Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D produces a fascinating bottleneck dynamic in Control, where the sheer speed of the graphics card consistently outpaces the six-core processor’s ability to feed it frames at lower resolutions. At 4K, the GPU takes over and delivers playable results, but at 1080p and 1440p, the data clearly indicates a CPU-limited scenario that caps performance well below what the RTX 5090 D is capable of. This combination ranks in the 76th percentile of all tested combos, a strong showing that is nevertheless held back by the processor’s age relative to the GPU’s flagship status.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable but pronounced scaling pattern as resolution increases, with the most significant drop occurring between 1440p and 4K. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 142 FPS at 2560x1440 to 96 FPS at 3840x2160, a 46 FPS decrease that represents a 32% performance hit. This steep decline at 4K indicates that the RTX 5090 D’s rendering workload becomes the dominant factor at this resolution, shifting the bottleneck away from the CPU and onto the GPU’s pixel-pushing capabilities.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p tells a different story. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 184 at 1920x1080 to 142 at 2560x1440, a 42 FPS reduction that is nearly identical in magnitude to the 1440p-to-4K drop. However, the percentage change is smaller, at 23%, suggesting that the CPU is still partially limiting performance at 1080p and continues to exert influence at 1440p. The fact that 1080p High only reaches 184 FPS, rather than the 218 FPS seen at Low settings, reinforces this interpretation — the processor is the ceiling at lower resolutions.

At Low settings, the resolution scaling is even more revealing. The average FPS at 1080p is 218, dropping to 198 at 1440p (a 9% decrease) and then to 152 at 4K (a 23% decrease from 1440p). The relatively small gap between 1080p and 1440p Low settings indicates that the CPU is saturated at both resolutions, with the graphics card having ample headroom to spare. It is only at 4K that the GPU’s workload finally becomes significant enough to create a meaningful frame rate drop, confirming that this pairing is heavily CPU-bound in Control at resolutions below 4K.

The Ultra preset shows the same pattern, with 163 FPS at 1080p, 124 FPS at 1440p, and 83 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest average frame rate in the entire measured dataset, at 83 FPS, which is still comfortably playable but demonstrates the steep cost of maxing out every setting at the highest resolution. The 4K Ultra figure also represents a 49% drop from the 4K Low result of 152 FPS, highlighting how much headroom the GPU has when settings are reduced.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are typical for the AM4 platform, and its 65 W TDP indicates a power-efficient design. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor scores 18,309 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,584 in single-core, placing it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs tested.

In Control, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p and 1440p, where the average FPS at Low and Medium settings clusters tightly together. At 1080p, Low averages 218 FPS, Medium 192 FPS, and High 184 FPS — a spread of just 34 FPS across three very different graphical presets. This narrow range suggests that the processor is the limiting factor at this resolution, as the GPU’s workload changes with settings but the frame rate does not scale proportionally. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration is sufficient to keep the RTX 5090 D fed at these lower resolutions, but it cannot push beyond the observed ceiling.

The single-thread performance of the Ryzen 5 5600, evidenced by its 2,584 Cinebench R23 single-core score and 882 3DMark single-thread score, is adequate for Control’s game logic and physics, but the data shows that it caps the maximum achievable frame rate. At 4K, the CPU’s influence wanes, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The 4K Low result of 152 FPS is significantly lower than the 1080p Low result of 218 FPS, proving that the graphics card is now the constraining component. The processor’s multi-threaded capabilities, reflected in its 5,659 3DMark max-threads score and 21,541 Passmark multithread score, are never fully stressed in this game, as Control does not appear to scale beyond the available cores at these frame rates.

The data suggests that the Ryzen 5 5600 is a capable but not ideal match for the RTX 5090 D in Control. While it avoids severe frame drops and maintains playable performance across all settings, it prevents the GPU from reaching its full potential at 1080p and 1440p. The 74th percentile CPU ranking, combined with the 92nd percentile GPU ranking, creates a mismatch where the processor is the weaker link in this specific game.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 76th out of 2,888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the top 2.6% of all configurations. This is an excellent result, driven primarily by the GPU’s massive performance at 4K, where the combo’s frame rates are competitive with far more modern processor pairings. The rank reflects the fact that Control is a GPU-heavy title at high resolutions, allowing the RTX 5090 D to carry the combo to a strong overall position.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in the general benchmark database — the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, AMD Ryzen 5 8500G, AMD EPYC 9454P, and AMD EPYC 7713 — all have average scores within 0.5% of the Ryzen 5 5600. This clustering indicates that the processor’s performance is highly typical for its price and class, but it also means that swapping in any of these alternatives would produce nearly identical results in Control. The GPU’s nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and RX 6850M XT, show that the RTX 5090 D is in a class of its own, with the closest competitor being 1.6% slower and the next being 2.1% slower.

