Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure from Remedy Entertainment, is a demanding title that leverages real-time physics and particle effects to create its signature shifting environments. The benchmark data for this combination of an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and AMD Radeon RX 7800M reveals a system that is decisively GPU-limited at higher resolutions, yet capable of delivering high refresh rate experiences at 1080p. The measured frame rates across the three primary resolutions and four quality presets provide a clear picture of the performance ceiling, which is dictated almost entirely by the graphics processor in this specific scenario.

Resolution Scaling

The most immediate observation from the data is the steep performance cost associated with increasing resolution. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces an average of 120 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset, the average drops to 91 FPS, a reduction of 29 FPS (approximately 24%). The transition from 1440p to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average falling to 61 FPS—a further 30 FPS drop (approximately 33%). This pattern indicates a classic GPU-bound scenario where the rendering resolution is the primary bottleneck.

The scaling becomes more dramatic when examining the higher quality presets. At High settings, the frame rate averages 76 FPS at 1080p, falls to 57 FPS at 1440p, and plummets to 39 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 4K at High settings is 37 FPS, representing a 48.7% decrease in performance. This non-linear scaling is typical for a game like Control, which relies heavily on fill-rate and memory bandwidth for its volumetric effects and reflections. The GPU, an AMD Radeon RX 7800M with a 192-bit memory bus, is being saturated as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The data strongly suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is not the limiting component at any resolution. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 24 threads, provides ample headroom even at 1080p where CPU overhead is typically highest. The fact that the frame rate scales consistently with resolution, rather than plateauing, confirms that the RX 7800M is the performance arbiter. The 4K Ultra preset, which yields only 34 FPS, is a clear indicator that this resolution is reserved for less demanding titles or for users who prioritize visual fidelity over smooth motion. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K (61 FPS vs. 34 FPS) further reinforces the GPU's role as the primary constraint, as the CPU would be able to handle the increased draw calls without issue.

Settings Recommendations

For users targeting a smooth, responsive experience, the benchmark data offers clear guidance. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 120 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. However, the jump to Medium yields an average of 85 FPS, a substantial improvement in visual quality for a 35 FPS cost. The High preset at 76 FPS remains a viable option for those who prefer higher fidelity, but the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot for 1080p, balancing the visual upgrades of the Medium preset with a frame rate that remains well above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the choice becomes more critical. The Low preset averages 91 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset drops to 64 FPS, which is still playable, but the frame rate is now approaching the point where dips could be noticeable during intense combat sequences. The High preset at 57 FPS falls just short of the 60 FPS target, making it a less attractive option for users with standard 60Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 50 FPS is likely to feel less fluid. Based on the measured rows, the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best compromise, providing a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a playable average frame rate.

The 4K resolution presents a significant challenge for this combination. The Low preset averages 61 FPS, which is the only preset at this resolution that achieves a playable frame rate. The Medium preset drops to 43 FPS, and High and Ultra fall to 39 FPS and 34 FPS, respectively. For a 4K display, the Low preset is the only measured configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience. Any attempt to increase visual fidelity at 4K will result in a sub-60 FPS experience, which may be acceptable to some users but is not recommended for fast-paced action. The data indicates that 1440p Medium is the optimal balance of visual quality and performance, while 1080p Medium or High are excellent choices for maximizing frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M is the central figure in this performance analysis, as its capabilities directly determine the frame rates across all tested configurations. The GPU is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. This bandwidth is a critical resource for Control, as the game's physics-driven destruction and particle effects rely heavily on fast texture and buffer access. The base clock of 1295 MHz and boost clock of 2335 MHz are typical for a high-end mobile GPU, allowing it to maintain high throughput under load.

