Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, though 4K Ultra settings push the GPU to its limits. The data indicates a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, with the CPU providing a strong foundation and the GPU becoming the primary constraint at higher resolutions and graphical presets.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 110 FPS at 1920x1080 to 83 FPS at 2560x1440, representing a 24.5% performance hit. Moving to 3840x2160, the average falls further to 56 FPS, a 32.5% reduction from the 1440p figure. This steep decline indicates that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count, a hallmark of GPU-bound scenarios.

The pattern is consistent across all settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 174 FPS at 1080p to 132 FPS at 1440p (a 24.1% decrease) and then to 89 FPS at 4K (a 32.6% decrease from 1440p). The similarity in these percentage drops across Low and High presets suggests that the GPU's shading and texture units are being saturated in a uniform manner, independent of the specific visual features enabled. This is a strong indicator that the RX 7800 XT is the limiting component in this configuration.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, with average FPS dropping by roughly a third across all settings. This is expected, as 4K contains 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. The fact that the frame rate does not drop by more than this theoretical maximum suggests that the GPU has sufficient memory bandwidth and cache to handle the increased data throughput without severe bottlenecks. The 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth on the GPU are likely mitigating factors, preventing a complete collapse in performance at 4K.

However, the absolute numbers at 4K tell a story of marginal playability. At Ultra settings, the average frame rate is just 49 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold considered smooth for many action games. Even at High settings, 4K yields only 56 FPS. While the game remains playable, it is not optimal for high-refresh-rate displays. The data suggests that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, users would need to employ upscaling technologies or accept Medium settings, which produce 63 FPS.

The scaling behavior confirms that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at any resolution tested. If the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see a smaller performance delta between 1080p and 1440p, as the GPU would have headroom to render more pixels. Instead, the consistent and significant drops in FPS with each resolution increase point directly to the GPU as the constraining factor. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D's 96 MB of shared L3 cache likely ensures that game data is readily available, but it cannot compensate for the raw pixel-pushing demands placed on the graphics card.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz are moderate, but the processor's defining feature is its large 96 MB shared L3 cache. This cache configuration is designed to reduce memory latency and improve performance in games that are sensitive to data access patterns.

In Control, the CPU's role appears to be that of a capable and consistent provider of frames, never becoming the limiting factor in the tested configurations. The PassMark multithread score of 20363 and single-thread score of 2941 indicate solid, if not spectacular, processing power. The processor's percentile rank of 85 among all CPUs suggests it outperforms the vast majority of desktop processors available, which is a strong foundation for gaming.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the 5500X3D shows a remarkably tight grouping in average benchmark scores. It is just 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225, and 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i9-12900T. This indicates that in general-purpose compute, the 5500X3D is not a standout performer, but its gaming-specific cache advantage is likely what allows it to keep up with or exceed these rivals in frame time consistency.

The fact that the FPS does not change significantly between Low and High settings at any resolution (e.g., 174 FPS to 110 FPS at 1080p) suggests that the CPU is not struggling to feed the GPU. At 1080p Low, the GPU is pushing 174 FPS, which is a high workload, but the CPU is able to maintain this without becoming a bottleneck. This is further evidenced by the scaling pattern; the CPU is never the cause of frame rate drops, as those drops are proportional to the pixel count increase.

The 5500X3D's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for Control, an Action Adventure game that does not appear to be heavily multi-threaded. The PassMark physics score of 2282 and integer math score of 60033 suggest that the processor can handle the game's simulation and logic demands without issue. The CPU's performance is best described as "sufficient and unobtrusive," allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of visual fidelity and frame rate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in Control?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 174 FPS at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This demonstrates the CPU's ability to feed the GPU at high frame rates, as the GPU is not constrained by resolution at this setting.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K, the system averages 56 FPS on High settings and 63 FPS on Medium settings. It only exceeds 60 FPS on Medium, while High and Ultra settings fall below the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, a locked 60 FPS at 4K is only achievable by lowering settings to Medium or below.

Q: How does the CPU compare to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F?

