Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Radeon RX 6700 XT combination delivers a playable Control experience across most settings, but the data reveals a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. This pairing sits in the 55th percentile of all tested combos for this game, indicating a solid mid-pack performance that can handle 1080p and 1440p well, though 4K requires careful settings management.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 144.3 FPS, which drops to 105.2 FPS at 1440p and 72.2 FPS at 4K. This represents a 27% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 31% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU is keeping up adequately, but the GPU workload increases significantly as pixel count rises.

Looking at High settings, the pattern continues: 87.4 FPS at 1080p, 69.1 FPS at 1440p, and 48.9 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 21%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 29%. This steeper decline at higher resolutions indicates the Radeon RX 6700 XT is becoming the limiting factor. The GPU’s 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 384.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game’s demands, but the raw compute power at 4K is insufficient for smooth frame rates on High.

Ultra settings amplify this trend. The combo delivers 77.9 FPS at 1080p, 58.1 FPS at 1440p, and only 38 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is below the 40 FPS threshold that most players consider acceptable for an action-adventure title. Notably, the gap between Medium and High settings at each resolution is small, while the jump to Ultra costs significantly more performance. At 1080p, Medium delivers 102.4 FPS versus 87.4 FPS on High, but Ultra drops to 77.9 FPS.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 3600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz are modest by modern standards, but the processor’s benchmark scores show it remains competitive. In Cinebench R23, it scores 15045 multi-core and 2124 single-core, placing it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs tested.

The CPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is remarkably tight. The Intel Core i5-11400 scores 18150 average, just 0.1% above the Ryzen 5 3600’s 18129 average. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS is 0.2% behind, and the Ryzen 5 1600 is 0.2% ahead. This clustering suggests that for a game like Control, the CPU is not the differentiator at most settings.

The data supports this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 144.3 FPS, which is close to the 144 Hz refresh rate that many monitors target. If the CPU were severely limiting, we would expect to see frame rates plateau regardless of resolution. Instead, the FPS drops consistently with each resolution increase, confirming the GPU is the bottleneck. However, the CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide adequate bandwidth for the game’s physics and AI computations.

GPU Role

The Radeon RX 6700 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process, featuring 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs. Its base clock of 2321 MHz and boost clock of 2581 MHz are high, and the GPU delivers 13.21 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for Control’s textures and effects.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 77th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 33721. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800, which scores 33493 (0.7% lower), and the NVIDIA RTX A5000 at 33294 (1.3% lower). Interestingly, the Radeon HD 7950 and RX 480 show scores of 34050 and 34059 respectively, which are 1% higher, though these older cards likely achieve this through different benchmark weighting.

In Control, the GPU’s performance characteristics become evident in the settings scaling. At 1080p, the GPU can push 144.3 FPS on Low, which suggests the CPU is keeping up. But at 4K, even Medium settings only yield 49.7 FPS, and High drops to 48.9 FPS. The difference between Medium and High at 4K is negligible (49.7 vs 48.9), indicating that the GPU is saturated and additional graphical features have minimal impact on frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 909th out of 1636 tested combinations for Control, placing it just past the midpoint of all tested systems. This rank reflects a balanced pairing where neither component is dramatically underpowered for the other. The CPU’s 76th percentile and GPU’s 77th percentile are closely aligned, which is ideal for avoiding obvious bottlenecks.

The rank suggests that many other CPU-GPU pairings perform better in this specific game, likely because Control benefits from both strong single-thread performance and high GPU compute. The Ryzen 5 3600’s single-thread score of 2124 in Cinebench R23 is respectable but not exceptional, and the RX 6700 XT’s 13.21 TFLOPS is solid but not top-tier.

The data indicates that the combo’s performance is consistent with its component rankings. At 1440p High, it achieves 69.1 FPS, which is a smooth experience for most players. The 4K Ultra result of 38 FPS is below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer, but the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM means texture quality is not compromised due to memory limitations.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, at Medium settings the combo achieves 73.3 FPS, and at High it reaches 69.1 FPS. Both are above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings drop to 58.1 FPS, which is slightly below 60.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 1440p offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At High settings, it delivers 69.1 FPS, which is smooth and playable. 1080p is also viable, with 87.4 FPS on High, but 4K requires Low settings (72.2 FPS) to maintain playable frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-11400?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has an average benchmark score of 18129, which is 0.1% lower than the Core i5-11400’s 18150. This difference is negligible in real-world gaming performance.

Q: Is the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Control at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 4K, the GPU achieves 72.2 FPS on Low and 48.9 FPS on High. The VRAM is not the limiting factor; the GPU’s compute power is the constraint, as evidenced by the minimal difference between Medium and High at 4K.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K on High settings?

A: The combo drops from 87.4 FPS at 1080p to 48.9 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 44%. This indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed at higher resolutions.

Q: Should I use Medium or High settings at 1080p?

A: Medium delivers 102.4 FPS versus 87.4 FPS on High, a 17% improvement. If you have a 144 Hz monitor, Medium gets closer to that refresh rate, while High is still smooth for 60 Hz displays.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p displays, High settings at 87.4 FPS provide a good balance of visual quality and smoothness. If you have a high-refresh-rate monitor, Medium at 102.4 FPS is a better choice, as it approaches the 144 Hz threshold without the visual compromises of Low settings. Ultra at 77.9 FPS is playable but offers diminishing returns over High.

At 1440p, High settings at 69.1 FPS are the recommended choice for most players. This delivers a smooth experience that exceeds 60 FPS while maintaining good visual fidelity. Medium at 73.3 FPS is a marginal improvement if you prefer higher frame rates, but the visual difference between Medium and High is more noticeable than the 4 FPS gain. Ultra at 58.1 FPS is borderline, and players who prioritize frame rate should avoid it.

At 4K, the situation is more challenging. Low settings at 72.2 FPS are the only option that consistently exceeds 60 FPS, but this sacrifices many of the game’s visual effects. Medium at 49.7 FPS and High at 48.9 FPS are virtually identical, suggesting that the GPU is the bottleneck rather than the settings. Ultra at 38 FPS is not recommended for action gameplay. For 4K, Low settings are the practical choice, though players may prefer to run at 1440p High for a better overall experience.