Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a striking imbalance in Control. The recorded data shows that the Intel Arc B390, an integrated-class graphics solution, is the overwhelming bottleneck in this combination. While the Ryzen 5 7600X ranks in the 79th percentile among all CPUs, the Arc B390 sits in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, making it a severely limiting factor for this title. At 1080p, the system manages to hit the playable threshold of 60 FPS only on Low settings, with an average of 65 FPS. Every other preset and resolution tested falls short of that mark. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the division of labor between the components, and what nearby hardware can tell us about the experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this system have very different neighborhoods in the database. For the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, the nearest rivals are a tight cluster of processors with near-identical average benchmark scores. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Core i5-12600K both average 27578, which is 0.2% below the Ryzen 5 7600X. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE sits 0.3% above it with an average of 27712, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 trails by 0.4% with an average of 27535. These scores indicate that the Ryzen 5 7600X offers performance parity with a wide range of mid-range and previous-generation high-end CPUs. In Control specifically, any of these processors would deliver essentially the same frame rates when paired with the same GPU, because the graphics card is the limiting factor.

The Intel Arc B390, by contrast, is in a completely different performance class. Its nearest rivals are ancient, low-end discrete GPUs. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX averages 1463, which is 1.3% below the Arc B390's average of 1482. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M averages 1460, a 1.5% gap. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM averages 1446, 2.5% lower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 averages 1443, 2.7% lower. This comparison is stark: the Arc B390 is not competing with modern gaming graphics cards, even entry-level ones. It is positioned alongside legacy GPUs that were never designed for contemporary gaming workloads. For Control, this means that any system with a GPU in this performance tier would produce similar results, regardless of how powerful the CPU is. The recorded data shows that the GPU's low average benchmark score of 1482 directly translates to the sub-60 FPS results seen at most settings in this game.

The database also provides context for the overall ranking of this combo. The combination of the Ryzen 5 7600X and Arc B390 ranks 3311 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. That places it in the bottom 11% of all combinations tested, which is consistent with the GPU's low percentile ranking. For users considering this pairing, the data suggests that the CPU choice is almost irrelevant to the gaming outcome in Control, while the GPU choice is decisive.

CPU and GPU Roles

In Control, the division of labor between the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Intel Arc B390 is heavily skewed toward the GPU. The CPU is a high-end desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15236. Its single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1965 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4135. These figures indicate that the CPU is more than capable of feeding a modern GPU in most games. However, the Arc B390's performance ceiling is so low that the CPU never becomes the constraining factor.

The scaling across resolutions confirms this. At 1080p High, the system averages 41 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops the average to 31 FPS, a reduction of about 24%. At 4K High, the average falls to 21 FPS, another 32% reduction. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario: as resolution increases, the pixel count rises and the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity become the limiting resource. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions because the CPU's workload does not change much with resolution. The data shows clear GPU-bound behavior.

The preset scaling at each resolution further reinforces this conclusion. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 65 on Low to 36 on Ultra, a spread of 29 FPS. At 1440p, the spread is from 50 on Low to 27 on Ultra, a range of 23 FPS. At 4K, the spread is from 33 on Low to 18 on Ultra, a range of 15 FPS. The fact that preset changes have a large impact on performance, while resolution changes also have a large impact, points to the GPU as the dominant factor. A CPU-bound system would show smaller FPS differences when toggling graphics settings.

The Ryzen 5 7600X's integrated Radeon Graphics are present, but they are not the component being tested here. The Arc B390 is a separate integrated GPU, and the measured FPS data reflects the Arc B390's output. The CPU's role in this pairing is to provide a stable platform and feed frames, which it does without issue. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU's 3DMark scores, including a single-thread score of 1060 and a max-thread score of 6845, are far above what Control requires. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, on the other hand, is far below what Control needs for smooth gameplay at higher settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Control with this combo covers three resolutions and four settings levels each. At 3840x2160, the results are uniformly low. On Low settings, the average FPS is 33. On Medium, the average drops to 24, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. On High, the average is 21 FPS. On Ultra, the average falls to 18 FPS. None of these averages approach the 60 FPS playable threshold, and even the maximum recorded value at Medium, 27 FPS, is less than half of that target.

At 2560x1440, the results improve but remain below the playable threshold across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 50 FPS, which is the best result at this resolution but still 10 FPS short of 60. Medium averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. High averages 31 FPS. Ultra averages 27 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 15 FPS, indicating that the Medium preset introduces significantly more GPU load. The maximum value at Medium, 40 FPS, is still well below the 60 FPS target.

