Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the GPU and CPU, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination shows a system that is exceptionally well-balanced for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming but begins to show its limits at 4K. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing delivers a smooth 60 FPS at 4K High, but the performance headroom at 1080p and 1440p reveals that the RTX 3080 is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance data across resolutions and settings, providing a clear picture of what this hardware combo can achieve in this specific title.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combo in Control?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks at 771 out of 2888 total tested combos for this game, placing it in the top 26.7% of all configurations.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K resolution smoothly?

A: Yes, at 4K with High settings, the system achieves an average of 60 FPS. However, pushing to Ultra settings drops the average to 52 FPS, suggesting that High is the optimal setting for a locked 60 FPS experience at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an average benchmark score of 93785. This is essentially identical to the Intel Xeon 6520P (93786, 0% delta). It is slightly behind the AMD EPYC 4564P (95183, -1.5% delta) and the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615, -1.9% delta), indicating it sits at the top of its performance tier.

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate this system can achieve in Control?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 185 FPS, which occurs at 1080p resolution with Low settings. This demonstrates the system's capability to push very high frame rates when the graphical load is reduced.

Q: Is the RTX 3080's performance closer to any specific rival GPU in this database?

A: The RTX 3080's average benchmark score of 23172 is nearly matched by the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, -0.3% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250, -0.3% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, -0.4% delta). The data shows it edges out the AMD Radeon R9 M290X (23276, -0.4% delta).

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1080p and 4K at High settings?

A: The average frame rate at 1080p High is 117 FPS. This drops to 88 FPS at 1440p High and further to 60 FPS at 4K High. This represents a 48.7% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the central component in this configuration's graphical output. Its 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus provides a substantial 760.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is critical for handling the high-resolution textures and detailed environments of Control. The GPU's architecture, Ampere, is built on a 8 nm process and contains 8704 shading units, 272 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. These specifications allow it to achieve a pixel rate of 164.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 465.1 GTexel/s, ensuring that it can fill frames with complex visual data at high resolutions.

The GPU's clock speeds are set at a base of 1440 MHz and a boost of 1710 MHz. These clocks, combined with the high core count, allow the RTX 3080 to deliver a raw FP32 performance of 29.77 TFLOPS. In the context of Control, this raw power translates directly to the measured frame rates. The data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p, the GPU is so powerful that frame rates are exceptionally high (up to 185 FPS on Low), but as resolution increases to 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The drop from 117 FPS at 1080p High to 60 FPS at 4K High highlights how the GPU's resources are consumed by the increased pixel count. The RTX 3080's overall performance places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23172. While its nearest rivals in the database have similar average scores, the RTX 3080's specific strengths in this game are evident from the measured FPS data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Control reveals a classic resolution scaling curve that is heavily influenced by the GPU's capabilities. At 1080p, the system is operating with significant headroom. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is 84 FPS (from 185 to 101), showing that even at Ultra, the GPU is not fully saturated. As the resolution increases to 1440p, the frame rates scale down proportionally. The High setting drops from 117 FPS at 1080p to 88 FPS at 1440p, a 24.8% decrease. This indicates that the GPU is starting to work harder, but the CPU is still able to feed it enough data to maintain high performance.

The transition to 4K is where the GPU's limits become most apparent. At 4K High, the average FPS is exactly 60, which is the target for many gamers. However, the scaling from 1440p to 4K shows a 31.8% drop in performance (from 88 to 60 FPS). This is a more significant drop than the 1080p to 1440p transition, confirming that the RTX 3080 is the limiting component at this resolution. The data suggests that at 4K, the GPU is working at or near its maximum capacity, leaving little room for settings increases. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 42 FPS (from 94 to 52), which is a smaller absolute range than at 1080p, reinforcing that the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The scaling behavior shows that for this game, the RTX 3080 is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it can maintain high frame rates with room to spare, while 4K gaming requires more careful settings management to stay at a smooth 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 185 FPS, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. The Medium preset averages 131 FPS with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 151 FPS. High settings average 117 FPS, and even the Ultra preset manages a solid 101 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is well-equipped for high-refresh-rate monitors, with all presets staying comfortably above the 100 FPS mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected scaling. The Low preset averages 140 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings provide an average of 99 FPS (min 84, max 114), which is excellent for a smooth experience. High settings average 88 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 77 FPS. The data shows that at 1440p, the system can handle even the most demanding settings while maintaining frame rates that are suitable for most gamers, though competitive players might prefer the Medium or High presets for higher refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance becomes more constrained. The Low preset averages 94 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings average 67 FPS (min 57, max 77), providing a mostly smooth experience with occasional dips. The High preset is the sweet spot for 4K, delivering an average of 60 FPS, which is the standard target for console-like smoothness. Ultra settings drop the average to 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in noticeable stuttering for some users. The 4K data clearly shows that the High preset is the recommended choice for a consistent experience, as the performance cost of Ultra is too high relative to the visual gain.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a formidable processor that provides a solid foundation for gaming. With 24 cores and 24 threads, it offers substantial multi-threading capabilities. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz ensure high single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and physics. The processor's 36 MB of shared L3 cache helps to keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44253 and a single-core score of 2439. These scores place the processor in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 93785.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle the game's simulation and physics, while the GPU handles the rendering. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is more than capable of keeping up with the GPU. The high frame rates at these resolutions, particularly the 185 FPS at 1080p Low, suggest that the CPU is not a bottleneck in these scenarios. However, the data also indicates that the CPU's performance is sufficient even at 4K, as the frame rate drop is primarily due to the GPU's rendering load. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon 6520P and AMD EPYC 4564P, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, confirming that the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is at the top of its class for this type of workload. The processor's high boost clock of 5.50 GHz is particularly beneficial for single-threaded game tasks, ensuring that the CPU can feed the GPU with data quickly enough to avoid frame rate dips. Overall, the data shows that the CPU provides ample performance for Control, allowing the RTX 3080 to be the primary determinant of frame rate across all tested resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation. With an average of 101 FPS, it provides a high-quality visual experience while still maintaining frame rates well above the 60 FPS threshold. Users with high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz or higher) could opt for the High preset at 117 FPS or even the Medium preset at 131 FPS to push frame rates even higher, but the Ultra preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance at this resolution.

At 1440p, the High preset is the recommended choice, delivering an average of 88 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience with good visual fidelity. The Medium preset (99 FPS) is a viable alternative for those who prioritize higher frame rates, while the Ultra preset (77 FPS) is still playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. For 4K gaming, the High preset is the only sensible choice for a consistent 60 FPS experience. It averages exactly 60 FPS, which is the target for most console and PC gamers. The Medium preset (67 FPS) offers a slight margin above 60 FPS but with lower visual quality, while the Ultra preset (52 FPS) sacrifices too much frame rate for the visual gains, potentially leading to a less smooth experience. The Low preset is not recommended for any resolution as it significantly reduces visual quality for minimal performance gains at 1080p and 1440p. In summary, the data strongly suggests that the High preset is the sweet spot for this hardware configuration, providing an excellent balance of performance and visual quality across all resolutions, with a particular emphasis on its suitability for 1440p and 4K gaming.