Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination delivers exceptional performance in Control, with benchmark results showing that this pairing is capable of maxing out the game’s Ultra preset at every tested resolution while maintaining frame rates well above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet still powerful enough to push extreme frame rates at 1080p, making it a top-tier option for this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this configuration each have distinct performance profiles when compared to their nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, with an average benchmark score of 57,498 and a 92nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, sits remarkably close to several other processors. The closest competitor is the AMD EPYC 9015, which scores 57,555, a negligible 0.1% difference. The AMD EPYC 7313 trails by just 0.2% with a score of 57,399. On the Intel side, the Core i9-14900 posts a score of 58,115, which is 1.1% higher than the 9900X, while the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M leads by 1.4% with a score of 58,323. These narrow margins indicate that in synthetic multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 9 9900X performs nearly identically to these alternatives, meaning users upgrading from any of these chips would see virtually no difference in CPU-bound scenarios within Control.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves an average benchmark score of 60,347, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Arc Pro A60, which scores 60,326, a difference of exactly 0.0%. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 comes in at 60,140, just 0.3% behind. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896, putting it 2.5% ahead of the RTX 4090, while the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58,657, which is 2.9% behind. In practical terms for Control, the RTX 4090 and these rival cards would deliver nearly interchangeable frame rates, though the RTX 4090’s 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth provide architectural advantages that these benchmark scores do not fully capture.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data for Control shows a clear shift in workload balance depending on resolution. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 272 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 149 FPS on Ultra — a 45% reduction. This substantial gap indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at very high rates, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase. The 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X, with its 24 threads and 5.60 GHz boost clock, provides more than enough processing power to avoid becoming a bottleneck even at these high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the scaling pattern continues. Low settings yield 206 FPS, while Ultra drops to 113 FPS, a 45% decrease. The smaller absolute delta compared to 1080p (93 FPS versus 123 FPS) shows that the GPU is starting to take on more of the rendering load, but the CPU still has headroom. At 3840x2160, the trend becomes more pronounced: Low produces 139 FPS, and Ultra falls to 76 FPS, a 45% reduction. This consistent percentage drop across all three resolutions suggests that the RTX 4090’s raw rasterization power is the primary driver of performance, while the Ryzen 9 9900X maintains sufficient throughput to avoid limiting the GPU at any settings combination.

The data implies that for Control, the GPU dominates performance scaling. The CPU’s role is to provide a stable foundation, which it does admirably given its high single-thread score of 2,253 in Cinebench R23 and passmark single-thread score of 4,672. Players using this combination should expect GPU-limited behavior at all resolutions, with the CPU rarely becoming the deciding factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4090 delivers extraordinary performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 272 FPS, which is remarkably high. Medium settings average 194 FPS, with a minimum of 165 FPS and a maximum of 223 FPS. High settings average 172 FPS, and Ultra settings average 149 FPS. Even the most demanding preset at this resolution maintains a massive margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, performance remains impressive but scales down predictably. Low settings average 206 FPS. Medium settings average 146 FPS, with a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 168 FPS. High settings average 130 FPS, while Ultra settings average 113 FPS. The step from Low to Ultra represents a 93 FPS drop, yet every preset stays well above the playability threshold.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the system still excels. Low settings average 139 FPS. Medium settings average 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 FPS and a maximum of 114 FPS. High settings average 88 FPS, and Ultra settings average 76 FPS. This is the only resolution where the Ultra preset dips below 80 FPS, but it remains comfortably above 60 FPS. The minimum FPS recorded across all tests is 84 FPS at 4K Medium, indicating that even the most demanding scenes do not cause significant frame drops.

The Verdict

Based on the measured data, this PC can absolutely run Control at playable frame rates. The verdict by resolution confirms that all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable at every resolution tested, with the playable threshold set at 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the best settings for maximum visual quality are Ultra, which averages 76 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 113 FPS, and at 1920x1080, Ultra averages 149 FPS. The system clears the 60 FPS bar with substantial headroom in all scenarios.

The data shows that this combination is not just playable but overkill for Control. Even at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate of 76 FPS leaves room for additional visual enhancements or future patches that might increase GPU load. The minimum FPS observed at 4K Medium, 84 FPS, is still 24 FPS above the playability threshold, suggesting that frame pacing remains consistent even in demanding sequences.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Control, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 121st out of 3,720 total combos. This places it in the top 3.3% of all tested configurations, which is an exceptional result given the large field. The rank reflects the combination’s ability to maintain high frame rates across all resolutions and settings. The GPU’s 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs and the CPU’s 92nd percentile ranking among all CPUs contribute to this strong overall position, but the rank also accounts for how well these two components work together specifically in Control. The 121st position out of 3,720 means there are 120 combinations that perform better, but these are likely to feature even more specialized or higher-clocked hardware. For practical gaming purposes, the difference between rank 121 and rank 1 is unlikely to be noticeable in Control, as the game is not particularly demanding at these performance levels.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 4K Ultra settings?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 76 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting to use at 2560x1440?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 113 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that still maintains a high frame rate.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 compare to its nearest GPU rival in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4090 scores 60,347, while the Intel Arc Pro A60 scores 60,326, a 0.0% difference. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896, which is 2.5% higher.

Q: At which resolution does the system achieve the highest frame rate?

A: The highest average frame rate is 272 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

*Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in Control?*

A: The data indicates no. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 score of 2,253, allows it to keep up with the GPU at all tested resolutions and settings.

Q: What is the lowest minimum FPS recorded across all tests?

A: The lowest minimum FPS is 84, recorded at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. This is still 24 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the best settings for maximum visual fidelity while maintaining high performance are Ultra, which averages 149 FPS. This provides a substantial cushion above the 60 FPS threshold, allowing for smooth gameplay even in intense combat sequences.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings remain the optimal choice, averaging 113 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, with the frame rate still high enough for fast-paced action.

At 3840x2160, Ultra settings are again the best option, averaging 76 FPS. While this is the lowest average frame rate across all tested configurations, it still clears the 60 FPS threshold by 16 FPS, ensuring a consistently playable experience at maximum quality. The data suggests that players prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity could drop to High settings at 4K, which averages 88 FPS, but even Ultra maintains a comfortable margin above the playability limit.