Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, remains a demanding showcase for both GPU and CPU scaling. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data provides a clear picture of where this combination excels and where its limitations surface, particularly under 4K Ultra loads.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 166 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This drops to 91 FPS at the same resolution when settings are raised to Ultra.

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

A: The RTX 3070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 29945. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile, scores 29928, a delta of 0.1%. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 scores 30095, which is 0.5% higher, while the RTX 2080 Ti scores 29783, 0.5% lower.

Q: What is the performance gap between the CPU and its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640. The AMD EPYC 4464P scores 64823, placing it 0.3% ahead. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F scores 64438, which is 0.3% behind.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU appear to be the primary bottleneck at 4K Ultra?

A: At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average frame rate is 47 FPS. This is a significant drop from the 1080p Ultra result of 91 FPS, indicating that the GPU is the limiting component at this high resolution.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 126 FPS, while the High preset averages 79 FPS. This represents a 47 FPS reduction when moving from the lowest to the higher quality setting.

Q: Is there a frame rate cap or frame time data available for all settings?

A: No. Min and max frame rate data is only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution. For instance, at 1920x1080 Medium, the frame rate ranges from 101 FPS to 136 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture and features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. Its memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6X on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s. The card’s boost clock is listed at 1770 MHz, with a base clock of 1575 MHz. In Control, these specifications translate to a performance profile that is strong at lower resolutions but becomes strained as pixel count increases.

The GPU’s synthetic benchmark scores, such as a Passmark G3D score of 23356 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3478, place it in the 75th percentile of all GPUs. The data shows a clear correlation between the GPU’s compute capabilities and in-game frame rates. At 1080p, the GPU is able to push high frame rates across all presets, with the Low setting reaching 166 FPS. However, the 8 GB VRAM and the 256-bit memory interface are tested by the higher resolution and texture loads at 4K. The memory bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s is a critical factor here, as Control’s detailed environments can quickly consume available VRAM and bandwidth, leading to the observed frame rate drops at Ultra settings.

The GPU’s performance relative to its direct competitors in synthetic tests is tight. The RTX 3070 Ti sits within a 1.6% delta of the AMD Radeon RX 6700 and a 0.5% delta of the RTX 2080 Ti. This suggests that in a game like Control, which can be sensitive to raw compute and memory bandwidth, the RTX 3070 Ti’s behavior should be similar to these cards, with the in-game results reflecting these close benchmark scores.

Resolution Scaling

The measured data illustrates a classic resolution scaling curve for this hardware combination. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, and then to 3840x2160, results in substantial frame rate reductions across all settings. This pattern indicates the system is becoming progressively more GPU-bound as the rendering resolution increases.

At the Low preset, the average frame rate drops from 166 FPS at 1080p to 126 FPS at 1440p, a 24% reduction. Scaling to 4K further drops the average to 85 FPS, a 33% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline is a strong indicator that the RTX 3070 Ti’s pixel throughput is the limiting factor. The GPU’s pixel rate is 169.9 GPixel/s, and while that is substantial, the demands of 4K resolution are immense, requiring four times the pixel work of 1080p.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. From 91 FPS at 1080p, the average falls to 69 FPS at 1440p and then to 47 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result, which dips below the 60 FPS threshold, suggests that this combination is not ideal for a maximum quality 4K experience in Control. The frame rate drop between 1440p and 4K at Ultra is 22 FPS, which is a larger absolute drop than the 16 FPS drop observed between 1080p and 1440p. This non-linear scaling reinforces the conclusion that the GPU is overwhelmed by the combined load of high resolution and maximum settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance envelope. At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable, with all presets delivering playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 166 FPS, Medium averages 118 FPS (with a min of 101 and max of 136), High averages 105 FPS, and Ultra averages 91 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 75 FPS, highlighting the significant cost of the higher quality presets.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains solid but the gaps between presets narrow in absolute terms. The Low preset averages 126 FPS, Medium averages 89 FPS (with a min of 76 and max of 103), High averages 79 FPS, and Ultra averages 69 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is now 57 FPS. The 1440p Medium result shows a minimum frame rate of 76 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS target, indicating decent frame pacing even during more intense scenes.

The 3840x2160 results show the most strain. The Low preset is the only one to maintain a high average, at 85 FPS. The Medium preset averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS. The High preset falls to 54 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 47 FPS. At this resolution, only the Low and Medium presets can be considered consistently smooth, with High and Ultra falling below the 60 FPS average mark. The data for the 4K Medium preset is particularly telling, as the min FPS of 51 suggests that even at a target of 60 FPS, there will be noticeable dips during gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset, with an average of 91 FPS, provides the best visual experience without sacrificing fluidity. The High preset at 105 FPS is a viable alternative for those seeking higher frame rates, but the jump to Ultra does not incur a severe penalty.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 69 FPS, which is playable but may not be smooth enough for all users. The High preset, at 79 FPS, offers a better balance, providing a 10 FPS improvement over Ultra while still delivering high-quality visuals. The Medium preset at 89 FPS is the recommended choice for those who prioritize a higher refresh rate experience, as it maintains an average near 90 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS.

For 3840x2160, the options are more constrained. The Medium preset, with an average of 60 FPS and a minimum of 51 FPS, is the highest quality setting that maintains a playable average. The High preset at 54 FPS and Ultra at 47 FPS will result in a less consistent experience. For a 4K display, the Medium preset is the recommended target, as it provides the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, while the Low preset at 85 FPS is available for those who prefer a higher frame rate over image quality.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its benchmark results, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960, place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. This high single-thread performance is particularly relevant for Control, which can be sensitive to CPU speed in certain scenes.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration for most of the tested scenarios. At 1080p, the frame rates are high, but the scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 75 FPS difference, indicating that the GPU is still the main driver of performance. However, the CPU’s capabilities ensure that the system does not become CPU-limited at lower resolutions, allowing the RTX 3070 Ti to reach its full potential.

The CPU’s performance relative to its rivals is also a factor. The Core Ultra 7 265’s average benchmark score of 64640 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 4464P’s 64823, a delta of only -0.3%. This suggests that in a CPU-bound scenario, the experience would be very similar. Given that Control’s frame rates drop significantly with resolution, the GPU is clearly the limiting component, meaning the CPU’s strong single-core performance is sufficient to feed the GPU adequately across all tested settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ranks 971 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the upper third of tested systems, indicating a strong overall performance level. The rank reflects the balance between the high-performing CPU and the mid-to-high-range GPU.

The GPU’s synthetic average score is 29945, and its nearest rival, the RTX 5070 Mobile, scores 29928, a delta of just 0.1%. This indicates that the RTX 3070 Ti is performing exactly as expected for its class. The CPU’s average score of 64640 is also in line with its rivals, with deltas ranging from -0.7% to 0.7%. This consistency in synthetic benchmarks suggests that the in-game results are a direct reflection of the hardware’s capabilities.

Given that the combo is ranked 971st out of 2888, it outperforms a majority of the tested configurations. The ranking is likely buoyed by the CPU’s excellent multi-core and single-core scores, which prevent it from holding back the GPU. The GPU, while not a top-tier part, delivers solid performance, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. The 4K results, which show the GPU struggling at higher presets, are a limiting factor that prevents this combo from ranking higher. The data indicates that this pairing is best suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p or 1440p gaming, where it can provide an excellent experience.