Control

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile delivers a playable experience in Control, though the data reveals a clear performance ceiling. This combination ranks 2278th out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the lower-mid tier of the database. The benchmark results show a system that is consistently GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU holds its own at 1080p. The following analysis breaks down how this hardware handles the game’s demands, using only the measured FPS data and component specifications provided.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions shows a steep and predictable decline as pixel count increases, but the rate of that decline reveals where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 124 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 94 FPS, a 24% reduction, and 4K further reduces it to 64 FPS, another 32% drop from 1440p. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario: the RTX 4060 Mobile’s rendering workload grows faster than the CPU’s frame preparation time, so the graphics card becomes the limiting factor.

The High settings preset tells a similar story. At 1080p, the average is 79 FPS. At 1440p, it falls to 59 FPS (a 25% decrease), and at 4K it drops to 40 FPS (a 32% decrease from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage drops—roughly 25% between 1080p and 1440p, and another 30% between 1440p and 4K—suggests that the RTX 4060 Mobile’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions. The GPU’s 11.61 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is the likely constraint, as the CPU’s 16 cores and 22 threads are not being pushed to their limits at these frame rates.

Notably, the 4K Ultra preset yields only 35 FPS, which is below the 40 FPS threshold often considered the minimum for smooth gameplay. The 4K Medium preset fares slightly better at 45 FPS, but still struggles. This indicates that 4K is only viable at Low settings (64 FPS) for this hardware, and even then, the experience is marginal. The data implies that Control at 4K requires a more powerful GPU, as the RTX 4060 Mobile simply lacks the pixel throughput to maintain high frame rates with demanding settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is a Meteor Lake mobile processor with 16 cores and 22 threads, a configuration that should handle Control’s physics and AI workloads without breaking a sweat. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz are respectable for a 28 W TDP part, and the 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps with data locality. In the benchmark data, the CPU’s role is most apparent at 1080p Low settings, where the combo hits 124 FPS—a frame rate that suggests the CPU is capable of feeding frames faster than the GPU can render them at lower resolutions.

However, the CPU’s performance relative to its peers is middling. In the PassMark multithread test, it scores 25933, which places it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, has an average score of 33989, a mere 0.3% difference, indicating that these two processors are nearly identical in general compute. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, a desktop part, scores 34260, just 0.5% higher, showing that the Ultra 7 165H holds its own against older desktop chips despite its mobile form factor.

In Control, the CPU’s influence fades as resolution increases. At 1440p High, the FPS drops to 59, and at 4K High, to 40—both figures point to GPU limitation. The CPU’s single-thread performance, measured at 1759 in Cinebench R23, is adequate for the game’s main thread, but it never becomes the bottleneck. This is evident from the fact that lowering settings from High to Low at 1080p only yields a 45 FPS jump (79 to 124), which is more attributable to reduced GPU load than to CPU headroom. The data suggests that the Ultra 7 165H is a capable partner, but it is not the star of this combo in Control.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is the primary driver of performance in Control, and its specifications explain the measured FPS patterns. Built on the AD107 chip with 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, this GPU offers 11.61 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is modest for 4K gaming but adequate for 1080p and 1440p. The boost clock of 1890 MHz is standard for a mobile 40-series part, and the 115 W TDP reflects its performance class.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 67th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 22729. Its nearest rival is the desktop RTX 2080, which scores 22895, a 0.7% difference—meaning the RTX 4060 Mobile is nearly as fast as a previous-generation high-end desktop card. This is reflected in Control, where the combo achieves 79 FPS at 1080p High, a respectable number for a demanding title. However, the GPU’s limitations surface at 4K, where even Low settings only reach 64 FPS.

The RTX 4060 Mobile’s VRAM is a potential concern. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 35, and the frame pacing likely suffers as the 8 GB buffer fills with textures and effects. The measured min FPS for 4K Medium is 38, suggesting occasional stutters. This is not a VRAM capacity failure—8 GB is sufficient for Control at these settings—but the bandwidth constraint is real. The GPU’s 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is a third of what high-end desktop cards offer, and this becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The data indicates that the RTX 4060 Mobile is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it delivers smooth frame rates, rather than 4K.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?*

A: The data shows 1440p with High settings yields 59 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. 1080p with High settings achieves 79 FPS, making it the most balanced option. 4K is only viable at Low settings (64 FPS), which sacrifices visual fidelity.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 Mobile compare to its nearest rival in raw performance?

