Control

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile combination ranks in the top 27.5% of all tested combos in Control, placing 1024th out of 3720. This is a strong result, indicating that this pairing is well above the median for handling this game's demanding physics and particle effects. The data shows a system capable of delivering high frame rates across all settings, though the scaling between resolutions reveals where the bottleneck lies.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 3720 tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile ranks 1024th. This places it in the 72.5th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly seven out of every ten other combos tested in Control. The ranking reflects a balanced system where neither component is severely limiting the other at common gaming resolutions, though the performance curve suggests the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution increases.

The CPU itself sits at the 94th percentile against all processors, with an average benchmark score of 67469. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests are the Intel Xeon w5-3525 (with a negligible -0.3% delta) and the AMD EPYC 4484PX (at -0.5% delta). This proximity to workstation-class chips highlights the Ultra 9 275HX's exceptional multi-threaded capability, which is relevant for Control's CPU-intensive physics simulations. The GPU, meanwhile, ranks at the 81st percentile against all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 38349. Its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks is the NVIDIA GeForce MX570, which is only 0.1% behind, though this is a synthetic anomaly—in real gaming workloads, the RTX 5080 Mobile's 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 896.0 GB/s bandwidth separate it entirely from that entry-level part.

The combination's rank in Control specifically, rather than in synthetic tests, suggests that the game's engine rewards the high core count of the CPU alongside the raw throughput of the GPU. At 1080p, where the CPU has more influence, the combo achieves higher frame rates, while at 4K, the GPU's workload dominates. This 1024th rank out of 3720 is a solid result, but it is not top-tier, as the very fastest combos likely pair this GPU with an even stronger CPU or leverage higher power limits.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1440p as the sweet spot. At High settings, the combo delivers 91 FPS on average at 2560x1440, which is a significant jump from 61 FPS at 4K but still maintains high fluidity. At 1080p High, it reaches 120 FPS, but the visual fidelity gain from 1440p is substantial for only a 29 FPS drop.

Q: How does the CPU's core count affect Control's performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, which is substantial for a mobile chip. Control's physics engine benefits from this, as seen in the high frame rates at 1080p Low (190 FPS), where the CPU is less likely to be the bottleneck. This high core count also contributes to its 94th percentile ranking against all CPUs.

Q: Is the RTX 5080 Mobile the limiting factor at 4K?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 61 on High settings and 53 on Ultra. Compare this to 1080p High at 120 FPS—the scaling shows the GPU's rendering load increases dramatically with resolution, while the CPU's role diminishes. The GPU's 7680 shading units and 60 RT cores are the primary drivers here.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings yield 144 FPS on average, while Ultra drops to 79 FPS. This represents a 65 FPS (or roughly 45%) performance loss for the highest visual quality. The Medium preset sits between at 102 FPS, with a minimum of 87 FPS and maximum of 117 FPS, making it a balanced choice.

Q: How does the combo's GPU compare to its CPU in terms of benchmark percentiles?

A: The CPU ranks at the 94th percentile against all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 81st percentile against all graphics cards. This indicates the CPU is relatively stronger in synthetic tests, but in Control, the GPU still drives the frame rate at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the 53 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Q: Does the combo support high refresh rate gaming at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 190 FPS on average, which exceeds most high-refresh displays (typically 144Hz or 165Hz). Even at High settings, it maintains 120 FPS, so for competitive play in Control's less demanding scenes, this pairing can fully utilize a 120Hz or higher monitor.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: performance scales inversely with resolution, but the rate of decline is not linear. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average FPS drops from 120 to 91, a 24% reduction. Stepping up to 3840x2160 at High, the average plummets to 61 FPS, which is a further 33% drop from 1440p. This steepening curve indicates that the GPU is increasingly the bottleneck as pixel count rises.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. 1080p Low hits 190 FPS, 1440p Low drops to 144 FPS (a 24% reduction), and 4K Low falls to 97 FPS (a 33% reduction from 1440p). This suggests that even when the GPU workload is lightened, the sheer number of pixels at 4K overwhelms the RTX 5080 Mobile's 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 256-bit bus, despite its high 896.0 GB/s bandwidth.

The Medium settings row provides additional insight, as it includes minimum and maximum frame times. At 1080p Medium, the average is 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 102 FPS with a minimum of 87 FPS, showing a wider variance. At 4K Medium, the average is 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, which is still playable but approaches the threshold where frame drops become noticeable.

