Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 presents a classic high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU in Control. The measured data shows this combination delivers a highly playable experience at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring a compromise on settings. The benchmark results indicate a system that leverages its strong processor to push the GeForce RTX 4060 to its limits, with performance scaling predictably with resolution and preset changes.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combo show a clear hierarchy across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system leads with its highest average frame rates. The Low preset achieves an average of 140.3 FPS, while Medium drops that to 100.7 FPS. High settings produce 89.2 FPS, and the most demanding Ultra preset still yields a very smooth 78.9 FPS average. There is no min or max FPS data available, so these averages represent the full picture of the performance.

Moving up to 2560x1440 shows a predictable step down in performance. The Low preset averages 105.9 FPS, which is a substantial drop from the 1080p Low figure but still far above the playable threshold. Medium settings average 73.3 FPS, while High comes in at 67.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution is the first to approach the 60 FPS line, with an average of 58.4 FPS. This indicates that 1440p Ultra just misses the mark for a locked 60 FPS experience.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory buffer and 128-bit bus are clearly stressed. The Low preset is the only setting that clears the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 70.9 FPS. Medium settings fall to 50.6 FPS, High drops further to 46.2 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 41.1 FPS. The performance gap between presets widens at 4K, showing that the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data provides a clear answer for the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is fully playable, with an average of 78.9 FPS. This gives a comfortable margin above the playable threshold of 60 FPS, allowing for the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

For 2560x1440, the best playable setting is High, which achieves an average of 67.6 FPS. While this is above 60 FPS, the margin is slimmer than at 1080p. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls short at 58.4 FPS, so dropping to High is the recommended choice to maintain a consistent frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the options narrow considerably. The Low preset is the only playable configuration, averaging 70.9 FPS. This means users must sacrifice most graphical enhancements to achieve playable performance at 4K. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fall below the 60 FPS threshold, making them unsuitable for a smooth experience on this combination.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the CPU's role is more prominent, as the lower resolution allows the GPU to push higher frame rates. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is well-suited to feed the RTX 4060 in this scenario. The high average frame rates, especially at Low settings (140.3 FPS), suggest the CPU is not the limiting factor.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on a heavier load. The frame rate drops are more substantial when moving from Low to Ultra at 1440p compared to 1080p, which points to the GPU becoming the primary constraint. The CPU still has headroom, but the RTX 4060's performance ceiling is what determines the final output. The difference between the High preset (67.6 FPS) and Ultra preset (58.4 FPS) at this resolution highlights the GPU's sensitivity to increased graphical workloads.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck. The frame rates are significantly lower across all presets, and the gap between Low (70.9 FPS) and Ultra (41.1 FPS) is a 29.8 FPS swing. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D's processing power is largely idle at this resolution, as the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth cannot handle the pixel count demands of 4K. The scaling between resolutions confirms that this is a GPU-limited scenario at 4K.

The Verdict

This PC can run Control well, but the experience depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS on every preset, including Ultra at 78.9 FPS. This is a fully playable and smooth experience with maximum visual quality. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable on High settings at 67.6 FPS, though Ultra falls just short at 58.4 FPS. The verdict for 1440p is a solid yes, with the caveat that the highest preset requires a small compromise.

At 3840x2160, the system is only playable on the Low preset, which averages 70.9 FPS. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all fail to reach 60 FPS, with averages of 50.6, 46.2, and 41.1 FPS respectively. The verdict for 4K is a conditional yes: the game runs, but only with significant visual downgrades. For users with a 4K display, the RTX 4060's limitations are clear, and a lower resolution or reduced settings are necessary for a smooth experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes, at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 78.9 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: The High preset is the best playable setting at 2560x1440, achieving an average of 67.6 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below 60 FPS at 58.4 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this setup?

A: Yes, but only on the Low preset, which averages 70.9 FPS at 3840x2160. All higher presets fail to reach 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4060's average benchmark score is 17639. It is 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7790, 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 780M, and 0.5% and 0.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460, respectively.

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

A: At higher resolutions like 3840x2160, the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The frame rates drop significantly across all presets, indicating the RTX 4060 cannot handle the 4K workload as effectively as the CPU can process it.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: This combination ranks 1995 out of 3720 tested combos for Control, placing it in the 46th percentile of tested systems.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1995 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the tested systems. While the CPU is a top-tier performer with an average benchmark score of 39768 and an 87th percentile ranking against all CPUs, the GPU's average benchmark score of 17639 puts it in the 61st percentile against all GPUs. The GPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666, and the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores 17588. The CPU's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, with scores of 39603 and 40081, respectively.

This ranking reflects the system's overall balance. The 9800X3D provides ample processing power, but the RTX 4060's performance cap limits the combo's overall standing. For a game like Control, which benefits from both CPU and GPU performance, this combo achieves playable results at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K performance is constrained by the GPU. The data shows that users with this pairing should prioritize 1080p or 1440p gaming to fully utilize the system's capabilities.