Control

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for Control with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER shows a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and presets. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are tightly clustered but consistently below the 60 FPS threshold except for the lowest preset. Low settings deliver 65.1 FPS average, while Medium drops to 45.4 FPS, High sits at 45 FPS, and Ultra falls to 38.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is substantial, a 19.7 FPS difference, indicating that the preset transition from Low to Medium introduces a significant load increase.

Moving to 2560x1440, the same combo produces more comfortable frame rates. Low settings average 99.8 FPS, Medium reaches 69.9 FPS, High manages 59.3 FPS, and Ultra drops to 55.4 FPS. The scaling from 4K to 1440p is pronounced: at High settings, the average jumps from 45 FPS to 59.3 FPS, a 14.3 FPS improvement. At Low settings, the jump is even larger, from 65.1 FPS to 99.8 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its strongest results. Low settings average 128.7 FPS, Medium hits 92.6 FPS, High reaches 85.1 FPS, and Ultra still maintains 70.6 FPS. The resolution scaling from 1440p to 1080p at Ultra settings yields a 15.2 FPS increase, from 55.4 to 70.6 FPS. The data shows no recorded minimum or maximum frame times for any setting, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS values. The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Ultra is always the most demanding preset, and Low is always the fastest, with Medium and High falling in between in that order.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this CPU and GPU combination at rank 2141 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. That puts it in the upper-middle portion of the field, roughly in the 57th percentile of all recorded configurations. The ranking reflects both the modern 12-core processor and the older graphics card working together in this specific title.

What is notable is the disparity between the two components' individual standings. The Ryzen 9 9900X sits at the 92nd percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general benchmark tasks. The RTX 2070 SUPER, by contrast, sits at the 65th percentile among all GPUs. The combined rank of 2141 suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing, dragging the overall position below what the CPU alone would achieve. For a game like Control, which relies heavily on real-time rendering and effects, the graphics card's standing matters more. The combo rank indicates that many configurations with faster GPUs but slower CPUs land ahead, while configurations with weaker CPUs but similar or faster GPUs also compete closely.

The rank of 2141 out of 3720 means roughly 1579 tested combos perform worse, and about 2140 perform better. This places the system in a position where it can handle the game at moderate settings, but it will not top any leaderboards. The percentile gap between the CPU and GPU is a recurring theme throughout the data: the processor has headroom to spare, but the graphics card caps the overall result.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the Ryzen 9 9900X and the RTX 2070 SUPER in Control. Looking at the FPS scaling across resolutions, the GPU becomes the dominant factor as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the CPU has more influence because the GPU can render frames quickly enough for the processor to become a potential bottleneck. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 58.1 FPS (128.7 vs 70.6), which shows that the GPU is still heavily taxed by the preset changes even at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the GPU load increases, and the FPS spread between presets narrows. The difference between Low and Ultra is 44.4 FPS (99.8 vs 55.4). At 3840x2160, the spread shrinks further to 26.4 FPS (65.1 vs 38.7). This tightening of the range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is becoming the sole limiting factor; even lowering the preset from Ultra to Low cannot fully compensate for the pixel count burden.

The CPU's role is more visible at 1080p Low, where the average of 128.7 FPS suggests the Ryzen 9 9900X has enough single-thread and multi-thread throughput to feed the GPU at high frame rates. The processor's 12 cores and 24 threads, with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, provide ample headroom for Control's engine logic and physics. However, the recorded data does not include separate CPU utilization metrics, so the analysis must infer from FPS behavior. The scaling between 1080p and 1440p at the same preset shows the GPU's growing burden: at High settings, dropping from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS from 85.1 to 59.3, a 30% decrease. At Low settings, the same resolution change reduces FPS from 128.7 to 99.8, a 22% decrease. The smaller percentage drop at Low settings indicates that the GPU is less stressed when visual effects are reduced, allowing the CPU to maintain relatively high frame rates.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Control? The answer is yes, but with important caveats depending on resolution. The database defines playable as an average of at least 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset clears that bar, with an average of 65.1 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 45.4, 45, and 38.7 respectively. Playing at 4K requires sacrificing visual quality to achieve smooth frame rates.

