Control

Control on this platform presents a stark picture for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B370. The data indicates a configuration that is fundamentally limited by its graphics solution, resulting in a playable experience only at the lowest settings and resolution. Across all measured configurations, the system struggles to maintain fluid frame rates, with the Arc B370 acting as the definitive bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data reveals a predictable but severe penalty as resolution increases, confirming that the Intel Arc B370 is the primary limiting component in this pairing. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear but exponential in its impact on performance. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 37 FPS at 1920x1080 to 28 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 9 FPS. The jump to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average falling to 19 FPS, representing a 49% decrease from the 1080p figure. This pattern strongly suggests that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are exhausted quickly as pixel count increases.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, starting at 42 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 32 FPS at 1440p, and then collapsing to 21 FPS at 4K. The minimum frame rates at this setting also tell a story of instability; at 1080p the minimum is 36 FPS, but at 1440p it falls to 27 FPS, and at 4K it drops to 18 FPS. This indicates that not only does the average performance suffer, but the frame pacing becomes more erratic at higher resolutions, leading to a less consistent experience.

The Ultra preset is the most demanding, and the results are telling. At 1080p, the system manages 32 FPS, which dips to 25 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 17 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1440p and 4K is a mere 8 FPS, showing that the GPU is so saturated that even the pixel shader workload of 4K is barely incremental. This is a classic sign of a GPU that has hit its absolute ceiling.

Interestingly, the Low preset demonstrates the closest thing to a playable experience, but even here, resolution scaling cripples the system. At 1080p, the average FPS is 59, which is near the target for smooth gameplay. However, this drops to 45 FPS at 1440p, and then plummets to 30 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is a 51% reduction from the 1080p figure, again underscoring the GPU's inability to handle the pixel throughput required at that resolution. The data clearly shows that the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is not the limiting factor; even at 1080p Low, the GPU is barely able to produce 60 FPS, a workload that a processor of this caliber should handle with significant headroom.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a high-end desktop processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 3.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 93785. This puts it in the same performance class as the Intel Xeon 6520P, which has an average score of 93786 and a delta of 0%, and it is slightly ahead of the AMD EPYC 4564P, which scores 95183 (a -1.5% delta). These are substantial compute resources that are more than adequate for any modern game.

However, the measured FPS data shows that this CPU's potential is untapped in Control. The performance ceiling is consistently set by the Intel Arc B370, which is an integrated graphics solution with a 25 W TDP. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, making it comparable to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta) and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta). This is a GPU that is not designed for high-end gaming, and its performance is the sole reason for the low frame rates.

The processor's role in this combo is to feed the GPU with data, and it does so without issue. The fact that the FPS scales so dramatically with resolution and settings, while the CPU remains constant, is definitive proof that the workload is GPU-bound. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 27 FPS (59 vs 32), a change that is entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The CPU is not a factor in these results; it is simply waiting for the GPU to finish its frame. The 17,800 million transistors and 36 MB of shared L3 cache are irrelevant to the final frame rate because the Arc B370 cannot process frames fast enough to utilize them. In this specific configuration, the CPU is a bystander, and any performance analysis must focus on the GPU's limitations.

FAQ

Q: Why is the frame rate so low even at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average of 37 FPS at 1920x1080 High settings is directly attributable to the Intel Arc B370's performance class. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, making it the primary bottleneck in this configuration. The CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU cannot render frames quickly enough.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus a good match for this game?

A: From a pure CPU perspective, yes. The processor's 24 cores and 5.50 GHz boost clock are more than sufficient for Control. However, the pairing with the Arc B370 negates its advantages. The data shows the system is always GPU-limited, so the CPU's power is not realized in the final frame rate.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game with this hardware?

A: The only resolution where the system approaches a playable frame rate is 1920x1080. At this resolution, the Low preset achieves an average of 59 FPS. All other settings at 1080p, and every setting at higher resolutions, fall below 45 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a demanding action-adventure title.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to other GPUs in the benchmark database?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is at the very low end of the performance spectrum. Its average benchmark score of 1184 puts it in the 5th percentile. It is statistically tied with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, with performance deltas of -0.2% and -0.5% respectively, indicating a level of performance that is over a decade old.

Q: Does raising the settings from Low to Ultra impact the CPU or GPU more?

A: The performance impact is almost entirely on the GPU. For example, at 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 45 on Low to 25 on Ultra, a 20 FPS deficit. This change is due to the increased pixel and shading workload on the Arc B370, not the CPU, which has the same workload in both scenarios.

Q: What does the combo rank of 2657 out of 2888 mean?

A: This rank indicates that this specific CPU and GPU combination performs worse than 92% of all other tested combos in Control. This is a direct reflection of the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU's strong benchmark scores are unable to compensate for the graphics bottleneck.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured average frame rates for this configuration in Control. Minimum and maximum values are only provided for the Medium preset.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 59 FPS.
• High: Average 37 FPS.
• Medium: Average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 32 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 45 FPS.
• High: Average 28 FPS.
• Medium: Average 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 25 FPS.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 30 FPS.
• High: Average 19 FPS.
• Medium: Average 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 17 FPS.

These figures show a consistent hierarchy where lower settings and resolutions yield higher frame rates. The 1080p Low result is the only configuration that breaks the 50 FPS barrier, while all 4K results are below 30 FPS, making them largely unplayable for a fast-paced game. The data also shows that the step from Low to Medium is significant, while the step from High to Ultra is less pronounced, suggesting diminishing returns on the GPU's limited resources.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested configurations for Control, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2657 out of 2888 total combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems tested, which is a poor result. This low ranking is entirely due to the graphics card. The CPU, with its 96th percentile standing among all processors, is far more capable than the final result suggests.

The disconnect between the CPU's high individual ranking and the combo's low ranking highlights the importance of balance. A top-tier processor cannot overcome a GPU that is in the 5th percentile. The benchmark data for the GPU shows it is comparable to legacy hardware like the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which is not equipped for modern gaming at high resolutions. The system's performance is so constrained by the GPU that the CPU's 24 cores and high clock speeds are effectively irrelevant in this game. The rank is a clear indicator that this is a severely imbalanced configuration for Control, and the user experience will be dominated by the graphics bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the only viable configuration for a playable experience is the Low preset at 1920x1080 resolution, which yields an average of 59 FPS. This is the only setting that approaches the 60 FPS target typically desired for a smooth action game. While the frame rate may not be perfectly stable, it is the only option that avoids the sub-40 FPS averages seen with all other presets.

All other settings are not recommended for gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p provides an average of 42 FPS, which is playable but may feel sluggish during intense combat sequences. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p, which produce 37 FPS and 32 FPS respectively, should be avoided. At 1440p, even the Low preset drops to 45 FPS, and the Medium preset falls to 32 FPS, making both less than ideal. The 4K resolution is entirely unplayable, with all settings yielding average frame rates below 30 FPS.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p is the maximum acceptable compromise, as it provides a 42 FPS average. However, given the hardware's limitations, the data strongly suggests that the Low preset at 1080p is the only configuration that provides a consistently responsive experience. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 17 FPS, which is a significant loss for a modest visual improvement. Therefore, the recommendation is to prioritize frame rate and use the Low preset at 1080p to get the best performance from this hardware.