Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure from Remedy, is a demanding title that stresses both CPU and GPU. For the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, the measured data shows a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions but offers exceptional headroom at 1080p. The sweet spot for this pairing is 1440p Ultra or 4K High, where the RTX 4080 SUPER's raw power is fully utilized without being bottlenecked by the 6-core processor. At 1080p, the CPU becomes the limiting factor, capping performance below what the GPU could theoretically deliver, making lower settings less beneficial than at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows reveal a clear hierarchy of performance across the four settings presets. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 125 FPS for Low, 89 FPS for Medium, 79 FPS for High, and 69 FPS for Ultra. The gap between Low and Medium is substantial at 36 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra is a smaller 10 FPS drop. Given that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier GPU, the data suggests that the Ultra preset is the most appropriate for 4K gaming, as the 69 FPS average remains comfortably playable, and the visual fidelity gain from High to Ultra is typically worth the modest performance cost.

For 2560x1440, the measured averages are 185 FPS for Low, 132 FPS for Medium, 117 FPS for High, and 102 FPS for Ultra. The delta between Medium and High is 15 FPS, and the drop from High to Ultra is another 15 FPS. At this resolution, the Ultra preset delivers over 100 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The data indicates that 1440p Ultra is the optimal balance of visual quality and performance for this hardware, as the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS threshold while maximizing the GPU's capabilities.

At 1920x1080, the measured averages are 205 FPS for Low, 174 FPS for Medium, 155 FPS for High, and 134 FPS for Ultra. The performance here is notably constrained by the CPU. The difference between Low and Medium is 31 FPS, but the jump from High to Ultra is only 21 FPS. All presets exceed 134 FPS, which means even the Ultra preset is overkill for most 1080p displays. However, the data shows diminishing returns on lower settings at this resolution, suggesting that the CPU is preventing the GPU from stretching its legs. The best experience at 1080p is the Ultra preset, as the 134 FPS average still offers a highly responsive experience, and the reduced settings do not proportionally increase performance due to the CPU limit.

The recommendation is clear: for the best experience per the measured rows, use the Ultra preset at 1440p. This configuration yields a 102 FPS average with no visible compromise in visual quality. At 4K, the High preset is the best balance, delivering 79 FPS, while the Ultra preset at 4K is also viable with 69 FPS. The data strongly suggests that users should avoid Low settings at any resolution, as the performance gains are not commensurate with the visual degradation, especially at 1080p where the CPU bottleneck negates most of the benefit.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's benchmark scores position it in the 73rd percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 19593. In synthetic tests, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and a single-core score of 2319, indicating solid multi-threaded capability for a mid-range chip.

In Control, the CPU's role is most evident at 1080p resolution. The measured FPS at 1920x1080 shows a maximum of 205 FPS on Low settings, while the 1440p Low setting reaches 185 FPS and the 4K Low setting hits 125 FPS. The relatively small difference between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings (20 FPS) compared to the large drop from 1440p to 4K (60 FPS) indicates that the CPU is the primary limiter at lower resolutions. The Ryzen 5 5500's single-thread performance, reflected in its Geekbench single-core score of 1730 and 3DMark single-thread score of 836, is sufficient to drive high frame rates, but it caps out around 205 FPS in this title.

The processor's 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for Control's demands. The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-12500 which is 0.4% faster, and the Intel Core i7-10700F which is 0.5% slower, shows that it is a competitive mid-range option. However, the data suggests that in Control, the CPU's 6-core/12-thread configuration is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions where the GPU takes over. At 4K, the FPS drops are entirely attributable to the GPU, as the CPU has ample headroom. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5386 and max-thread score of 5411 indicate that the CPU can handle the game's physics and AI workloads without issue, but the frame ceiling at 1080p is a direct consequence of its single-core limits.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Control?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 2560x1440 with the Ultra preset is the best experience, delivering a 102 FPS average. This resolution balances the RTX 4080 SUPER's capabilities with the Ryzen 5 5500's limits, avoiding the CPU bottleneck seen at 1080p.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 5500 bottleneck the RTX 4080 SUPER in Control?