The data strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at all resolutions above 1080p. The CPU, with its 24 cores and 5.40 GHz boost clock, has ample headroom to feed the GPU, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low where the CPU is more likely to be the constraint. However, the gap between 1080p and 1440p performance (120 vs 91 FPS at High) is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K (91 vs 61 FPS), confirming that the GPU's rendering pipeline becomes saturated as resolution scales.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the combo delivers an average of 61 FPS on High settings, 69 FPS on Medium, 97 FPS on Low, and 53 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS, indicating that the system can maintain near-60 FPS even in demanding scenes, but Ultra pushes it below the 60 FPS threshold. The jump from Ultra to Low at 4K represents an 83% performance increase (53 to 97 FPS), showing how much headroom exists by lowering graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the results are more comfortable. High settings produce an average of 91 FPS, Medium reaches 102 FPS (with a minimum of 87 and maximum of 117), Low hits 144 FPS, and Ultra drops to 79 FPS. This resolution is clearly the best balance for a high-refresh experience, as even Ultra maintains above 75 FPS, which is smooth for most displays. The Medium preset at 1440p is particularly noteworthy for its tight frame time distribution, with only a 30 FPS spread between minimum and maximum.

At 1920x1080, the combo excels. Low settings achieve 190 FPS on average, Medium produces 135 FPS (with a minimum of 115 and maximum of 155), High reaches 120 FPS, and Ultra still manages 104 FPS. Even at Ultra, the system stays above 100 FPS, meaning a 144Hz monitor can be fully utilized at this resolution. The Medium preset at 1080p shows a 40 FPS variance between minimum and maximum, which is the widest among all settings at this resolution, but the 115 FPS minimum remains high.

The data reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 86 FPS (190 vs 104). At 1440p, it is 65 FPS (144 vs 79). At 4K, it shrinks to 44 FPS (97 vs 53). This pattern underscores the GPU's role: at lower resolutions, the CPU can push more frames, so settings have a larger impact; at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes saturated, and the settings have a smaller relative effect on the final frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, with a 36 MB shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 35589 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2204 in single-core, placing it at the 94th percentile against all CPUs. This multi-threaded strength is critical for Control, which uses physics-based destruction and particle effects that can leverage multiple cores.

The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are all workstation or server-class parts: the Intel Xeon w5-3525 (0.3% slower), the AMD EPYC 4484PX (0.5% slower), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX (0.6% slower). This proximity to high-end server chips underscores that the Ultra 9 275HX is not just a gaming CPU—it is a compute powerhouse. In Control, this translates to high frame rates at 1080p, where the CPU is more likely to be the bottleneck. The 190 FPS at 1080p Low settings is a direct result of the CPU's ability to feed the GPU quickly, as the GPU has less work to do at that resolution.

The CPU's 24 threads are particularly relevant for Control, which can use multiple cores for its physics simulations. The single-core score of 2204 in Cinebench R23 also ensures that the game's main thread, which often handles AI and game logic, does not become a limiting factor. This is evident in the 4K results, where the GPU is clearly the constraint (61 FPS at High), but the CPU still maintains enough headroom to avoid causing frame drops, as seen in the 4K Medium minimum of 59 FPS.

Despite its high core count, the CPU's 55 W TDP is modest for a 24-core part, which reflects the efficiency of the 3 nm process. This allows the CPU to sustain high clocks in a mobile chassis without excessive heat, which is essential for maintaining consistent performance over long gaming sessions. The data shows no evidence of thermal throttling affecting the frame rates, as the 1080p Medium and 1440p Medium results show consistent minimums that are only slightly below the averages.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is the recommended choice. The data shows an average of 102 FPS with a minimum of 87 FPS, which keeps the experience smooth even in intense combat scenes. This is a 12% improvement over High settings (91 FPS) while still providing a significant visual upgrade over Low settings (144 FPS). The 87 FPS minimum ensures that the system rarely drops below the 60 FPS threshold, making it a reliable choice for most players.

If the priority is maximum visual fidelity, Ultra settings at 1440p are viable, delivering 79 FPS on average. This is playable, but the minimum frame data is not provided, so there is some uncertainty about the worst-case scenario. For players with a 60Hz display, 4K High (61 FPS) is the best option, as it offers the highest resolution with a frame rate that matches the refresh rate. However, the 4K Ultra preset (53 FPS) is not recommended, as it dips below 60 FPS, which can cause noticeable stuttering on a standard 60Hz monitor.

At 1080p, the High preset (120 FPS) is an excellent choice for high-refresh displays, as it provides a substantial visual improvement over Medium (135 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate that exceeds 120Hz. For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p (190 FPS) are the best option, as they maximize the frame rate and reduce input lag, though this comes at the cost of visual detail. The Medium preset at 1080p (135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS) is a good middle ground for those who want both smoothness and some visual fidelity.

The data suggests that the combo is best utilized at 1440p, where it can leverage its high CPU and GPU power without being overly constrained by either component. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and players must choose between High settings (61 FPS) for a smooth experience or drop to Low (97 FPS) for a higher frame rate, which is likely overkill for most displays. Ultimately, the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best combination of performance and visual quality for this pairing, based on the measured frame times.