Control

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B370 shows a clear pattern of performance scaling across resolutions and presets. At 3840x2160, the system delivers an average of 30 FPS on Low settings, but that drops noticeably as visual fidelity increases. Medium settings produce an average of 21 FPS with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS, while High settings yield 19 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 17 FPS average. None of these 4K figures approach the 60 FPS playable threshold, and even the Low preset remains at half that target.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains below playable standards. Low settings achieve an average of 45 FPS, which is the highest recorded value at this resolution. Medium settings average 32 FPS with a range between 27 and 37 FPS, while High settings average 28 FPS and Ultra drops to 25 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at this resolution is 13 FPS, indicating that each preset tier costs roughly 7 to 9 FPS when moving up the quality ladder. Even at the lowest preset, the system falls 15 FPS short of the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, the data shows the most promising results, though still not fully playable. Low settings reach an average of 59 FPS, which is remarkably close to the 60 FPS target. Medium settings average 42 FPS with a minimum of 36 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS, High settings average 37 FPS, and Ultra averages 32 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a total drop of 27 FPS, with the largest single-step decline occurring between Low and Medium at 17 FPS. The minimum FPS recorded across all tested configurations is 18 FPS at 4K Medium, while the maximum is 59 FPS at 1080p Low.

The scaling between resolutions is consistent. When moving from 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the average FPS drops from 59 to 45, a reduction of 14 FPS or roughly 24 percent. Moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low brings another drop from 45 to 30 FPS, a 15 FPS decline. This linear pattern suggests the Intel Arc B370 is the primary limiter, as the CPU has ample headroom based on its benchmark scores. At Medium settings across all three resolutions, the averages are 42, 32, and 21 FPS, showing a consistent 10 to 11 FPS penalty for each resolution step upward.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F in the database include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX with an average score of 69,875 and a delta of 0.2 percent, the Intel Core i7-14700KF with a score of 70,163 and a delta of -0.2 percent, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X with a score of 69,515 and a delta of 0.7 percent, and the Intel Core i7-14700K with a score of 69,355 and a delta of 0.9 percent. The 9700F sits at 69,996 average, meaning it is statistically tied with all four rivals. Any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control when paired with the same Intel Arc B370, since the GPU is the limiting factor at every resolution tested.

The Intel Arc B370 itself has a much more limited set of comparable hardware. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with an average score of 1,186 and a delta of -0.2 percent, the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1,190 and a delta of -0.5 percent, the AMD Radeon HD 7650M with a score of 1,192 and a delta of -0.7 percent, and the AMD FirePro M2000 with a score of 1,168 and a delta of 1.4 percent. The Arc B370 scores 1,184 on the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This means any system using one of these rival GPUs would deliver essentially identical performance in Control, with differences of less than 2 percent. The practical implication is that users considering this combination should expect the GPU to behave like a legacy integrated or entry-level discrete part from over a decade ago, regardless of the modern CPU paired with it.

The CPU percentile ranking of 94 out of 100 confirms that the Ryzen 7 9700F is a high-end processor, but its compute advantages do not translate into playable frame rates because the GPU cannot keep pace. The database shows no configuration where this combo reaches 60 FPS, which strongly suggests that swapping in any of the four rival CPUs would not change the outcome. Conversely, the GPU's 5th percentile ranking indicates that upgrading the graphics solution would be the only path toward playability.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 1920x1080 with any preset?

A: Based on the recorded data, the closest result is 59 FPS average on Low settings at 1920x1080. This falls just 1 FPS short of the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra presets at this resolution average 42, 37, and 32 FPS respectively, all below the threshold.

Q: What is the best average FPS this combination achieves at 2560x1440?

A: The highest recorded average at 2560x1440 is 45 FPS on Low settings. The Medium preset averages 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS. No preset at this resolution reaches the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69,996, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX at 69,875 (0.2 percent lower), the Intel Core i7-14700KF at 70,163 (0.2 percent higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X at 69,515 (0.7 percent lower), and the Intel Core i7-14700K at 69,355 (0.9 percent lower). These differences are negligible for gaming performance.

Q: What does the GPU's 5th percentile ranking mean for Control?

A: The Intel Arc B370 scores 1,184 on the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark and ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This is far below what Control requires for smooth gameplay. The nearest GPU rivals all score between 1,168 and 1,192, confirming that the Arc B370 delivers performance comparable to entry-level graphics hardware from previous generations.

Q: Are there any settings at 3840x2160 that produce acceptable frame rates?

A: No. At 4K, the highest average FPS recorded is 30 on Low settings. Medium averages 21 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 17 FPS. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 18, and the maximum is 25. All of these values are far below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the ranking of this specific CPU and GPU combination in the database for Control?

