Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a severely GPU-limited experience in Control, with performance collapsing as resolution increases. The data shows a clear pattern: this combo is only viable for 1080p gaming, and even then, only at lower settings presets.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a dramatic performance cliff as resolution scales from 1080p to 4K. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 59 FPS, which is the highest average recorded across all tested configurations. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops the average to 45 FPS, a 24% reduction. At 3840x2160, the Low preset yields only 30 FPS, representing a 49% loss compared to the 1080p result.

This scaling pattern is consistent across every settings preset, indicating that the Intel Arc B370 is the definitive bottleneck. The GPU’s integrated nature — with system-shared memory and a 25 W TDP — places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs tested. Its nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (delta -0.2%) and ATI Radeon HD 5770 (delta -0.5%), both legacy parts, which underscores its limited bandwidth and compute capacity.

The CPU, by contrast, is a capable desktop part. The Ryzen 5 5600 sits in the 74th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20468. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, scores 20454 with a delta of 0.1%, meaning the CPU is well within a rounding error of that performance level. The 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 design with a 3.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost clock provides ample headroom for a game like Control at these frame rates.

The limiting factor is unmistakable when examining the 4K results. At 3840x2160, the gap between Low (30 FPS) and Ultra (17 FPS) is 13 FPS, a 43% swing. At 1920x1080, the same preset swing costs 27 FPS (from 59 to 32). This widening delta at lower resolutions suggests the CPU can push more frames, but the GPU saturates quickly as pixel count rises. The data indicates that resolution scaling is nearly linear with GPU load, with no evidence of CPU stalls until perhaps the 1080p Low configuration, where 59 FPS approaches what this integrated GPU can sustain.

How This Combo Ranks

In the aggregate database of tested CPU and GPU combinations for Control, this pairing ranks 2657 out of 2888 combos. That places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. This low rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU’s performance class; the Arc B370’s average benchmark score of 1184 across all tests puts it in the 5th percentile among GPUs.

To contextualize the GPU’s standing: its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186 with a delta of -0.2%, making the two statistically identical. The AMD FirePro M2000 trails slightly at 1168 with a delta of 1.4%. These are all integrated or entry-level discrete parts from over a decade ago, which explains why the combo rank is so low.

The CPU, however, is not the problem. The Ryzen 5 5600’s percentile rank of 74 means it outperforms three-quarters of all CPUs in the database. In Control, the game’s CPU demands are modest; the measured frame rates never exceed 59 FPS, which is well within the 5600’s capability. The 3DMark single-thread score of 882 and multi-thread score of 5659 demonstrate adequate processing power for this title’s physics and logic systems.

The disparity between CPU and GPU performance classes creates a profound imbalance. The system behaves as if a modern mid-range CPU were paired with a decade-old integrated graphics solution. When compared to other combos in the database, this pairing sits alongside systems with similarly low-end GPUs, regardless of their CPU. The rank of 2657 reflects that the GPU dominates the performance outcome in Control, with the CPU contributing little to the final frame rate beyond ensuring the GPU is not starved of draw calls.

FAQ

Q: Why does this combo perform so poorly at 4K?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has system-shared memory and a 25 W TDP, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. At 3840x2160, even Low settings yield only 30 FPS, and Ultra drops to 17 FPS. The GPU’s limited pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s cannot handle the pixel count at 4K.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600 holding back the system in this game?

A: No. The CPU ranks in the 74th percentile with an average benchmark score of 20468, and its nearest rival (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V) scores 20454 with a delta of 0.1%. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 59 FPS, which is the highest measured value, indicating the CPU is not the constraint.

Q: What is the best resolution for this pairing?

A: 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system approaches playable frame rates. At Low settings it hits 59 FPS, while Medium yields 42 FPS and High 37 FPS. At 2560x1440, all presets fall below 45 FPS, and at 3840x2160, none exceed 30 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B370 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186 with a delta of -0.2%, making them statistically equivalent. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 with a delta of -0.7%, and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 with a delta of 1.4%.