A: The data shows a CPU bottleneck at 1920x1080, where the Low preset yields 205 FPS compared to 185 FPS at 1440p Low. This 20 FPS difference indicates the CPU limits performance at 1080p. At 4K, no bottleneck is evident, as the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: How much performance is lost when switching from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 155 at 1080p to 117 at 1440p and 79 at 4K. This represents a 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K, showing the GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 4K?

A: Yes, the measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 69 FPS. While lower than High settings, this is still above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making Ultra a viable option for 4K.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 185 FPS while Ultra averages 102 FPS, a difference of 83 FPS or approximately 45%. This reflects the significant GPU load increase from the Ultra preset's effects.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593, which is 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-12500 and 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-10700F. It is essentially on par with these processors in overall performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 349th out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 9.4% of all configurations. This ranking reflects the strong GPU performance tempered by the mid-range CPU. The RTX 4080 SUPER itself is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54209, while the CPU is in the 73rd percentile with a score of 19593.

The GPU's nearest rivals, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, is 0.1% faster, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 2.7% faster in synthetic benchmarks. This indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end card whose performance is well above average. However, the CPU's ranking among its peers is more modest. The Intel Core i5-12500 is 0.4% faster, and the Intel Core i5-11600KF is 0.7% faster, while the Intel Core i7-10700F is 0.5% slower. This mid-pack CPU placement explains why the combo rank is not higher, as the processor limits performance in CPU-bound scenarios like 1080p gaming.

The combo's rank of 349 out of 3720 is notable considering the GPU's strength. In games that are less CPU-sensitive, this pairing would likely rank higher, but Control's engine appears to have moderate CPU demands that prevent the RTX 4080 SUPER from achieving its full potential at lower resolutions. The data suggests that users with this combo should prioritize higher resolutions to maximize the GPU's contribution and improve the overall experience relative to other configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the system scales across resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS is 155 at 1920x1080, 117 at 2560x1440, and 79 at 3840x2160. This represents a 24.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 32.5% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 49.0%, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed at higher resolutions.

At Low settings, the scaling is different: 205 FPS at 1080p, 185 FPS at 1440p, and 125 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is only 9.8%, which is much smaller than the 24.5% seen at High settings. This smaller drop at Low settings confirms that the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p. The drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings is 32.4%, which is similar to the High setting's drop, showing that the GPU becomes the bottleneck once the resolution increases.

The scaling pattern is classic for a system with a strong GPU and a weaker CPU. At 1080p, the frame rate is capped by the CPU at around 205 FPS, so reducing the resolution does not yield proportional gains. At 4K, the GPU is fully utilized, and the frame rate scales with the GPU's workload. The data indicates that the optimal resolution for this combo is 1440p, where the CPU can still deliver high frame rates without being the bottleneck, and the GPU is sufficiently stressed to justify its power. The 4K performance, while lower, remains respectable with a 79 FPS average at High settings, making it a viable option for users with 4K displays.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all settings and resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 125 FPS. The Medium preset averages 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 FPS and a maximum of 102 FPS. The High preset averages 79 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 69 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 56 FPS, with the largest single drop occurring between Low and Medium.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 185 FPS. The Medium preset averages 132 FPS, with a minimum of 112 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS. The High preset averages 117 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 102 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 83 FPS, showing that the GPU has more headroom at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 205 FPS. The Medium preset averages 174 FPS, with a minimum of 148 FPS and a maximum of 200 FPS. The High preset averages 155 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 134 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 71 FPS, which is narrower than at 1440p, reinforcing the CPU bottleneck at this resolution.

The minimum FPS data is only available for the Medium preset at each resolution: 76 FPS at 4K, 112 FPS at 1440p, and 148 FPS at 1080p. These minimums indicate that frame pacing is stable, with no severe dips below the average. The maximum FPS values for Medium settings are 102 FPS at 4K, 152 FPS at 1440p, and 200 FPS at 1080p, confirming that the system can push high frame rates when the scene allows. Overall, the measured data shows a capable system that delivers playable frame rates at all settings, with the best balance of quality and speed found at 1440p Ultra.