Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, is a demanding showcase for any modern system, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 provides a compelling dataset for analysis. The measured frames per second across resolutions and presets reveal a hardware pairing that is consistently capable of delivering high performance, though the scaling characteristics point to a nuanced interplay between the CPU and GPU depending on the workload. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them against the hardware's broader benchmark profiles, and interprets what the data signifies for gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data illustrates a classic pattern of resolution-dependent scaling, with the most significant performance deltas occurring between 1080p and 4K. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 120 FPS at 1920x1080 to 91 FPS at 2560x1440, representing a 24% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160, the average further decreases to 61 FPS, a 33% drop from the 1440p figure and a 49% drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the rendering workload at 4K is substantial, pushing the GPU to its limits.

The scaling pattern suggests that at 1080p, the system is less constrained by the GPU, allowing the high-frequency CPU to push frame rates to 190 FPS at Low settings. However, as resolution increases, the pixel fill rate and shading demands on the RTX 5080 become the dominant factor. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K is particularly telling: the average FPS falls from 97 to 53, a 45% performance penalty. This demonstrates that the Ultra preset's additional graphical effects, likely including ray tracing and high-resolution textures, place an enormous burden on the GPU, making it the clear limiting component at 4K.

Conversely, at 1080p, the frame rate ceiling appears to be more influenced by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The 190 FPS average at Low settings, compared to 104 FPS at Ultra, shows that even with a powerful GPU, the CPU's single-thread performance and core architecture are critical for achieving the highest possible frame rates in less GPU-intensive scenarios. The data indicates that the RTX 5080 is the primary bottleneck at 4K and even at 1440p with higher presets, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX’s robust performance is what allows the system to reach such high frame rates at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this hardware combination?

A: The highest measured average is 190 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K with the Ultra preset?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 53 FPS, indicating that while playable, this preset is the most demanding and will push the GPU to its limits.

Q: Is there a significant performance difference between the Medium and High presets at 1440p?

A: Yes, the data shows a 11 FPS difference, with the Medium preset averaging 102 FPS and the High preset averaging 91 FPS at 2560x1440. This suggests the High preset adds a noticeable graphical load.

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

A: The difference is substantial, with the Low preset achieving an average of 190 FPS while the Ultra preset averages 104 FPS. This represents an 86 FPS gap, highlighting the significant cost of Ultra settings.

Q: Does the system maintain a stable frame rate at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The data shows an average of 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS. This indicates a generally stable experience, though the minimum FPS suggests potential for minor dips below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for Control?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is ranked 730th out of 2888 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top 25% of all configurations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the dominant force in this pairing, and its specifications directly explain the observed performance. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This high bandwidth is crucial for feeding the 10,752 shading units at 4K resolutions, especially with high-resolution textures that the game’s Ultra preset likely employs. The measured 4K performance, ranging from 53 FPS on Ultra to 97 FPS on Low, shows a GPU that is heavily utilized and scaling directly with the workload.

The GPU’s clock speeds, with a base of 2295 MHz and a boost of 2617 MHz, are key to its compute throughput. The boost clock allows for dynamic performance increases under load, which helps maintain frame rates in demanding scenes. The data suggests that the RTX 5080’s raw compute power is the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions. The 45% performance difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is a direct consequence of the increased shader and memory pressure from the Ultra preset's features. The GPU's 84 RT cores would also be engaged by any ray tracing effects, further explaining the significant performance drop at the Ultra preset.

In the broader benchmark landscape, the RTX 5080’s average benchmark score is 56083, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 8060S, has a score of 55757, which is 0.6% lower. This indicates that the RTX 5080 is a top-tier performer, and the game’s results align with that positioning. The GPU is clearly the component that dictates the experience at 1440p and 4K, where its 16 GB frame buffer and high bandwidth are essential assets for maintaining playable frame rates with high visual fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 achieves a rank of 730 out of 2888 tested combinations for Control. This places the system in the top 25.3% of all configurations, which is a strong showing for a mobile CPU paired with a high-end desktop-class GPU. This rank is a holistic measure of the system's overall performance in the game, taking into account all tested resolutions and settings.

This ranking is particularly impressive given that the system is a mobile platform, as indicated by the CPU's "Mobile" market segment. The data suggests that this combination can outperform the majority of desktop and other mobile setups. The high rank confirms the synergy between the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance and the GPU's excellent rasterization capabilities. While not in the top 1% of all possible combinations, the 730th rank means that a significant number of systems with more powerful desktop CPUs or multi-GPU setups are required to achieve a higher score. For a laptop platform, this result is exceptional and indicates that it can handle Control at high settings without compromise.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX serves as the central processing unit, and its architecture plays a critical role in ensuring the GPU is not starved of data. With 24 cores and 24 threads, it provides substantial multi-threading capability. Its boost clock of 5.40 GHz is critical for single-threaded performance, which is often the primary bottleneck in game logic and draw call submission. The CPU's performance in benchmarks, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35589 and a single-core score of 2204, confirms its high capability in both areas.

In the context of the game's results, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 190 FPS, which is a frame rate where the CPU's ability to process game state and issue rendering commands is tested. The CPU's high boost clock and efficient Arrow Lake architecture allow it to keep up with the RTX 5080's request for frames. The L3 cache of 36 MB is also a valuable asset, helping to reduce memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 9 275HX holds its own. Its average benchmark score is 67469, which is only 0.3% lower than the Intel Xeon w5-3525 and 0.5% lower than the AMD EPYC 4484PX. This places the CPU in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The data shows that while the CPU is not the primary performance limiter at 4K, its high single-core and multi-core performance ensures a high frame rate ceiling at 1080p and prevents any significant bottlenecking that would otherwise reduce the GPU's performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across a matrix of resolutions and settings.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system averages 97 FPS on Low, 69 FPS on Medium, 61 FPS on High, and 53 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS, indicating a range of performance around the average. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a clear and steep performance cost, with the Ultra preset being the only one that falls below the 60 FPS average threshold.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance is notably higher. The Low preset achieves an average of 144 FPS, which is a 48% increase over the 4K Low result. The Medium preset averages 102 FPS with a minimum of 87 and a maximum of 117. High settings yield an average of 91 FPS, while the Ultra preset still manages a respectable 79 FPS. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for high refresh rate gaming with high visual quality, as even the Ultra preset stays well above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system demonstrates its full potential. The Low preset hits an average of 190 FPS, showcasing the CPU and GPU's combined strength. The Medium preset averages 135 FPS with a range of 115 to 155, while the High preset averages 120 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 104 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is less severe than at 4K, indicating that the CPU is able to maintain high frame rates even when the GPU is not the primary limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and target frame rate. For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is a viable option, as the average of 104 FPS provides a smooth, high-fidelity experience. For those seeking maximum frame rates for competitive play or high refresh rate displays, the Low preset at 190 FPS is the clear choice.

At 1440p, the data suggests that the High preset, with an average of 91 FPS, offers an excellent balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 79 FPS is also playable and will be preferable for users who prioritize visual fidelity over a high frame rate. The Medium preset at 102 FPS is a strong alternative for those who want to ensure a frame rate consistently above 100 FPS.

For 4K displays, the data indicates that the Medium preset, with an average of 69 FPS, is the most balanced choice for a smooth experience, as it stays above the 60 FPS target on average. The High preset at 61 FPS is also viable but may experience more frequent dips below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. The Ultra preset, at an average of 53 FPS, is best reserved for users who prioritize visual quality and are comfortable with frame rates in the 50s. The Low preset at 97 FPS is an option for those who want to prioritize frame rate over all else, but it will result in a significant reduction in visual quality.