Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, with 4K remaining a challenge at higher settings. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions, driven by the balance between the six-core CPU and the 8GB GPU.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 brings six cores and twelve threads to the test bench, operating at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. This Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, is built on a 7 nm process and features a 32 MB shared L3 cache. For a title like Control, which is primarily GPU-bound at higher settings, the CPU’s role shifts depending on resolution. At 1080p, the processor is more likely to be a contributing factor, as the GPU has more headroom to push frames. The benchmark data illustrates this: at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo reaches 138 FPS, a figure that suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU effectively in less demanding scenes.

However, the CPU’s impact diminishes as resolution increases. At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop dramatically, indicating that the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The Ryzen 5 3600’s 12 threads are sufficient to maintain playable frame pacing in most scenarios, but the scores from synthetic tests show it is not a top-tier performer. In the 3dmark single-thread test, it scores 696, and in multi-threaded workloads, it reaches 4605 with 16 threads. Compared to its nearest rivals, the average benchmark score of 18129 places it just 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-11400 and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS. This indicates that the CPU’s performance is competitive with other mid-range options from its era, but it does not offer the raw single-core speed needed to push frame rates significantly higher in CPU-limited scenarios.

The L3 cache configuration of 32 MB shared across all cores helps with game data locality, which can reduce latency in open-world sections of Control. The memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while standard for DDR4, is sufficient to keep the cores fed without becoming a bottleneck. In the measured FPS data, the gap between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p is 62.7 FPS (from 138 to 75.3), which suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint even at the lowest settings. The CPU’s 76th percentile ranking among all CPUs further confirms that it sits comfortably in the mid-range segment, providing adequate performance without being a standout.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the defining component here, featuring 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1830 MHz, with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and it is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor in Control, as the game’s texture-heavy environments and particle effects can consume significant memory at higher resolutions. The benchmark results show a steep decline in performance when moving from 1440p to 4K, which is consistent with VRAM capacity limits being reached.

At 1920x1080, the GPU delivers 88.8 FPS on High settings, but this drops to 75.3 FPS on Ultra. The difference between Medium and High at 1080p is only 10.4 FPS (99.2 vs. 88.8), indicating that the GPU has enough headroom to handle moderate increases in visual fidelity. However, at 3840x2160, the Ultra setting yields just 36.6 FPS, a figure that is not comfortably playable. The Low setting at 4K produces 74.1 FPS, showing that the GPU can still perform when the render load is reduced. The GPU’s 66th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it in the upper-mid range, and its average benchmark score of 23181 is just 0.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600M and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Arc B580.

The ray tracing capabilities of the RTX 4060 are present via 24 RT cores, but the measured FPS data does not include ray tracing-specific results. The 8 GB VRAM is the likely bottleneck at 4K Ultra, as the game’s asset streaming can exceed this limit, causing frame rate drops. The GPU’s memory clock of 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective) helps mitigate this, but the 128-bit bus width limits overall bandwidth compared to wider-memory GPUs. The data shows that the GPU is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 1440p High delivering 68.3 FPS, which is a smooth experience for most players.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 943rd out of 1636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, indicating that while the hardware is capable, there are many more powerful pairings. The rank reflects the balance of the two components; the CPU is not a high-end part, and the GPU, while modern, is an entry-level 40-series card. The data shows that the combo performs better at lower resolutions, which is typical for a mid-range setup.

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU individually provide context. The CPU’s average score is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-11400 (deltaPct of -0.1), meaning the combo’s performance is not held back by a CPU deficiency relative to similar options. The GPU’s performance is also closely matched with the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (deltaPct of -0.6), suggesting that swapping either component for a direct rival would yield negligible changes in frame rates. The rank of 943 out of 1636 means that approximately 57% of tested combos outperform this setup, which is expected given the mid-range positioning of both parts.

The measured FPS data supports this ranking. At 1920x1080 Ultra, the combo achieves 75.3 FPS, which is playable but not exceptional. At 2560x1440 Ultra, the frame rate drops to 56.4 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 36.6 FPS. These numbers place the combo in a performance tier where users can expect smooth gameplay at 1080p with high settings, but will need to lower settings or resolution for higher fidelity. The combo’s rank is not a condemnation but a reflection of the hardware’s intended market segment.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the Low setting produces 138 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo. Medium yields 99.2 FPS, High drops to 88.8 FPS, and Ultra settles at 75.3 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 45.4% reduction, which is typical for a GPU with 8 GB of VRAM. At this resolution, the combo is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at lower settings, but Ultra settings will cap out around 75 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decline proportionally. Low produces 106.9 FPS, Medium yields 75.1 FPS, High gives 68.3 FPS, and Ultra drops to 56.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 50.5 FPS, which is a larger absolute difference than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is becoming more stressed. The 1440p High setting at 68.3 FPS is still playable, but players seeking 60+ FPS will need to use Medium settings or accept some dips.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. Low produces 74.1 FPS, Medium yields 48.6 FPS, High drops to 42.8 FPS, and Ultra falls to 36.6 FPS. The 4K Low setting is the only configuration that achieves a playable frame rate above 60 FPS, and even that is marginal. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a 50.6% reduction, showing that the GPU is heavily taxed at this resolution. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo is only viable at Low settings, and users should target 1440p for a balanced experience.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?*

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 on High settings yields 68.3 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. At 1920x1080, Ultra produces 75.3 FPS, but 1440p High offers a sharper image with a playable frame rate.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Control?*

A: At 3840x2160, the Low setting produces 74.1 FPS, which is playable. However, Medium drops to 48.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 36.6 FPS, so 4K is only recommended at Low settings.

Q: How much does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: The CPU is not the primary bottleneck at 1080p. The data shows a 62.7 FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings, which is driven by the GPU. The Ryzen 5 3600’s 12 threads are sufficient to avoid limiting frame rates at this resolution.

Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM a limitation in this game?

A: The data indicates that 8 GB is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 36.6 FPS, which suggests the VRAM capacity is being stressed. Lower settings at 4K produce better results, implying that texture memory is a factor.

Q: How does this combo compare to similar hardware?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score is only 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-11400, and the GPU is 0.6% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600M. The combo ranks 943rd out of 1636 tested, indicating it is slightly below the median performance level.

Q: What settings should be used for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: At 1080p, High settings produce 88.8 FPS, which is well above 60 FPS. At 1440p, Medium settings yield 75.1 FPS, which is also above 60 FPS. For 4K, only Low settings achieve a frame rate above 60 FPS at 74.1 FPS.