Control

The pairing of AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 produces a machine that is profoundly overqualified for Control, a title from 2019 that scales aggressively with both CPU and GPU headroom. The measured data, drawn from the full 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080 resolution set, shows no scenario where this combination drops below the 60 FPS playability threshold. Instead, the question shifts from "can it run" to "how much performance is left on the table," particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU becomes the primary governor of frame rates. The RTX 4090, with its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, is a top-12 percentile GPU (88th percentile vs all GPUs), while the 5800X sits at the 81st percentile among CPUs. This creates a system that excels at 4K Ultra but also delivers triple-digit frame rates at 1080p, making it a versatile, if extravagant, choice for this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090 demonstrates why it remains a 4K powerhouse. The Ultra preset averages 79.2 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold and indicates that even the most demanding settings leave headroom for ray tracing or DLSS if the user chooses to enable them. Dropping to High yields 87.2 FPS, a 10.1% improvement over Ultra, while Medium produces 97.6 FPS. The Low preset jumps to 136.5 FPS, a 72.3% increase over Ultra, showing that the GPU is the sole bottleneck at 4K — the CPU has ample bandwidth to feed frames. Notably, the spread between Low and Ultra at 4K is 57.3 FPS, which is the widest margin across all resolutions, confirming that pixel throughput dominates the workload.

At 2560x1440, the system moves firmly into high-refresh territory. Ultra averages 112.9 FPS, which is 42.5% higher than the 4K Ultra result, illustrating the dramatic scaling when pixel count drops by 56%. High hits 128.6 FPS, Medium reaches 146.8 FPS, and Low peaks at 206.4 FPS. The Low-to-Ultra delta here is 93.5 FPS, which is larger in absolute terms than at 4K, but the relative gap (Low being 82.8% faster than Ultra) is smaller. This suggests the CPU begins to exert more influence at 1440p, though the 5800X’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 4.70 GHz boost clock is more than sufficient to keep the 4090 fed.

The 1920x1080 results are where the CPU’s role becomes undeniable. Ultra still manages 149.2 FPS, which is a 35.6% improvement over the 4K Ultra figure. High climbs to 175.7 FPS, Medium to 195.8 FPS, and Low reaches 230.5 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p is non-linear: Ultra improves by 32.2%, but Low only improves by 11.7% (from 206.4 to 230.5 FPS). This compression at the top end is a classic sign of CPU limitation — the 5800X’s single-thread performance (scoring 943 in 3dmark_single_thread and 1574.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core) becomes the ceiling. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the GPU is effectively idle-waiting for the CPU, a situation that would not change even with a faster graphics card.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Ryzen 7 5800X and RTX 4090 is clearly visible in the frame rate scaling across resolutions. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the absolute bottleneck. The difference between Low and Ultra is 57.3 FPS, and the frame rate scales almost linearly with the pixel count reduction when moving to 1440p. This is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario where the 4090’s 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth and 443.5 GPixel/s pixel rate are the limiting factors. The CPU’s role at 4K is to simply stay out of the way, which the 5800X does effortlessly — its 3dmark_max_threads score of 7578 and 16 threads ensure no frame-pacing hiccups.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The GPU still dominates, but the CPU’s influence grows. The relative improvement from 4K to 1440p is 42.5% for Ultra, but only 51.2% for Low (from 136.5 to 206.4 FPS). This disproportionate gain at lower settings indicates that the CPU is starting to cap the maximum frame rate. The 5800X’s 3dmark_16_threads score of 7586 and its 8 physical cores are sufficient for Control’s physics and AI workloads, but the single-thread ceiling (943 in 3dmark_single_thread) prevents the 4090 from reaching its full potential in the Low preset.

At 1920x1080, the CPU becomes the primary limiter, particularly in the Low and Medium presets. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p is only 11.7% for Low, whereas it was 51.2% from 4K to 1440p. This plateau is the signature of a CPU-bound condition. The 5800X’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1574.5 and its 4.70 GHz boost clock are excellent for a 2020 processor, but they cannot push frame rates past 230 FPS in this title. Conversely, the GPU’s role at 1080p is diminished — the 4090 is rendering frames so quickly that the CPU’s draw-call processing becomes the gating factor. Benchmark results indicate that for players targeting 1080p with a 240 Hz monitor, the CPU would need to be upgraded to a newer architecture to extract more performance, though the current 230.5 FPS average at Low is already exceptionally high.

