Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER pairing delivers a consistently strong Control experience across all tested resolutions, with the data showing a clear shift from CPU-bound performance at 1080p to a more balanced, GPU-heavy workload at 4K. The combo’s 459th place out of 2,888 tested configurations puts it in the top 16% of all pairings for this title, a solid result for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic resolution scaling curve. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 196 FPS, which drops to 135 FPS at High and 118 FPS at Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440, Low settings yield 162 FPS, High produces 102 FPS, and Ultra falls to 89 FPS. At 3840x2160, the numbers compress significantly: Low hits 110 FPS, High manages 69 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 60 FPS.

The scaling pattern is informative. From 1080p Low to 4K Low, the frame rate drops by 86 FPS (from 196 to 110), a 44% reduction. On High settings, the drop from 1080p to 4K is 66 FPS (135 to 69), a 49% decline. The Medium preset shows a similar trend: 152 FPS at 1080p, 115 FPS at 1440p, and 78 FPS at 4K. This consistent ~45-50% reduction when moving to 4K indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s rendering load scales predictably with pixel count, and the 5500X3D’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to keep feeding the GPU even at lower resolutions.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution drops. At 1080p, the difference is 78 FPS (196 vs 118), while at 4K it narrows to 50 FPS (110 vs 60). This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is more involved in maintaining high frame rates, and the GPU has headroom to handle increased graphical fidelity without the frame rate collapsing. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the gap between presets shrinks because the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed harder.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 part on the AMD Socket AM4 platform, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Its 96 MB of shared L3 cache is the standout feature, and it helps explain why the 1080p Low result of 196 FPS is so high. In Control, a game that benefits from large caches for streaming assets, the 5500X3D’s cache design keeps data closer to the cores, reducing memory latency and improving frame pacing.

The CPU’s benchmark profile supports its gaming chops. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2941 and multithread score of 20363 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals in the data pack are telling: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F scores 36945 (0.2% faster), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093 (0.2% slower), and the Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112 (0.3% slower). These are essentially neck-and-neck results, meaning the 5500X3D trades blows with a modern mid-range part and an older high-end efficiency chip. The 3.00 GHz base clock is low by modern standards, but the boost behavior and cache compensate in gaming workloads.

At 1080p, the CPU’s role is more pronounced. The jump from 118 FPS at Ultra to 196 FPS at Low is a 66% improvement, which suggests the CPU can push well beyond 196 FPS if the GPU is not the bottleneck. At 4K, the CPU’s influence fades. The 60 FPS Ultra result is likely GPU-limited, as the RTX 4070 SUPER is working harder to fill 8.3 million pixels. The data shows that the 5500X3D does not bottleneck the RTX 4070 SUPER in this title, even at high frame rates, which is a strong endorsement for a 6-core part in a 2019-era action-adventure game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is an Ada Lovelace GPU with 7,168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units. Its boost clock is 2475 MHz, and it packs 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is more than enough for Control’s textures and effects at 4K, as evidenced by the 69 FPS High result and 60 FPS Ultra result.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show where it sits in the hierarchy. Its PassMark G3D score of 29995 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627 are solid, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals are all close: the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43262 (0.1% faster), the RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268 (0.1% faster), and the RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667 (1% faster). This means the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER is slightly slower than a top-tier mobile RTX 4090 but holds its own against workstation cards with more memory.

The GPU’s role in Control is clear from the resolution scaling data. At 4K Ultra, the 60 FPS average is exactly at the threshold for smooth gameplay, and the GPU is the limiting factor. The 12 GB VRAM is adequate for Control’s High and Ultra presets at 4K, as the data shows no severe frame rate collapse beyond what resolution scaling would predict. The 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is also sufficient, as the game’s asset streaming does not appear to bottleneck the GPU. The 220 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU make it a practical choice for most builds, and the dual-slot design with a 16-pin connector is standard for this performance class.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 459 out of 2,888 tested configurations places it in the 84th percentile of all CPU-GPU pairings tested in Control. This is a strong result, but the data suggests the CPU is slightly ahead of the GPU in this pairing. The CPU’s 85th percentile ranking versus the GPU’s 83rd percentile indicates the 5500X3D is marginally stronger relative to its peers than the RTX 4070 SUPER is relative to its own competition. This means the GPU is the more likely bottleneck in demanding scenarios, which aligns with the 4K Ultra result of 60 FPS.

