Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination delivers a playable, though not flawless, experience in Control, with the data showing a clear pattern: this pairing is firmly a 1080p and 1440p performer, struggling to maintain consistent frame rates at 4K. The measured results place this specific CPU/GPU combo at rank 1316 out of 1636 tested combinations, indicating that while it can run the game, most other systems in the database will outperform it. The bottleneck shifts from the CPU at lower resolutions to the GPU as resolution increases, a critical factor for tuning settings.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz, boosting up to 4.20 GHz, which provides a solid foundation for gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor’s single-thread performance is its strong suit, with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 836 and a Cinebench R23 single-core result of 2319. Multi-threaded performance is also respectable, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and a Passmark multithread score of 19330. These figures suggest the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU in most scenarios.

However, the data indicates that the Ryzen 5 5500 is not the limiting factor in this pairing for Control. At 1080p with Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 110 FPS, which is well above what the GPU can sustain at higher settings. The CPU’s performance relative to its closest rivals is nearly identical, with a 0.1% delta compared to the Intel Core i5-12500 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE, and only a 0.2% difference from the Intel Core i5-12600T. This suggests that swapping the CPU for a direct competitor would yield negligible performance changes in this game, as the bottleneck lies elsewhere. The CPU’s 65W TDP and 16 MB of L3 cache are adequate for the game’s demands, but its 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 interface are standard, not exceptional.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary driver of performance in Control, and its specifications reveal why it struggles at higher resolutions. The GPU has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and most 1440p scenarios, but it becomes a constraint at 4K. The GPU’s base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and it features 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Its FP32 performance is rated at 6.451 TFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards.

The benchmark data for the RTX 2060 shows it sits at the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16074. Its closest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, which is 0.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, which is 1.7% slower. This indicates that the RTX 2060 is a mid-range card, and its performance in Control reflects that. The 6 GB VRAM is likely a limiting factor at 4K Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 30.1. The GPU’s 160W TDP and dual-slot design are typical for this class, but the data suggests that for a game like Control, the RTX 2060 is the component that holds the system back at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear trend: performance scales inversely with resolution, but the rate of decline points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p High settings, the average FPS is 68.9. Moving to 1440p High drops this to 53.3, a reduction of approximately 22.6%. At 4K High, the average FPS falls to 36.6, which is another 31.3% drop from the 1440p result. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, indicating that the GPU is struggling to keep up with the increasing pixel count.

The data also shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 110 FPS, which is a high frame rate that suggests the CPU is capable of pushing more frames if the GPU allowed it. However, at 4K Low, the FPS drops to 55.4, a 49.6% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This significant drop highlights that the RTX 2060’s raw computational power and memory bandwidth are insufficient for 4K gaming, even at the lowest settings. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more gradual, but the jump to 4K is punishing, confirming that the GPU is the dominant constraint in this configuration.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this system performs across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best results. With Low settings, the average FPS is 110, which is the highest recorded for any configuration. Medium settings yield 76.2 FPS, High settings produce 68.9 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 57 FPS. This range shows that at 1080p, the system can handle even Ultra settings with playable frame rates, though the drop from Low to Ultra is 48.2%.

At 2560x1440, performance takes a noticeable hit. Low settings produce an average of 83.9 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium settings drop to 57.6 FPS, High settings fall to 53.3 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 46.5 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 44.6%, slightly less than at 1080p, but the overall performance is lower. This suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this hardware, with High settings providing a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings yield 55.4 FPS, which is acceptable, but Medium settings drop to 38.4 FPS, High settings fall to 36.6 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 30.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 45.7%, but the absolute numbers are low across the board. None of the 4K configurations reach the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider ideal, and even Low settings are barely above 55 FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K is not a viable option for this CPU/GPU combo if a consistent 60 FPS is the target.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run Control at 1080p with High settings?*

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 68.9, which is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware?

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 is the most balanced option. At 1440p High settings, the average FPS is 53.3, which is playable, and Low settings produce 83.9 FPS. This resolution offers a better visual experience than 1080p while maintaining acceptable frame rates.

*Q: Is the RTX 2060's 6 GB of VRAM a problem for Control?*

A: The data shows a significant performance drop at 4K, where the average FPS falls below 40 on Medium and High settings. This suggests the 6 GB of VRAM and the GPU’s bandwidth are insufficient for 4K, but at 1080p and 1440p, the VRAM is adequate, as frame rates remain playable.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to its closest rivals in this game?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500’s average benchmark score is 20875, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-12500 (20897, -0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE (20900, -0.1% delta). The performance difference is negligible, so the CPU choice has little impact on Control’s frame rates.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS for this system?

A: The measured data only provides average FPS values. The lowest average is 30.1 FPS at 4K Ultra settings, and the highest average is 110 FPS at 1080p Low settings.

*Q: Is this system ranked well for playing Control?*

A: The combo is ranked 1316 out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the lower half of systems. This suggests that while it can run the game, many other hardware configurations will deliver higher frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players who prioritize smooth gameplay over visual fidelity, the 1080p Low setting is the best choice, delivering a measured average of 110 FPS. This is the only configuration that significantly exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, providing a very responsive experience. However, for a better visual experience at 1080p, High settings at 68.9 FPS are a strong alternative, offering a substantial improvement in graphics quality without sacrificing playability.

At 1440p, the data suggests that High settings provide the best balance. The average FPS of 53.3 is not perfectly smooth, but it is close to 60 FPS, and the visual upgrade from 1080p is substantial. Medium settings at 57.6 FPS are also viable if a higher frame rate is preferred, but the difference in visual quality between Medium and High is often noticeable. Low settings at 1440p yield 83.9 FPS, which is very smooth, but the graphical trade-offs may be too severe for some players.

For 4K, the data indicates that this hardware is not well-suited for the resolution. Even at Low settings, the average FPS is 55.4, which is below the 60 FPS target, and Medium, High, and Ultra settings all fall below 40 FPS. If 4K is a requirement, Low settings are the only playable option, but the visual quality will be significantly reduced. In most cases, the best experience with this system is at 1440p High or 1080p High, where the frame rates are high enough to enjoy the game while maintaining good graphical fidelity. The measured results clearly show that pushing to 4K Ultra is not recommended, as the average FPS of 30.1 is too low for a smooth experience.