Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Arc B580 combination delivers a playable experience in Control, but the margin for error is tight at higher resolutions. The recorded data shows that this pairing is capable of exceeding the 60 FPS threshold, but only when settings are chosen carefully. This analysis breaks down exactly where this system excels and where it falls short.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the system has the most headroom. The recorded data shows that the Ultra preset, the most demanding option, holds an average of 62 FPS. This is the best settings choice for a 60 FPS experience at this resolution, as it is both the highest quality preset and remains above the playable threshold. Lowering to High yields 72 FPS, and Medium provides 81 FPS, but Ultra is the optimal balance for maximum visual fidelity without dropping below the target.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more constrained. The Ultra preset falls to 47 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The High preset averages 54 FPS, also missing the mark. The only presets that stay at or above 60 FPS are Low and Medium. The best settings for this resolution are Medium, which posts an average of 61 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that still maintains a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target.

At 3840x2160, the data shows no playable settings. The best average FPS recorded is 58 FPS on the Low preset, which is just under the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset drops to 41 FPS, and High falls to 37 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst at 32 FPS. None of these presets achieve a playable average, so the system cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the CPU has a significant role. The difference between the Low preset at 114 FPS and the Ultra preset at 62 FPS shows a substantial 52 FPS swing, which is driven by the graphics load increasing. However, the CPU has enough single-thread performance to feed the GPU at these lower resolutions, allowing the frame rate to scale with the graphical settings.

As the resolution moves to 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take a more dominant role. The frame rate scaling between presets compresses. The Low preset drops from 114 FPS to 86 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops from 62 FPS to 47 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows from 52 FPS to 39 FPS, indicating that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck, as the pixel count is reducing the headroom for the CPU to matter as much.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is almost entirely the limiting factor. The data shows the Low preset at 58 FPS and the Ultra preset at 32 FPS, a 26 FPS difference. This compression pattern suggests that the game is heavily GPU-bound at this resolution. The CPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600, is likely not the constraint here, as the workload is dominated by the fill rate and shading demands on the Intel Arc B580. The scaling between resolutions, such as the Low preset going from 114 FPS at 1080p to 86 FPS at 1440p and then to 58 FPS at 4K, shows a consistent drop that is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 in a specific performance tier. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1260P, which has an average score 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i5-11400, which is 0.2% lower. The AMD EPYC 7573X and AMD EPYC 7742 are also within a 0.2% delta. This indicates that any of these processors would behave nearly identically in this system, providing a similar level of CPU performance in Control.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B580 sits near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, which scores 0.7% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP is a slight outlier with a score 0.2% lower. These rivals are within a 1% delta of each other. This suggests that swapping the Arc B580 for an RTX 3080 would yield almost the same frame rates in this game, as would using an RTX 2080. The performance difference between these cards is negligible for the purposes of running Control.

The Verdict

The verdict is clear from the data. This PC can run Control at 1920x1080 without issue. The verdictByResolution data confirms that all four presets, Low, Medium, High, and Ultra, are playable at this resolution, with the best settings being Ultra at 62 FPS. This is the definitive answer for a full HD experience.

At 2560x1440, the system can run the game, but with a caveat. The playable settings are limited to Low and Medium. The best settings for this resolution are Medium, which achieves an average of 61 FPS. While this clears the 60 FPS threshold, it leaves no room for error. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they fall below the playable threshold. This is a playable, but not ideal, experience.

At 3840x2160, the system cannot run the game at a playable level. The verdictByResolution data lists no playable settings for this resolution. The highest average FPS recorded is 58 FPS on Low settings, which is below the required 60 FPS. Therefore, for a 4K experience, this hardware combination is not sufficient. The system is best suited for 1080p gaming, with a reasonable fallback option at 1440p on medium settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded measurements provide a detailed view of the system's performance.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 114 FPS. The Medium preset averages 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. The High preset averages 72 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 62 FPS. All presets are above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 86 FPS. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. The High preset averages 54 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 47 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one that stays at or above 60 FPS, and its minimum frame rate of 52 FPS suggests occasional dips below the target.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 58 FPS. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. The High preset averages 37 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 32 FPS. No preset achieves an average of 60 FPS, confirming the system's inability to handle 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and the Intel Arc B580 at 2816 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places the system in the lower half of possible configurations, but not at the very bottom. This rank reflects the fact that while the system is capable at 1080p, it struggles to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The rank also considers the CPU's performance percentile of 71 and the GPU's percentile of 68, which are both respectable, but not top-tier. This suggests that the system is a mid-range performer, capable of handling the game at moderate settings, but not at the highest levels of fidelity or resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best setting to use for playing Control at 1920x1080?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice, as it is the most demanding setting that still maintains an average of 62 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Can this system run Control at 2560x1440 with high settings?

A: No, the High preset at 2560x1440 averages 54 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The best playable setting is Medium, which averages 61 FPS.

Q: Is this PC capable of a 4K experience in Control?

A: No, none of the presets at 3840x2160 achieve a 60 FPS average. The highest average is 58 FPS on Low settings, which falls short of the playable threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 in this game?

A: According to the database, the Intel Arc B580 has a benchmark score that places it 0.6% higher than the RTX 2080, indicating they would perform nearly identically in Control.

Q: What kind of frame rate variance can be expected at 2560x1440 on Medium settings?

A: The recorded data shows an average of 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. This indicates the frame rate can fluctuate, and there may be brief dips below 60 FPS.

Q: Where does this specific CPU and GPU combination rank among all tested systems for Control?

A: This pairing ranks at 2816 out of 3720 tested combinations in the database, placing it in the lower half of performers for this specific game.