A: The RTX 4060 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 22729, while the desktop RTX 2080 scores 22895, a 0.7% difference. This means the mobile GPU performs nearly identically to a previous-generation high-end desktop card.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low, the combo hits 124 FPS, which is likely GPU-limited since the CPU can prepare frames faster. The CPU’s single-thread score of 1759 in Cinebench R23 is adequate, but the GPU’s rendering workload is the primary constraint.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Control?*

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 64 FPS. Medium settings drop to 45 FPS, and Ultra falls to 35 FPS, which is below the smooth gameplay threshold. The GPU’s 256.0 GB/s bandwidth and 11.61 TFLOPS compute are insufficient for high-fidelity 4K.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H rank among all CPUs?

A: It scores in the 84th percentile. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, is only 0.3% faster in average benchmark score, indicating near-parity in general compute performance.

Q: What is the measured FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The average is 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 77. This is a smooth experience, making 1440p Medium a good balance between quality and performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H and RTX 4060 Mobile combination ranks 2278th out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 61st percentile. This is a mid-tier ranking, indicating that while the hardware is capable, many other configurations outperform it. The CPU’s 84th percentile standing is offset by the GPU’s 67th percentile, pulling the overall combo down. In practical terms, this ranking means the combo is better than most, but not exceptional for a modern gaming laptop.

The ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. At 1080p High, the 79 FPS average is solid, but not class-leading. The gap between this combo and top-tier ones likely stems from the GPU’s mobile form factor, which trades performance for portability. The CPU’s 16 cores and 22 threads are a strength, but Control is not a CPU-heavy title, so this advantage does not translate into higher frame rates. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield a more significant performance boost than upgrading the CPU for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset, with min and max values where available:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 (4K) | High | 40 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Low | 64 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Medium | 45 | 38 | 52 |

| 3840x2160 (4K) | Ultra | 35 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 (1440p) | High | 59 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 (1440p) | Low | 94 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 (1440p) | Medium | 67 | 57 | 77 |

| 2560x1440 (1440p) | Ultra | 52 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 (1080p) | High | 79 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 (1080p) | Low | 124 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 (1080p) | Medium | 88 | 75 | 102 |

| 1920x1080 (1080p) | Ultra | 68 | - | - |

At 1080p, the combo ranges from 124 FPS at Low to 68 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset offers a balanced 88 FPS with a minimum of 75, which is smooth for most players. At 1440p, the range narrows from 94 FPS at Low to 52 FPS at Ultra, with High at 59 FPS being the sweet spot for quality. At 4K, the range is 64 FPS at Low down to 35 FPS at Ultra, with Medium at 45 FPS—the latter two are not recommended for consistent gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data points to 1080p with Medium settings, which averages 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 102. This preset provides a smooth frame rate that stays above 60 FPS even in demanding scenes, while still offering decent visual quality. The High preset at 1080p is also viable at 79 FPS, but the 9 FPS difference between Medium and High is modest, making Medium the more efficient choice for maintaining headroom.

At 1440p, High settings offer 59 FPS, which is borderline for competitive play but acceptable for a story-driven game like Control. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 67 FPS, making it the recommended choice for this resolution if you want a buffer above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 52 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced combat.

For 4K, the only viable option is Low settings, which averages 64 FPS. However, this sacrifices significant visual quality. The Medium preset at 4K (45 FPS) and High preset (40 FPS) are below the 60 FPS threshold, and the Ultra preset (35 FPS) is not recommended. Given the hardware constraints, 4K gaming in Control should be avoided unless you prioritize resolution over frame rate and are willing to accept lower settings. Overall, the data suggests that 1080p Medium is the best balance of performance and quality for this combo, with 1440p Medium as a secondary option for higher resolution.