Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and AMD Radeon RX 7600 combination delivers a playable experience in Control, but the margin for error varies dramatically by resolution. At 1080p, the system has headroom to spare, while 4K demands significant graphical compromises. The measured data provides a clear picture of what this hardware can achieve, with the 60 FPS threshold serving as the primary benchmark for playability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the pair performs admirably across all settings. The Low preset delivers an average of 120.1 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings see a drop to 85.6 FPS, while High maintains a solid 72.3 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset keeps the game comfortably above 60 FPS with an average of 64.5 FPS. This scaling shows a roughly 46% performance penalty from Low to Ultra, but every preset remains fluid.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance curve steepens. Low settings produce an average of 87.3 FPS, still well above the threshold. Medium settings, however, fall to 63.1 FPS, which barely clears the 60 FPS line. High settings at 56.2 FPS dip below the playable mark, and Ultra drops further to 49.3 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is approximately 44%, but the absolute numbers reveal a system that is only comfortable at the lower two presets.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. Low settings are the only viable option, producing an average of 62.4 FPS. This narrowly exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, but there is little margin for error. Medium settings collapse to 44.5 FPS, High falls to 40.3 FPS, and Ultra struggles to 34.5 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra represents a 45% reduction in performance, and all but the lowest preset fail to maintain playable frame rates. Notably, the data shows no min or max FPS values, so variance cannot be assessed, but the averages alone indicate a hard ceiling for 4K playability.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 1080p with maximum settings?*

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset, the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and AMD Radeon RX 7600 achieves an average of 64.5 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gameplay?

A: The Medium preset is the highest playable option at 2560x1440, delivering an average of 63.1 FPS. High settings fall to 56.2 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming feasible with this hardware?

A: Only with significant compromises. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 62.4 FPS, which barely clears the threshold. Medium drops to 44.5 FPS, making it unplayable by the 60 FPS standard.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Radeon RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15171, placing it in the 57th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, scores 15199, a difference of -0.2%. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, which is 0.7% higher.

Q: How does the CPU perform relative to other processors?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F sits in the 77th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 25005. Its nearest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, scores 24964, a negligible 0.2% difference.

Q: What is the most demanding setting that still maintains 60 FPS at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, only the Low preset achieves playable performance, with an average of 62.4 FPS. Every other preset falls below 60 FPS, with Medium at 44.5 FPS being the next closest.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that stays at or above 60 FPS, averaging 62.4 FPS. This is a marginal pass, and any scene with heavier effects could push it below the threshold. Medium drops to 44.5 FPS, so there is no room for higher quality settings.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 63.1 FPS. This provides a modest visual upgrade over Low while still maintaining playability. High settings at 56.2 FPS are too close to the edge, and Ultra at 49.3 FPS is clearly not viable.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is fully playable at 64.5 FPS average. This is the highest quality setting available and the system handles it without issue. The headroom over the 60 FPS threshold is slim but sufficient, and lower presets offer significantly higher frame rates for those prioritizing smoothness.

Similar Performance Alternatives

On the CPU side, the Ryzen 5 8400F's average benchmark score of 25005 places it in close competition with several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F scores 24964, a delta of just 0.2%, meaning users would see virtually identical performance. The Intel Core i7-11850H scores 24935, also within 0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-13620H at 24911 is 0.4% behind. On the upper end, the AMD EPYC 9474F scores 25103, which is 0.4% higher. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming, so any of these CPUs would pair similarly with the RX 7600.

For the GPU, the Radeon RX 7600's average benchmark score of 15171 places it in the 57th percentile. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, a 0.2% difference that is effectively a tie. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X scores 15082, which is 0.6% lower, while the AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, 0.7% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti scores 15063, just 0.7% below. None of these alternatives would meaningfully change the FPS results in Control; they would all deliver similar performance at each resolution and preset.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU becomes more relevant at lower settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates scale from 120.1 FPS at Low to 64.5 FPS at Ultra, a range that indicates the GPU is handling the bulk of the workload. The Ryzen 5 8400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides enough processing power to avoid becoming a limiting factor at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance gap between Low and Ultra narrows slightly, with averages ranging from 87.3 FPS down to 49.3 FPS. This suggests the GPU is being pushed harder, but the CPU still has sufficient headroom. The 63.1 FPS at Medium indicates that the system is balanced at this resolution, with neither component clearly dominating.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become evident. The drop from Low at 62.4 FPS to Medium at 44.5 FPS is steep, and Ultra at 34.5 FPS shows the GPU struggling to keep up with the pixel count. The CPU's role diminishes at this resolution, as the frame rate is largely determined by the rendering load on the RX 7600. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus are likely contributing factors to this performance ceiling, though the exact impact cannot be isolated from the available data.

The Verdict

This system can run Control, but the playable range is strictly limited by resolution. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 64.5 FPS. This is the most versatile configuration, offering both high frame rates and visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable but only up to Medium settings, which average 63.1 FPS. High settings fall to 56.2 FPS, so users must accept reduced quality to maintain smooth gameplay. This resolution is a compromise between visual fidelity and performance.

At 3840x2160, the system is barely playable at Low settings, averaging 62.4 FPS. This leaves no room for error, and any demanding scene could cause frame drops below 60 FPS. Medium and higher presets are not viable options at this resolution. The verdict is clear: this PC is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p as a secondary option at reduced settings, and 4K only as a last resort with minimal graphical quality.