Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti shows a configuration capable of high refresh rate gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, while still delivering a smooth experience at 4K. The measured results indicate that this combo ranks in the 88th percentile of all tested configurations, placing it firmly in the upper tier for this game. The following analysis breaks down the specific roles of the processor and graphics card, how the settings scale across resolutions, and what the measured frame rates mean for your experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this CPU and GPU combo for a 144Hz monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 143 FPS on High settings and 124 FPS on Ultra, which is ideal for a 144Hz display. At 2560x1440, High settings produce 108 FPS, which is still very playable, but to fully saturate a 144Hz monitor, you would need to use Low settings to reach 171 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: The data shows a significant scaling cost. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 143 FPS at 1920x1080 to 108 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 73 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 49% reduction in average FPS from the lowest to the highest resolution tested.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 Ti the limiting factor in this combo for Control?

A: The benchmark results suggest the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The CPU has 20 cores and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which provides ample headroom. However, the GPU's performance, indicated by its 84th percentile ranking, is more likely to be the bottleneck when pushing 4K Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 63.

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

A: The measured data shows a substantial difference. At 2560x1440, switching from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average frame rate from 171 FPS to 94 FPS. This is a 45% performance cost for the visual fidelity gains that Ultra provides.

Q: How does this specific CPU model compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640, which is only 0.3% lower than the AMD EPYC 4464P and 0.7% lower than the AMD EPYC 9124. It is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and 0.7% higher than the AMD EPYC 7343.

Q: Is the 12 GB VRAM of the RTX 4070 Ti sufficient for Control at maximum settings?

A: The measured frame rates at 4K Ultra, which averages 63 FPS, indicate that the 12 GB of GDDR6X memory is sufficient for this game. The game runs without the average FPS dropping below 60, suggesting the memory capacity and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for the game's requirements at these settings.

CPU Role

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 by TSMC. Its base clock is 2.40 GHz, which can boost up to 5.30 GHz. This high boost clock is critical for gaming, as it ensures the processor can handle the single-threaded physics and logic tasks that Control relies on. The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency.

In the context of Control's results, the CPU's role is to provide a solid foundation that does not bottleneck the graphics card. The CPU's synthetic benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960. The PassMark single-thread score of 4689 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it has the single-core muscle needed for the game's engine. The data suggests that at 1080p, where the GPU has less work to do, the CPU's performance is more influential in achieving the high 226 FPS average on Low settings.

However, as the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the rendering load shifts to the GPU. The CPU's strong performance ensures it can feed the RTX 4070 Ti with enough data to maintain the 108 FPS average at 1440p High and 73 FPS at 4K High. The processor's TDP of 65 W and support for DDR5 memory also contribute to a balanced platform. The core configuration here is less about brute multi-threading and more about providing consistent, high-frequency performance that scales well with the game's demands.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how settings affect performance. For players with a 1920x1080 monitor, the High preset is the sweet spot. It delivers an average of 143 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play and high refresh rate displays. The jump to Ultra yields 124 FPS, a 13% performance decrease for what is often a marginal visual improvement in this title. Low settings at this resolution produce 226 FPS, which is overkill for most displays but shows the raw capability of the combo.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended balance point. It maintains an average of 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. High settings are still very playable at 108 FPS, but the 121 FPS from Medium provides more headroom. Ultra at this resolution drops to 94 FPS, which is acceptable but not optimal for a high refresh rate panel. Low settings here hit 171 FPS, which is a good option for competitive play if you prefer maximum frame rates over visual fidelity.

For 3840x2160, the High preset is the most practical. It achieves an average of 73 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience. Medium settings average 82 FPS, making it the best choice for a 60Hz 4K monitor, offering a better balance of visual quality and performance. Ultra at this resolution drops to 63 FPS, which is just barely playable but risks dips below 60 FPS in more intensive sequences. Low settings at 4K, with an average of 115 FPS, are unnecessary unless you are using a very high refresh rate 4K display.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti combination ranks 339th out of 2888 tested combos for Control. This places the setup in the top 12% of all configurations tested. The data shows this is a strong pairing for this specific game, capable of delivering high frame rates across all tested settings. The combo's ranking suggests that while it is not the absolute top-tier setup, it outperforms the vast majority of other CPU and GPU pairings in the database.

This high rank is a result of both components being well-matched. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking in synthetic benchmarks ensures it doesn't hold the GPU back. The GPU's 84th percentile ranking indicates it is a high-performing part, and when paired with a sufficiently powerful CPU, the result is a system that excels in Control. For context, the CPU is 0.3% behind the AMD EPYC 4464P in average benchmark score, and the GPU is 0.8% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, but the combination of these specific parts yields a result that is greater than the sum of its parts for this game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the primary driver of visual performance in Control. It features 7680 shading units and 60 RT cores, which handle the game's complex lighting and particle effects. The GPU's boost clock of 2610 MHz and 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provide a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This bandwidth is crucial for streaming high-resolution textures at 4K.

The GPU's performance is directly reflected in the measured FPS. The data shows a clear scaling pattern based on resolution. At 1080p, the GPU is not fully stressed, allowing for very high frame rates. As the resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the frame rates decrease. The 40.09 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is substantial, but the game's demands at 4K Ultra push the GPU to its limits, resulting in a 63 FPS average.

The GPU's role is also evident in the settings scaling. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p is a 77 FPS drop, which demonstrates how much the GPU is taxed by the higher quality shaders and effects. The RTX 4070 Ti's performance in synthetic tests, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5024, confirms its capability. The GPU's 84th percentile ranking among all GPUs shows it is a solid choice for this game, but the data indicates that for maximum 4K Ultra performance, a more powerful GPU would be required.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo demonstrates its high refresh rate capability. On Low settings, it averages 226 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 161 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 185 FPS. High settings average 143 FPS. Ultra settings average 124 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 45% reduction in performance, but even at Ultra, the frame rate is well above 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings average 171 FPS. Medium settings average 121 FPS, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 140 FPS. High settings average 108 FPS. Ultra settings average 94 FPS. The data shows that even at the highest quality preset, the 1440p experience remains fluid, with the average FPS staying above 90.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the limiting factor. Low settings average 115 FPS. Medium settings average 82 FPS, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. High settings average 73 FPS. Ultra settings average 63 FPS. At this resolution, the gap between settings is more pronounced, with a 45% drop from Low to Ultra. The minimum FPS of 70 on Medium settings suggests that this preset is the safest choice for a stable 4K experience, as it stays well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, while averaging 63 FPS, may experience occasional dips that could be noticeable on a VRR display.