Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 produces a wide spread of results depending on resolution and preset. The recorded data shows that this pairing is capable of smooth gameplay at 1080p and even at 1440p with the right settings, but 4K remains out of reach for a consistent 60 FPS experience. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS, compares the hardware to nearby alternatives, and provides clear guidance on how to configure the game for the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database contains measured average FPS values for this CPU and GPU combination across three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160) and four quality presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). Minimum and maximum FPS values are only recorded for the Medium preset at each resolution, so the analysis will rely primarily on average FPS for the other presets.

At 1920x1080, the results are strong across the board. With the Low preset, the average FPS reaches 107, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 76 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS. The High preset delivers 68 FPS on average, still comfortably above 60. The Ultra preset is the only 1080p setting that falls short, averaging 59 FPS, which is just below the playable threshold. This suggests that at 1080p, the system has enough headroom to run the game at High settings without dipping below 60 FPS on average.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases as expected. The Low preset produces an average of 81 FPS, which is still well above the threshold and provides a smooth experience. The Medium preset averages 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS, meaning that while the average is close to 60, there are noticeable dips below it. High settings average 51 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45 FPS. The data indicates that at 1440p, only the Low preset can maintain an average above 60 FPS, and even then, the margin is comfortable but not enormous.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles significantly. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. None of the 4K presets reach the playable threshold, and the frame rates are consistently low, making 4K gaming impractical with this hardware combination.

Looking at the scaling between presets, the drop from Low to Ultra is substantial at every resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (107 FPS) and Ultra (59 FPS) is 48 FPS, which represents a 45% reduction in performance. At 1440p, the difference between Low (81 FPS) and Ultra (45 FPS) is 36 FPS, a 44% reduction. At 4K, the difference between Low (55 FPS) and Ultra (30 FPS) is 25 FPS, a 45% reduction. This consistent pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor when increasing quality settings, as the relative performance loss is similar across resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D in the CPU benchmark database provide context for how this processor compares to other options. The CPU has an average benchmark score of 44573, placing it in the 89th percentile of all tested CPUs. The closest competitor is the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, which scores 44466, a delta of 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i9-13950HX scores 44342, which is 0.5% higher than the Ryzen. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 44309, also 0.5% higher. The Intel Core i5-14600 scores 44889, which is 0.7% lower than the Ryzen. These deltas are all within 1% of each other, meaning that in CPU-bound scenarios, the Ryzen 5 7500X3D would perform nearly identically to these alternatives. For Control, where the CPU is not the main bottleneck at higher resolutions, any of these processors would yield similar frame rates when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290, placing it in the 58th percentile of all tested GPUs. The nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, which scores 15283, a delta of 0%. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, a delta of 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, a delta of 0.6% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, a delta of 0.8% higher. These deltas are also very small, all within 1%. This means that if a user had a GTX 580, Radeon 680M, RTX 3050 OEM, or RX 7600 instead of the RTX 2060, the measured FPS in Control would be essentially the same, with differences of less than 1%. The RTX 2060 is not an outlier; it sits squarely in a cluster of GPUs with similar raw performance.

The implication for gaming is that this specific CPU and GPU combination is not unique in its behavior. Swapping the Ryzen 5 7500X3D for an Intel Core Ultra X9 388H or an Intel Core i9-13950HX would likely produce FPS numbers within 1% of what is recorded here. Similarly, swapping the RTX 2060 for an RTX 3050 OEM or an RX 7600 would yield nearly identical results. The data suggests that the performance profile described in the FPS breakdown is representative of a wider class of hardware, not just this exact pairing.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS on 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The database lists High as one of the playable settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the best preset for 2560x1440 to stay above 60 FPS?

A: The only preset at 2560x1440 that averages above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 81 FPS. Medium averages 58 FPS, which is below the threshold, so Low is the recommended choice for a stable 60 FPS experience at this resolution.

Q: Is 3840x2160 playable with this hardware?

A: No. According to the verdict by resolution, there are no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average FPS recorded at 4K is 55 FPS with the Low preset, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to the RTX 3050 OEM in this game?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290, while the RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, a delta of 0.6% higher for the RTX 2060. This means the RTX 2060 is slightly faster, but the difference is negligible, so frame rates in Control would be nearly identical.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS is 76, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold, making Medium a solid choice at 1080p.

Q: Does the CPU matter more or less at higher resolutions for this game?

A: The data shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU has more headroom, but as resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the average FPS drops significantly even when the preset is held constant, indicating the GPU is the bottleneck.

