to 94 FPS at 1440p and then plummets to 63 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only sub-60 FPS average in the entire dataset, indicating that while the RTX 4070 Ti is powerful, it is not sufficient to maintain high refresh rates at maximum fidelity in 4K. The 1080p Ultra score of 124 FPS, however, shows that the combination is more than capable of delivering a smooth experience at lower resolutions.

The data suggests that for players targeting 4K, the RTX 4070 Ti will require settings adjustments to hit 60 FPS or beyond, as the High preset at 73 FPS is the only 4K setting that clears that threshold comfortably. Conversely, at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU has enough headroom to allow for high refresh rate monitors, with even the Ultra preset at 1440p hitting 94 FPS. The limiting component in this game is unequivocally the graphics card; the CPU's influence is minimal, as evidenced by the consistent frame rate scaling across resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the dominant hardware component in this configuration for Control. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for the game's textures and effects at 1440p and even 4K, as the data shows playable frame rates at High settings. The GPU's boost clock of 2610 MHz, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, contributes to its raw compute power, which is reflected in its performance metrics.

The RTX 4070 Ti's benchmark scores contextualize its gaming performance. With a Passmark G3D score of 31624 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5024, the card sits in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. This high percentile ranking is consistent with the observed frame rates, which show the card handling 1080p and 1440p with ease. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile and the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, with the RTX 4070 Ti trailing the former by 0.8% and the latter by 1.3% in average benchmark score.

The GPU's VRAM capacity is a key factor in its 4K performance. While 12 GB is not excessive by modern standards, it is enough to prevent memory-related stutters in Control, as evidenced by the minimum FPS figures at Medium settings: 70 FPS at 4K and 103 FPS at 1440p. These minimums, while lower than the averages, are still playable and indicate that the memory subsystem is not a critical bottleneck. The card's 40.09 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is the engine behind the high frame rates, and its 60 RT cores suggest it is well-prepared for any ray-traced effects, though the measured data does not specify if they were enabled.

The GPU's role is clear: it is the workhorse that determines the frame rate ceiling. The CPU's job is to feed it, and in this case, it does so without becoming a limiting factor. The performance gap between Low and Ultra settings at any given resolution is substantial, highlighting the GPU's workload scaling. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low (226 FPS) and Ultra (124 FPS) is 102 FPS, a massive 45% reduction. This shows that the game's visual fidelity settings have a profound impact on the GPU's workload, and the RTX 4070 Ti has the headroom to absorb these changes at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this CPU and GPU combo in Control?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 226 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this configuration maintain a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, at 4K with High settings, the average frame rate is 73 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. However, at Ultra settings, the average drops to 63 FPS, which is still playable but closer to the threshold.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. It is 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G and 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, but it is 0.6% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600K.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and High settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 121 FPS, while the High preset yields an average of 108 FPS. This represents a 13 FPS difference, or approximately a 10.7% reduction in frame rate when moving from Medium to High.

Q: Is the GPU or the CPU the primary bottleneck for this game at 1080p?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. At 1080p, the frame rate scales significantly with graphics settings (from 226 FPS on Low to 124 FPS on Ultra), showing that the GPU's workload is the limiting factor. The CPU has enough headroom to push much higher frame rates if the GPU could keep up.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 Ti's average benchmark score compare to the RTX 5090 Mobile?

A: The RTX 4070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 44795, which is 0.8% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile's average score of 45152.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across a grid of resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 226 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings drop the average to 161 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS. High settings produce an average of 143 FPS, and Ultra settings yield an average of 124 FPS. All 1080p results are well above 100 FPS, making this resolution ideal for high refresh rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset averages 171 FPS, still a very high score. Medium settings average 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 140 FPS. The High preset averages 108 FPS, and Ultra settings average 94 FPS. These figures indicate that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combination, as even the highest quality settings remain comfortably above 90 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's workload becomes more demanding. The Low preset averages 115 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings average 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. High settings average 73 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 63 FPS. The 4K results show that while the RTX 4070 Ti can handle the resolution, users will need to compromise on settings to maintain high frame rates. The Ultra preset's 63 FPS average is the only result below the 70 FPS mark in the entire dataset, and the Medium preset's 70 FPS minimum is the lowest recorded.

The data also reveals the scaling efficiency of the GPU. Across all resolutions, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial, with the largest gap at 1080p (102 FPS) and the smallest at 4K (52 FPS). This indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU is more saturated, making the impact of quality settings less pronounced in absolute terms, though still significant in percentage.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Control, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti holds a strong position. The combination ranks 339th out of 2888 tested combos, placing it in the top 11.7% of all configurations in the database. This top-tier ranking is a direct reflection of the high frame rates observed in the measured data, particularly at 1080p and 1440p where the system excels.

The rank of 339 confirms the balance of the components. The RTX 4070 Ti, being in the 84th percentile of all GPUs, provides the bulk of the gaming performance, while the Core Ultra 5 245, in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, ensures the system is never held back by processor limitations. This synergy is evident in the fact that the combo ranks much higher than the percentile of either component alone, suggesting that the combination is greater than the sum of its parts for this particular game.

Compared to other combos that might feature less capable CPUs or GPUs, this ranking shows that the system is well-suited for Control. The 339th rank out of 2888 means there are 2549 other combos that perform worse, which is a strong indication of the system's capability. For a game like Control, which can be demanding at high settings, this combo provides a high level of performance that would satisfy most users, especially those with 1440p monitors or those willing to adjust settings for 4K play.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 plays a supporting role in this configuration, but it is a role it executes flawlessly. With 14 cores and 14 threads, this Arrow Lake-S architecture processor is a modern powerhouse. Its base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz ensure that it can handle the game's logic and physics without breaking a sweat. The data supports this, as the CPU's high percentile ranking (90th) and average benchmark score of 48995 indicate it is far more powerful than what a game like Control requires.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and support for DDR5 memory provide a fast conduit for data to flow to the GPU. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce latency for frequently accessed data. The processor's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648, confirms its capability. This processing power is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 4070 Ti, as evidenced by the fact that the frame rate scaling across resolutions follows the GPU's workload profile almost perfectly.

The CPU's role becomes even more apparent when considering the high refresh rates at 1080p. At Low settings, the system hits 226 FPS, which requires the CPU to process and submit draw calls at a very high rate. The Core Ultra 5 245 handles this without issue, as the frame rate is not artificially capped or limited by processor performance. In contrast, a weaker CPU would likely cause the frame rate to plateau or fluctuate at these high values.

In summary, the Core Ultra 5 245 provides a solid foundation for the RTX 4070 Ti. It is a high-performance processor that will not bottleneck the GPU in this game, allowing the graphics card to operate at its full potential. The CPU's 65W TDP also indicates it is an efficient choice, though the database does not provide specific power consumption metrics for this game. The overall performance of this combo suggests that the CPU is a perfect match for the GPU, ensuring that users can enjoy Control at high frame rates without worrying about processor-related stutters or frame drops.