Control

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a solid, high-refresh-rate experience for Control, provided you are willing to adjust settings at higher resolutions. The combo ranks 1738 out of 2888 tested configurations, placing it in the 40th percentile overall, but its performance profile is more nuanced, showing a clear strength at 1080p and a steady decline as resolution increases. The data indicates this is a capable pairing for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring significant graphical compromises.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of all 2888 tested combos in the benchmark database, this specific pairing holds the 1738th position. This places it in the lower-middle tier of tested systems, indicating that while it is not a top-tier enthusiast setup, it is far from the bottom of the barrel. The ranking suggests that the combination of a mobile Core Ultra 9 CPU with an RTX 4060 laptop GPU is a balanced mid-range contender, but it is outclassed by many desktops and higher-end laptops.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's performance, which sits at the 61st percentile against all other GPUs. The CPU is comparatively stronger, ranking in the 85th percentile against all other CPUs. This delta suggests the RTX 4060 is the primary limiting factor for this combo's overall standing. The core hardware is more than capable of feeding the GPU, but the GPU's raw output is what ultimately anchors the system's rank. In essence, this is a system where the processor has headroom to spare, but the graphics card determines the final performance tier.

The measured FPS results reinforce this positioning. While the CPU is a high performer in its own right, the combo's rank is defined by the playable frame rates it can achieve. It is not a top performer, but it is a competent one that can handle demanding titles like Control with the right settings, as evidenced by its benchmark scores across various resolutions and presets. The overall rank is a reflection of a balanced, mid-range system that prioritizes efficiency over raw, uncompromising power.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This is a high-end mobile processor from the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. In the context of Control, an action-adventure game that benefits from strong single-thread performance, the CPU's 5.10 GHz boost clock is a significant asset. The data suggests that the processor will not be a bottleneck in most scenarios, ensuring the GPU is fully utilized.

The CPU's overall strength is confirmed by its average benchmark score of 35670, which places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. In multi-threaded workloads, it scores 17984.5 in Cinebench R23, which is a strong result for a mobile chip. However, its single-core scores are also impressive; it achieves 1810.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 3697 in Passmark's single-thread test. These single-thread numbers are crucial for games like Control, which often have a primary game logic thread that can be a bottleneck if the processor is weak.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 9 185H shows a nearly identical performance level. It is only 0.1% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 and 0.2% slower than the Intel Core 7 250H. This indicates that the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its class, with no significant anomalies. The 16 cores and 22 threads provide ample parallel processing power for background tasks and any game engine physics that may be spread across multiple threads, but the high boost clock is what really matters for the frame rate in Control. The data shows the CPU is a strong, stable foundation for this gaming combo.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the driving force behind the frame rates in this system. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with 3072 shading units. This specification set is typical for a modern mid-range mobile GPU, and its average benchmark score of 17639 places it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, confirming its mid-range status.

The GPU's performance is the key differentiator between the settings presets. The 8 GB VRAM buffer is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the data shows a significant drop in performance, likely due to memory bandwidth and capacity limitations. The 128-bit memory bus is a notable constraint; while the 272.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for lower resolutions, it struggles to feed the GPU at 3840x2160, especially on higher presets that require more texture data. This is evident in the measured FPS, which shows a much steeper performance cliff between 1440p and 4K than between 1080p and 1440p.

The GPU's benchmark results show it is closely matched with the AMD Radeon 780M, which is only 0.3% faster. This is interesting, as the 780M is an integrated GPU, highlighting that the RTX 4060 is at the lower end of the discrete GPU spectrum. However, the 4060 has a significant advantage in ray tracing and DLSS support, which are not reflected in the raw benchmark scores but are relevant for modern game features. For Control, which has a heavy emphasis on physics and visual effects, the RTX 4060's 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores provide a feature set that goes beyond raw rasterization, though the benchmark data does not explicitly test these features. The 61st percentile ranking indicates it is a competent performer, but not a class leader.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear directive for the optimal gaming experience. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of high refresh rates on most presets. The High preset yields an average of 79 FPS, which is smooth, but the Medium preset offers a better balance at 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS, ensuring a more consistent experience. For players prioritizing high refresh rates, the Low preset hits 124 FPS, but the visual sacrifice is significant. The best overall experience at 1080p is the Medium preset, as it maintains a high average while keeping the minimum FPS above 75, which is the threshold for a smooth experience on standard 60Hz and many 144Hz monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the system's limitations begin to show. The High preset delivers 59 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset drops to 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 FPS. While playable, the minimum FPS is getting close to the 60 FPS target. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, the Low preset at 94 FPS is the safest choice, but it comes with a noticeable reduction in visual quality. The data suggests that for a balanced experience at 1440p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a playable frame rate with a decent visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the system is severely challenged. The Medium preset is the only one with a recorded minimum FPS (38), and it averages 45 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS target and will result in a less fluid experience. The Low preset at 64 FPS is the only way to achieve a playable frame rate at 4K, but it requires sacrificing most visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 35 FPS is not recommended for comfortable gameplay. Therefore, the data indicates that 4K gaming should be avoided unless the user is willing to play on Low settings. The recommended path is to use the Medium preset for 1080p and 1440p, and to only consider Low settings at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset achieves an average of 124 FPS, showcasing the CPU's ability to push high frame rates when the GPU is not the bottleneck. The Medium preset averages 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS, providing a stable and smooth experience. The High preset averages 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 56 FPS, indicating that the GPU is the primary scaling factor, but the CPU keeps up at all presets.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops are consistent. The Low preset averages 94 FPS, a 30 FPS drop from its 1080p counterpart. The Medium preset averages 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS. This is a playable range, but the minimum FPS is concerning for those seeking a locked 60 FPS. The High preset averages 59 FPS, just below the 60 FPS mark. The Ultra preset averages 52 FPS. The scaling between presets is similar to 1080p, but the absolute values are lower, showing that the GPU is becoming a more significant limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance collapses. The Low preset is the only one that maintains a high average, at 64 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. This is a stutter-prone experience. The High preset averages 40 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 35 FPS. None of these are playable for a smooth experience. The data shows a 30 FPS difference between Low and High at 4K, which is a massive visual trade-off. The step from Medium to High at 4K is only 5 FPS, indicating that the GPU is hitting a hard performance wall.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Control at 60 FPS on High settings?*

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset averages 79 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target. At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 59 FPS, just below the target. At 3840x2160, the High preset averages only 40 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a smooth experience?

A: The data shows that the Medium preset at 1920x1080 provides an average of 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS, offering the best balance of smoothness and visual quality in the measured results.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck in this game?

A: The CPU is in the 85th percentile, while the GPU is in the 61st percentile. The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary performance limiter, especially at higher resolutions where the frame rates drop significantly.

Q: How does the performance at 1440p compare to 1080p?

A: The average FPS drops substantially. For example, on the High preset, the system goes from 79 FPS at 1080p to 59 FPS at 1440p, a 20 FPS reduction. On the Low preset, it drops from 124 FPS to 94 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: The data suggests it is not viable for a high-quality experience. The Ultra preset averages only 35 FPS, and the High preset averages 40 FPS, both of which are below the 60 FPS target. Only the Low preset, at 64 FPS, is playable.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest rival in terms of raw performance?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score is 17639. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon 780M, scores 17588, making it 0.3% faster. The Radeon HD 7790 is 0.2% faster, with a score of 17666. The performance delta is negligible.