Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers a comprehensive range of performance in Control, scaling from high-refresh 1080p gaming to a nearly locked 60 FPS experience at 4K. The measured data reveals a system that is consistently capable, though the demands of 4K Ultra push it below the 60 FPS threshold. This analysis breaks down the exact frame rates, compares the hardware to its closest rivals, and determines the optimal settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination produces outstanding results across all presets. With Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 190.5 FPS, providing an exceptionally smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 134.8 FPS, still far exceeding the 60 FPS playability threshold. High settings yield an average of 119.9 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a robust 108.6 FPS average. None of these 1080p configurations dip near the 60 FPS line, indicating that the CPU and GPU have significant headroom at this resolution.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, performance remains strong but the scaling becomes more apparent. Low settings produce an average of 144.5 FPS, a considerable but expected reduction from the 1080p figure. Medium settings follow with 101.8 FPS, and High settings deliver 93.1 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p still manages an average of 77.9 FPS, which is comfortably above the playable threshold. The data shows a consistent pattern: each step from Low to Ultra at this resolution reduces performance by roughly 15-20%, yet even the heaviest settings maintain a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4070’s limits become evident. Low settings achieve an average of 99.4 FPS, a figure that remains highly playable. Medium settings drop to 67.8 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS target. However, High settings fall to 59.4 FPS, just shy of the playable threshold, and Ultra settings produce only 52.8 FPS. The min and max FPS values are not provided in the data, so the analysis relies solely on the averages, but the trend is clear: 4K gaming is viable only at Low and Medium presets for this hardware.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, indicate that the Ryzen 7 9700X’s performance is closely matched by several other processors. The Intel Core i9-14901E scores 37,911, a mere 0.1% difference from the 9700X’s average. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 also sits at 37,904, again just 0.1% away. The Intel Core 5 211E (37,829) and AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (37,804) follow with 0.3% and 0.4% deltas, respectively. For gaming, these processors would likely yield nearly identical frame rates in Control, meaning any of them paired with an RTX 4070 would produce results within a rounding error of the figures presented here.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070’s nearest rivals present a more varied picture. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 37,628, a 0.1% delta, suggesting very similar overall compute capability. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37,507, a 0.4% difference. More interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38,135, which is 1.3% higher than the desktop RTX 4070, implying that a laptop with that mobile GPU could slightly outperform this desktop configuration in Control. Conversely, the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37,157, which is 1.3% lower. In practical terms, swapping the RTX 4070 for any of these rivals would shift the measured FPS by only a few frames at most, meaning the 4K High and Ultra results would likely remain borderline or unplayable, while lower resolutions would stay smooth.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all presets, with the Ultra preset still hitting 108.6 FPS. Between Low and Ultra at 1080p, the frame rate drops by 81.9 FPS (from 190.5 to 108.6), a 43% reduction. This large delta suggests that the GPU is heavily utilized even at lower resolutions, but the CPU is also keeping pace, allowing the graphics card to stretch its legs.

At 2560x1440, the scaling between presets becomes less steep. The difference between Low and Ultra is 66.6 FPS (from 144.5 to 77.9), a 46% reduction. While this percentage is similar to 1080p, the absolute numbers are lower, indicating that the GPU is beginning to assert more influence. The CPU’s role is still significant, as the 9700X’s strong single-thread performance (evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1,280 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,211) ensures that it is not the limiting factor at this resolution.

The most telling evidence comes at 3840x2160. Here, the frame rate drop from Low to Ultra is 46.6 FPS (from 99.4 to 52.8), a 47% reduction. More importantly, the absolute performance at High (59.4 FPS) and Ultra (52.8 FPS) falls below or near the 60 FPS threshold. This strongly indicates that the RTX 4070’s rendering capabilities are the primary constraint at 4K. The CPU’s processing power has minimal impact at this resolution, as the GPU is saturated with pixel work. The fact that the 9700X sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs and the RTX 4070 in the 81st percentile of all GPUs further supports this: at 4K, the GPU’s workload dominates, and the CPU’s ample headroom becomes irrelevant.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control successfully at 1080p and 1440p with all settings, and at 4K with reduced settings. At 1920x1080, every preset clears the 60 FPS requirement, with the Ultra setting providing a comfortable 108.6 FPS average. At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable, with Ultra averaging 77.9 FPS, a solid margin above the target. The 4K resolution tells a different story: Low (99.4 FPS) and Medium (67.8 FPS) are playable, but High (59.4 FPS) and Ultra (52.8 FPS) fall short of the 60 FPS threshold. The data’s verdict lists 4K Low and Medium as the playable settings, with Medium being the best choice at 67.8 FPS. For gamers prioritizing visual fidelity at 4K, this hardware will not maintain a smooth 60 FPS experience at the highest presets.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 108.6 FPS. This is the optimal choice for players seeking maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also delivers a playable experience, averaging 77.9 FPS. This makes it the best settings option, providing a significant visual upgrade over High while still leaving a comfortable buffer above the 60 FPS line.

For 3840x2160, the recommended settings are Medium, which produces an average of 67.8 FPS. While High settings (59.4 FPS) are nearly playable, they do not clear the 60 FPS threshold. Medium offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, ensuring the frame rate stays above the target. Low settings remain an option for those who prefer higher frame rates, but Medium is the most demanding preset that meets the playability criterion.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 108.6 FPS.

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

A: No, the average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 59.4 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which resolution and settings combo provides the highest average frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate is 190.5 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to the RTX 4080 Mobile in terms of GPU benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4080 Mobile has an average score of 38,135, which is 1.3% higher than the RTX 4070's average score of 37,648.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p that stays above 60 FPS?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 is the best choice, with an average of 77.9 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU become a bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data suggests no; at 3840x2160, the GPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the frame rates dropping below 60 FPS at High and Ultra settings while the CPU remains in the 86th percentile of all CPUs.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Control, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 1,018 out of 3,720 combos. This places it in the top 27% of all tested systems, indicating a solidly above-average configuration. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU’s 86th percentile standing and the GPU’s 81st percentile standing. While neither component is at the absolute top of its class, their combination provides a well-rounded experience that excels at 1080p and 1440p, and remains capable at 4K with adjusted settings. The rank implies that a substantial number of tested systems (2,702) are slower, while a smaller group (1,017) offers better performance, likely featuring higher-tier GPUs or more powerful CPUs that would push 4K Ultra past 60 FPS.