Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, is a demanding showcase of visual effects and physics. For this analysis, the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 provides a clear dataset for understanding system bottlenecks. The benchmark results, measured across three resolutions and four quality presets, indicate a system that is firmly constrained by the graphics card, with the CPU providing ample headroom. The data shows a playable experience at 1080p, a challenging one at 1440p, and a slideshow at 4K, painting a specific picture of this hardware pairing's capabilities.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, backed by a substantial 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a top-tier desktop part, ranking in the 96th percentile against all CPUs in the database. Its benchmark scores are consistently high, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, indicating exceptional performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, manage game logic, and handle physics calculations. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any tested resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 130 FPS, a figure that is more likely bound by the GPU's raw fill rate than the CPU's processing power. The processor's high single-thread performance, reflected in its Passmark single-thread score of 4823, is crucial for maintaining high frame rates in a game that relies on a primary game thread for many tasks. The data suggests that even in the most CPU-intensive scenarios at lower resolutions, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has more than enough headroom, as the frame rate still scales with GPU load changes when moving to higher settings.

The processor's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, have a very similar average benchmark score, with a mere 0.2% delta. This indicates that within this performance class, the 290K Plus is not a radical departure in raw compute power. However, its strength lies in its consistency; it is positioned well within the top percentile of all CPUs. For a game like Control, which is not known for being exceptionally CPU-heavy at higher resolutions, the 290K Plus provides a stable foundation. The fact that the FPS drops are consistent with GPU-bound behavior—for example, a 36% drop in average FPS from 1080p High to 1440p High—confirms that the CPU is not introducing a performance ceiling. The processor is doing its job efficiently, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of the final frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear guide for optimizing the experience in Control with this hardware. The goal is to select a preset that offers a playable frame rate without sacrificing visual quality unnecessarily. At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 82 FPS, which is a smooth experience for most players. The Ultra preset at 1080p, averaging 71 FPS, is also viable, but the 13% performance cost over High for the marginal visual uplift is a consideration. The data shows that Medium at 1080p yields 92 FPS, but the jump to High is a more significant visual improvement for a 10 FPS loss.

Moving to 1440p, the High preset becomes the sweet spot, with an average of 62 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for a story-driven game like Control, which does not require the same reaction times as a competitive shooter. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 54 FPS, which is still technically playable but begins to feel less fluid. The Low preset at 1440p, which averages 98 FPS, is an option for those who prioritize frame rate, but it significantly compromises the game's atmospheric lighting and effects. At 4K, the situation is more difficult. The High preset averages just 42 FPS, and Medium dips to 47 FPS. Neither is ideal for a smooth experience.

Based on this data, the recommended approach is to prioritize the High preset across all resolutions. It provides the best balance between visual fidelity and performance. At 1080p, High offers a comfortable frame rate. At 1440p, High is the optimal choice for a fluid experience. At 4K, players will need to accept the Low preset to achieve an average of 66 FPS, as the High and Medium presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset at all resolutions provides the highest frame rate but sacrifices the game's core visual identity. For a balanced experience, the High preset is the clear winner, with Medium as a fallback for systems wanting a bit more performance at 1440p.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 2560x1440 with the High preset, the average frame rate is 62 FPS. The Medium preset also exceeds 60 FPS with an average of 70 FPS, but the High preset is more visually appealing.

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains a playable frame rate at 4K?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the Low preset is the only option that provides a smooth experience at 3840x2160, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS and the High preset averages 42 FPS, both of which are below the ideal 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance?

A: The Ultra preset is consistently slower than High across all resolutions. At 1080p, it is 13% slower (71 FPS vs 82 FPS). At 1440p, it is 13% slower (54 FPS vs 62 FPS). At 4K, it is 14% slower (36 FPS vs 42 FPS).

Q: Is the CPU holding back the GPU in this game?

A: No. The frame rate scales consistently with GPU load. For example, moving from 1080p High to 1440p High results in a 24% drop in frame rate, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it is not the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best way to get a higher frame rate at 1440p?

