Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination delivers a robust experience in Control, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions. At 1920x1080, every tested preset clears the 60 FPS threshold comfortably, while 2560x1440 also allows for maximum settings. The 3840x2160 resolution is more demanding, requiring a drop to Low settings to maintain smooth frame rates. This analysis breaks down the measured data, comparative positioning, and component roles to provide a clear picture of what this hardware can achieve.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset for 2560x1440 that stays above 60 FPS?

A: The Ultra preset is the best choice at 2560x1440, as it delivers an average of 65.9 FPS. This is the highest quality setting that remains above the 60 FPS playable threshold at this resolution.

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

A: No, the data shows that at 3840x2160 with High settings, the average frame rate drops to 50.4 FPS. This falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, so you would need to reduce settings to Medium (59.4 FPS) or Low (80.7 FPS) for a smoother experience.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to its nearest rival in raw compute performance?

A: The RTX 3070 has an average benchmark score of 17208, which is 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT (17083). It also leads the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 by 1%, while trailing the NVIDIA Tesla K40c by 1.5%.

Q: What is the performance ranking of this CPU-GPU combo among all tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 1587 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems, indicating it is a capable but not top-tier configuration for this specific game.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 159 FPS, while Ultra averages 88.8 FPS. This represents a performance drop of 70.2 FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Which component has a higher percentile ranking among its peers?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X has a percentile ranking of 91 among all CPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has a percentile ranking of 61 among all GPUs. The CPU is therefore a stronger performer relative to its market segment.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination holds the 1587th position out of 3720 tested combos for Control. This places it within the 57th percentile of all configurations tested, meaning it outperforms more than half of the systems in the database. The ranking reflects a balance between the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance and the GPU's mid-range standing within its own category.

The CPU is a significant contributor to this ranking. With a percentile of 91, the Ryzen 9 5950X outperforms 91% of all CPUs in benchmark tests. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX (0.2% lower average score) and the AMD EPYC 8124P (0.3% lower), while the Intel Core i9-13900F trails by 0.4%. This places the processor firmly in high-performance territory, providing ample headroom for gaming workloads.

The GPU, on the other hand, is a more moderate performer. The RTX 3070's percentile of 61 indicates it surpasses 61% of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 17208 is closely matched by several rivals: the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is only 0.7% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 is 1% slower. This suggests that while the GPU is capable, it is not a class leader and represents a middle-ground option for 4K gaming.

The combination's overall rank of 1587 is a direct result of this pairing. The CPU's high percentile prevents the system from being bottlenecked in CPU-bound scenarios, while the GPU's mid-range standing means that the system's overall capability is ultimately limited by graphics processing power at higher resolutions. The data indicates a system that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and solid 1440p performance, but which requires settings adjustments for 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average FPS at or above 60 is identified as the best setting.

At 1920x1080, all presets are playable. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 88.8 FPS, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality while comfortably exceeding the playable threshold. Lower presets offer even higher frame rates, with Low averaging 159 FPS, but the Ultra preset provides the best balance of quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset remains the best option, averaging 65.9 FPS. This is the only resolution besides 1080p where the highest quality settings are fully playable. The High preset averages 76 FPS, and Medium averages 86.9 FPS, but Ultra is recommended for those seeking the best visuals without sacrificing smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes significantly. The Ultra preset drops to 43.5 FPS, and High averages 50.4 FPS, both below the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset narrowly misses the target at 59.4 FPS. Only the Low preset clears the threshold, with an average of 80.7 FPS. Therefore, Low is the best playable setting at 4K, offering a smooth experience at the cost of visual fidelity.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides insight into what other hardware would deliver similar performance in Control. These alternatives are based on average benchmark scores, not direct game testing, so real-world results may vary slightly.

For the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, the closest performance matches are:

• Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX: 0.2% lower average score
• AMD EPYC 8124P: 0.3% lower average score
• Intel Core i9-13900F: 0.4% higher average score
• Intel Core i7-14700: 0.7% lower average score

These processors are all within a narrow performance band of the Ryzen 9 5950X, meaning that in CPU-bound scenarios within Control, they would likely produce very similar frame rates. The differences are negligible for gaming purposes.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, the nearest rivals are:

• AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT: 0.7% higher average score
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690: 1% higher average score
• AMD Radeon HD 7970M: 1.1% higher average score
• NVIDIA Tesla K40c: 1.5% lower average score

The RTX 3070's performance is closely clustered with these alternatives, with a maximum difference of just 1.5%. In practice, any of these GPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Control at the same settings and resolution. The choice between them would come down to other factors like feature support and availability, since raw gaming performance is nearly equivalent.

