Control

Control is an Action Adventure title that stresses both CPU and GPU depending on the settings and resolution chosen. The tested configuration pairs the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, a mobile-class CPU with 16 cores and 22 threads running at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, alongside a desktop-class GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory. Benchmark results show that this combination delivers a wide range of frame rates, from a highly playable 57 FPS at 4K High to a very fluid 177 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating that the system scales predictably with workload. The data reveals that the GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU's capabilities become more relevant at lower settings and resolutions where frame rates are highest.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is built on the Meteor Lake architecture using a 7 nm process node from Intel. It features 16 cores and 22 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz that can boost up to 4.80 GHz. This processor includes 24 MB of shared L3 cache, with 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 112 KB of L1 cache per core. Its average benchmark score is 32,697, placing it in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs tested on the platform, which indicates strong multi-threaded performance relative to the broader market.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is most evident in the lower-resolution, lower-settings scenarios where the GPU is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 177 FPS, which is the highest measured average in the entire dataset. This result suggests that the processor's single-thread and multi-thread capabilities are sufficient to feed the GPU with data at high rates, allowing the frame rate to climb well past the 144 FPS refresh rate that many displays offer. The processor's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, has a nearly identical average benchmark score of 32,707, showing a delta of 0% from the 155H. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 trails by just 0.1%, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is 0.2% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is 0.4% ahead, all indicating that the 155H's processing power is highly competitive within its class.

The CPU's 22 threads are relevant for Control's physics and AI calculations, which are not the primary bottleneck in most tested configurations. The data shows that at 1440p High, the average FPS is 84, while at 4K High it drops to 57, a reduction of 27 FPS. This pattern suggests that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload expands significantly, and the CPU's performance becomes less critical. However, the CPU's ability to maintain high frame rates at 1080p Low, where the average is 177 FPS, demonstrates that it does not artificially cap performance in less demanding graphical scenarios. The processor's memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 interface is another factor that supports smooth data flow, though the game's performance at higher resolutions is more heavily influenced by the GPU's 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process node. It features 9,728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output units, with 76 ray tracing cores and 304 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2,205 MHz and a boost clock of 2,505 MHz, with memory running at an effective speed of 22.4 Gbps. It is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. The card's average benchmark score is 54,247, placing it in the 86th percentile among all GPUs, with a passmark G3D score of 34,457.

In Control, the GPU's performance is the primary driver of frame rates at all tested resolutions, but its impact becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 126, while at 4K Medium it falls to 64, a reduction of 62 FPS. This substantial drop highlights the GPU's workload scaling with pixel count. The RTX 4080's nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, has an average benchmark score of 54,209, showing a delta of only 0.1%, meaning the two cards perform nearly identically in synthetic tests. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% behind, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are 2.6% and 2.7% behind, respectively, underscoring the RTX 4080's strong position in the GPU hierarchy.

The 16 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Control at any tested setting, as the game's texture and geometry demands do not appear to exceed this capacity. The memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s is critical for high-resolution rendering, and the data shows that the GPU can maintain 57 FPS at 4K High and 50 FPS at 4K Ultra, which are playable rates for a demanding title. The GPU's pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s support its ability to handle the game's visual effects, though the measured frame rates at 4K Ultra (50 FPS) suggest that the card is near its limit in the most demanding configuration tested.

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

Examining the measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance at higher settings and resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 112 FPS at 1080p to 84 FPS at 1440p, a decrease of 28 FPS, and then further to 57 FPS at 4K, another 27 FPS reduction. This scaling is typical of a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU's workload does not increase proportionally with resolution. The frame rate reduction from 1080p to 1440p is 25%, and from 1440p to 4K is 32%, showing that the GPU's performance penalty grows with each resolution step.

At Low settings, the scaling is more pronounced in raw FPS terms but similar in percentage. The average FPS at 1080p Low is 177, dropping to 134 at 1440p Low (a 43 FPS decrease) and then to 90 at 4K Low (a 44 FPS decrease). This represents a 24% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 33% drop from 1440p to 4K. The consistent percentage drops across settings indicate that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor, as the CPU can handle the lower graphical workloads without becoming a constraint. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 177 FPS, which is a high frame rate, but even this figure is not limited by the CPU, as the GPU is still the component that determines the final output.

