Control

Control pairs a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265 with a 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, producing a combination that ranks 2274th out of 2888 tested configurations in this title. The benchmark data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics subsystem, particularly at higher resolutions, while the processor’s substantial thread count provides ample headroom for the game’s physics and logic loads. The measured frame rates range from a playable 107 FPS at 1080p Low to a marginal 30 FPS at 4K Ultra, illustrating a steep performance curve that hinges almost entirely on the GPU’s capabilities.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 30 MB shared L3 cache. This is a desktop-class chip with a 65 W TDP, and its benchmark scores place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 64640. In synthetic tests, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960, indicating strong performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

In the context of Control, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, physics calculations, and draw call processing. The data suggests that the processor is not the bottleneck in this configuration. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 107 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all tested settings. If the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see frame rates plateau regardless of resolution or graphics settings. Instead, the FPS scales predictably with GPU load, dropping to 68 FPS at 1080p High and 59 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This pattern indicates that the Core Ultra 7 265 has ample processing headroom to feed the RTX 2060 at all tested settings.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 7 265 sits within a tight performance band. It is 0.3% behind the AMD EPYC 4464P, which has an average score of 64823, and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which scores 64438. The margin against the AMD EPYC 7343 is 0.7% in favor of the Intel chip, while the AMD EPYC 9124 is 0.7% ahead. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming, reinforcing that the CPU’s performance is more than sufficient for Control’s demands.

The 20-core configuration may seem excessive for a game released in 2019, but the PassMark multi-thread score of 49682 and the data compression score of 522983 suggest that the chip excels at parallel workloads. Control is known for its physics-heavy environments and destructible objects, which can benefit from additional cores. However, the measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings shows no sign of CPU-induced frame drops or stutter, as even the lowest average FPS of 30 at 4K Ultra is a GPU-bound result. The processor’s single-thread performance, evidenced by a PassMark single-thread score of 4689, ensures that the game’s main thread is well served, preventing any single-core bottleneck from emerging.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the definitive limiting factor in this configuration. It features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU is based on the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process, with a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz. It has 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, delivering a pixel rate of 80.64 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s. The card’s FP32 performance is 6.451 TFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards but was competitive at its 2019 launch.

The GPU’s benchmark data places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 15290. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, which scores 15283, a 0% difference, making them statistically identical in synthetic benchmarks. The AMD Radeon 680M is 0.1% behind, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is 0.6% ahead. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 leads this group by 0.8%, with a score of 15171. These tight margins indicate that the RTX 2060 is a mid-range performer, and its age is evident in the measured game results.

In Control, the RTX 2060’s 6 GB VRAM capacity becomes a concern at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 30, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K Medium setting yields 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS, showing significant frame time variance. The 4K Low setting achieves 55 FPS, which is playable, but the jump from Low to Medium at 4K costs 16 FPS, a 29% reduction. This suggests that the GPU is struggling with memory bandwidth and capacity as texture sizes increase.

The GPU’s role as the bottleneck is confirmed by the scaling from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 107 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 55 FPS, a 49% reduction. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario, where the CPU’s frame generation capacity is far above what the GPU can render at higher pixel counts. The RTX 2060’s boost clock of 1680 MHz is relatively low, and its 6 GB VRAM is insufficient for the game’s highest quality presets at 4K, leading to the observed frame rate collapse. The card’s 336.0 GB/s bandwidth is also a limiting factor, as Control’s texture streaming can saturate this at high resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 107, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only setting where the system exceeds 100 FPS, and it represents the ceiling for this configuration.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 the bottleneck in Control?

A: The data clearly indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 107 FPS, but this drops to 55 FPS at 4K Low, a 49% reduction. If the CPU were limiting, frame rates would remain similar across resolutions. The CPU’s 93rd percentile ranking and 20 cores provide ample headroom, while the GPU’s 58th percentile ranking and 6 GB VRAM are the limiting factors.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rival, the GTX 580, in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290, while the GTX 580 scores 15283, resulting in a 0% deltaPct. This means the two GPUs are statistically identical in benchmark performance, despite the significant architectural differences between Turing and the older Fermi-based GTX 580.

Q: What is the playable threshold for this combo at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K Low, the combo achieves 55 FPS, which is generally considered playable. The 4K Medium setting drops to 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutter. The 4K High and Ultra settings produce 35 FPS and 30 FPS respectively, which are below the typical 60 FPS target and may not be smooth.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 265 have a significant performance lead over the Core Ultra 7 265F?

