Control

Control is an action-adventure title from 2019 that places heavy demands on both the processor and the graphics card. The measured data for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 shows a system that can handle the game at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but falls short of playable frame rates at 4K. The following analysis breaks down the recorded FPS across resolutions and presets, compares the hardware to similar alternatives, examines the balance between CPU and GPU load, and provides clear guidance on what this combination can achieve.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this CPU and GPU combination in Control were recorded at three resolutions: 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080. Each resolution was tested across four settings presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. The data shows a consistent pattern of declining performance as resolution and graphical demands increase.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the system produced an average of 35 FPS on High settings. Dropping to Medium settings improved the average to 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. Low settings raised the average to 55 FPS, while Ultra settings brought the average down to 30 FPS. None of the 4K presets reached the 60 FPS playable threshold. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 25 FPS, which indicates that graphical settings have a significant impact, but even the least demanding preset remains below the playable standard.

At 2560x1440, the results were better. Low settings delivered an average of 81 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold with room to spare. Medium settings produced an average of 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS, placing it just below the playable mark. High settings averaged 51 FPS, and Ultra settings averaged 45 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 36 FPS, showing that preset selection matters more at 1440p than at 4K.

At 1920x1080, the system performed well across most presets. Low settings averaged 107 FPS, Medium settings averaged 76 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS, and High settings averaged 68 FPS. Ultra settings averaged 59 FPS, which is just one frame below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 48 FPS, the largest gap among the three resolutions, indicating that the game becomes less sensitive to settings as resolution drops.

The data also reveals how minimum and maximum frames behave. At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum of 33 FPS and maximum of 45 FPS show a range of 12 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the range is 17 FPS, from 49 to 66. At 1920x1080 Medium, the range is 23 FPS, from 65 to 88. Higher resolutions compress the frame time variance, while lower resolutions allow more fluctuation, likely because the GPU is less saturated.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this combination each have nearby rivals according to the database. These alternatives help contextualize where the hardware sits relative to other components.

For the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, the nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, which scores 58323 and is 0.1 percent behind, and the Intel Xeon w5-2545, which scores 58504 and is 0.2 percent ahead. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, putting it 0.5 percent behind the Ryzen, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 scores 58826, which is 0.7 percent ahead. These deltas are very small, meaning the Ryzen 7 9850X3D sits in a tightly packed performance band where no single rival holds a meaningful advantage in synthetic CPU tests.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, the nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, which matches with a 0 percent delta and an average score of 15283. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, 0.1 percent behind, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, 0.6 percent behind. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, 0.8 percent behind the RTX 2060. The GPU percentile of 58 indicates that this card sits above the midpoint of all tested GPUs, but its nearest rivals show that several older and integrated options are statistically close. In practical terms, a system built around the RTX 2060 would deliver frame rates very similar to those recorded here if paired with any of these GPU alternatives, assuming the CPU remains constant.

The CPU percentile of 92 places the Ryzen 7 9850X3D well above most processors in the database. However, in this specific game, the GPU is likely the limiting factor at higher resolutions, so the small differences between the CPU and its rivals would not translate into visible FPS changes. The data suggests that swapping the Ryzen for any of its nearest rivals would not alter Control's performance in a meaningful way, because the RTX 2060 is the bottleneck in most scenarios.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded FPS data shows a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU in Control. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 30 FPS on Ultra to 55 FPS on Low. The GPU is heavily loaded at this resolution, and the CPU has little influence on the outcome. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D, with its high single-thread and multi-thread benchmark scores, is more than capable of feeding the RTX 2060 at 4K, but the graphics card cannot keep up with the pixel count. The fact that even Low settings only reach 55 FPS at 4K reinforces that the GPU is the primary constraint.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts slightly. Low settings reach 81 FPS, which suggests the GPU still has headroom when graphical load is reduced. Medium settings drop to 58 FPS, and High and Ultra fall to 51 and 45 FPS respectively. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 36 FPS, which is larger than the 25 FPS gap at 4K. This indicates that as resolution decreases, settings have a greater proportional effect, and the CPU begins to play a more noticeable role in maintaining frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the CPU and GPU roles are more balanced. Low settings hit 107 FPS, and Medium reaches 76 FPS, High 68 FPS, and Ultra 59 FPS. The 48 FPS spread from Low to Ultra is the largest of any resolution, showing that the game is no longer purely GPU-bound. At this resolution, the CPU's performance, including its strong single-thread score of 4704 in PassMark and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2228, helps sustain higher frame rates when the GPU is not overwhelmed. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D has ample computational headroom, and the data supports the conclusion that the CPU is sufficient even at the lowest preset.

