Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a compelling case study for Control, a game that clearly responds to both CPU and GPU capabilities depending on the resolution and settings. The measured data shows a system that can deliver smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with the right settings, but struggles to maintain a consistent 60 FPS at 4K. This analysis breaks down the performance characteristics, compares the combo to similar hardware, and provides a definitive answer on what this PC can achieve.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this system each have close rivals that would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control. The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, with an average benchmark score of 51,947, sits within a tight cluster of high-end processors. Its nearest competitor is the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, which scores 52,073, a negligible difference of -0.2%. Similarly, the AMD EPYC 8124P scores 52,121 (-0.3%) and the Intel Core i7-14700 scores 52,301 (-0.7%). The Intel Core i9-13900F is the only rival that scores lower, at 51,730, putting it 0.4% behind the Ryzen. For gaming, these differences are imperceptible; swapping the 5950X for any of these would yield statistically identical performance in Control.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc B580’s average score of 23,021 places it in a curious bracket. Its closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which scores 23,061, a -0.2% difference. More interestingly, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22,895 (0.6% behind the Arc), while the RTX 3080 scores 23,172 (-0.7% ahead). This means a user upgrading from an older RTX 2080 to the Arc B580 would see essentially no change in average performance, despite the generational gap. The presence of the RTX 3080 as a near-equal is notable, as it suggests the Arc B580 can match a much higher-tier card in certain synthetic benchmarks, though real-world game performance may vary.

For Control specifically, the data indicates that any of these GPU alternatives would produce frame rates within a couple of points of the Arc B580 at each resolution and preset. The bottleneck shifts between CPU and GPU depending on settings, but the overall character of the experience—playable at 1080p, borderline at 1440p, and challenging at 4K—would remain consistent across all these near-identical performers.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured FPS data reveals a clear hierarchy of playable settings for each resolution, based on the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system fails to reach 60 FPS on any preset. The highest recorded average is 58.7 FPS on Low settings, which is just shy of the target. High settings drop to 38 FPS, Medium to 39.3 FPS, and Ultra to 30.3 FPS. The verdict field confirms this, listing no playable settings at this resolution. Therefore, there is no "best" setting for 4K; the user must accept a sub-60 FPS experience.

At 2560x1440 (2K), the situation improves. Low settings deliver 86.4 FPS, which is well above the threshold. Medium settings produce exactly 61 FPS, also clearing the bar. High settings fall to 51.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45.2 FPS. The best playable setting is Medium, with an average of 61 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that maintains 60 FPS, offering a balance between visual quality and smooth motion.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system has ample headroom. Low settings hit 115.4 FPS, Medium reaches 79.6 FPS, and High achieves 74.4 FPS. Ultra is the only preset that dips below 60 FPS, at 59.9 FPS. The best playable setting is High, with an average of 74.4 FPS. This provides a significant visual uplift over Medium while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets reveals which component dominates in Control. The CPU, a 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 5950X, is far more powerful than what the game typically requires, while the GPU, an Intel Arc B580, is the more likely limiting factor.

Looking at the 1080p data, the difference between Low and Ultra presets is substantial: 115.4 FPS versus 59.9 FPS, a 55.5 FPS drop. This indicates that the GPU is heavily burdened by higher settings. The CPU can clearly feed the GPU at Low settings, but as the rendering load increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck. At 1440p, the same pattern holds—Low yields 86.4 FPS while Ultra drops to 45.2 FPS—but the absolute numbers are lower across the board. This is a classic sign of GPU limitation; the resolution increase adds pixel fill rate pressure that the CPU cannot compensate for.

At 4K, the GPU is overwhelmed. Even Low settings only produce 58.7 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 30.3 FPS. The CPU’s role diminishes further; it is clearly not the constraint, as the same CPU with a faster GPU would likely produce much higher frame rates at this resolution. The data shows that the GPU’s performance scales almost linearly with resolution, while the CPU’s contribution remains relatively constant.

The verdict data reinforces this: at 1440p, the system can handle Medium settings at 61 FPS, but not High at 51.7 FPS. At 1080p, it can handle High at 74.4 FPS, but not Ultra at 59.9 FPS. This pattern suggests that Control is primarily GPU-bound, and the Ryzen 9 5950X is more than sufficient for any setting. Users seeking higher frame rates at 4K or Ultra settings would need a more powerful GPU, not a faster CPU.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K with a smooth frame rate?

A: No. The measured data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average FPS is 58.7 on Low, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets are significantly lower, with Ultra at 30.3 FPS.

Q: What is the best visual quality I can get while staying above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: The Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 61 FPS, which just clears the 60 FPS target. High settings drop to 51.7 FPS, making them unplayable by this standard.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from 1080p to 1440p on High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the system averages 74.4 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 51.7 FPS. This represents a 30.5% reduction in average frame rate, illustrating the GPU’s sensitivity to resolution.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5950X holding back the Intel Arc B580 in this game?

A: No. The data indicates the system is GPU-bound at all tested resolutions. The CPU’s nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, has a nearly identical average benchmark score, and the frame rates scale with GPU load, not CPU load.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra, and is it playable?

A: The average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 59.9. This is just 0.1 FPS below the 60 FPS threshold, making it technically unplayable according to the strict criteria, though it would be visually indistinguishable from a stable 60 FPS experience.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems for Control?

A: The combo ranks 2850 out of 3720 tested combinations. This places it in the lower portion of the database, indicating that while it can run the game at playable settings at 1080p and 1440p, many other systems achieve higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates recorded for each resolution and settings preset. No minimum or maximum values were provided in the data.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | High | 38.0 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 58.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 39.3 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 30.3 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 51.7 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 86.4 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 61.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 45.2 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 74.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 115.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 79.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 59.9 |

The pattern is consistent: lower resolutions and lower settings yield higher frame rates. The jump from Low to Medium is relatively small (e.g., 86.4 to 61.0 at 1440p), while the jump from Medium to High is larger (61.0 to 51.7 at 1440p), indicating that High settings introduce a significant rendering cost. Ultra settings are the most demanding, often halving the frame rate compared to Low.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Control, this system holds a rank of 2850 out of 3720. This places it in the 23rd percentile, meaning roughly three-quarters of tested combos perform better. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the powerful CPU, but it highlights the GPU’s limitations. The Ryzen 9 5950X is a top-tier processor in synthetic benchmarks, ranking in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, but its gaming performance is constrained by the Arc B580, which sits in the 68th percentile of all GPUs.

The combo’s rank suggests that while it can play the game, it does so with lower frame rates than many mid-range and high-end systems. For example, a system with a slower CPU but a faster GPU would likely rank higher, as Control is primarily GPU-bound. The rank is a holistic measure of the system’s overall capability, and it reflects the GPU’s struggles at higher resolutions. Users with this combo should expect a playable but not exceptional experience compared to the broader field of tested hardware.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The answer depends on the resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable, with playable settings including High, Medium, and Low. The best playable setting is High, which delivers an average of 74.4 FPS. Ultra is just shy of the 60 FPS target at 59.9 FPS, so it is not recommended for a locked 60 FPS experience.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable but with more compromises. The playable settings are Medium and Low, with Medium being the best choice at exactly 61 FPS. High and Ultra drop below the threshold, at 51.7 FPS and 45.2 FPS respectively. This means users must accept lower visual fidelity to maintain smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system cannot achieve 60 FPS on any setting. The closest is Low at 58.7 FPS, which is still below the target. This resolution is not viable for a consistently smooth experience with this hardware. For users prioritizing 4K, a more powerful GPU would be necessary. Overall, this combo is a solid 1080p performer and a decent 1440p machine, but it falls short at 4K.