The data suggests that at 4K resolution, the RTX 4080 is the clear bottleneck, with all settings yielding frame rates below 90 FPS. At 1080p, the system can exceed 100 FPS at High and 90 FPS at Ultra, indicating that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. The transition from 1440p to 4K shows the steepest relative drop in performance, particularly at Medium settings where the FPS falls from 95 to 64, a 33% reduction. This scaling behavior is consistent with the GPU's memory bandwidth and shading capabilities being saturated at higher pixel counts, while the CPU's 16 cores and 22 threads provide ample headroom for the game's logic at all tested resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 879 out of 2,888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 69.6th percentile of all configurations evaluated. This ranking reflects the system's strong overall performance, as it outperforms the majority of tested combos while being surpassed by a significant number of higher-end configurations. The rank is a composite measure that considers the balance between CPU and GPU capabilities, and in this case, the RTX 4080's high-end status is somewhat tempered by the mobile-class CPU, which is not the fastest processor available.

The combo's ranking is influenced by the fact that Control is a GPU-intensive game at higher resolutions, and the RTX 4080's 86th percentile GPU score contributes positively to the overall position. However, the CPU's 83rd percentile score is slightly lower, and in scenarios where the CPU might become a bottleneck, such as at 1080p Low, the combo's ranking could be affected. The nearest rival GPUs, such as the RTX 4080 SUPER with a 0.1% delta, would likely result in a marginally higher combo rank if paired with a similar CPU, while the AMD Radeon 8060S, which is 2.7% behind in GPU score, would likely lower the rank. The data shows that this combo is well above the median, but not at the top tier, as there are 2,009 combos ranked higher, indicating that systems with more powerful CPUs or GPUs can achieve better frame rates in Control.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all tested configurations. At 1080p, the system delivers an average of 177 FPS on Low settings, 126 FPS on Medium, 112 FPS on High, and 97 FPS on Ultra. The Medium settings row includes a minimum FPS of 107 and a maximum of 144, showing some frame time variability, while the other settings do not have min/max data recorded. At 1440p, the averages are 134 FPS on Low, 95 FPS on Medium (with min 81 and max 109), 84 FPS on High, and 73 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the averages drop to 90 FPS on Low, 64 FPS on Medium (with min 55 and max 74), 57 FPS on High, and 50 FPS on Ultra.

The progression from Low to Ultra settings at any given resolution shows a consistent reduction in frame rate. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 80 FPS, representing a 45% reduction in performance. At 1440p, the difference is 61 FPS, a 46% reduction, and at 4K, the difference is 40 FPS, a 44% reduction. This consistency indicates that the graphical settings have a uniform impact on performance across resolutions, with the Ultra preset being the most demanding. The 4K Ultra result of 50 FPS is the lowest measured average, and while it is technically playable, it may not provide the smooth experience that higher frame rates offer. In contrast, the 1080p Low result of 177 FPS is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common in gaming monitors, suggesting that the system can take full advantage of high-refresh displays at lower settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the resolution and the desired frame rate target. For 1080p, the Medium preset provides an average of 126 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and close to the 144 Hz refresh rate, making it a strong choice for a balance of visual quality and performance. The High preset at 112 FPS is also excellent, offering slightly better visuals with only a 14 FPS penalty. The Ultra preset at 97 FPS is still very playable and provides the best visual fidelity, though the frame rate drops below 100 FPS. For gamers prioritizing maximum smoothness, the Low preset at 177 FPS is the best option, but the visual quality reduction may not justify the extra frame rate for most users.

At 1440p, the Medium preset yields an average of 95 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and provides a good balance for a high-resolution experience. The High preset at 84 FPS is also solid, though it approaches the 60 FPS minimum threshold in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset at 73 FPS is playable but may experience noticeable frame drops in intense action, as indicated by the lack of min/max data. For a consistently smooth experience, Medium is recommended, as it offers a 31 FPS advantage over Ultra while still providing good graphical fidelity. At 4K, the Medium preset at 64 FPS is the best option, as it stays above 60 FPS and provides a playable experience. The High preset at 57 FPS is acceptable but may dip below 60 FPS in some scenes, while the Ultra preset at 50 FPS is the least desirable, as it falls below the 60 FPS target. The Low preset at 90 FPS is an option for maximum performance, but the visual compromise is significant at this resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Control?

A: The highest average FPS is 177, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, at 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 64, which is above 60. At High settings, the average drops to 57 FPS, which is below 60.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER's score of 54,209, indicating nearly identical performance.

Q: What is the CPU's ranking among all CPUs tested?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,697.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra?

A: The average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 97, while at 4K Ultra it is 50, representing a decrease of 47 FPS.

Q: Which settings preset offers the best balance at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset at 1440p provides an average of 95 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, while the Ultra preset drops to 73 FPS.