The rank improves when considering the GPU’s closest rivals. The RTX 4070 SUPER is 1% slower than the RTX 4090 Mobile in synthetic benchmarks, yet the desktop form factor and 12 GB VRAM make it a more consistent performer in gaming. The 5500X3D’s rivals are all within 0.3% of its average score, so the combo’s rank is not driven by an unusual CPU advantage—it is the combination of a competent 6-core CPU and a high-end 40-series GPU that lands in the top 16% of tested combos.

Settings Recommendations

For a balance of performance and visual quality, the Medium preset is the best measured choice across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 152 FPS with a minimum of 130 FPS and maximum of 175 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and leaves headroom for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, Medium produces 115 FPS with a minimum of 98 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in action-heavy scenes. At 4K, Medium hits 78 FPS with a minimum of 66 FPS, which is playable and maintains a consistent frame rate.

High settings are also viable if you prefer visual fidelity over raw frame rate. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 135 FPS, which is still excellent. At 1440p High, 102 FPS is smooth. At 4K High, 69 FPS is just above the 60 FPS mark, making it a borderline choice for users who prioritize graphics over frame rate stability. Ultra settings are only recommended at 1080p, where 118 FPS is still fluid. At 1440p Ultra, 89 FPS is acceptable but the minimum frame data is not provided, so there is some risk of stutter. At 4K Ultra, 60 FPS is the exact threshold, and the lack of minimum frame data suggests potential dips below that level.

The Low preset is not recommended for this hardware. At 1080p Low, 196 FPS is overkill for most displays, and at 4K Low, 110 FPS is high but the visual compromise is significant. The data shows the RTX 4070 SUPER has enough headroom to run Medium or High presets without sacrificing playability, so Low leaves performance on the table. The best experience per the measured rows is Medium at 1440p—it offers a high average FPS, a solid minimum of 98 FPS, and a maximum of 133 FPS, which makes it the most balanced preset for this combo.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K without dropping below 60 FPS?

A: At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 78 with a minimum of 66 FPS, so it stays above 60 FPS. At 4K High, the average drops to 69 FPS, but minimum frame data is not provided, so there is a risk of dips. At 4K Ultra, the average is exactly 60 FPS, with no minimum data available, so it is not guaranteed to stay above 60.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5500X3D a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER in Control?

A: The data indicates no significant bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 196 FPS, which shows the CPU can drive high frame rates. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as the frame rates scale down predictably with resolution. The CPU’s 85th percentile ranking versus the GPU’s 83rd percentile suggests the GPU is slightly more likely to be the limiting component.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER’s average benchmark score is 43223. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43262 (0.1% higher), the RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268 (0.1% higher), and the RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667 (1% higher). This puts the 4070 SUPER within 1% of a top-tier mobile GPU.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low settings produce 196 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 118 FPS, a difference of 78 FPS. Medium settings land at 152 FPS with a minimum of 130 FPS, and High settings reach 135 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows at higher resolutions, with a 50 FPS difference at 4K.

Q: Is the CPU’s cache size beneficial for Control?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a large amount for a 6-core part. The data shows strong 1080p performance, with 196 FPS on Low settings, indicating the cache helps maintain high frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. Its PassMark multithread score of 20363 and single-thread score of 2941 support this.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 459 out of 2,888 tested combinations, placing it in the top 16% of all CPU-GPU pairings tested in Control. This rank reflects the balanced performance of the 6-core CPU and the high-end GPU working together.