*Q: Does the 5600’s multi-threading help in Control?*

A: The CPU has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18309 and single-core score of 2584. The game’s frame rates are so low (max 59 FPS) that the CPU threads are never fully utilized; the bottleneck is entirely on the GPU side.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth using at any resolution?

A: No. At 1920x1080 Ultra yields 32 FPS, which is 27 FPS lower than Low. At 2560x1440 Ultra drops to 25 FPS, and at 3840x2160 it falls to 17 FPS. The visual quality gain does not compensate for the frame rate loss, given the GPU’s low performance ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data strongly favors the Low preset at 1920x1080 for any playable experience. The 59 FPS average at 1080p Low is the only configuration that clears the 60 FPS threshold, and even then only by a hair. For a game like Control, which relies on fast-paced action and environmental destruction, maintaining a smooth frame rate is critical; the data shows that dropping from Low to Medium costs 17 FPS (from 59 to 42), which is a 29% reduction in frame rate for a modest visual uplift.

If the user insists on higher visual fidelity, the High preset at 1080p produces 37 FPS, which is technically playable but may feel sluggish during combat encounters. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a compromise at 42 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and maximum of 48 FPS recorded. This frame pacing is consistent enough for a single-player action adventure, but the min FPS of 36 suggests occasional dips that could be noticeable.

At 2560x1440, the data indicates that no preset is recommended for serious play. The Low preset yields 45 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 FPS. The High preset at 28 FPS and Ultra at 25 FPS are both below playable thresholds. At 3840x2160, all presets fall below 30 FPS, rendering the resolution unusable for this title.

The recommendation is unambiguous: set the resolution to 1920x1080 and use the Low preset for the best experience. If the user prioritizes visual quality over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p (42 FPS) is the maximum acceptable setting. The High and Ultra presets at any resolution are not viable options based on the measured averages.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. The Low preset averages 59 FPS, with no min or max recorded. The Medium preset averages 42 FPS, with a minimum of 36 FPS and maximum of 48 FPS. The High preset averages 37 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 32 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 27 FPS, demonstrating a steep performance cost for higher settings.

At 2560x1440, performance degrades notably. The Low preset averages 45 FPS. The Medium preset averages 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and maximum of 37 FPS. The High preset averages 28 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 25 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 20 FPS, a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p but still significant relative to the lower baseline.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 30 FPS. The Medium preset averages 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and maximum of 25 FPS. The High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 17 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 13 FPS, but even the best case of 30 FPS is marginal for a game with real-time combat.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: each settings tier costs roughly 5-7 FPS at 1080p, 3-4 FPS at 1440p, and 2-3 FPS at 4K. This compression of differences at higher resolutions further confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor. When the pixel count overwhelms the GPU, the relative cost of higher settings diminishes because the GPU is already saturated. The only outlier is the 1080p Low result of 59 FPS, which suggests the GPU is just barely able to keep up with the CPU’s draw call throughput at that configuration.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 provides 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, manufactured on a 7 nm process. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, and it has a 65 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is more than sufficient for Control, which is not a heavily threaded title.

Benchmark results show the CPU’s capabilities: Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18309 and single-core score of 2584. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5641 and 2-thread score of 1737 indicate strong scaling across threads. The PassMark multi-thread score of 21541 and single-thread score of 3256 further confirm that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this system.

The game’s measured frame rates never exceed 59 FPS, which is well within the 5600’s single-core performance envelope. Given that Control’s physics and AI systems typically use 2-4 threads, the 5600’s 12 threads provide ample headroom. The CPU’s percentile rank of 74 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20468, places it far above the GPU’s 5th percentile rank.

The data shows that the CPU is effectively idle in this pairing. At 1080p Low, the system hits 59 FPS, which is likely the GPU’s maximum throughput rather than a CPU limit. If the GPU were faster, the 5600 could likely push higher frame rates, but the Arc B370’s system-shared memory and 25 W TDP cap the system’s performance. The CPU’s nearest rivals — the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (delta 0.1%), AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (delta 0.2%), and AMD EPYC 9454P (delta 0.2%) — all score within 0.5% of the 5600, demonstrating that this CPU is a mature, well-balanced part that is wasted in a system with such a low-end GPU.