FAQ

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra?

A: Yes. The measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 79.2 FPS, which is 32% above the 60 FPS playable threshold. All four presets at 4K — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — clear 60 FPS, with Low averaging 136.5 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maximize frame rate?

A: At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest averages. The Low preset reaches 230.5 FPS, Medium 195.8 FPS, High 175.7 FPS, and Ultra 149.2 FPS. Even at 4K Ultra, the system stays above 79 FPS, making 1440p the sweet spot for high-refresh gaming without sacrificing visual fidelity.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 overkill for this game?

A: The data suggests yes for most scenarios. At 1080p, the CPU limits performance to a maximum of 230.5 FPS (Low), meaning the 4090’s 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 capability is not fully utilized. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU is the bottleneck, and the 79.2 FPS average justifies the card for 4K gaming.

Q: How does the 5800X’s performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X has an average benchmark score of 29123, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H (29093), 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-13500HX (29270 is 0.5% higher, deltaPct -0.5), and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (28940). The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 is 0.4% faster (29245). These deltas are negligible in gaming.

*Q: What is the GPU’s rank among all tested combos for Control?*

A: This specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 156th out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the top 4.2% of all configurations. The RTX 4090 itself sits at the 88th percentile among all GPUs.

Q: Does the game support ray tracing, and how does the 4090 handle it?

A: The fact pack does not include ray tracing-specific benchmarks for Control. However, the RTX 4090 features 128 RT cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, so the hardware is capable. The measured data only covers standard rasterization presets.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control at every resolution and preset combination tested, with zero exceptions. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: at 3840x2160, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with the best settings being Ultra at 79.2 FPS average. At 2560x1440, the system delivers Ultra at 112.9 FPS, which is 88% above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset hits 149.2 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 230.5 FPS. The 60 FPS threshold is cleared by a margin of at least 32% at 4K and by over 148% at 1080p. The only caveat is that at 1080p, the CPU becomes the limiting factor, so users with 240 Hz or higher refresh monitors may not see the GPU fully exercised. For 4K gaming, this combination is not just playable — it is exceptional, providing headroom for future titles or mods that increase GPU load.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rival data for the CPU, the Ryzen 7 5800X’s performance is closely matched by several other processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135H (avg score 29093, deltaPct 0.1) is effectively identical, making it a viable alternative for gaming in this title. The Intel Core i5-13500HX (avg score 29270, deltaPct -0.5) is slightly faster, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (avg score 28940, deltaPct 0.6) is marginally slower. The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 (avg score 29245, deltaPct -0.4) is a workstation chip that would not be a sensible gaming choice, but its benchmark parity shows that the 5800X’s performance envelope is well-established.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4090’s nearest rivals are all professional or workstation cards, which is unusual. The Intel Arc Pro A60 (avg score 60326, deltaPct 0) matches the 4090’s average score almost exactly, though it lacks the gaming driver optimizations. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (avg score 60140, deltaPct 0.3) is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (avg score 61896, deltaPct -2.5) is 2.5% faster. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 (avg score 58657, deltaPct 2.9) is 2.9% slower. For gaming, none of these are practical substitutes, but the data confirms that the 4090 sits at a performance tier with no direct consumer rivals within a 3% margin. Users seeking similar gaming frame rates would need to step down to a lower-tier RTX 40-series card, though no such card appears in the nearest rivals list.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 79.2 FPS. This is the recommended setting for 4K, as it provides the maximum visual fidelity while still maintaining a 19.2 FPS buffer above the playable threshold. Lower presets are unnecessary for playability, but users prioritizing frame rate over visuals can choose Medium (97.6 FPS) or Low (136.5 FPS).

At 2560x1440, the best settings are Ultra with an average of 112.9 FPS. This is a 52.9 FPS margin over the 60 FPS threshold, making it an ideal resolution for high-refresh monitors (up to 120 Hz). The High preset (128.6 FPS) offers a modest boost, but Ultra is the optimal balance of quality and speed.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that clears 60 FPS is Ultra, averaging 149.2 FPS. This is 89.2 FPS above the threshold, meaning even the heaviest settings are far from playability limits. For users with 144 Hz monitors, Ultra is the clear choice. The Medium (195.8 FPS) and Low (230.5 FPS) presets are only relevant for 240 Hz displays, where the CPU becomes the bottleneck. In all cases, the system exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold by a substantial margin, confirming that this hardware combination is one of the most capable for Control.