At 1920x1080, the system finally reaches the playable threshold, but only on Low settings. The average FPS on Low is 65, which clears the 60 FPS mark by a margin of 5 FPS. Medium averages 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53. High averages 41 FPS. Ultra averages 36 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a steady decline from 65 to 36 FPS, with each preset step costing roughly 5 to 10 FPS on average. The Medium preset's maximum of 53 FPS indicates that even in the best-case frames, the system cannot reach 60 FPS at Medium.

The lack of min and max FPS data for several settings limits the depth of analysis, but the available data points are consistent. For example, at 1080p Medium, the minimum of 40 FPS and maximum of 53 FPS show a narrow band of performance, suggesting that the GPU is consistently loaded and not subject to large spikes. At 1440p Medium, the range is from 30 to 40 FPS, again a narrow band. At 4K Medium, the range is from 20 to 27 FPS. These narrow bands indicate stable, if low, performance without severe frame time spikes.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The answer depends entirely on the resolution and settings. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. No preset at 4K reaches an average of 60 FPS, and the best result, Low settings at 33 FPS, is barely half of the target. At 2560x1440, there are also no playable settings. Low settings come closest with an average of 50 FPS, but that is still 10 FPS short of the 60 FPS threshold. The system cannot maintain a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1440p under any tested configuration.

At 1920x1080, the system can run the game, but only on Low settings. The recorded average FPS at 1080p Low is 65, which clears the playable threshold of 60 FPS. This is the sole playable configuration in the entire dataset. The best settings at 1080p, meaning the highest quality preset that still maintains playable performance, is Low, with an average FPS of 65. For users who want higher visual quality, the data shows that Medium settings at 1080p average 46 FPS, High averages 41 FPS, and Ultra averages 36 FPS, none of which are playable by the 60 FPS standard.

The overall picture is that this combo is only suitable for 1080p gaming with reduced graphics settings. The Intel Arc B390's performance class, as indicated by its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs, simply cannot handle Control at higher resolutions or presets. The CPU is not the issue; the Ryzen 5 7600X is a strong processor that would easily support a much more powerful GPU. The verdict is that the system is playable at 1080p Low, and not playable at any other tested resolution or preset.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings, where the average FPS is 65. At all other tested settings and resolutions, the average FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best playable settings configuration for this combo?

A: The only playable configuration in the recorded data is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces an average of 65 FPS. This is the only settings combination that clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How does this combo perform at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, there are no playable settings. The best result is Low settings with an average of 50 FPS, followed by Medium at 35 FPS, High at 31 FPS, and Ultra at 27 FPS. All of these are below 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X ranks in the 79th percentile among CPUs. The FPS scaling across resolutions and presets is consistent with GPU-bound performance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX at 1463 (1.3% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M at 1460 (1.5% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446 (2.5% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 at 1443 (2.7% lower). These are all legacy low-end GPUs.

Q: What rank does this combo hold among all tested systems in Control?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3311 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the bottom portion of the database.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this system in Control is 3311 out of 3720 tested combinations. This places it in the 89th percentile from the bottom, meaning only about 11% of tested combos perform worse. This low ranking is directly attributable to the Intel Arc B390. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1482 and its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs are the primary drivers of this result. The CPU, by contrast, is a high performer with an average benchmark score of 27636 and a 79th percentile ranking.

The disparity between the two components is enormous. The Ryzen 5 7600X's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Core i5-12600K, are all within 0.4% of its average score. These CPUs are all capable of high-end gaming performance. The Arc B390's nearest rivals, however, are GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GeForce GT 710, which are decades-old entry-level parts. This pairing is fundamentally mismatched for gaming.

In the context of Control specifically, the combo rank reflects the measured FPS data. The system only achieves 60 FPS at 1080p Low, and the average FPS at 4K Ultra is just 18. These results are consistent with a GPU that is severely underpowered for the game's demands. Users who own this CPU and are considering this GPU should expect to play at 1080p with reduced settings, and even then, only the Low preset clears the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded data does not support any higher expectations for this pairing. The CPU has substantial headroom, but it is wasted by the GPU's limited rendering capabilities. For anyone using this combo, the path to better performance in Control lies entirely in upgrading the GPU, not the CPU.