Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 provides a clear picture of what this combination can achieve. The measured frame rates across different resolutions and settings reveal a system that is capable of smooth 1080p and 1440p gameplay, while 4K presents a considerable challenge that requires careful settings management. This analysis explores the measured performance, the role of each component, and what the numbers suggest about the best way to experience the game with this specific hardware pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control, based on the measured data?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the highest frame rates, with an average of 140 FPS at Low settings and 88 FPS at High settings. 2560x1440 is also very playable, with an average of 106 FPS at Low and 67 FPS at High. The 3840x2160 resolution sees a significant drop, with the highest average being 71 FPS at Low settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 perform at High settings across different resolutions?

A: At High settings, the measured average FPS is 88 at 1920x1080, 67 at 2560x1440, and 45 at 3840x2160. This shows a clear performance scaling pattern where the frame rate decreases as resolution increases, but the 1080p and 1440p results remain smooth, while 4K dips below the standard 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: The measured data shows a substantial difference. At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers an average of 106 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers an average of 58 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality settings.

Q: Does the combo rank highly among all tested hardware combinations for Control?

A: The comboRankInGame data shows a rank of 1515 out of 2888 tested combos. This places it in the middle of the pack, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer, it is also far from the bottom, offering a balanced experience for this game.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1080p?

A: For the 1920x1080 resolution with Medium settings, the measured data shows an average FPS of 99, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS. This indicates a reasonably stable frame rate with some variance.

Q: Which component, the CPU or GPU, appears to be more of a limiting factor based on the resolution scaling?

A: The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, with the High preset falling from 88 FPS to 45 FPS. This large drop as resolution increases suggests that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the workload on the graphics card increases significantly.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination achieves a rank of 1515 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This mid-pack placement indicates a balanced pairing that is capable of delivering a solid experience, but it is not among the elite performers. The data suggests that the system is well-suited for mainstream gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but it will not be able to compete with high-end configurations at 4K or with maximum settings. The rank implies that while the hardware is competent, there are many other combinations that yield higher frame rates in this specific title. This is not a verdict on the components' overall quality, but rather a reflection of their combined performance within the context of Control's specific demands. The system sits in the 52nd percentile of tested combos, meaning it outperforms just over half of the configurations tested, which is a typical result for a mid-range pairing like this.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. These specifications are central to understanding its performance in Control. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a key factor, as higher resolutions and texture settings demand more video memory. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the Ultra preset only achieves 39 FPS, which is the lowest score recorded. This suggests that the GPU is heavily taxed at this resolution and settings level, likely due to both the rendering load and the memory pressure. The 128-bit memory bus, while efficient, limits the total bandwidth available, which can become a bottleneck in graphically intensive scenes. However, the GPU still manages to deliver playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, with the 1920x1080 High preset achieving 88 FPS and the 2560x1440 High preset achieving 67 FPS. The performance scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution shows a consistent pattern of the GPU working harder as visual fidelity increases, with the most significant impact seen at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the system shows strong performance. The Low preset delivers an average of 140 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset is also very smooth, with an average of 99 FPS and a minimum of 84 FPS, ensuring a stable experience. The High preset produces an average of 88 FPS, which is still excellent for most displays. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 77 FPS, which remains above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance is still robust but shows the expected drop. The Low preset averages 106 FPS, which is very good for 1440p gaming. The Medium preset averages 75 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS, which is acceptable. The High preset averages 67 FPS, which is right at the edge of smoothness for many players. The Ultra preset averages 58 FPS, which dips below the ideal 60 FPS target, indicating that some compromises may be needed for the highest visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to struggle. The Low preset is the only one to achieve a truly playable average, with 71 FPS. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 FPS, which can lead to noticeable stuttering in fast-paced scenes. The High preset averages 45 FPS, making it less than ideal for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset averages only 39 FPS, which is generally considered too low for comfortable gameplay. The data clearly shows that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant settings reductions to maintain a playable frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers a great balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 88 FPS. For players who prioritize maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 140 FPS is the clear choice. The Ultra preset at 77 FPS is also viable for those who want the best visuals and are willing to accept a lower, though still smooth, frame rate. The Medium preset is a solid middle ground at 99 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 67 FPS provides a good visual experience, but players seeking a more consistent 60+ FPS experience might prefer the Medium preset, which averages 75 FPS. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is playable but may result in occasional frame dips. The Low preset at 106 FPS is the best option for competitive or fast-paced play where high frame rates are paramount. For a balanced experience, the Medium preset is recommended as it offers a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a smooth and stable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the options are more limited. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 51 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for all players. The High and Ultra presets, at 45 and 39 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a good gameplay experience. For 4K, the recommendation is to use the Low preset to maintain a playable frame rate, or to consider dropping to 1440p for a better balance of visuals and performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It features 36 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory. In the context of Control, this CPU provides more than enough processing power to avoid being a bottleneck, especially at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rates are high, which indicates the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, as indicated by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2439, is beneficial for game logic and physics. The high multi-core score of 44253 in Cinebench R23 also suggests that background tasks and complex game systems will not cause performance issues. The 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs further reinforces its capability. However, the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the frame rate drops significantly while the CPU workload remains relatively constant. This indicates that the Ultra 7 270K Plus is well-matched with the RTX 4060, providing ample headroom for the GPU to be the primary determinant of performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear and expected scaling pattern. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 88 FPS at 1920x1080 to 67 FPS at 2560x1440, and then to 45 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 49% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K. A similar trend is observed across all settings presets. For instance, at Low settings, the average goes from 140 FPS at 1080p to 106 FPS at 1440p and 71 FPS at 4K, a 49% drop as well. This consistent scaling pattern is a strong indicator that the GPU is the primary limiting component in this system. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels that the GPU must render grows exponentially, putting more strain on the graphics card. The CPU's role becomes less significant at higher resolutions because the increased GPU workload allows it to keep up more easily. The fact that the frame rate drops by nearly half from 1080p to 4K suggests that the RTX 4060's performance, including its 8 GB of VRAM and 272.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, is the key factor determining the system's overall capabilities in Control. This analysis is further supported by the fact that the CPU's performance, as measured by its high benchmark scores, does not change with resolution, while the GPU's workload does. Therefore, for players looking to improve 4K performance, the graphics card would be the component to upgrade.