Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title, exhibits a performance profile on the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination that is decisively GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's strong single-threaded capabilities ensure high frame rates are attainable at 1080p. The data indicates that this mobile platform is a capable performer for this title, but the experience is heavily dependent on resolution and settings, with the Ultra preset proving too demanding for smooth play at 4K. The benchmark results show a clear hierarchy of performance that scales predictably with both resolution and graphical fidelity, positioning this combo as a mid-to-high tier option for Control.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H serves as the processing foundation for this system, and its specifications suggest it is well-suited for the demands of Control. With 16 cores and 16 threads operating at a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, the processor provides substantial parallel processing power. The data shows a robust single-threaded performance, which is critical for game logic and physics calculations in a title like Control. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2200.5 points and a Passmark single-thread score of 4280 indicate that the processor can handle the primary game thread without becoming a bottleneck.

In the context of Control's benchmark results, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, especially at higher resolutions. While the processor is capable of delivering high frame rates, the measured FPS across all settings at 1080p shows that the GPU is the limiting factor even at this resolution. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves 140 FPS, which is a high frame rate that still leaves headroom in the CPU. The processor's multi-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18911 points, ensures that background tasks and the game's various systems do not cause frame drops, but the benchmark data does not suggest that the CPU is the primary performance ceiling for this game.

The processor's 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample fast-access memory for game assets, which helps maintain consistent frame pacing. The architectural efficiency of the Panther Lake design, built on a 3 nm process, contributes to its strong performance per watt, though the TDP of 25 W is modest. This suggests that the CPU can sustain its boost clocks without significant thermal throttling, which is beneficial for maintaining stable performance over long gaming sessions. However, the overall performance ranking, with the combo ranking 1515 out of 2888 tested combinations, indicates that while the CPU is strong, it is not in the top tier for this specific game, likely due to the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 secures a rank of 1515 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places the system squarely in the middle of the performance distribution, which is a notable finding given the individual component specifications. The RTX 4070, with a Passmark G3D score of 26927, is a strong GPU, but its 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests it is not a top-tier card. The CPU, with an average benchmark score of 44466, ranks in the 88th percentile, indicating that the processor is relatively stronger than the GPU in this pairing.

The data shows that this combo sits just below the average performance of its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, which has a deltaPct of -0.2%. This means the Intel combo is nearly identical in raw compute to that AMD processor, but the gaming results for Control are likely influenced by the GPU. The system is also closely matched with the Intel Core i9-13950HX, which has a deltaPct of 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, at 0.4% deltaPct. These close margins indicate that the CPU is not a significant differentiator in this game, and the overall rank is more reflective of the GPU's performance.

Given the GPU's average benchmark score of 37648, which places it just 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla P4 and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, the RTX 4070 is a competent but not exceptional performer. This is reflected in the game's measured FPS, where the system fails to achieve high frame rates at 4K Ultra, a scenario where top-tier GPUs would excel. The combo's rank suggests that it is a solid choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Control, but it will not deliver the highest-end experience at 4K. The data indicates that the system is well-balanced, with neither component being a clear bottleneck, but the GPU's limitations prevent it from achieving a higher rank.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Control reveals a significant performance drop as resolution increases, which is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p with High settings, the system achieves an average of 88 FPS, but this falls to 67 FPS at 1440p and further to 45 FPS at 4K. This represents a 49% drop in performance from 1080p to 4K at High settings, which clearly shows that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The CPU, with its high single-threaded performance, is not the bottleneck, as evidenced by the relatively high frame rates at 1080p.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings. With Low settings, the system achieves 140 FPS at 1080p, 106 FPS at 1440p, and 71 FPS at 4K, a 49% drop from 1080p to 4K. This consistent percentage drop across settings strongly suggests that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor, as the CPU has enough headroom to maintain high frame rates even at lower resolutions. The data shows that the RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth are sufficient for this game, but the GPU's raw compute power is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, with an average drop of about 33% across all settings. This indicates that the GPU is being pushed to its limits at 4K, and the system is not able to provide a smooth experience at this resolution with higher settings. The benchmark results show that the 4K Ultra preset is particularly punishing, with an average of 39 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that for a consistent 60 FPS experience, users should stick to 1080p or 1440p, as the GPU does not have the power to deliver high frame rates at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance, with an average of 140 FPS on Low settings, 99 FPS on Medium, 88 FPS on High, and 77 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS, indicating a stable experience. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system can handle even the Ultra preset with playable frame rates, though the jump from High to Ultra costs 11 FPS, which is a noticeable performance hit for the visual fidelity gained.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are more substantial. The system achieves 106 FPS on Low, 75 FPS on Medium, 67 FPS on High, and 58 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution shows a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 86 FPS, which is still a smooth experience, but the Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS, indicating that it is not ideal for this resolution. The data shows a 30% drop in performance from 1080p to 1440p across most settings, which is expected for a GPU-bound scenario.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset achieves 71 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset drops to 51 FPS with a minimum of 43 FPS, and the High preset falls to 45 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with an average of 39 FPS, which is not a smooth experience for an action-adventure game. The data shows that 4K is only viable with Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is not as high as what would be expected from a top-tier system. The performance breakdown clearly indicates that the RTX 4070 is not powerful enough for high-fidelity 4K gaming in Control.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the primary driver of the gaming experience in Control, and its specifications directly correlate with the measured frame rates. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for Control's textures and assets, as evidenced by the consistent performance across different settings, but it does not prevent the GPU from being the bottleneck at higher resolutions. The GPU's 5888 shading units and 184 tensor cores, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, deliver a raw compute performance of 29.15 TFLOPS, which is a strong figure but not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1920 MHz and a boost of 2475 MHz, are relatively high, but the performance data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor in this game. The benchmark results for the GPU, with a Passmark G3D score of 26927, place it in the 81st percentile of all GPUs, which is a solid but not top-tier ranking. The closest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, has a deltaPct of 0.1%, indicating that the RTX 4070 is just barely ahead of that professional card, which is not a gaming-focused product. The RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% ahead, showing that there is a significant gap to the next tier of GPUs.

The GPU's role is most evident in the resolution scaling, where the performance drops are consistent with a GPU-bound workload. The 12 GB of VRAM is not being exhausted, as the performance does not degrade disproportionately at higher settings, but the GPU's compute power is insufficient to handle the rendering load at 4K. The data indicates that the RTX 4070 is a capable GPU for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Control, but it is not a 4K powerhouse. The GPU's TDP of 200 W and 16-pin power connector are not relevant to the game's performance, but they do indicate that this is a mid-range to high-end mobile GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend on the user's resolution and performance preferences. For a 1080p experience, the High preset with an average of 88 FPS is recommended, as it provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset at 77 FPS is also viable, but the 11 FPS drop from High may not justify the marginal visual improvements. For users seeking maximum performance, the Medium preset at 99 FPS offers a smooth experience, but the jump to High is recommended for better visuals without a significant performance hit.

At 1440p, the High preset with an average of 67 FPS is the best choice for a balanced experience, as it maintains a playable frame rate while providing good visual quality. The Medium preset at 75 FPS is also a strong option, offering a higher frame rate with a slight reduction in visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold, which can result in a less smooth experience. For users who prioritize frame rate, the Medium preset is the safest choice, as it provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

For 4K gaming, the data strongly suggests that the Low preset at 71 FPS is the only viable option for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 51 FPS and High at 45 FPS are too low for a game like Control, where precise movement and timing are important. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended under any circumstances. The data indicates that this system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and users with 4K displays should consider lowering their resolution or accepting a significant performance compromise. The benchmark results show that the Medium preset at 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance of visual quality and performance that is above 60 FPS.