Control

Similar Performance Alternatives

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X sits in a tightly contested performance band. Its average benchmark score of 34,260 places it within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-13450HX (34,333), which is the nearest rival on the higher side. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34,222) and AMD EPYC 4244P (34,220) are each just 0.1% behind, making them effectively interchangeable in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H trails by a slightly wider margin at 0.5% (34,083). For a game like Control, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame pacing and minimum frame behavior, since the differences are well within measurement noise.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 shows a similar clustering. The RTX 4080 SUPER (54,209) is a mere 0.1% ahead of the RTX 4080, which is unsurprising given their shared architecture and positioning. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54,828) leads by 1.1%, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55,698) and AMD Radeon 8060S (55,757) sit 2.6% and 2.7% higher respectively. These deltas are modest in absolute terms, meaning a system built around any of these GPUs would produce comparable frame rates in Control at the same settings. The practical takeaway: if the exact RTX 4080 is unavailable, the RTX 4080 SUPER is the closest drop-in equivalent, while the AMD alternatives offer slightly higher raw compute scores but would not fundamentally change the playability profile at each resolution.

The CPU sits at the 84th percentile against all processors, while the GPU is at the 86th percentile against all graphics cards. Both components are high-tier parts, but neither is at the absolute top of the database. In a game like Control, which is known for its physics-heavy environments and real-time destruction, the balance between these two components matters more than their individual percentiles. The data shows that the CPU's nearest rivals are all modern mid-to-high range parts, and the GPU's nearest rivals are all firmly in the enthusiast tier.

CPU and GPU Roles

Examining the measured FPS data across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the Ryzen 7 3700X and the RTX 4080. At 1920x1080, the CPU has more influence because the GPU can render frames quickly enough that the processor becomes the limiting factor in maintaining frame pacing. The average frame rates at 1080p range from 68 FPS at Ultra to 86 FPS at Low, a spread of 18 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same settings span from 61 FPS at Ultra to 78 FPS at Low, a spread of 17 FPS. At 3840x2160, the span narrows to 47 FPS at Ultra and 68 FPS at Low, a 21 FPS gap.

The resolution scaling tells a clear story. Moving from 1080p Ultra (68 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (61 FPS) costs 7 FPS, and moving from 1440p Ultra to 4K Ultra (47 FPS) costs another 14 FPS. This increasing penalty at higher resolutions indicates that the RTX 4080 becomes the dominant bottleneck as pixel count rises. The CPU's role is most visible at 1080p, where even at Low settings the frame rate caps at 86 FPS, suggesting that the Ryzen 7 3700X's single-thread performance prevents higher output. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the Ultra preset drops to 47 FPS despite the CPU having more headroom.

The settings scaling also reveals the GPU's workload sensitivity. At 4K, dropping from Ultra to Low yields a 21 FPS improvement (47 to 68 FPS), which is a 44% increase. At 1440p, the same settings drop yields 17 FPS (61 to 78 FPS), a 28% increase. At 1080p, the improvement is 18 FPS (68 to 86 FPS), a 26% increase. The larger relative gain at 4K confirms that the GPU is doing proportionally more work at that resolution, and that the CPU is not a limiting factor there. Conversely, the smaller relative gains at 1080p suggest the CPU is starting to constrain the system.

For players aiming at 60 FPS, the data shows that the RTX 4080 is the decisive component at 4K, where only Low and Medium presets clear the threshold. At 1440p and 1080p, the CPU and GPU together are sufficient for all presets to clear 60 FPS, indicating that either component could be slightly weaker without dropping below the threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data includes average frame rates for all combinations of four resolutions and four settings presets, with minimum and maximum frame rates recorded only for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 86 FPS average. High averages 69 FPS. Medium averages 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 89 FPS. Ultra averages 68 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 18 FPS, and every preset comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold. The Medium preset's minimum of 65 FPS indicates that even in demanding scenes, the system stays above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, Low averages 78 FPS. High averages 62 FPS. Medium averages 70 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. Ultra averages 61 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum dips to 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold, but the average remains solidly above it. The Ultra preset at 61 FPS average clears the threshold, though with less headroom than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes. Low averages 68 FPS, which clears the threshold. Medium averages 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. High averages 50 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra averages 47 FPS, a significant drop. The Medium preset's minimum of 52 FPS shows that even at the best playable setting, frame times can spike noticeably. High and Ultra are not playable at 60 FPS by the database's standard.

