Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination that lands in the lower tier of tested hardware for Control, securing the 2551st position out of 2888 total combos. This placement, roughly in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, signals that this pairing is not designed for high-refresh-rate or high-fidelity gameplay in this title. The data indicates a system that can manage playable frame rates only at the lowest settings and resolutions, with the integrated-class GPU acting as the primary bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 2551 out of 2888 tested configurations places it firmly in the lower quartile of performance for Control. This is a low standing that reflects the fundamental imbalance of this pairing. The CPU, an AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, is a capable six-core, twelve-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture. Its PassMark average benchmark score of 37018 places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong processing power. However, the Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of just 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

This massive disparity in percentile ranking—85th for the CPU versus 9th for the GPU—creates a situation where the graphics processor is overwhelmingly the limiting factor. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with an average score of 36945 (a 0.2% difference) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 with an average score of 36938 (also a 0.2% difference), show that the processor is competitive with other mid-range options. The GPU, however, sits alongside the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (a 1.3% difference) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (a 2.7% difference), which are entry-level parts from previous generations. The data suggests that while the CPU is ready to feed frames, the GPU is incapable of rendering them at a satisfactory pace. The result is a system that ranks low not because of a weak processor, but because of a graphics solution that is out of its depth in a demanding action-adventure title like Control.

FAQ

*Q: Is this combo capable of running Control at a stable 60 FPS at any setting?*

A: No. The measured FPS data shows that no configuration reaches 60 FPS. The highest average frame rate recorded is 65 FPS at 1080p with Low settings, which is the only setting that averages above 60. All other settings and resolutions produce average frame rates below 60, with many falling well below that threshold.

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

A: The data indicates 1920x1080 is the only resolution that yields consistently playable average frame rates. At 1080p, average FPS ranges from 36 on Ultra to 65 on Low. At 1440p, the average FPS drops to a range of 27 to 50, and at 4K, it falls to a range of 18 to 33, making those resolutions largely impractical.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500X3D's average benchmark score of 37018 is effectively tied with its nearest competitors. It is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, while being 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i9-12900T. These negligible differences show the CPU is on par with its peers.

Q: What is the GPU's performance class based on benchmark data?

A: The Intel Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. It is only 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. This positions it as an entry-level graphics solution, far below what is typically needed for smooth 1080p gaming in modern titles.

Q: Why does the system perform so poorly given the strong CPU?

A: The performance is capped by the GPU. The Arc B390 is an integrated processor with system-shared memory and a TDP of 80 W. Its low benchmark scores and percentile ranking mean it simply cannot keep up with the demands of Control. The CPU, which ranks in the 85th percentile, is likely waiting on the GPU to finish rendering each frame, making the graphics processor the definitive bottleneck.

Q: Is there a significant performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets?

A: Yes, the difference is substantial. At 1080p, the average frame rate jumps from 36 FPS on Ultra to 65 FPS on Low, an increase of 29 FPS. At 1440p, the jump is from 27 FPS on Ultra to 50 FPS on Low, a 23 FPS increase. At 4K, the difference is from 18 FPS on Ultra to 33 FPS on Low, a 15 FPS increase. Lowering settings provides a significant performance boost.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance. It is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on Intel's 3 nm process node. Its role in Control is defined by its limited resources. The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning it draws from the main system memory rather than having its own dedicated VRAM pool. This system-dependent memory bandwidth is a major constraint, especially at higher resolutions where memory pressure increases.

The clock speeds are listed as a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. While the boost clock is respectable, the architecture's integrated nature and low TDP of 80 W limit sustained performance. The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. These figures are modest for a modern game like Control, which features complex particle effects and physics. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, but these theoretical limits are rarely reached in practice due to the shared memory bottleneck.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 and its 9th percentile ranking quantify the GPU's capability. It is performing at a level comparable to legacy discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710. This is a clear indication that the Arc B390 is not a gaming-oriented part. In the context of Control, the GPU is responsible for all rendering, and its inability to maintain high frame rates at 1080p Medium (46 FPS) or High (41 FPS) settings demonstrates that it is the primary constraint. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, is not the limiting factor; the GPU is.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of this combo's capabilities across different resolutions and settings. The results are consistent: lower resolutions and lower settings yield higher frame rates, but the system struggles to maintain smooth performance in most configurations.

At 1920x1080, the best-case scenario is the Low preset, which achieves an average of 65 FPS. This is the only measured configuration that can be considered fully playable for a smooth experience. The Medium preset drops to an average of 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53. The High preset averages 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 36 FPS. None of these higher settings reach the 60 FPS mark, indicating that users will need to make significant visual sacrifices to get playable performance.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops considerably. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. The High preset averages 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 27 FPS. These numbers are below the threshold for smooth gameplay, suggesting that 1440p is only viable on the lowest settings.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. The Low preset averages just 33 FPS. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. The High preset averages 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages only 18 FPS. These frame rates are not smooth and would likely result in a poor gaming experience. The data shows that 4K resolution is not a realistic option for this hardware in Control.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K highlights the GPU bottleneck. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 65 at 1080p to 50 at 1440p and then to 33 at 4K. This represents a 23% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 34% drop from 1440p to 4K. At the Medium preset, the average FPS falls from 46 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p and 24 at 4K, a 24% drop and a 31% drop respectively. At the High preset, the average FPS goes from 41 at 1080p to 31 at 1440p and 21 at 4K. At the Ultra preset, it goes from 36 at 1080p to 27 at 1440p and 18 at 4K.

The consistent and significant drops across all settings when moving to higher resolutions indicate that the rendering pipeline is saturated. A system that is CPU-limited would show less of a performance penalty at higher resolutions, because the CPU's workload does not increase as much as the GPU's. Here, the frame rate scales almost linearly with the number of pixels, which is a classic sign of a GPU limitation. The Intel Arc B390's system-shared memory is likely a major contributor, as higher resolutions require more memory bandwidth and capacity, which the shared memory architecture cannot efficiently provide. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component, and its performance degrades predictably as the resolution increases.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal configuration for this combo is 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is the only setting that achieves an average frame rate above 60 FPS (65 FPS). This should provide a smooth and responsive experience for most of the game. While the visual quality will be reduced, it is the only way to get playable performance without significant stuttering.

For users who prefer higher visual fidelity and are willing to accept lower frame rates, the 1920x1080 Medium preset is the next best option. It averages 46 FPS, which is playable but not as smooth. The minimum of 40 FPS suggests some occasional dips, but it may be acceptable for a slower-paced action-adventure game. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p, with averages of 41 and 36 FPS respectively, are not recommended as they fall below the threshold for comfortable gameplay.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 50 FPS. This is playable but not ideal. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets at this resolution all fall below 40 FPS average and should be avoided. At 4K, none of the settings produce acceptable frame rates, with the best being Low at 33 FPS. The data strongly suggests that 4K is not a viable resolution for this hardware. The recommendation is clear: to get the best experience, use 1080p with the Low preset, or potentially Medium if the player can tolerate a less stable frame rate.