Control

Control is a 2019 action-adventure title that remains demanding on modern hardware, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 produces a wide spread of performance depending on how you configure it. The data shows a system capable of delivering smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay at 1080p, but one that begins to show its limits as resolution climbs to 4K, where the GPU becomes the dominant factor. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings to give a clear picture of what this specific CPU-GPU pairing can achieve in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K, with the RTX 5080’s workload increasing proportionally with pixel count. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 120 FPS, which jumps to 190 FPS at Low settings and settles at 135 FPS at Medium. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU, as even the most demanding Ultra preset still hits 104 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 86 FPS, showing that the GPU is not the bottleneck at this resolution; instead, the settings are dictating the frame rate.

Moving to 1440p, the average FPS drops across all settings, but the pattern remains consistent. High settings yield 91 FPS, Low hits 144 FPS, Medium produces 102 FPS, and Ultra falls to 79 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra here is 65 FPS, a smaller spread than at 1080p, which suggests the GPU is beginning to take on more of the rendering load. The 1440p results are still highly playable, with even the Ultra preset maintaining an average above 75 FPS, indicating that this resolution is a sweet spot for the RTX 5080 when paired with the Core Ultra X7 368H.

At 4K, the scaling becomes much more pronounced. High settings produce 61 FPS, Low hits 97 FPS, Medium averages 69 FPS, and Ultra drops to 53 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 44 FPS, a clear sign that the GPU is now the limiting component. The 4K results show that the RTX 5080 is being pushed hard, and the CPU’s role diminishes as resolution increases. The difference between 1080p High (120 FPS) and 4K High (61 FPS) is a 49% reduction, which is a substantial hit but still leaves the game playable at High settings. The data indicates that for 4K gaming, users will need to compromise on settings to stay above 60 FPS, as only the Low preset comfortably clears that threshold with 97 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Control?

A: The data shows that 1440p offers the best balance of performance and visual fidelity. At High settings, the combo averages 91 FPS, while 4K High drops to 61 FPS. The 1440p results provide a smoother experience without the steep performance penalty seen at 4K.

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

A: The 4K Ultra preset averages 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The measured minimum FPS is not available for this preset, but the average suggests that users may experience occasional stutter or frame drops.

Q: Is the RTX 5080 the bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not holding back performance at 1080p. With Low settings hitting 190 FPS and Ultra at 104 FPS, the GPU is clearly capable of higher output, but the settings are limiting the frame rate rather than the hardware.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Medium and High at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Medium averages 102 FPS while High averages 91 FPS, a difference of 11 FPS. This is a modest gap, suggesting that the visual upgrade from Medium to High is relatively inexpensive in terms of performance.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K 60 FPS?

A: Only with settings adjustments. The Medium preset at 4K averages 69 FPS, which exceeds 60 FPS, while High averages 61 FPS, just barely clearing the target. The Ultra preset at 53 FPS does not meet the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the 1080p Low preset compare to the 4K Low preset?

A: The 1080p Low preset averages 190 FPS, while the 4K Low preset averages 97 FPS. This represents a 49% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings, highlighting the GPU-bound nature of higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H is a 16-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, built on Intel’s 3 nm Panther Lake architecture. In Control, the CPU’s role is primarily to feed the RTX 5080 with draw calls and physics calculations, and the measured results show that it does this effectively at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough (120 FPS at High, 190 FPS at Low) that the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor; the game is well-optimized for multi-core processors, and the 16 threads provide ample headroom.

The benchmark data for the Core Ultra X7 368H shows a multi-core score of 28,221 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 3,984, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. This strong single-core performance is crucial for Control, which still relies on single-threaded performance for certain game logic. The nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, has an average benchmark score of 40,557, which is only 0.1% higher than the Core Ultra X7 368H’s 40,518, confirming that this CPU is competitive with its peers in synthetic tests.

However, the CPU’s influence wanes as resolution increases. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the Core Ultra X7 368H’s clock speeds and core count matter less. The data shows that the 4K High preset (61 FPS) is nearly identical to the 1440p Ultra preset (79 FPS) in terms of frame rate, despite the significant increase in pixel count. This suggests that the CPU is capable of keeping up with the RTX 5080’s demands at 4K, but the GPU’s raw pixel throughput is what ultimately limits performance. The L3 cache of 18 MB shared across the cores helps with data locality, but Control’s engine appears to be more GPU-bound at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the scaling pattern.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset (120 FPS) is the best choice for most users, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (135 FPS) while still maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset (104 FPS) is also viable for those seeking maximum visual fidelity, but the 16 FPS difference over High may not justify the extra GPU load for a game like Control.

At 1440p, the High preset (91 FPS) is the recommended starting point, as it offers a smooth experience that is close to the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset (102 FPS) provides a 11 FPS boost, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often noticeable in a game with Control’s detailed environments. The Ultra preset (79 FPS) is still playable, but the drop from High is more pronounced at this resolution, making it a less attractive option unless the user prioritizes image quality over frame rate.

For 4K, the Medium preset (69 FPS) is the clear recommendation, as it is the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The High preset (61 FPS) is borderline, and users with variable refresh rate monitors may find it acceptable, but the Medium preset offers a safer margin. The Low preset (97 FPS) is not recommended for 4K, as it sacrifices too much visual quality for a frame rate that exceeds the display’s refresh rate in most cases. The Ultra preset (53 FPS) should be avoided unless the user is willing to accept sub-60 FPS gameplay, as the performance hit is significant.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 ranks 730th out of 2,888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 25% of all systems. This rank reflects the strong performance of both components, but it also shows that there are many faster combinations available, particularly those with higher-end desktop CPUs or more powerful GPUs. The RTX 5080 has an average benchmark score of 56,083, which puts it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 8060S, scores 55,757, just 0.6% lower.

The CPU’s rank in the overall benchmark database is also 87th percentile, with an average score of 40,518, which is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core 7 253PE, at 40,557. The combo’s ranking in Control is likely influenced by the game’s engine, which appears to favor the RTX 5080’s raw compute power at higher resolutions. The 730th rank out of 2,888 combos indicates that while this system is capable of running Control well, it is not at the very top of the performance ladder.

The data shows that the combo’s performance is more competitive at lower resolutions, where the CPU’s strong single-core performance helps maintain high frame rates. At 1080p, the combo’s ranking would likely be higher than at 4K, where the GPU becomes the limiting factor. This suggests that for users who prioritize high refresh rates at 1080p or 1440p, this combo is a strong choice, but for 4K enthusiasts, there are better options available.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 190 FPS, providing a buttery-smooth experience for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 155 FPS, showing good consistency. High settings average 120 FPS, while Ultra drops to 104 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 86 FPS, indicating that the GPU has plenty of headroom at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, performance scales down predictably. Low averages 144 FPS, still excellent for high-refresh monitors. Medium averages 102 FPS with a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 117 FPS. High settings produce 91 FPS, and Ultra falls to 79 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 65 FPS, showing the GPU taking on more work. The 1440p results are all above 75 FPS, making this resolution ideal for a balance of quality and speed.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low averages 97 FPS, the only preset to stay above 90 FPS. Medium averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 79 FPS, showing some variance. High averages 61 FPS, barely clearing the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra averages 53 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. The reduction from 1080p Low to 4K Low is 93 FPS, a 49% drop, highlighting the demanding nature of 4K rendering. The measured data for the Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 59 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutters on non-VRR displays.