Control

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a consistently playable experience in Control, though the data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. This combination ranks 924th out of 1,636 tested combos in this game, placing it in the middle of the pack. The benchmark results show a clear hierarchy: performance scales strongly with resolution and settings, with the CPU providing ample headroom that the RTX 4060 cannot always exploit.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz, combined with 30 MB of shared L3 cache, make it a formidable desktop part. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 50,009 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 7,060 in single-core, placing it in the 97th percentile of all CPUs. This level of processing power is far beyond what Control requires, as the game’s engine is not heavily threaded and favors single-core performance.

The data shows that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor in this pairing. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 141.2 FPS, which is the highest measured result across all configurations. This indicates the processor can feed the GPU with enough frames to saturate it at lower graphical loads. The nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, scores 79,240 on average, a negligible 0.2% difference, confirming that the 265K’s performance is representative of top-tier desktop CPUs. Even compared to the Intel Core i9-14900K, which scores 79,824, the 265K trails by only 0.9%, a margin that would not meaningfully affect Control’s frame rates. The CPU’s role here is to ensure that frame pacing remains stable and that the GPU is never starved of data, which the high single-threaded scores support.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with 3,072 shading units and 24 RT cores. It scores 19,545 in Passmark G3D, placing it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. This is a mid-range part that sits close to the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, which scores 23,321, a 0.6% difference, and the Intel Arc B580, which scores 23,021, a 0.7% difference.

In Control, the RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s textures, as the measured FPS does not collapse due to memory overflow. The GPU’s performance is the dominant factor in the results. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 39.7, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. This is not a CPU limitation; it is the GPU struggling to process the increased pixel count. The 272.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is a notable constraint at higher resolutions, as the game’s effects and lighting demand high data throughput. The GPU’s nearest rival, the GTX 780 Ti, scores 23,338, a 0.7% difference, but the RTX 4060’s modern feature set and driver optimizations make it more capable in a game like Control that uses advanced rendering techniques.

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

The measured FPS data shows a steep decline as resolution increases, which is classic evidence of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p High, the system averages 87.1 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops that to 64.9 FPS, a reduction of 25.5%. At 4K High, the average falls to 47.3 FPS, which is 45.7% lower than the 1080p result. This pattern is consistent with the GPU hitting its pixel throughput limits, as the CPU’s workload does not scale with resolution in the same way.

The Low settings preset illustrates this even more clearly. At 1080p Low, the system hits 141.2 FPS, which suggests the CPU is capable of much higher frame rates. At 1440p Low, it drops to 108.9 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 69.1 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 51.1%, which is nearly identical to the drop at High settings. This consistency indicates that the RTX 4060 is the bottleneck across all settings, not just at high detail levels. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, but the data shows a clear downward slope. The GPU’s 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB VRAM are the primary constraints, as they limit the data throughput required for higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive view of performance across four settings presets and three resolutions. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 141.2 FPS, which is the highest recorded. Medium drops to 101.2 FPS, High to 87.1 FPS, and Ultra to 74.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 47.3% reduction, showing that the GPU’s fill rate is taxed by the higher detail settings.

Moving to 1440p, the Low preset averages 108.9 FPS, Medium 73.8 FPS, High 64.9 FPS, and Ultra 60.2 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the only configuration that remains above 60 FPS, while High falls just short at 64.9 FPS, which is still playable. At 4K, the numbers drop significantly: Low averages 69.1 FPS, Medium 54.2 FPS, High 47.3 FPS, and Ultra 39.7 FPS. Only the Low preset at 4K achieves a playable frame rate above 60 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 42.5%, which is slightly less than at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is hitting a hard limit at this resolution regardless of settings. The data shows that the RTX 4060 is capable of smooth performance at 1080p and 1440p with lower settings, but 4K gaming requires significant compromises.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: At 4K Low, the average FPS is 69.1, which is playable. However, at 4K Medium, the average drops to 54.2 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 39.7 FPS. For a consistently smooth experience, 1440p is the recommended resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: At 1080p, the High preset delivers 87.1 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset achieves 74.4 FPS, offering a better visual experience with only a 14.6% performance penalty compared to High.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rival in this game?

A: The RTX 4060 scores 19,545 in Passmark G3D, while the AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23,321, a 0.6% difference. The Intel Arc B580 scores 23,021, a 0.7% difference. These are close scores, but the measured FPS in Control will vary based on driver support.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU scores in the 97th percentile of all CPUs, and the FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a clear sign of GPU-bound performance. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 141.2 FPS, indicating the CPU has headroom.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 141.2, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 108.9 FPS at 2560x1440 with Low settings.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This combo ranks 924th out of 1,636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the middle of the pack, reflecting the RTX 4060’s mid-range position.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and performance, the High preset at 1440p is the sweet spot. The data shows an average of 64.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering 74.4 FPS with the highest visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 101.2 FPS, which is a good option for players who prioritize frame rate over detail. At 4K, the Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 69.1 FPS, but this requires a significant visual compromise. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as the 39.7 FPS average will result in noticeable stuttering. The measured data indicates that the RTX 4060 is best utilized at 1440p or below, where it can maintain high frame rates without sacrificing too much detail.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 924th out of 1,636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all tested systems, which is a solid mid-range result. The CPU is a top-tier part, with a 97th percentile ranking among all CPUs, but the GPU’s 66th percentile ranking pulls the overall score down. The data shows that this combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates with appropriate settings. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates, which is expected given the RTX 4060’s hardware limitations. The rank reflects this balance: the CPU provides excellent headroom, but the GPU is the deciding factor in Control’s performance. For users with this combo, the data suggests focusing on 1440p gaming to get the most out of the hardware.