The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, which allows for a more detailed look at frame consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range from 65 to 89 FPS represents a 24 FPS swing. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 59 to 80 FPS, a 21 FPS swing. At 4K Medium, the range is 52 to 70 FPS, an 18 FPS swing. The narrowing range at higher resolutions is consistent with GPU-bound behavior, where frame times are more uniform because the CPU is not introducing variability.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 2,467 out of 3,720 tested combos in the database for Control. This places it in the 66th percentile of all tested systems. The rank reflects the overall capability of the pairing across all recorded settings and resolutions.

This rank is lower than the individual component percentiles might suggest. The CPU is at the 84th percentile and the GPU at the 86th percentile, but the combo ranks in the upper third of all combos. The discrepancy is explained by the nature of the database: many combos pair high-end GPUs with even newer, higher-performing CPUs, and Control's engine benefits from both strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. The Ryzen 7 3700X, while capable, is a 2019 part, and newer CPUs in the database push the combo ranking down.

The 2,467 rank also indicates that a substantial number of combos outperform this pairing in Control, particularly at 1080p where CPU performance matters more. At 4K, the RTX 4080 carries the system, and the rank would likely be higher if the database ranked only at that resolution. The data shows that this is a high-performing combo, but not a top-tier one, and users should set expectations accordingly.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? Yes, with caveats that depend on resolution and settings. The verdict by resolution is clear from the data.

At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, meaning they average above 60 FPS. The best settings are Ultra, which averages 68 FPS. This is the resolution where the combo is most comfortable, with headroom to spare even at maximum settings.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable. The best settings are Ultra, averaging 61 FPS. This is a tight clearance, but it clears. The Medium preset averages 70 FPS and provides more headroom if frame consistency is a priority, especially since its minimum of 59 FPS is only marginally below the threshold.

At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium are playable. The best settings are Medium, averaging 61 FPS. High averages 50 FPS and Ultra averages 47 FPS, both below the 60 FPS threshold. Players targeting 4K will need to use Medium or lower to maintain a playable experience. The Medium preset's minimum of 52 FPS means there will be occasional dips below 60 FPS, but the average remains acceptable.

In summary, this combo delivers a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1080p and 1440p with all settings maxed out. At 4K, it is playable only with reduced settings, and even then, frame dips are possible. The RTX 4080 is the primary driver of 4K performance, while the Ryzen 7 3700X is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K with maximum settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 47 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playability threshold. The High preset averages 50 FPS, also below the threshold.

Q: What is the best 4K setting for this combo?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 is the best playable option, averaging 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS. Low averages 68 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while still clearing the 60 FPS average.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU has a greater influence on frame rates. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, while Ultra averages 68 FPS, and the relatively small gains from lowering settings suggest the Ryzen 7 3700X is beginning to limit performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4080's performance close to the RTX 4080 SUPER in this context?

A: Yes. The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54,209, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080's 54,247. In practical terms for Control, the two GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 3700X compare to the Intel Core i5-13450HX?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34,260, while the Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34,333, a difference of 0.2%. They are effectively equivalent in CPU-bound workloads.

Q: What settings are playable at 1440p?

A: All four presets at 2560x1440 are playable, meaning they average above 60 FPS. Ultra averages 61 FPS, High averages 62 FPS, Medium averages 70 FPS, and Low averages 78 FPS. Ultra is the best settings option, with a 61 FPS average.