Control

This is a demanding title, and the combination of an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D with an Intel Arc B390 (an integrated-class GPU) places this system in a specific performance tier. The recorded data shows that this setup is primarily suited for 1080p gaming with reduced settings. The CPU is a strong, modern 8-core part, but the GPU is the limiting factor in almost every scenario. Here is the breakdown of what you can expect when running Control on this hardware.

Best Settings per Resolution

The benchmark data for Control shows a clear performance ceiling dictated by the Intel Arc B390. The system only achieves a playable average framerate at the lowest settings and the most common resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only configuration that stays above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The recorded average framerate here is 65 FPS. This is the single playable preset for this system. Moving up to the Medium preset drops the average to 46 FPS, which is below the target. The High preset yields 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset produces 36 FPS. None of these higher presets can hold a consistent 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the situation worsens significantly. No settings preset reaches the 60 FPS threshold. The fastest option, the Low preset, averages 50 FPS. This is technically playable in a loose sense, but it falls short of the strict 60 FPS target used for the verdict. The Medium preset drops to 35 FPS, High to 31 FPS, and Ultra to 27 FPS. The data indicates a near-linear scaling loss as you increase the graphical load.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system is not viable for smooth gameplay. The Low preset averages 33 FPS, Medium averages 24 FPS, High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 18 FPS. All of these are well below the playable threshold.

In summary, the only configuration that clears the 60 FPS bar is 1080p with the Low preset. If you want to play at higher visual quality, you will need to accept framerates in the 30-50 range at 1440p, which may be playable for some, but does not meet the standard for a smooth experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals a stark imbalance between the CPU and GPU in this pairing. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a high-performance desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22366 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1849, indicate it is more than capable of handling game logic and physics.

The Intel Arc B390, however, is an integrated GPU with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of just 1482. This score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it is far below dedicated graphics solutions. The bottleneck is almost entirely the GPU.

We can see this clearly in the scaling between resolutions. When moving from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the framerate drops from 65 FPS to 50 FPS, a reduction of roughly 23%. When moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low, it drops from 50 FPS to 33 FPS, another 34% reduction. This consistent drop with resolution indicates that the rendering pipeline is saturated and the GPU cannot keep up with the increased pixel count.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent when looking at the framerate deltas between presets at a fixed resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Medium is 19 FPS (from 65 to 46). This suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiter, as the GPU is struggling with the additional shading and texture work. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller performance gap between presets.

The data shows a system where the GPU is the definitive limiting factor at all resolutions. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D has ample headroom, but it cannot compensate for the Arc B390's lack of raw graphics throughput. For this game, the GPU is the component that matters most, and its performance dictates the entire experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, even the Low preset only produces an average of 33 FPS. This is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The only preset that achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher is Low at 1920x1080, which records an average of 65 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D, has strong benchmark scores, but the GPU's low 3DMark score of 1482 limits performance at every resolution.

Q: What framerate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with the Medium preset, the average framerate is 35 FPS, with a minimum recorded of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset perform at 1080p?

A: The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 produces an average framerate of 36 FPS, which is not sufficient for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is this system better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming?

A: The data clearly shows it is only suited for 1080p gaming. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 65 FPS, while at 1440p, even the Low preset falls short of 60 FPS with an average of 50 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

If you are looking at hardware that would behave similarly, the database shows the closest rivals for each component.

For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is closely matched by the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, which is only 0.1% slower in average benchmark score. The Intel Core i5-12450HX is 0.5% faster, and the Intel Core i5-11600 is 0.6% faster. Any of these processors would provide a similar level of performance for game logic, meaning the GPU would still be the deciding factor.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B390's performance is extremely low, and its nearest rivals are all legacy or entry-level parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX is 1.3% faster, the NVIDIA GeForce 800M is 1.5% faster, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% faster. This comparison highlights just how limited the graphics performance is. Any of these GPUs would yield a similar, sub-60 FPS experience in Control at higher settings.

The Verdict

This system can run Control, but only under very specific conditions. The verdict data confirms that the only playable configuration is at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 65 FPS.

At 1440p and 4K, there are no playable settings that clear the 60 FPS bar. The best you can do at 1440p is 50 FPS on Low, and at 4K it is 33 FPS on Low. For a consistent, smooth experience, you must use 1080p and the lowest settings. This is a playable combination, but it leaves no room for higher graphical fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Control, this pairing of AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3311 out of 3720 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 11% of all systems tested.

This low ranking is almost entirely due to the GPU. The Intel Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 is in the 9th percentile, and its nearest rivals are decades-old NVIDIA parts. While the CPU is competent, it cannot boost the overall experience when paired with such a weak graphics solution. The data suggests that this combo is only suitable for low-resolution, low-detail gaming, and it ranks accordingly among the broader field of tested hardware.