The Verdict

The recorded data makes it clear that this PC can run Control, but the experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution and preset. The playable threshold is set at 60 FPS, and the verdict by resolution provides a direct answer. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS with the High, Medium, and Low presets, with average FPS values of 68, 76, and 107 respectively. The High preset is the most demanding of these and still averages 68 FPS, so it is the recommended choice for 1080p gaming. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 59 FPS, narrowly missing the threshold, so it is not considered playable.

At 2560x1440, only the Low preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 81 FPS. The Medium preset averages 58 FPS, which is close but below the threshold, and its minimum FPS of 49 suggests occasional stutters. High and Ultra average 51 FPS and 45 FPS respectively, which are not playable. Therefore, the answer for 1440p is that the PC can run the game, but only with Low settings, which sacrifices significant visual quality.

At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. The best average FPS is 55 with Low, which is below 60. Medium averages 39, High averages 35, and Ultra averages 30. This means 4K is not a viable option for this combination. In summary, the PC is a capable 1080p machine for Control, a limited 1440p machine that requires Low settings, and not suitable for 4K.

CPU and GPU Roles

Understanding which component drives performance in Control requires examining the FPS scaling across resolutions and presets. The CPU, AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, has a high average benchmark score of 44573 and sits in the 89th percentile, indicating it is a strong processor. The GPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, has an average score of 15290 and sits in the 58th percentile, which is middling. This disparity suggests that the GPU is the weaker link, and the data supports this.

At 1920x1080, the CPU has enough power to feed the GPU adequately. The difference between the Low preset (107 FPS) and the Ultra preset (59 FPS) is substantial, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where increasing settings demands more from the graphics card. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would not drop so steeply with higher presets; instead, it would plateau. The fact that Ultra drops to 59 FPS at 1080p shows that the GPU is being pushed to its limit.

At 2560x1440, the GPU load increases further, and the FPS drops across all presets compared to 1080p. For example, High settings drop from 68 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 1440p, a 25% reduction. This is consistent with the GPU having to render more pixels, and the CPU is not the limiting factor because the frame rates are still above what a CPU-bound scenario would produce at lower resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmed. The Low preset only manages 55 FPS, and Ultra drops to 30 FPS. The CPU, even with its strong single-thread and multi-thread performance, cannot compensate for the GPU's inability to process the pixel workload. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at the same preset (e.g., Medium) shows a drop from 76 FPS to 39 FPS, a 49% reduction. This steep decline is a clear sign that the GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 107 FPS, which is high enough that the CPU might start to approach its limits, but the data does not show a plateau. The nearest CPU rivals all have average scores within 1% of the Ryzen, so any of them would produce similar results. In practical terms, for Control, the GPU is the component to upgrade if higher resolutions or presets are desired, as the CPU has sufficient headroom.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS data and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that still maintains an average at or above 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the High preset is the best option, delivering 68 FPS on average. Medium averages 76 FPS and Low averages 107 FPS, but High offers better visual quality while still clearing the threshold. The Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, so it is not viable.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Low, with an average of 81 FPS. This is the only preset at this resolution that stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 58 FPS, which is below the threshold, so even though it is more demanding, it does not meet the playability criterion. Users at 1440p would need to accept Low settings to achieve a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, as the highest average FPS is 55 with Low. Therefore, no best settings can be recommended for 4K. The verdict by resolution lists no playable settings for this resolution, and the best settings field is null.

These recommendations are based on average FPS. For the Medium preset at 1080p, the minimum FPS is 65, which is still above the threshold, indicating that even during dips, the game remains playable. At 1440p Medium, the minimum FPS is 49, which would cause noticeable stuttering, reinforcing the choice of Low as the only viable option.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Control, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2950 out of 3720 total combinations. This places it in the lower portion of the rankings, roughly in the 21st percentile of tested combos. This ranking is consistent with the FPS data, which shows that the system is only reliably playable at 1080p and struggles at higher resolutions.

The rank reflects the GPU's limited performance relative to the CPU. The RTX 2060 is an older mid-range card, and its 58th percentile GPU score indicates that many other GPUs outperform it. The CPU, by contrast, is a high-end processor in the 89th percentile, but in Control, the GPU is the bottleneck. The combination therefore does not reach the top of the rankings, as the GPU holds back the overall experience.

For context, the combo rank of 2950 out of 3720 means that 770 combinations perform worse, and 2949 perform better. This places the system in the bottom third of tested hardware. Users with this exact setup should not expect it to compete with high-end configurations, but the data shows it is still capable of running Control at 1080p with High settings, which is a respectable result for a mid-range GPU. The ranking is a useful metric for understanding where this hardware sits in the broader landscape, but the practical takeaway is the FPS numbers themselves, which clearly define what the system can and cannot do.