Control

Control is an action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU heavily, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7800M delivers a playable but not flawless experience. The benchmark data shows that this combination lands in the lower-middle portion of tested configurations, with a rank of 1927 out of 2888 combos, indicating that while it handles the game, several other hardware pairings achieve higher frame rates. The following analysis breaks down how each component contributes to the measured results and what settings provide the best balance.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock runs at 2.60 GHz and boosts up to 5.30 GHz, which provides strong single-thread performance for game logic and physics. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 5737 points in Cinebench R23 single-core and 40642 in multi-core, placing it in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs. For a game like Control, which relies heavily on physics interactions and real-time rendering of destructible environments, this single-core strength is critical—the data suggests the CPU is more than capable of feeding the GPU with draw calls and maintaining frame pacing.

Comparing the 265HX to its nearest rivals, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The Intel Core i7-13790F scores 63080, which is just 0.1% ahead, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G scores 63331, putting it 0.2% ahead of the 265HX. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 and Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX round out the group with scores of 62839 and 62738, respectively, meaning the 265HX is within 0.7% of all these chips. This tight grouping indicates that in CPU-bound scenarios, the 265HX will perform essentially on par with these alternatives, and the difference in Control's frame rates will come down to GPU capabilities rather than CPU headroom.

The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s of dual-channel DDR5 memory bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for the game's asset streaming. With 20 threads available, the CPU can handle background tasks and the game's multi-threaded rendering pipeline without bottlenecking. In the measured results, the CPU does not appear to be the limiting factor at lower resolutions—at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 120 FPS, which is near the ceiling for many displays. The data indicates that the 265HX's high boost clock and strong per-core performance are sufficient to keep up with the RX 7800M in most scenarios, but at higher settings, the GPU becomes the primary constraint.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M is a mobile GPU based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock runs at 1295 MHz with a boost clock of 2335 MHz, and it includes 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation pipelines. The GPU also has 60 ray tracing cores, which is relevant for Control's use of ray-traced reflections and lighting effects. With a TDP of 180 W, it is a high-power mobile part, and its performance in synthetic benchmarks places it in the 73rd percentile among all GPUs.

In 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12), the RX 7800M scores 2994, and in Geekbench Vulkan it reaches 126668. Its PassMark G3D score is 17613, which is a solid result for a mobile GPU. However, the nearest rival comparisons show that the RX 7800M is closely matched with older desktop and workstation parts: the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 is 0.2% ahead, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X is 0.3% behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti is 0.5% behind. This suggests that the RX 7800M offers performance comparable to a high-end desktop GPU from a previous generation, which is respectable for a mobile solution but not exceptional in absolute terms.

For Control, the GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is ample for the game's textures, even at 4K Ultra, which typically uses less than 8 GB. The memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s is sufficient to handle the game's high-resolution textures and particle effects without stuttering. The boost clock of 2335 MHz provides good compute throughput, but the measured frame rates show that the GPU struggles to maintain high FPS at 4K with higher presets. At 4K High, the average FPS drops to 39, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 34, indicating that the GPU's raw rasterization power is the bottleneck at this resolution. The ray tracing cores are present, but the data does not include specific ray tracing benchmarks, so their impact on Control's RT effects cannot be quantified directly from the measured results.

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

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear scaling pattern that identifies the GPU as the primary limiting component at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 120 FPS, which drops to 91 FPS at 1440p Low and 61 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which is a typical GPU-bound scaling curve—as resolution increases, the GPU must render more pixels, and the frame rate drops accordingly. At 1080p Medium, the average is 85 FPS, falling to 64 FPS at 1440p Medium and 43 FPS at 4K Medium. The drop from 1080p to 4K is again about 49%, confirming that the GPU is the bottleneck.

At High settings, the scaling is slightly different: 1080p High yields 76 FPS, 1440p High yields 57 FPS, and 4K High yields 39 FPS. This represents a 49% drop from 1080p to 4K, consistent with the other presets. For Ultra settings, the numbers are 66 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K, a 48% reduction. The consistency of these drops across all presets strongly indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor—if the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see smaller FPS differences between resolutions because the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU workload increases. Instead, the frame rate scales almost linearly with pixel count, which is the signature of a GPU-limited scenario.

