Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, shows a demanding but scalable performance profile on the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti combination. The measured data reveals a system that can handle high refresh rates at 1080p but begins to strain at 4K, particularly with the most demanding presets. This analysis breaks down the resolution scaling, component roles, and overall ranking of this specific hardware pairing based solely on the provided benchmark facts.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 clearly illustrates where the performance bottleneck lies. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 166 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suggests the CPU and GPU have ample headroom. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low settings, the average drops to 126 FPS, a 24% reduction. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls further to 85 FPS, representing a 32% drop from 1440p and a 49% drop from 1080p. This trajectory indicates that as resolution increases, the demand on the rendering pipeline grows substantially.

The scaling pattern becomes more pronounced at higher settings. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 105 at 1080p, to 79 at 1440p, and finally to 54 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25%, and from 1440p to 4K is 32%. The Ultra preset shows the most significant strain, with averages of 91 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p, and 47 FPS at 4K. The data suggests that the RTX 3070 Ti’s 8 GB of VRAM and its memory bandwidth are being taxed heavily at 4K, especially when the texture and shading complexity increases with higher presets.

The fact that even at Low settings the 4K average is only 85 FPS, compared to 166 FPS at 1080p, indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, is likely not the constraint here. The scaling factor between 1080p and 4K is roughly 2.0x for Low settings, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The measured FPS range for Medium settings at 4K (51-69 FPS) further confirms that the system is operating near its graphical limits, as the minimum frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold that many users target for smooth gameplay.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a formidable processor on paper, featuring 24 cores and 24 threads with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and a single-core score of 2439. This level of single-thread performance is crucial for game logic and physics, which often rely on fewer cores. The PassMark single-thread score of 5068 also indicates strong per-core capability.

In the context of Control’s measured FPS, the CPU appears to be more than sufficient. Even at 1080p Low, where the frame rate is highest at 166 FPS, there is no indication that the processor is holding back performance. The data shows a smooth scaling pattern that is more consistent with GPU limitations. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS across different resolutions at the same settings, which is not the case. The FPS continues to drop as resolution increases, which is the classic sign of a GPU-bound workload.

The CPU’s L3 cache of 36 MB shared and L2 cache of 3 MB per core provide ample fast memory for game data. The memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while not directly measured in game, supports the high data throughput required by modern titles. The processor’s percentile rank of 96th vs all CPUs indicates it is in the top tier of processors for general performance, which aligns with the observed ability to push high frame rates at lower resolutions. The nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon 6520P with a 0% delta, show that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is competitive with high-end server chips, reinforcing that its role in this game is to feed the GPU without becoming a limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is the definitive performance determinant in this configuration. With 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, it offers 608.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its 6144 shading units and boost clock of 1770 MHz provide substantial compute power. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3478 and the PassMark G3D score of 23356 place it in the 75th percentile vs all GPUs, indicating a solid mid-to-high range graphics card.

The GPU’s role is most evident in the 4K results. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 47, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth play. The 4K Medium setting yields an average of 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 FPS, showing that the card can barely maintain playable frame rates at this resolution with moderate settings. The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is likely a limiting factor at 4K with high-resolution textures, as Control is known for its detailed environments. The drop from 54 FPS at 4K High to 47 FPS at 4K Ultra suggests that the additional graphical features in the Ultra preset are too demanding for the memory bandwidth and capacity.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RTX 3070 Ti is closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile (0.1% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 (-0.5% delta). This indicates that its raw compute performance is competitive with newer mobile parts and older high-end desktop cards. However, the 8 GB VRAM is a potential weakness for future titles or high-resolution textures. The data shows that for 1080p and 1440p gaming, the RTX 3070 Ti is more than capable, delivering 91 FPS at 1080p Ultra and 69 FPS at 1440p Ultra, but for 4K, it requires settings adjustments to maintain playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and RTX 3070 Ti combination ranks 971st out of 2888 tested combos for Control. This places it in the 66th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms roughly two-thirds of the configurations in our database. This ranking reflects a balanced system that is capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but is not optimized for 4K ultra settings.

The rank is likely influenced by the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM, which is on the lower side for modern high-end cards. While the CPU is top-tier, the GPU’s limitations at 4K prevent the combo from ranking higher. The data shows that the system is more competitive at lower resolutions. For instance, the 1080p High average of 105 FPS is a strong result, but the 4K Ultra average of 47 FPS is below what many would consider acceptable. This disparity between resolutions is what drags the overall rank down.

In the context of the nearest rivals for the GPU, the combo’s performance is consistent with what one would expect. The RTX 3070 Ti’s performance is similar to the RX 6800, and the rank reflects that these cards are not top-tier for 4K. The CPU’s high percentile rank does not fully compensate for the GPU’s limitations in this specific game. Therefore, this combo is best suited for gamers who prioritize high frame rates at 1080p or 1440p, rather than those who want to push 4K with maximum settings.

FAQ

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

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 105 FPS.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 60, with a minimum of 51 FPS. At High settings, the average is 54 FPS, which is below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average benchmark score of 93785, which is identical to the Intel Xeon 6520P with a 0% delta. It is 1.5% behind the AMD EPYC 4564P.

Q: What is the GPU's VRAM capacity and type?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti has 8 GB of GDDR6X memory.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The highest average FPS is 166, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded in the measured data?

A: The lowest average FPS is 47, achieved at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 166. The Medium preset yields an average of 118 FPS, with a minimum of 101 and a maximum of 136 FPS. High settings produce an average of 105 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops the average to 91 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the combo excels, providing smooth gameplay even at the highest settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected drop. Low settings average 126 FPS. The Medium preset averages 89 FPS, with a range of 76 to 103 FPS. High settings average 79 FPS, and Ultra settings average 69 FPS. The data indicates that 1440p is a sweet spot for this combo, as even the Ultra preset maintains an average above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average 85 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS, indicating potential stuttering. High settings average 54 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 47 FPS. The 4K resolution is the most demanding, and the data shows that the RTX 3070 Ti is the limiting factor here, as the frame rates drop significantly compared to lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the user’s resolution preference. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 91 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The visual fidelity gains from Ultra settings are worth the performance cost at this resolution.

For 1440p, the High preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 79 FPS. The Ultra preset at 69 FPS is also viable, but the High preset provides a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Low and Medium presets offer higher frame rates but sacrifice too much visual quality for the average user.

For 4K, the Medium preset is the only viable option that maintains an average of 60 FPS, though the minimum of 51 FPS suggests some dips below that threshold. The High preset at 54 FPS is playable but may not be smooth for all users. The Ultra preset at 47 FPS is not recommended for a consistent experience. The data suggests that for 4K, users should either accept Medium settings or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better overall experience.