Control

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a formidable combination for Control, a game that responds well to both high core counts and strong rasterization performance. With 20 cores and 20 threads operating at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, the 265K provides ample headroom for the game’s physics and logic threads. This CPU sits in the 97th percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 79,102. It trails the Intel Core i9-14900K by 0.9% and the AMD EPYC 7413 by 1.2%, while remaining statistically even with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF (-0.2%) and Intel Core i9-14900KF (-0.2%). For a game like Control, which is not heavily threaded but benefits from strong single-core performance, the 265K’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7,060 ensures that the CPU will not bottleneck the GPU at most settings.

The RTX 4080 SUPER, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, brings 10,240 shading units and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. This GPU achieves a passmark G3D score of 34,245 and an average benchmark score of 53,610, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. It edges out the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT by 0.2% and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M by 0.4%, while leading the AMD Radeon RX 7700S by 2.1% and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti by 2.9%. The combination of these two parts is measured directly in Control, and the results show a system that is capable of high refresh rate play at 1080p and 1440p, while still delivering playable frame rates at 4K with adjustments to settings.

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

The Core Ultra 7 265K’s architecture is Arrow Lake-S, fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC, with a transistor count of 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die. This modern design provides 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 30 MB L3 cache. The CPU supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. In Control, the game’s engine is known for using multiple threads for rendering and physics, but the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions often shifts to the CPU. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 242.6 FPS, which is a clear indicator that the CPU is not a limiting factor; the GPU is still able to push a very high frame count. The 265K’s 20 threads ensure that background tasks and game logic do not cause frame drops, and the high boost clock of 5.50 GHz helps with the game’s single-threaded sections.

Comparing to rivals, the 265K's average benchmark score is nearly identical to the 265KF, which is the same chip without integrated graphics. The differences are negligible (0.2%), meaning that the Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics on the 265K do not hamper performance in this title. The i9-14900K, a previous generation flagship, scores 79,824, which is 0.9% higher; this small margin translates to a potential difference of a few frames in Control. However, the 265K offers a more power-efficient platform with a TDP of 125 W, which is notably lower than what high-end previous-generation parts typically require. For this specific game, the CPU’s role is to feed the RTX 4080 SUPER with enough data; the measured FPS shows that even at 1440p High, the system produces 117.7 FPS, which is high enough to suggest the CPU is doing its job without creating a bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 SUPER in Control?

A: The data indicates no. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 242.6 FPS, and at 1440p Low it hits 184.7 FPS. These high frame rates on low settings show the CPU is capable of driving the GPU to its limits; the CPU is not holding back performance.

Q: How does this CPU compare to the closest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900K?

A: The 265K has an average benchmark score of 79,102, which is 0.9% lower than the i9-14900K’s score of 79,824. In practical terms for Control, this difference is minimal and unlikely to be noticeable in the average FPS, given the measured results.

Q: What is the expected performance difference compared to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF?

A: The 265KF scores 79,240, which is a 0.2% difference from the 265K. This is a negligible margin, meaning the two CPUs will perform identically in Control. The 265K includes integrated graphics, but that does not affect game performance.

Q: Does the RTX 4080 SUPER have enough memory for Control at 4K?

A: Yes, the RTX 4080 SUPER has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory. At 4K Ultra, the combo produces 69.4 FPS, and at 4K High it produces 77 FPS, indicating that the memory capacity is sufficient for the game’s textures and assets at those settings.

Q: How does the GPU rank against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 53,610, which is 2.9% higher than the RTX 5070 Ti’s score of 52,086. In Control, this should translate to a modest FPS advantage for the 4080 SUPER, though the exact delta is not measured.

Q: Is this combo overkill for 1080p gaming in Control?

A: The data suggests yes. At 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 135.5 FPS, and at Low, it hits 242.6 FPS. For a game like Control, this level of performance at 1080p is more than sufficient for high refresh rate monitors, and the system is better suited for 1440p or 4K.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p High, the combo produces 156.1 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the frame rate drops to 117.7 FPS, a decrease of 24.6%. At 4K High, the frame rate falls to 77 FPS, a drop of 50.7% from the 1440p result. This scaling is typical for a game that is heavily dependent on GPU rendering at higher resolutions. The CPU’s ability to maintain high frame rates at 1080p Low (242.6 FPS) shows that it is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions; the GPU is the primary constraint. However, the fact that the frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K suggests that the RTX 4080 SUPER is being pushed to its limits at 4K, especially with higher settings.