The data also shows the minimum FPS at Medium settings, which provides insight into frame pacing. At 1080p Medium, the minimum FPS is 72, while the average is 85, indicating a relatively tight distribution. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 55 with an average of 64, and at 4K Medium, the minimum is 37 with an average of 43. The spread between minimum and average FPS grows as resolution increases, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more stressed and causing occasional frame drops. This is expected behavior for a GPU that is near its limits, and it reinforces the conclusion that the RX 7800M is the component that determines playability in Control.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and AMD Radeon RX 7800M ranks 1927 out of 2888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all configurations. This is a below-average ranking, indicating that the majority of tested setups achieve higher frame rates in this game. The rank is influenced by the GPU's mid-range performance relative to other mobile and desktop parts, as well as the CPU's strong but not top-tier gaming performance.

Given that the CPU is in the 93rd percentile and the GPU is in the 73rd percentile, the combo's overall ranking is dragged down by the GPU. This is consistent with the resolution scaling analysis, which shows the GPU as the bottleneck. The rank of 1927 suggests that users with this combo should not expect to run Control at maximum settings with high frame rates, but rather should focus on optimizing settings to achieve a playable experience. The low ranking also implies that there are many other combos that offer better value or higher performance, but the data does not specify which those are.

The nearest rival CPUs and GPUs provide context for the combo's position. Since the CPU is within 0.7% of its closest rivals, swapping the 265HX for a similar processor would not meaningfully change the combo's rank. However, upgrading the GPU to a faster model would likely improve the rank substantially, as the GPU is the limiting factor. The data does not include alternative GPU benchmarks for this CPU, but the ranking alone indicates that the RX 7800M is the component holding this combo back in Control.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 76 FPS, which is smooth for most players. This is a solid result that shows the combo can handle the game well at standard resolution without needing to drop settings.

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K High, the average FPS is 39, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 34. These frame rates are playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. To achieve 60 FPS at 4K, you would need to use Low settings, which yields 61 FPS.

Q: Which setting provides the best balance between visuals and performance at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings give an average of 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS, which is a good balance. High settings drop to 57 FPS, and Ultra falls to 50 FPS. Medium offers the most consistent experience without sacrificing too much visual quality.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the bottleneck. The frame rate drops by about 49% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which is a clear sign of GPU limitation. The CPU's strong single-core performance (5737 in Cinebench R23) is sufficient to keep up with the GPU's output.

Q: How does the RX 7800M compare to its nearest rival GPU?

A: The RX 7800M's average benchmark score is 27883, which is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (27839) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X (27973). It is also 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (28020), meaning it performs almost identically to these older desktop parts.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 4K Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings is 37 FPS, with an average of 43 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. This indicates that there are occasional frame drops, which could be noticeable in intense scenes.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and AMD Radeon RX 7800M, the data suggests prioritizing frame rate over maximum visual fidelity. At 1080p, Medium settings provide 85 FPS, which is smooth and responsive, while High settings drop to 76 FPS—both are playable, but Medium offers a higher margin for demanding scenes. At 1440p, Medium is the sweet spot with 64 FPS and a minimum of 55 FPS, which keeps the action fluid. High settings at 1440p yield 57 FPS, which is acceptable but closer to the edge of playability.

For 4K, the situation is more challenging. Low settings are the only option that achieves 60 FPS, with an average of 61 FPS. Medium settings at 4K drop to 43 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a game that requires precise aiming and quick reactions. Ultra settings at 4K are not recommended, as the average of 34 FPS will likely feel sluggish. Given the GPU bottleneck, the best approach is to use Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p, which offer a good balance of visual quality and performance. If you have a 4K display, Low settings are the only viable option for a smooth experience, but you may want to consider lowering the resolution to 1440p to take advantage of higher quality presets. The data clearly shows that the RX 7800M is not capable of high refresh rates at 4K in Control, so adjusting your expectations and settings accordingly will yield the most enjoyable experience.