A: No, the difference is minimal. The Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, while the Core Ultra 7 265F scores 64438, a deltaPct of 0.3% in favor of the non-F variant. This is within the margin of error for synthetic benchmarks and would have no observable impact on Control’s frame rates.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2274th out of 2888 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 21% of all configurations. This reflects the GPU’s age and limited VRAM, as the CPU is a top-tier performer that is held back by the graphics card.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. The Low preset achieves an average of 107 FPS, which is the highest of any configuration. Medium produces 76 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS, indicating smooth gameplay with occasional dips. High drops to 68 FPS, while Ultra yields 59 FPS. The transition from Low to Ultra at 1080p costs 48 FPS, a 45% reduction, showing that the RTX 2060 is heavily taxed by the game’s higher quality settings even at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. The Low preset achieves 81 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset falls to 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. High produces 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45 FPS. The step from 1080p Low to 1440p Low costs 26 FPS, a 24% reduction. This scaling is consistent with the GPU’s bandwidth limitations, as the increase in pixel count from 2.07 million to 3.69 million pixels directly impacts fill rate. The 1440p Ultra setting at 45 FPS is borderline for a smooth experience, and the Medium preset’s minimum of 49 FPS suggests potential frame pacing issues.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset achieves 55 FPS, which is the only 4K setting above 50 FPS. Medium drops to 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS, showing significant variance. High yields 35 FPS, and Ultra produces 30 FPS, which is at the edge of playability for slower-paced games but likely unsatisfactory for action sequences. The drop from 1440p Low to 4K Low is 26 FPS, a 32% reduction, and the drop from 1080p Low to 4K Low is 52 FPS, a 49% reduction. This steep decline highlights the GPU’s inability to handle the 8.29 million pixel workload at 4K.

The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 2060 is capable of delivering 60+ FPS only at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, and at 1440p with Low settings. All other configurations fall below the 60 FPS threshold, with the 4K Ultra setting bottoming out at 30 FPS. The minimum FPS values, where available, provide additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 65 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target, but at 1440p Medium, the minimum drops to 49 FPS, indicating occasional stutter. At 4K Medium, the minimum of 33 FPS suggests that the game becomes choppy during intense scenes.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2274th out of 2888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 21st percentile of all configurations. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU, as the CPU alone ranks in the 93rd percentile of all processors. The mismatch between the high-end CPU and the mid-range GPU creates a system that is severely imbalanced for this game, where the graphics card is unable to leverage the processor’s full potential.

In the context of the benchmark database, this combo sits in the lower quartile of performance. The RTX 2060’s 58th percentile GPU ranking is dragged down further by its 6 GB VRAM, which is insufficient for Control’s high-resolution textures. The combo’s rank suggests that users with this configuration will need to compromise on resolution or settings to achieve acceptable frame rates. The data indicates that the system is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve 68 FPS on High settings, but it is not competitive at 1440p or 4K.

The ranking also reflects the GPU’s age relative to the CPU. The Core Ultra 7 265 was released in 2025, while the RTX 2060 was released in 2019. This six-year gap in technology is evident in the measured results, as the GPU’s Turing architecture lacks the efficiency of newer designs. The combo’s position at 2274th out of 2888 is a clear indication that this pairing is not optimized for Control, and users seeking higher frame rates would need to consider a more capable graphics card to match the CPU’s capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user’s target resolution and frame rate preference. For 1080p gaming, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, achieving 76 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS. This provides a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, while still offering improved textures and effects over Low. The High preset at 68 FPS is also viable, but the 8 FPS drop from Medium may not be worth the marginal visual improvement. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS is borderline, and the minimum FPS is not provided, so there is a risk of occasional dips below 60 FPS.

For 1440p gaming, the Low preset is the only setting that delivers a consistently playable experience, with 81 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutter during action sequences. Given the 23 FPS difference between Low and Medium, the Low preset is recommended for 1440p to maintain a stable frame rate. The High and Ultra presets at 51 FPS and 45 FPS respectively are not recommended, as they fall below the smoothness threshold and offer diminishing returns.

For 4K gaming, the Low preset is the only viable option, achieving 55 FPS. The Medium preset at 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS, is too inconsistent for a smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets at 35 FPS and 30 FPS are not playable for a fast-paced action game like Control. Users targeting 4K should accept Low settings or consider reducing the resolution to 1440p for a better experience. The data shows that the RTX 2060 is simply not powerful enough for high-quality 4K gaming in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the GPU-bound nature of this configuration. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 107 at 1080p to 81 at 1440p and 55 at 4K. This represents a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 32% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The cumulative drop from 1080p to 4K is 52 FPS, or 49%. This scaling is consistent with the increase in pixel count: 1440p has 1.78 times the pixels of 1080p, and 4K has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. The frame rate drops are not perfectly proportional, but the trend is clear.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar but with lower absolute values. The average FPS drops from 76 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p and 39 at 4K, representing a 24% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 33% drop from 1440p to 4K. The 4K Medium setting at 39 FPS is a 49% reduction from 1080p Medium, matching the Low preset’s scaling. This suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth is the primary constraint, as the percentage drops are nearly identical regardless of quality preset.

At High settings, the scaling becomes more pronounced. The average FPS drops from 68 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p and 35 at 4K, representing a 25% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 31% drop from 1440p to 4K. The 4K High setting at 35 FPS is a 49% reduction from 1080p High, again consistent with the other presets. At Ultra settings, the scaling is the steepest, with FPS dropping from 59 at 1080p to 45 at 1440p and 30 at 4K. This is a 24% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 33% drop from 1440p to 4K, with the 4K Ultra setting being a 49% reduction from 1080p Ultra.

The consistent 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K across all settings indicates that the RTX 2060’s rendering capabilities scale linearly with pixel count, and there is no CPU-induced bottleneck at any resolution. The limiting component is clearly the GPU, as its fill rate and memory bandwidth are saturated at 4K. The CPU’s performance remains consistent, as evidenced by the identical percentage drops across quality presets. This analysis confirms that the Core Ultra 7 265 is more than capable of supporting this game, but the RTX 2060 holds the system back from achieving higher frame rates at resolutions above 1080p.