Control

Control, Remedy’s action-adventure shooter, is a demanding title that stresses both GPU and CPU depending on the resolution and preset. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. The dataset provides a clear picture of how this mid-range CPU from the 3000 series interacts with a high-end Ada Lovelace GPU in a real-world gaming scenario.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern where the RTX 4070 SUPER's workload scales predictably with resolution, but the Ryzen 5 3600 begins to show its age at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 172.4 FPS, which is the highest average recorded. Scaling up to 1440p at the same settings drops performance to 156.6 FPS, a reduction of roughly 9%. Moving to 4K Low yields 109.3 FPS, which is a 30% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline at 4K indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor, as the pixel throughput demands of 3840x2160 far exceed what the 1080p and 1440p tests require.

However, the scaling behavior changes when looking at higher presets. At Ultra settings, the 1080p result is 118.3 FPS, while 1440p yields 91.6 FPS, and 4K drops to 57.9 FPS. The performance gap between 1080p and 1440p is more pronounced here (a 23% loss) than it is at Low settings, suggesting that the added visual effects and shading complexity are putting more strain on the GPU. The 4K Ultra result of 57.9 FPS is the lowest in the entire dataset, emphasizing that the RTX 4070 SUPER, while powerful, cannot maintain high refresh rates at maximum settings in this game at 4K.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the Ryzen 5 3600 is likely holding back the RTX 4070 SUPER. The difference between 1080p Low (172.4 FPS) and 1440p Low (156.6 FPS) is only about 9%, which is smaller than the typical scaling for a purely GPU-bound scenario. This implies that the CPU's 6-core, 12-thread configuration is nearing its limit in generating frames, preventing the GPU from fully stretching its legs. At 4K, the GPU's workload becomes so heavy that the CPU bottleneck is largely masked, allowing the scaling to become more linear and GPU-centric.

FAQ

Q: How many FPS does the system achieve at 1080p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 137.2. This is a strong result, indicating that the combo can comfortably drive high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors in Control.

Q: Is the game playable at 4K resolution with this hardware?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 66.7, which is smooth for most players. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 57.9 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience, users may need to select High or Medium settings.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The jump from Low to Ultra at 2560x1440 results in a significant performance penalty. The system delivers 156.6 FPS on Low, but this falls to 91.6 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of 65 FPS, or about 41.5%. This highlights the substantial GPU load added by the Ultra preset.

Q: How does the CPU stress affect the frame rate at 1080p?

A: The data indicates a likely CPU limitation at 1080p. The margin between 1080p Low (172.4 FPS) and 1440p Low (156.6 FPS) is smaller than expected for a purely GPU-bound scenario, suggesting the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is constraining the maximum output at the lower resolution.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB VRAM sufficient for Control at high resolutions?

A: The measured results suggest yes. At 4K with Ultra settings, the system still manages an average of 57.9 FPS. While VRAM usage is not directly measured, the playable frame rates at all tested 4K presets imply that the 12 GB frame buffer is not a limiting factor in this title.

Q: What is the best preset for a 60 FPS target at 4K?

A: Based on the data, the High preset at 3840x2160 delivers an average of 66.7 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset provides a higher average of 79.3 FPS. Ultra falls below 60 FPS, so High is the recommended choice for a balance of quality and performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the central figure in this performance analysis. This GPU, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, features a 12 GB GDDR6X memory buffer on a 192-bit bus, providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. These memory specifications are substantial and are reflected in the game's ability to maintain playable frame rates at 4K. The measured FPS at 4K High (66.7) and 4K Medium (79.3) demonstrates that the memory subsystem and the 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are sufficient for the game's textures and post-processing effects.

The GPU's clock behavior is also a factor. With a base clock of 1980 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, the card has significant headroom to ramp up performance under load. The benchmark results, such as a Passmark G3D score of 29995 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 4627, place this GPU in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. This high percentile is consistent with its in-game performance, which shows it can deliver over 100 FPS at 1440p High settings.

However, the GPU's role is not uniform across all settings. The gap between 4K Low (109.3 FPS) and 4K High (66.7 FPS) shows how the GPU's compute and memory resources are taxed by higher graphical fidelity. The Ultra preset, which likely includes more intensive ray tracing or volumetric effects, pushes the GPU to its limit, resulting in 57.9 FPS. The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA RTX A6000, which scores 0.2% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE, which scores 0.3% higher, indicating that the RTX 4070 SUPER is positioned at the top of its performance tier.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured data provides a detailed view of the system's capabilities across all resolution and settings combinations.

At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high. Low settings yield 172.4 FPS, which is the absolute maximum recorded. Medium settings produce 153.2 FPS, High settings deliver 137.2 FPS, and Ultra settings still manage a very respectable 118.3 FPS. This range shows that at 1080p, the system offers a wide spectrum of performance, from high-refresh esports-level speeds to visually rich experiences above 100 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the increased GPU load. Low settings drop to 156.6 FPS, Medium to 117.2 FPS, High to 103.5 FPS, and Ultra to 91.6 FPS. The 1440p results still allow for smooth gameplay on high refresh rate monitors, with even the most demanding Ultra preset staying above 90 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the scaling is more dramatic. Low settings provide 109.3 FPS, which is excellent for 4K. Medium settings produce a solid 79.3 FPS, and High settings remain playable at 66.7 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 57.9 FPS. This data points to 4K High as the sweet spot for maintaining a stable 60 FPS experience, as the Ultra preset requires a compromise on frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference.

For 1080p users, the Ultra preset is highly recommended. At 118.3 FPS, it offers the best visual quality without sacrificing the high frame rates that competitive and fast-paced action games benefit from. The High preset at 137.2 FPS is an alternative for those who prioritize even higher refresh rates, but the difference in smoothness between 118 and 137 FPS is less noticeable than the visual upgrade from High to Ultra.

For 1440p, the High preset is the clear winner. It delivers 103.5 FPS, which is ideal for 144Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 91.6 FPS is also excellent, providing a richer visual experience while staying comfortably above 90 FPS. Users who prefer maximum frame rates could drop to Medium (117.2 FPS), but the visual degradation from High to Medium is more significant than the performance gain.

For 4K, the recommendations are more targeted. The High preset is the best choice for a standard 60 Hz display, as it provides an average of 66.7 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 79.3 FPS is a viable alternative for those who want a higher frame rate buffer without a major visual hit. The Ultra preset at 57.9 FPS is not recommended for a locked 60 FPS experience, as the average is below the target. The Low preset, while fast at 109.3 FPS, sacrifices too much visual fidelity for a game like Control, which is praised for its graphics and atmosphere.