When considering a system upgrade or replacement, pairing a similarly performing CPU with a similarly performing GPU would yield comparable results to the Ryzen 9 5950X and RTX 3070 combination. The data suggests that this performance tier is well-represented across multiple hardware generations and manufacturers.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data from the measured FPS across resolutions and presets reveals how the CPU and GPU each contribute to performance in Control. The CPU's high percentile ranking (91) versus the GPU's more moderate ranking (61) suggests that the system is more likely to be GPU-bound in most scenarios.

At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The Low preset yields 159 FPS, while Ultra drops to 88.8 FPS, a 44.2% reduction. This scaling indicates that the GPU's workload increases substantially with higher settings, while the CPU has enough headroom to feed the graphics card at all presets. The Ryzen 9 5950X's powerful multi-threaded performance ensures that frame rates are not limited by processor throughput at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced. The Ultra preset averages 65.9 FPS, a 25.9% drop from the Low preset's 122.2 FPS. The gap between presets narrows slightly compared to 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more saturated. The CPU continues to provide sufficient performance, as even the most demanding preset stays above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmingly the limiting factor. The Ultra preset drops to 43.5 FPS, while Low averages 80.7 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 46.1%, and the Medium preset only reaches 59.4 FPS. This demonstrates that at 4K, the RTX 3070's capabilities are stretched to their limit, and the CPU's performance is largely irrelevant to the final frame rate. The Ryzen 9 5950X could be swapped for a weaker processor without significantly impacting 4K results.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this analysis. At Low settings, moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by 23.2%, and from 1440p to 4K by 34%. At Ultra settings, the reductions are 25.8% and 34% respectively. The consistent pattern of frame rate drops with increasing resolution points to the GPU as the dominant performance factor across all settings.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Control at playable frame rates, but the experience varies significantly by resolution. The verdict is based on the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable. All four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—average above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset delivers 88.8 FPS, providing a smooth and visually rich experience. This is the ideal resolution for this hardware, offering maximum quality with substantial performance headroom.

At 2560x1440, the system continues to excel. All presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 65.9 FPS. While this is above the threshold, it is closer to the limit than at 1080p. Players who prefer higher frame rates can drop to High (76 FPS) or Medium (86.9 FPS) for a more responsive feel. This resolution represents the best balance between visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the system is limited. Only the Low preset is playable, averaging 80.7 FPS. Medium (59.4 FPS) and High (50.4 FPS) both fall below the threshold, and Ultra drops to 43.5 FPS. Players at 4K must accept reduced visual settings to maintain smooth gameplay. The data indicates that this resolution is only viable with significant graphical compromises.

Overall, the Ryzen 9 5950X and RTX 3070 combination is a strong performer for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Control, but it is not a 4K-capable system for this title at high settings. The CPU's high performance ensures it is not a bottleneck, while the GPU's mid-range standing defines the system's limits at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data presents the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination. Minimum and maximum frame rates were not recorded in the source data.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 80.7 FPS average
• Medium: 59.4 FPS average
• High: 50.4 FPS average
• Ultra: 43.5 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 122.2 FPS average
• Medium: 86.9 FPS average
• High: 76.0 FPS average
• Ultra: 65.9 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 159.0 FPS average
• Medium: 112.1 FPS average
• High: 98.7 FPS average
• Ultra: 88.8 FPS average

These measurements show a clear and consistent pattern of performance scaling. At each resolution, the frame rate decreases as settings increase, with the largest absolute drops occurring at 1080p. The data also reveals that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens with increasing resolution, from a 70.2 FPS difference at 1080p to a 37.2 FPS difference at 4K. This indicates that the GPU's workload scales more heavily with settings at lower resolutions, while at higher resolutions, the baseline demand is so high that settings have a proportionally smaller impact on the final frame rate. The Ryzen 9 5950X's high benchmark scores suggest that CPU performance is sufficient across all these scenarios, leaving the RTX 3070 as the decisive factor in determining playability.