At 2560x1440, two presets are playable: Low at 99.8 FPS and Medium at 69.9 FPS. High falls just short at 59.3 FPS, and Ultra drops to 55.4 FPS. The best playable setting at 1440p is Medium, which provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1920x1080, every preset is playable. Low averages 128.7 FPS, Medium 92.6 FPS, High 85.1 FPS, and Ultra 70.6 FPS. Even the most demanding preset stays above 60 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where the user can enable all visual features without worrying about frame rate. The verdict is straightforward: this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming with all presets available, 1440p with Medium or lower settings, and 4K only with Low settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the Ryzen 9 9900X has several comparable processors. The AMD EPYC 9015 scores 57555 in average benchmark, which is 0.1% lower than the 9900X's average score of 57498 (the negative delta indicates the rival is slightly faster). The AMD EPYC 7313 scores 57399, 0.2% lower. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, which is 1.1% higher. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M scores 58323, 1.4% higher. These deltas are small, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Control. The EPYC chips are server parts, so they are not typical desktop choices, but the i9-14900 would be a direct alternative with slightly better general benchmark scores.

For the GPU, the RTX 2070 SUPER's nearest rivals show a similar pattern. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 20480, which is 1% higher than the 2070 SUPER's average of 20282. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534, 1.2% higher. The Intel Arc B570 scores 20556, 1.3% higher. The Intel Arc A750 scores 20582, 1.5% higher. All of these deltas are under 2%, so in practical terms, these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Control. The RTX 3070 Mobile is a laptop part, so it would not be a desktop replacement, but the Intel Arc cards represent modern alternatives with comparable rasterization performance. The Quadro M4000M is a professional workstation GPU, so its driver support and gaming performance may differ despite the similar benchmark score.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for each resolution are determined by the most demanding preset that still maintains an average of 60 FPS or higher.

At 3840x2160, the only qualifying preset is Low, which averages 65.1 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, so Low is the best possible setting at this resolution. The margin above the threshold is slim, only 5.1 FPS, so users should expect occasional dips below 60 FPS during intense scenes, though the average remains playable.

At 2560x1440, the best preset is Medium, averaging 69.9 FPS. This provides a 9.9 FPS cushion above the 60 FPS threshold. High comes close at 59.3 FPS but misses the mark, so Medium is the recommended choice for a smooth experience. Low is also an option for higher frame rates, but Medium offers a better visual balance while staying safely above the threshold.

At 1920x1080, the best preset is Ultra, averaging 70.6 FPS. This is the only resolution where the highest quality settings are fully playable. The 10.6 FPS margin above 60 FPS is sufficient for most gameplay, though demanding combat sequences with heavy particle effects may cause temporary frame rate drops. For users who prioritize a higher buffer, High at 85.1 FPS or Medium at 92.6 FPS are also excellent choices.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Control at 4K with high settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 45, which falls well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Only Low settings at 4K achieve a playable average of 65.1 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: Medium is the best playable preset at 2560x1440, averaging 69.9 FPS. High averages 59.3 FPS, which misses the 60 FPS threshold, and Ultra averages 55.4 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 2070 SUPER or the Ryzen 9 9900X the limiting factor for this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 92nd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 65th percentile. The FPS scaling across resolutions shows the GPU being increasingly taxed as resolution increases, with the spread between presets narrowing at 4K.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 2141 out of 3720 tested combos for Control. That places it in the upper-middle portion, with approximately 57% of tested configurations performing better.

Q: Can I enable ray tracing with this setup?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has 40 RT cores, but the measured FPS data does not include any ray tracing benchmarks. The recorded numbers only cover standard presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) at three resolutions, so no conclusions can be drawn about ray tracing performance.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 70.6, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. This is the only resolution where Ultra is fully playable.