Control

Control, a 2019 action-adventure title, is a demanding showcase for any hardware combination, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT yields a distinctly GPU-bound experience at higher resolutions. The benchmark data reveals a system that can deliver smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay at 1080p, but which begins to show its limits as pixel count climbs toward 4K, making the choice of graphics preset a critical factor for maintaining performance.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data demonstrates a clear and consistent inverse relationship between resolution and frame rate, a pattern that indicates the graphics card is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 102 FPS to 77 FPS, a reduction of 25 FPS. This decline is consistent with the increased pixel load on the GPU's rendering pipeline.

The scaling becomes more pronounced when pushing to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS falls to 52, which is a 49% reduction from the 1080p result. This steep drop is classic evidence of a GPU-limited scenario; the CPU is capable of feeding frames, but the RX 7700 XT's rendering throughput cannot keep pace with the 4K workload. The data at Low settings reinforces this, as the 4K average of 83 FPS is still far below the 1080p average of 162 FPS, showing that even with reduced graphical complexity, the resolution itself remains a significant hurdle.

The pattern across all settings is that 4K represents a performance cliff. While 1440p offers a playable middle ground, the jump to 2160p costs a substantial portion of the frame rate. This indicates that for this specific game and hardware combo, achieving high refresh rates at 4K is not feasible, and users should target 1440p or 1080p for the best balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU, as the CPU's performance headroom is not being taxed by the increasing resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, a configuration that is far beyond what Control typically requires for gaming. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 5.80 GHz provide substantial single-threaded performance, which is the primary driver for game logic and draw calls. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

However, in the context of this game's measured FPS, the CPU's role is largely to stay out of the way. The data shows that as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the average frame rate drops significantly, which would not happen if the CPU were the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the same number of draw calls would be processed regardless of pixel count. Instead, the FPS falls proportionally with the increase in pixels, conclusively pointing to the GPU as the limiting component.

The 290K Plus's 36 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s ensure that it can feed the GPU with data without introducing stutters or frame pacing issues. Its benchmark performance relative to its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (0.2% faster) and AMD EPYC 4584PX (1.1% slower), shows that it is a top-tier part. Yet, its influence on Control's FPS is secondary; it provides a stable foundation, but the final frame rate is dictated by the graphics card.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the decisive component in this configuration. With 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus and a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s, it has sufficient memory capacity and throughput for Control at the tested settings. Its boost clock of 2544 MHz and game clock of 2171 MHz allow it to push a significant number of pixels, but the data shows that this is not enough for 4K at high settings.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 22547. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (1.5% faster) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (0.8% faster), indicating its performance class. In Control, the 12 GB VRAM is sufficient, as none of the tested presets show signs of memory-related stuttering or texture pop-in, even at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's role is clearly the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 162 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 45 FPS. This massive swing is a direct result of the RX 7700 XT's fillrate and shading capabilities being overwhelmed by the increased resolution. The card's 96 ROPs and 3456 shading units are simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K with demanding settings. The data suggests that the RX 7700 XT is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver excellent performance, but it is not a 4K-capable card for a title as demanding as Control.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand database of tested combinations, this pairing of CPU and GPU ranks 1036 out of 2888 total combos for Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all possible configurations, roughly in the 64th percentile. The rank reflects that while the CPU is a top-tier performer, the GPU's mid-range status pulls the overall combo down from the top echelons of gaming performance.

The rank of 1036 is consistent with the FPS data. It is not a low rank, because the system can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease, achieving frame rates that many lower-end combos cannot match. However, it is also not a high rank, because the GPU prevents it from competing with combos that feature high-end graphics cards capable of 4K gaming. The combination is balanced for 1440p gaming but is held back at 4K.

This ranking is a useful metric for positioning. When compared to the CPU's individual percentile (96th) and the GPU's percentile (67th), the combo rank of 1036 suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in the overall gaming performance. A user looking to improve this combo's rank would need to upgrade the GPU rather than the CPU, as the CPU is already performing at a very high level relative to other parts.

FAQ

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

A: The data suggests 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At High settings, it achieves an average of 77 FPS, which is a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. 1080p is also excellent for high refresh rates, with 102 FPS at High, while 4K is only playable at Low settings with 83 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K High, the average FPS is 52, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. To get a smoother experience at 4K, you would need to drop to Low settings, which yields 83 FPS. The card is not capable of 4K Ultra, which drops to 45 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K's score of 83807. This indicates that the 290K Plus is essentially a marginal step up in synthetic performance.

Q: Is the 12 GB of VRAM on the RX 7700 XT sufficient for Control?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 12 GB is sufficient. The game does not show any signs of VRAM-related performance drops or stuttering at any of the tested settings, including 4K Ultra. The frame rate drops at 4K are attributable to raw compute limitations, not memory capacity.

Q: What is the expected frame rate at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 87 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This provides a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does this GPU's performance compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080?

A: In synthetic benchmarks, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT scores 22547, which is 1.5% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080's score of 22895. This indicates that the two cards are very closely matched in raw performance, though actual gaming performance can vary by title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination in Control. All figures are taken directly from the benchmark results.

At 1920x1080, the performance is strong across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 162 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset averages 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 FPS and a maximum of 133 FPS. The High preset averages 102 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 89 FPS. This resolution is clearly where this combo excels, with all presets delivering smooth, responsive gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain respectable. The Low preset averages 123 FPS, which is still very high. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. The High preset averages 77 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 67 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance, with High and Ultra presets providing a playable experience above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops substantially. The Low preset averages 83 FPS, which is the only preset at this resolution that approaches a high-refresh-rate experience. The Medium preset averages 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 45 FPS. This resolution is only recommended with the Low preset for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience depends on the user's display and performance priorities. For users with a 1080p high-refresh-rate monitor, the High preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 102 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and frame rate. The Ultra preset is also viable at 89 FPS, but the visual gains over High are often marginal compared to the 13% performance drop.

For 1440p users, the High preset at 77 FPS is the recommended choice. It offers a solid 60+ FPS experience with good graphical fidelity. The Ultra preset at 67 FPS is also playable, but the High preset provides a more consistent frame rate headroom. The Medium preset at 87 FPS is a good fallback for users who prefer a higher frame rate over maximum visual detail.

For 4K users, the options are more constrained. The Low preset at 83 FPS is the only way to achieve a smooth, high-refresh experience. The Medium preset at 59 FPS is borderline playable but may feel less fluid in action sequences. The High and Ultra presets, at 52 and 45 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a game that requires fast reactions, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, the best overall experience for this combo is to play at 1440p with the High preset, which provides the best balance of visual quality and performance.