A: The combination ranks 3,436 out of 3,720 total tested combos for Control. This places it in the bottom 8 percent of all configurations, which is consistent with the sub-60 FPS results across every resolution and preset combination tested.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: this system cannot run Control at a playable level in any tested configuration. The verdict by resolution shows no playable settings at 3840x2160, no playable settings at 2560x1440, and no playable settings at 1920x1080. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and the highest average FPS recorded across all twelve tested combinations is 59 at 1080p Low. This falls just short of the threshold, making even the least demanding preset unplayable by the database standard.

The recorded measurements indicate that the Intel Arc B370 is the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system produces 59 FPS, which suggests the GPU is working near its maximum capability. The CPU, with a 94th percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of 69,996, shows no signs of limiting performance. The Ryzen 7 9700F has 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, but none of that matters when the GPU can only deliver single-digit to low-double-digit frame rates at higher settings.

For users who insist on playing Control with this hardware, the only viable approach would be to reduce resolution below 1920x1080, though no data exists for such configurations. Even then, the 59 FPS result at 1080p Low suggests that any lower resolution might barely reach 60 FPS, but the database cannot confirm this. The honest assessment is that this combination is not suitable for Control, and users should seek a different GPU if they wish to play this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 3,436 out of 3,720 tested combinations for Control. This places the system in the bottom 7.6 percent of all configurations, which is a poor result for a CPU that sits in the 94th percentile of all processors. The discrepancy between the CPU's strong compute scores and the overall combo ranking highlights how heavily the GPU drags down the experience.

The ranking reflects the GPU's 5th percentile position. The Intel Arc B370's average benchmark score of 1,184 is dramatically lower than what Control requires. Even the weakest integrated graphics solutions from dedicated gaming laptops would likely outperform this combination, though the database does not contain such comparisons. The rank of 3,436 means that only 284 tested combos perform worse than this one, and those are likely systems with even older or more limited graphics hardware.

The data suggests that users should interpret this ranking as a warning. A high-end CPU does not compensate for a low-end GPU in gaming scenarios. The Ryzen 7 9700F's nearest CPU rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-14700KF or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, would produce identical rankings when paired with the Arc B370, since the GPU is the determining factor. The only way to improve the combo ranking is to replace the GPU with something that scores significantly higher on the 3DMark Steel Nomad benchmark.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves the 60 FPS threshold, so there is no recommended setting. The best average FPS is 30 on Low, but this is only half of the target. Medium delivers 21 FPS, High delivers 19 FPS, and Ultra delivers 17 FPS. All of these are unplayable.

At 2560x1440, the situation is similarly dire. No preset reaches 60 FPS. The best average is 45 FPS on Low, which is 15 FPS short of the threshold. Medium averages 32 FPS, High averages 28 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. None of these can be recommended for playable gaming.

At 1920x1080, the closest option is Low settings at 59 FPS average. This is the only configuration within 1 FPS of the 60 FPS target, but it still does not meet the playable threshold. Medium averages 42 FPS, High averages 37 FPS, and Ultra averages 32 FPS. If forced to choose a preset for the best visual experience while maintaining the highest possible frame rate, Low is the only option that comes close to playability, but it still falls short.

The database records no settings that clear 60 FPS at any resolution. The playable threshold remains unmet across all twelve tested combinations. Users who want to play Control would need to accept frame rates well below 60 FPS or consider different hardware.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals an extreme imbalance between the CPU and GPU for Control. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69,996 on average benchmarks and ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Arc B370 scores 1,184 and ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. This 89-percentage-point gap in relative standing explains why the GPU dominates performance outcomes.

At 1920x1080, the scaling from Low to Ultra shows a drop from 59 to 32 FPS, a 27 FPS reduction. This is purely a GPU limitation, as the CPU has more than enough compute capacity. The Ryzen 7 9700F's PassMark multithread score of 36,470 and single-thread score of 4,691 are both strong, and Control is not a CPU-heavy title that would stress 8 cores and 16 threads to their limits.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's weakness becomes even more apparent. The difference between Low (30 FPS) and Ultra (17 FPS) is 13 FPS, but the absolute values are so low that the CPU has no opportunity to matter. Even at 4K Low, the GPU is already saturated. The resolution scaling from 1080p Low to 1440p Low to 4K Low shows 59, 45, and 30 FPS respectively, which is a consistent 14 to 15 FPS drop per step. This linear degradation is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

The CPU's role in this combination is essentially to avoid being a bottleneck, which it does successfully. The recorded minimum FPS values, such as 18 FPS at 4K Medium and 36 FPS at 1080p Medium, are likely caused by GPU frame pacing issues rather than CPU stalls. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would show more erratic behavior across resolutions. Instead, the smooth scaling pattern points entirely to the GPU.

For users considering this combination, the data suggests that the Ryzen 7 9700F is wasted in gaming scenarios that rely on the Arc B370. The CPU could easily handle much more powerful GPUs, and its benchmark scores place it among the top 6 percent of all processors. The GPU, however, is among the bottom 5 percent, creating a mismatch that no game setting can overcome. In Control, the GPU is the sole determinant of performance, and its capabilities are insufficient for even the lowest preset at 1080p.