Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a robust Control experience, with benchmark data showing consistent 60+ FPS performance across most tested configurations. The dataset reveals a clear scaling pattern where lower resolutions and reduced settings unlock substantial headroom, while the most demanding 4K Ultra preset dips slightly below the playability threshold. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, contextualizes the hardware against its nearest rivals, and provides configuration guidance based solely on the observed results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Control shows a predictable performance curve across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo produces an average of 195.2 FPS on Low settings, 137.4 FPS on Medium, 125 FPS on High, and 106.1 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is substantial, representing a 45.6% reduction in average frame rate when maxing out visual fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages remain comfortably high. Low settings deliver 148.1 FPS, Medium drops to 105.1 FPS, High holds at 92.1 FPS, and Ultra maintains 81 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 24-26% of performance across all settings, indicating a balanced workload between CPU and GPU at these resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the stress on the system becomes more apparent. Low settings still produce 97.9 FPS, which is a strong result for 4K gaming. Medium averages 72 FPS, and High drops to 62.3 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 54.6 FPS, making it the only configuration in the entire dataset that fails to clear the 60 FPS playability threshold. This represents a 44.1% performance loss when comparing 4K Low to 4K Ultra, highlighting the significant GPU demand at this resolution.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in quality settings reduces the average frame rate by roughly 15-20%, while each step up in resolution from 1080p to 1440p to 2160p adds a similar magnitude of performance cost. Notably, the minimum and maximum FPS values are not provided in the dataset, so the analysis relies exclusively on average frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU each have identified nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores. For the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, the closest alternatives in the benchmark database include the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H with a 0.3% higher average score, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H with a 0.4% higher score, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 also with a 0.4% higher score. The Intel Core i7-14650HX trails by 0.5%. These deltas are minimal, meaning any of these processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Control, with differences well within run-to-run variance.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Tesla P4 with a 0.1% higher average score, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 with a 0.4% higher score, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 which scores 1.3% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% ahead. Given that the RTX 4070 sits at the 81st percentile among all GPUs, these rival cards would produce nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Control, particularly at lower resolutions where CPU overhead plays a larger role.

For a system builder considering alternatives, swapping the Ryzen 9 5900X for any of the listed rivals would result in performance differences under 1% on average. Similarly, substituting the RTX 4070 with a Tesla P4 or RX Vega 56 would yield nearly identical results in this game. The practical takeaway is that this combination is well-matched, and minor component substitutions would not meaningfully alter the playability verdict at any resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the workload distribution shifts across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all presets, ranging from 106.1 FPS at Ultra to 195.2 FPS at Low. This suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU efficiently, but the GPU becomes the primary constraint as settings increase. The 45.6% drop from Low to Ultra at 1080p is largely GPU-driven, as higher quality settings increase pixel shading and texture bandwidth demands.

At 2560x1440, the performance scaling is more uniform. The ratio between Low and Ultra performance is 1.83x, nearly identical to the 1080p ratio. This consistency indicates that neither component is bottlenecking disproportionately at this resolution; both CPU and GPU scale linearly with the increased pixel count. The 81 FPS average at Ultra remains well above the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that the GPU has sufficient headroom.

The 3840x2160 results tell a different story. The performance drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper than the drop from 1080p to 1440p, particularly at higher settings. At Ultra, the 4K average of 54.6 FPS is 32.6% below the 1440p Ultra result. This disproportionate decline points to the GPU becoming the dominant bottleneck at 4K, as the RTX 4070's memory bandwidth and shading capacity are increasingly taxed. Conversely, at Low settings, the 4K average of 97.9 FPS is only 33.9% below the 1440p Low result, suggesting that the CPU still has enough headroom to keep up even at high pixel counts when graphical load is minimal.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The benchmark data answers affirmatively for the vast majority of configurations. At 1920x1080, all four presets exceed 60 FPS, with Ultra delivering 106.1 FPS and Low reaching 195.2 FPS. This resolution is entirely playable at maximum settings with substantial headroom.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is equally positive. Every preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 81 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combination, offering high visual quality without compromising smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the results are more nuanced. The playable settings include Low (97.9 FPS), Medium (72 FPS), and High (62.3 FPS). The Ultra preset falls short at 54.6 FPS, making it the only configuration in the dataset that does not meet the 60 FPS playability threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages 62.3 FPS, just barely clearing the threshold. Users prioritizing 4K Ultra will need to accept reduced frame rates or lower the resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 3840x2160?

A: High settings produce an average of 62.3 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. Ultra averages 54.6 FPS and falls below the playability threshold.

Q: Does the system maintain 60 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 81 FPS, which is 35% above the 60 FPS threshold, providing comfortable headroom for demanding scenes.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4070's average benchmark score is within 1.3% of the NVIDIA Tesla P4, AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, and AMD Radeon PRO W6400. The RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% faster.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Ryzen 9 5900X and its closest CPU rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 are all within 0.4% of the Ryzen 9 5900X's average score, while the Intel Core i7-14650HX trails by 0.5%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between settings at any resolution?

A: At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (195.2 FPS) and Ultra (106.1 FPS) is 89.1 FPS, representing a 45.6% reduction. This is the largest absolute gap in the dataset.

Q: Does the 4K Ultra setting ever reach 60 FPS?

A: No. The measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 54.6 FPS, which falls 5.4 FPS short of the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice, delivering an average of 106.1 FPS. This provides a significant margin above the 60 FPS threshold while maximizing visual quality. Users seeking higher frame rates can drop to Low for 195.2 FPS, but the Ultra preset offers the best balance of fidelity and smoothness.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is again the optimal setting, averaging 81 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold by 35% and represents the highest visual quality available. The 81 FPS average leaves enough headroom for demanding action sequences without noticeable stuttering.

For 3840x2160, the High preset is the most demanding option that maintains playability, averaging 62.3 FPS. While this is only 2.3 FPS above the threshold, it still provides a consistent experience. Users who prefer smoother motion can choose Medium (72 FPS) or Low (97.9 FPS) at the cost of visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 54.6 FPS is not recommended due to falling below the 60 FPS playability standard.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 837th out of 3,720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 22.5% of all configurations. This percentile positioning reflects the system's ability to handle the game at high settings across most resolutions. The ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data: the combo excels at 1080p and 1440p, performs adequately at 4K with adjusted settings, and only struggles at the absolute maximum 4K Ultra preset.

The rank of 837 out of 3,720 indicates that while this is not a top-tier enthusiast configuration, it sits well above the median. The CPU's 87th percentile ranking among all processors and the GPU's 81st percentile ranking suggest a balanced pairing where neither component significantly limits the other in Control. The system's performance profile is characterized by strong 1080p and 1440p capability, with 4K requiring moderate settings reductions to maintain playable frame rates.