A: Based on the data, selecting the Low preset yields an average of 98 FPS, which is significantly higher than the High preset's 62 FPS. However, this comes with a major visual quality trade-off. The Medium preset offers a middle ground at 70 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset is 40 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160. At 1440p, the minimum is 59 FPS, and at 1080p, the minimum is 78 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database for Control, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 9060 is ranked 1632 out of 2888 tested combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of all tested systems, which is an important context for the measured frame rates. The rank reflects the GPU's performance class more than the CPU's, as the RX 9060 is a mid-range graphics card. The CPU, being in the 96th percentile, is not the constraining factor; the GPU's 59th percentile ranking is what drags the combo down to the 1632nd position.

This ranking suggests that while the system is capable of playing the game, it is far from the top tier of performance. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, have a nearly identical average benchmark score, with a delta of -0.7%. This means that a system with an RTX 3060 Ti would likely perform very similarly in Control. The data indicates that this combo is a balanced, mid-range option for 1080p and 1440p gaming. It is not a high-end enthusiast setup, but it is not a low-end budget one either. The rank of 1632 out of 2888 puts it squarely in the middle of the pack, where most mainstream gaming systems reside. The performance is dictated by the GPU, and the CPU's high rank does not boost the combo's overall standing in a GPU-bound game like Control.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the clear performance bottleneck in this system. Based on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and built on a 4 nm process, it features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2990 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz. This GPU ranks in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16014. Its performance is directly comparable to that of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which has a nearly identical average score.

The GPU's role in Control is to render the complex visual effects, including ray-traced reflections and particle physics. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a potential concern at higher resolutions and settings. The frame rate data shows a clear pattern: the GPU is the primary driver of performance. At 1080p, the GPU is able to produce high frame rates, but as resolution increases, the demand on the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth grows, causing frame rates to fall. The 4K results are particularly telling, with the High preset averaging only 42 FPS. This is a clear sign that the GPU's compute and memory resources are overwhelmed at that resolution. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 17631 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 3322 are consistent with its mid-range classification. The data suggests that the RX 9060 is a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but it lacks the raw power for high-fidelity 4K gaming in a demanding title like Control.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across different settings and resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. The Low preset yields an average of 130 FPS, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. The Medium preset follows with 92 FPS, with a minimum of 78 FPS and a maximum of 106 FPS. The High preset delivers 82 FPS, which is still very smooth. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 71 FPS. This resolution is clearly the card's home turf, with all presets offering playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the performance impact is significant. The Low preset drops to 98 FPS, which is still excellent. The Medium preset averages 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. The High preset falls to 62 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset averages 54 FPS, which may be too low for some players. This resolution represents the upper limit for high-quality settings with this GPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, which is the only playable option. The Medium preset averages 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS. The High preset is only marginally better at 42 FPS. The Ultra preset averages just 36 FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable resolution for this card in Control, except with the lowest quality settings.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. The GPU's workload grows exponentially with each step up in resolution, and the frame rate drop reflects this.

From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drop for the High preset is from 82 to 62 FPS, a 24% decrease. For the Low preset, it drops from 130 to 98 FPS, a 25% decrease. This consistent percentage drop indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor. The increase in pixel count from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 78%, but the FPS does not drop by that same percentage, showing that the GPU is not purely pixel-bound; other factors like memory bandwidth and shading complexity also play a role.

The jump from 1440p to 4K is even more dramatic. For the High preset, the FPS drops from 62 to 42, a 32% decrease. For the Low preset, it drops from 98 to 66, a 33% decrease. The pixel count from 1440p to 4K increases by 125%, yet the frame rate only drops by about a third. This suggests that at these higher resolutions, the GPU is hitting a memory bandwidth limit. The 8 GB of VRAM and 288.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient to feed the GPU's cores with data quickly enough to maintain higher frame rates. The data indicates that the RX 9060 is heavily constrained by its memory subsystem at 4K, making the game unplayable at high settings. The scaling pattern confirms that this is a GPU-bound scenario at all resolutions, with the CPU having no influence on the performance drop.