The 4K Ultra setting yields 69.4 FPS, which is only 10% lower than the 4K High setting (77 FPS). This indicates that the jump from High to Ultra is not as demanding as the jump from 1440p to 4K, which is a resolution-bound increase. The data shows that the system is scalable; at 1080p, it delivers high refresh rates, while at 4K, it still provides a playable experience on High settings. The limiting component at 4K is clearly the GPU, as the CPU’s performance headroom is sufficient to drive the game’s logic without issue. For users targeting 4K, the RTX 4080 SUPER is strong, but the frame rate will hover around the 70-80 FPS range on High settings, which is acceptable for a single-player action-adventure title.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For 1080p and 1440p, the Ultra preset is the best choice for a visual experience without sacrificing playability. At 1080p Ultra, the combo achieves 135.5 FPS, which is above the 120 FPS threshold for high refresh rate gaming. At 1440p Ultra, the frame rate is 99.9 FPS, which is close to the 100 FPS mark and offers a great balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. The jump from Medium to Ultra at 1440p costs about 31 FPS (from 130.9 to 99.9), but the visual improvements in Control are substantial due to the game’s ray-traced effects and particle physics. For 4K, the High preset is the sweet spot. At 4K High, the combo produces 77 FPS, which is smooth for a game of this type. Dropping to Medium gives 88.7 FPS, a 15% increase, but the reduction in shadows and reflections is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 69.4 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for users sensitive to frame pacing.

The Low preset is not recommended for any resolution unless the user is seeking maximum frame rates. At 1080p Low, the FPS is 242.6, and at 1440p Low, it is 184.7. These numbers are impressive but do not utilize the RTX 4080 SUPER’s capabilities. Given that the GPU is in the 88th percentile, users should aim for High or Ultra settings to leverage its power. For a balanced experience, the 1440p Ultra setting offers a strong combination of high frame rates and visual quality, while 4K High provides a cinematic experience with consistent performance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K + RTX 4080 SUPER combination ranks 112th out of 1,636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 6.8% of all systems tested, which is a strong showing. The rank is determined by the measured average FPS across all settings and resolutions. Given that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end GPU and the CPU is a recent flagship, the ranking reflects the system’s ability to handle the game at high settings. The 265K’s performance is close to the i9-14900K, so a system with that CPU and the same GPU would likely rank slightly higher, but the difference would be small due to the 0.9% CPU score delta. The combo’s rank is also influenced by the fact that many other combos feature more powerful GPUs, such as the RTX 4090, which would naturally score higher. However, among the tested combos, this pairing is a solid performer, especially for 1440p and 4K gaming.

The data shows that the combo is not a top-tier contender for 1080p esports-style play, but for a graphically demanding game like Control, the rank is respectable. The 112th position out of 1,636 indicates that the system is well above average, and users can expect a smooth experience at high settings. The ranking also underscores the balance of the pairing; the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU, and the GPU is powerful enough to deliver high frame rates. For users considering this combo, the rank suggests it is a capable choice for playing Control at high resolutions and settings.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers a range of frame rates depending on the preset. With Low settings, the average FPS is 242.6, providing an extremely smooth experience. Medium settings yield 175.8 FPS, High settings produce 156.1 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 135.5 FPS. This shows that even at the highest preset, the system exceeds 135 FPS, making it ideal for high refresh rate 1080p monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong. Low settings average 184.7 FPS, Medium 130.9 FPS, High 117.7 FPS, and Ultra 99.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is about 46%, which is expected as the GPU works harder to render more pixels and higher quality effects. At 1440p, the Ultra preset still provides a near-100 FPS experience, which is excellent for a game with intense action sequences.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. Low settings average 126.9 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings drop to 88.7 FPS, High settings to 77 FPS, and Ultra to 69.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 45%, mirroring the 1440p trend. The data confirms that 4K gaming is feasible with this combo, but users will need to choose between High and Medium settings to maintain a stable frame rate above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is playable but may not be ideal for those who prefer a consistent 70+ FPS. Overall, the measured FPS breakdown shows a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p, while remaining capable at 4K with setting adjustments.