A: According to benchmark data, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D has an average score of 37018, which is 0.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 5600F's average score of 36945. The performance difference is negligible in synthetic benchmarks, though the 5500X3D's larger cache may offer advantages in specific gaming scenarios.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the average frame rate drops from 132 FPS on Low settings to 72 FPS on Ultra settings. This is a 45.5% reduction in performance, highlighting the significant graphical load imposed by the Ultra preset on the RX 7800 XT.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. As resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the frame rate drops by a consistent percentage (roughly 24% from 1080p to 1440p and 32% from 1440p to 4K), which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's frame delivery is not causing these drops.

Q: What is the lowest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 49 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the most demanding configuration tested and pushes the GPU to its absolute limit, resulting in a sub-60 FPS experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination ranks 899 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 68.9th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than two-thirds of the configurations in the database. This is a solid ranking, indicating that this combo is well-suited for this particular game.

The ranking of 899 suggests that while this is a good setup, there are still over 800 combinations that achieve higher frame rates in Control. These higher-ranked combos likely feature more powerful GPUs, as the resolution scaling data shows that the RX 7800 XT is the limiting factor. The CPU's performance is not a hindrance, so improving the ranking would necessitate a GPU upgrade.

The rank is also contextualized by the fact that the GPU holds a percentile rank of just 51 among all GPUs, while the CPU holds a percentile rank of 85. This discrepancy suggests that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing. Despite the GPU's mid-tier percentile ranking, the combo still lands in the top 31% of all tested configurations, which reflects the efficiency of the RDNA 3.0 architecture and the CPU's robust cache.

The combo's ranking is consistent with its measured FPS across all resolutions. At 1080p, the system achieves frame rates that would be considered excellent for competitive play, while at 4K, it delivers playable, but not exceptional, results. The rank reflects this balanced but not top-tier performance profile, positioning it as a strong mid-range to upper-mid-range gaming system for Control.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is the primary driver of visual performance in this combo, and the data shows it is the component that determines the game's playability at various settings. With 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit bus, the GPU has a memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s, which is critical for handling high-resolution textures and complex scenes in Control. This ample memory capacity ensures that the GPU does not run out of VRAM at 4K, allowing it to focus on raw compute.

The GPU's architecture, RDNA 3.0, is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 28,100 million transistors. Its boost clock of 2430 MHz and game clock of 2124 MHz provide the raw speed needed for high frame rates. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU scales predictably with settings, but its performance is capped by its compute capabilities. For example, at 1080p, the difference between Low (174 FPS) and Ultra (96 FPS) is 44.8%, showing the significant cost of enabling all visual features.

The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 24176 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4157 indicate its overall graphics prowess. However, its percentile rank of 51 among all GPUs suggests that it is an average performer in the wider market. This is reflected in its nearest rivals, which include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 and AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, though the RX 7800 XT significantly outperforms them in raw benchmark scores (e.g., 24176 vs 11680 for the GTX 1660).

The GPU's role becomes more critical as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 49, which is a clear indication that the GPU is working at its maximum capacity. The fact that the frame rate does not dip below 49 FPS suggests that the GPU's 60 ray accelerators and 96 ROPs are managing the workload without catastrophic failure, but the headroom is minimal. For users seeking higher frame rates at 4K, the data shows that reducing settings to Medium (63 FPS) or Low (89 FPS) provides a significant boost, underscoring that the GPU is the tunable variable for performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete set of measured average frame rates for this combo in Control, organized by resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates its highest performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 174, providing an exceptionally smooth experience. Medium settings reduce this to 124 FPS, with a minimum of 105 FPS and a maximum of 142 FPS. High settings yield 110 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 96 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 78 FPS, showing the performance cost of high-fidelity graphics at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limits. Low settings achieve 132 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings produce 94 FPS, with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS. High settings drop to 83 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 72 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 60 FPS, indicating that the GPU's workload is increasing as expected with resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance is constrained. Low settings yield 89 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. Medium settings produce 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS, providing a playable experience with some dips below 60 FPS. High settings drop to 56 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 49 FPS. The data shows that at 4K, the system is primarily suited for Medium settings if a consistent 60 FPS is desired, and lower settings are necessary to maintain higher frame rates.

The progression across all resolutions shows a clear hierarchy: Low settings provide the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows that the system maintains a playable frame rate even under load, with the lowest recorded minimum being 54 FPS at 4K. This suggests that while the system is not overkill for 4K, it can handle the game's demands without severe stuttering, provided settings are managed appropriately.