Control

Control is a demanding Action Adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT produces a specific performance profile. The measured data provides a clear picture of how this hardware handles the game across different resolutions and settings, revealing where the bottlenecks lie and what users can expect in practical terms.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific combination at rank 1068 out of 1636 tested combos for Control. This places the system in the lower-middle tier of all possible hardware pairings, indicating that while it is not a top-tier configuration for this title, it is far from the bottom of the pile. The ranking reflects a balance between a very capable processor and a mid-range graphics card, where the overall frame rate is largely dictated by the GPU's output.

This rank of 1068 out of 1636 means that approximately 65% of the tested configurations deliver higher average frame rates in Control. The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiting factor in most scenarios, as its processing power is significantly ahead of what the GPU can render. The combination's position is a direct consequence of the RX 6650 XT's performance class, which, while competent for 1080p gaming, struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions and settings in this specific game.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the primary driver of the frame rates in this configuration. It is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a Navi 23 chip and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. Its clock speeds are set to a base of 2055 MHz and a boost of 2635 MHz, with a game clock of 2410 MHz. This hardware configuration is positioned to handle 1080p gaming effectively, but its 8 GB frame buffer and 128-bit memory interface become limiting factors as resolution and graphical load increase.

The GPU's benchmark scores show a percentile ranking of 72 against all other GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29024. Its closest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M with a deltaPct of 0, and the AMD Radeon RX 470 with a deltaPct of 0.1, indicating that the RX 6650 XT sits in a performance class alongside these parts. In Control, the GPU's role is clear: it provides playable frame rates at 1080p across all settings, but the data shows a sharp decline in performance at 1440p and especially 4K, where the 8 GB VRAM and bandwidth limits are exposed.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a high-end desktop processor with 20 cores and 20 threads, based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It operates at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a 30 MB shared L3 cache. This CPU is a powerhouse for general computing and gaming tasks, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. It achieves a percentile ranking of 97 against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79102. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, has an average score of 79240, which is a deltaPct of -0.2, meaning the 265K is essentially identical in performance.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic. The data indicates that the 265K is more than capable of this task, as it never appears to be the bottleneck in the measured frame rates. The CPU's high single-thread and multi-thread performance, reflected in its Cinebench R23 scores of 7060 single-core and 50009 multi-core, ensures that even at low settings where the GPU is less stressed, the frame rates are not held back by processing power. Instead, the GPU becomes the limiting factor at all resolutions tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Control shows a clear trend across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combination delivers strong performance. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 122.5 FPS, which is very smooth. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 90.4 FPS, still a solid experience. High settings yield an average of 75.5 FPS, while Ultra settings produce an average of 68.5 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the RX 6650 XT is capable of providing high refresh rate gaming at lower presets and a comfortable 60+ FPS experience at the highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases noticeably. Low settings average 91.3 FPS, which is good, but Medium settings drop to 64.4 FPS. High settings average 61.6 FPS, barely maintaining a 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings at 1440p fall to an average of 49 FPS, which is below the ideal smoothness mark. At 3840x2160, the performance is significantly lower. Low settings average 64.1 FPS, which is playable, but Medium settings drop to 47 FPS, High settings to 38.9 FPS, and Ultra settings to just 32.3 FPS. This breakdown shows that the GPU struggles to keep up with the demands of 4K rendering.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling analysis reveals how the frame rate drops as resolution increases, which points directly to the limiting component. From 1080p to 1440p, the average frame rate across all settings drops by roughly 20-25%. For example, at High settings, the frame rate goes from 75.5 FPS at 1080p to 61.6 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of about 18%. At Low settings, the drop is from 122.5 FPS to 91.3 FPS, a 25% reduction. This pattern indicates that the GPU is becoming more stressed as the pixel count increases.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is even more dramatic. At High settings, the frame rate falls from 61.6 FPS to 38.9 FPS, a 37% drop. At Low settings, it goes from 91.3 FPS to 64.1 FPS, a 30% drop. The most severe scaling is seen at Ultra settings, where the frame rate drops from 49 FPS at 1440p to 32.3 FPS at 4K, a 34% reduction. This steep decline at 4K strongly suggests that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for the higher resolution textures and data requirements, making the RX 6650 XT the definitive bottleneck in this configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the user's resolution target and frame rate preference. For 1080p gaming, the data shows that Ultra settings are viable with an average of 68.5 FPS, providing a high-fidelity experience that is still smooth for most players. For those seeking higher refresh rates, Medium settings at 90.4 FPS or Low settings at 122.5 FPS offer a significant boost in smoothness at the cost of visual quality. High settings at 75.5 FPS provide a balanced compromise between image quality and performance.

At 1440p, the recommendation is more conservative. High settings average 61.6 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but it is a borderline experience. Medium settings at 64.4 FPS offer a slightly better margin and are still visually acceptable. Low settings at 91.3 FPS are the best option for a smooth experience, but the visual downgrade is noticeable. Ultra settings at 49 FPS should be avoided for consistent play. At 4K, the data suggests that only Low settings are practical, with an average of 64.1 FPS. Medium settings at 47 FPS are playable but not ideal, while High and Ultra settings at 38.9 and 32.3 FPS respectively are too slow for a satisfying experience.