Control

The pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER in Control presents a distinct performance profile. The data indicates a system where the graphics card is the primary limiting factor, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across settings and resolutions, interprets the CPU and GPU roles, and provides actionable configuration guidance based strictly on the provided benchmark results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent trend: performance degrades significantly as resolution increases, which is indicative of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 118 FPS. This drops to 89 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 60 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 49% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, a substantial hit that points directly at the rendering load overwhelming the GPU.

The pattern persists across all quality presets. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 74 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p, and finally to 38 at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, with a 32% performance loss at High settings. This non-linear drop suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER's memory bandwidth and compute capabilities are being saturated as pixel count increases, making the GPU the definitive bottleneck in this configuration.

The data also reveals that the gap between settings narrows at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 53 FPS (118 vs. 65). At 4K, that same difference shrinks to 27 FPS (60 vs. 33). This compression indicates that at 4K, the GPU is so constrained that even reducing graphical fidelity cannot fully compensate for the sheer number of pixels being processed. The limiting component is unambiguously the graphics card, as the CPU's performance headroom cannot be utilized when the GPU is fully occupied.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the central figure in this performance analysis. Its specifications, including 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, directly correlate with the observed frame rates. The 4K results, where average FPS hovers between 33 and 60 depending on settings, suggest that the GPU is hitting its memory and fill-rate limits. The 8 GB frame buffer is a likely constraint at 3840x2160, where high-resolution textures and effects demand significant video memory.

The GPU's compute capabilities, rated at 7.181 TFLOPS FP32, are the primary driver of the measured scores. With a boost clock of 1650 MHz, the card's 2176 shading units are working hard to maintain even the 38 FPS average at 4K High settings. The benchmark results show that the GPU's percentile rank versus all GPUs is 62, placing it in the mid-range tier. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores a deltaPct of -0.4%, indicating near-identical average benchmark performance, which contextualizes the RTX 2060 SUPER's standing.

The GPU's aging architecture is evident in the 4K Ultra preset, where average FPS falls to 33. This is a playable-but-not-smooth experience, and the lack of min/max FPS data for this preset suggests potential instability. The GPU's performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 16462, reinforces its position as a capable 1080p and 1440p card, but one that struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The data clearly shows that the GPU's VRAM capacity and processing power are the decisive factors in this game's performance ceiling.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor that, according to the data, is not the bottleneck in this configuration. With 24 cores and 24 threads, its multi-threaded capabilities are immense, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731. However, in Control, the game's engine appears to leverage the CPU's strong single-thread performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7303, to feed the GPU without becoming a limiting factor.

The CPU's high boost clock of 5.80 GHz and base clock of 3.70 GHz provide ample processing power for game logic and physics. Its Passmark single-thread score of 4823 and multi-thread score of 60860 demonstrate a balanced performance profile that excels in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads. The 36 MB of shared L3 cache is another asset, likely reducing memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 84003 places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier performance. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, has an average score of 83807, a deltaPct of 0.2%, meaning the 290K Plus is essentially tied with it. In the context of the FPS data, the CPU's role is to ensure that the GPU is always supplied with data. Since the FPS scales predictably with resolution (a GPU workload), it confirms the CPU is not holding the system back, even at 1080p Low where the 118 FPS average is achieved.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 with Low settings is the highest resolution that achieves over 60 FPS, with an average of 89 FPS. At 1920x1080, both Low and High settings exceed 60 FPS, with averages of 118 and 74 FPS, respectively.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 84 at 1920x1080 to 63 at 2560x1440, and then to 43 at 3840x2160. This represents a 48.8% performance loss from the lowest to the highest resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the frame rates in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor. This is evident because FPS scales heavily with resolution, which is a GPU-centric workload. The CPU, with its high single-thread score of 7303 in Cinebench R23, has ample headroom to keep up with the GPU's demands.

Q: Does the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM cause issues at 4K?

A: The 4K performance data suggests it may be a limiting factor. The average FPS at 4K Ultra is 33, and at 4K High is 38. These figures are significantly lower than lower resolutions, implying the GPU is struggling with the combination of high pixel count and memory demands.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18159, which is a deltaPct of -0.4%. This indicates the two GPUs have nearly identical performance in synthetic tests.

Q: What are the lowest and highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 118, recorded at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The lowest average FPS is 33, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2650 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the system in the lower third of all tested configurations, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's mid-range standing. The CPU is a top-tier performer, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, but its contribution is capped by the GPU's capabilities.

The ranking reveals a performance mismatch. A system with a CPU that scores 84003 on average benchmarks is held back by a GPU that scores 18093 on average. The data suggests that pairing this CPU with a more powerful GPU would yield significantly higher frame rates, as the CPU's 24 cores and high clock speeds are not the constraint. The combo's rank of 2650 indicates that while the system is fully functional and capable of playing the game, it does not compete with high-end configurations that pair similar CPUs with top-tier graphics cards. The 0.2% deltaPct between the 290K Plus and its closest CPU rival, the 285K, confirms that the CPU's performance is not the differentiating factor in this rank.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact measured FPS for the combo of Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER in Control.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS 118.
• Medium: Average FPS 84, with a minimum of 71 and maximum of 96.
• High: Average FPS 74.
• Ultra: Average FPS 65.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS 89.
• Medium: Average FPS 63, with a minimum of 54 and maximum of 73.
• High: Average FPS 56.
• Ultra: Average FPS 49.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS 60.
• Medium: Average FPS 43, with a minimum of 36 and maximum of 49.
• High: Average FPS 38.
• Ultra: Average FPS 33.

The data shows a consistent pattern where each step up in resolution results in a roughly 25-30% drop in average FPS, holding settings constant. The variance between minimum and maximum FPS at Medium settings is also notable. At 1080p, the spread is 25 FPS (71 to 96), while at 4K, it narrows to 13 FPS (36 to 49), suggesting less frame time consistency at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based strictly on the measured rows, the optimal experience depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS target at 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 74 FPS. While the Low preset offers a higher 118 FPS average, the High preset provides a better visual experience without sacrificing the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, at 65 FPS average, is also viable but offers diminishing returns over High.

At 2560x1440, the choice becomes more constrained. The Low preset is the only one that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, with an average of 89 FPS. The Medium preset, with an average of 63 FPS, is also playable but has a minimum FPS of 54, which may result in noticeable stutters. For a consistent experience, Low is recommended, while Medium is acceptable for those who prioritize visual fidelity over absolute smoothness.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets achieve a 60 FPS average. The Low preset comes closest at 60 FPS, but this is an exact average with no min/max data provided, suggesting it may not be stable. The Medium preset, with an average of 43 FPS and a minimum of 36, is the highest quality setting that remains within the territory of playability for less demanding users. The High and Ultra presets, at 38 and 33 FPS respectively, are likely to feel sluggish and are not recommended for a responsive experience. The data suggests that for this game and GPU, 4K gaming is not a viable target beyond Low or Medium settings.