The VRAM capacity is another factor that influences performance, particularly at higher resolutions. With 12 GB of VRAM, the RX 7800M can comfortably hold the textures and geometry required for Control at 4K, preventing the stuttering that can occur when the GPU is forced to swap data with system memory. However, the raw compute power, measured at 35.87 TFLOPS FP32, is what ultimately limits the frame rates. The benchmark results show that the GPU's performance scales predictably with resolution, indicating that it is being fully utilized at 4K and is the primary bottleneck.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 73rd among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27883, places it in the upper mid-range tier. Its nearest rivals, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X, have average scores of 27839 and 27973, respectively, representing a delta of only 0.2% and -0.3%. This indicates that the RX 7800M's raw performance is very closely matched with these professional-grade cards, and its performance in Control should be similar. The data shows that the GPU is a capable performer, but it is not a flagship part, and its limitations are exposed by the demands of 4K Ultra settings in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and the AMD Radeon RX 7800M holds a specific position. The combo rank in Control is 1927 out of 2888 total combinations, placing it in the lower half of the database. This ranking, while seemingly low, reflects the fact that the database includes many combinations with much more powerful desktop GPUs that are not subject to the thermal and power constraints of a mobile platform.

The CPU's rank within its own category is strong, with a percentile ranking of 94th among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 67469 places it just slightly below the Intel Xeon w5-3525, which scores 67673, a difference of -0.3%. This high CPU performance, combined with the GPU's more modest 73rd percentile ranking (average score of 27883), confirms that the combo's rank in Control is dragged down by the graphics card. The CPU has the capacity to push far more frames, but the GPU's silicon is the limiting factor.

The delta between the CPU's strong standing and the GPU's mid-range standing explains the combo's overall position. In a game like Control, which is not particularly CPU-intensive, the GPU's performance is the deciding factor. The data suggests that a user looking to improve this system's rank in Control would need to upgrade the graphics card rather than the processor. The Core Ultra 9 275HX provides a solid foundation, but the RX 7800M is holding back the system's full potential in this specific title.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 on Medium settings provides an average of 64 FPS, which is a good balance. For higher frame rates, 1920x1080 on High settings yields an average of 76 FPS.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset, which averages 61 FPS. Higher presets at 4K result in sub-60 FPS averages, with Ultra dropping to 34 FPS.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon RX 7800M compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Its average benchmark score is 27883, which is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 at 27839 (0.2% difference) and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X at 27973 (-0.3% difference).

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX bottlenecking the GPU?

A: No. The frame rates scale consistently with resolution, indicating a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's strong benchmark scores (e.g., 35589 in Cinebench R23 multicore) suggest it has ample headroom for this game.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The Low preset averages 120 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 66 FPS. This is a difference of 54 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for the highest visual settings.

Q: How much VRAM does the GPU have, and is it sufficient?

A: The GPU has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. This is sufficient for Control at the tested resolutions and presets, as the benchmark data does not show signs of memory-related stuttering.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for this hardware combination in Control.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 120 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 85 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 76 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 66 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 91 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 64 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 57 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 50 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 61 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 43 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 39 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 34 |

The data reveals a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions. The Low preset provides the highest frame rates, while the Ultra preset provides the lowest. The Medium preset at 2560x1440 (64 FPS) and the High preset at 1920x1080 (76 FPS) represent the most balanced options for their respective resolutions. For the Medium preset, the measured minimum and maximum FPS were also recorded, showing a range of 72-98 at 1080p, 55-74 at 1440p, and 37-50 at 4K. These ranges indicate that the frame pacing is stable, with the minimums staying within a reasonable distance of the averages.

CPU Role

While the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates in Control, the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX plays a vital, yet secondary, role. This processor is a 24-core, 24-thread part based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This high core count and clock speed ensure that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this game. The benchmark results for the CPU, such as a multi-core score of 35589 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 2204, demonstrate its immense processing power.

Control is not a title that scales perfectly with a high core count, but it does benefit from strong single-thread performance. The Ultra 9 275HX excels in this area, as evidenced by its single-core Geekbench score of 2458. This ensures that the game's main simulation thread, which handles physics and AI, is processed efficiently. The CPU's 36 MB of shared L3 cache also helps by reducing latency when accessing frequently used game data. The processor's 55W TDP is a modest figure for a 24-core part, indicating that it can maintain its boost clocks without excessive power draw.

The data confirms that the CPU is not a bottleneck. If it were, we would see frame rates that are similar across different resolutions, as the CPU would be unable to feed the GPU with data fast enough. Instead, the performance scales directly with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU-limited workload. The Core Ultra 9 275HX provides a robust foundation for the RX 7800M, ensuring that the GPU can operate to its full potential without being starved of data. Its performance is so high that it effectively disappears from the performance equation, allowing the graphics card to be the sole determinant of the gaming experience.