The scaling between resolutions provides additional insight. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 107 at 1080p, to 81 at 1440p, to 55 at 4K. This represents a 49 percent drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. At High settings, the averages are 68 at 1080p, 51 at 1440p, and 35 at 4K, a 49 percent drop as well. The consistency of this scaling suggests that the GPU is the dominant factor across all resolutions, with the CPU contributing more only when the GPU is less stressed.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The answer depends on the resolution and preset. According to the recorded data, the playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the verdict by resolution is clear.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. The best result is 55 FPS on Low settings, which is still below the threshold. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall further behind, with averages of 39, 35, and 30 FPS respectively. The database lists no playable settings for this resolution, meaning 4K is not a viable option for this combination in Control.

At 2560x1440, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS mark, with an average of 81 FPS. Medium settings average 58 FPS, which is close but still below the threshold. High and Ultra average 51 and 45 FPS, so they are not playable. The verdict for 1440p is that Low settings are playable, and the best playable setting is Low with an average of 81 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable on three presets. Low averages 107 FPS, Medium averages 76 FPS, and High averages 68 FPS. Ultra averages 59 FPS, which misses the 60 FPS threshold by a single frame. The best playable setting is High with an average of 68 FPS, giving a comfortable margin above the playable line.

In summary, this combination can run Control at 1080p with High settings and at 1440p with Low settings. For players who prioritize higher presets, 1080p is the only resolution where Medium and High are both viable. For those who want 4K, the system does not deliver playable performance at any setting.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest resolution and preset combination that stays above 60 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, High settings average 68 FPS, which is the best playable combination. At 2560x1440, only Low settings stay above 60 FPS, with an average of 81 FPS.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average is 55 FPS on Low settings, and all other presets are lower. The database lists no playable settings for 4K.

Q: How close is Ultra settings at 1080p to the playable threshold?

A: Ultra at 1920x1080 averages 59 FPS, which is one frame below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum frame rates recorded at Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 Medium, the minimum is 33 FPS and the maximum is 45 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 49 FPS and the maximum is 66 FPS. At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 65 FPS and the maximum is 88 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rivals include the GTX 580 at 15283, the Radeon 680M at 15270, the RTX 3050 OEM at 15199, and the Radeon RX 7600 at 15171. All of these are within 0.8 percent of the RTX 2060.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU and GPU are more balanced. The frame rate spread from Low to Ultra is 48 FPS, the largest of any resolution, indicating that the CPU has more influence when the GPU is less saturated.

Best Settings per Resolution

The best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS average. Based on the recorded data, the recommendations are as follows.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS, so there is no best setting. The closest is Low at 55 FPS, but it does not meet the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, Low settings are the only playable option, with an average of 81 FPS. Medium settings average 58 FPS, so they fall short. The best playable setting at 1440p is Low, delivering 81 FPS.

At 1920x1080, High settings are the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, with an average of 68 FPS. Medium and Low also exceed 60 FPS, with averages of 76 and 107 FPS respectively, but High offers the best visual quality while maintaining playability. Ultra misses the threshold at 59 FPS.

For players seeking maximum visual fidelity, 1080p High is the recommended target. For those willing to accept lower graphical quality, 1440p Low provides a higher resolution at 81 FPS. The data does not support any 4K preset as playable.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination ranks 2950 out of 3720 tested combinations for Control. This places the combo in the lower portion of the database, which is consistent with the measured frame rates. The RTX 2060 has a GPU percentile of 58, meaning it outperforms 58 percent of all GPUs in the database, but it is an older end-of-life product from the GeForce 20 series. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D, by contrast, has a CPU percentile of 92, showing that the processor is far stronger than the graphics card in relative terms.

The rank of 2950 out of 3720 indicates that most tested combinations deliver better performance in Control. This is primarily due to the GPU, which limits the system at higher resolutions. The CPU's high percentile does not compensate for the GPU's mid-range position in this game, because Control's frame rates at 4K and 1440p are constrained by the graphics card. At 1080p, the combo is more competitive, with three presets exceeding 60 FPS, but the overall rank reflects the full range of tested resolutions.

The data shows that this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming with High settings or 1440p gaming with Low settings. Players with this hardware should not expect playable performance at 4K. The system's rank in the database mirrors this conclusion, placing it below the majority of tested combos but still capable of delivering a smooth experience at lower resolutions and presets.