The 76th rank out of 2,888 combos is a strong endorsement of this pairing for 4K gaming, but the measured FPS data reveals that the rank would be even higher if not for the CPU’s limitations at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the combo’s 218 FPS at Low settings is impressive but not exceptional for a GPU of this caliber, and the 163 FPS at Ultra is similarly constrained. The rank is therefore a reflection of the GPU’s dominance at 4K, rather than a statement about the overall balance of the system.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 218 at Low settings to 163 at Ultra, with Medium at 192 and High at 184. The Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 163 and a maximum of 220, indicating some frame pacing variability, but the overall averages are consistently high. The gap between Low and Ultra is 55 FPS, which is substantial, but the fact that Low only reaches 218 FPS — rather than 300+ FPS — is a clear sign of CPU limitation.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop to 198 at Low, 160 at Medium, 142 at High, and 124 at Ultra. The Medium preset records a minimum of 136 and a maximum of 184, showing a wider spread than at 1080p. The 4K resolution sees the most dramatic reductions: 152 at Low, 108 at Medium, 96 at High, and 83 at Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 124, which means even the lowest recorded frame rate stays above 90 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Across all resolutions, the High settings preset provides a balanced experience, but the data shows that the step from High to Ultra costs approximately 12-13% of performance at each resolution. The step from Low to Medium costs roughly 15-20%, while the step from Medium to High costs around 10-15%. The largest proportional drop occurs between Low and Medium at 4K, where the average falls from 152 to 108 FPS, a 29% reduction.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 D in Control?

A: Yes, at 1080p and 1440p. The 1080p Low average of 218 FPS is only 34 FPS higher than the 1080p Ultra average of 163 FPS, showing that the CPU caps performance regardless of graphical settings. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limit, as evidenced by the 152 FPS at Low versus 83 FPS at Ultra.

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

A: 4K is the optimal choice, as the GPU takes over the workload and delivers 96 FPS at High settings and 83 FPS at Ultra, both well above playable thresholds. At 1440p, the CPU limits the frame rate to between 124 and 198 FPS depending on settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 76th out of 2,888 combos, placing it in the top 2.6% of all tested systems. This rank is driven by the RTX 5090 D’s strength at 4K, where the CPU’s limitations are less impactful.

Q: What is the difference between High and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: The High preset averages 96 FPS, while Ultra averages 83 FPS, a 13 FPS difference. This is a 13.5% performance cost for the highest quality preset, which may be worthwhile for players prioritizing visual fidelity.

Q: Does the Medium preset offer a good balance of performance and quality?

A: Yes, at 1440p Medium averages 160 FPS with a minimum of 136 FPS, and at 4K Medium averages 108 FPS with a minimum of 92 FPS. These figures ensure smooth gameplay while maintaining moderate visual quality.

Q: How does the CPU’s synthetic performance relate to its in-game results?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600 scores 18,309 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,584 in single-core, ranking in the 74th percentile. These scores indicate solid general performance, but in Control, the single-thread and multi-thread scores are not high enough to fully unlock the RTX 5090 D at lower resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

For this specific pairing, the Ultra preset is the most compelling choice at 4K, despite being the most demanding. The 83 FPS average at 3840x2160 Ultra is fully playable and offers the best visual experience the game can deliver. The step down to High at 4K provides a 13 FPS improvement to 96 FPS, but the visual difference between High and Ultra in Control is often subtle, making Ultra the preferred option for players with a 4K display who want maximum quality.

At 1440p, the High preset at 142 FPS is the recommended balance, as it delivers excellent smoothness while maintaining high visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 124 FPS is also viable for players who prioritize quality over raw frame rate, but the 18 FPS gap between High and Ultra is more noticeable at this resolution. The Medium preset at 160 FPS is a solid fallback for those seeking higher refresh rates, with a minimum of 136 FPS ensuring no dips below 100 FPS.

At 1080p, the data suggests that the CPU is the limiting factor, so the choice of settings has a reduced impact on performance. The High preset at 184 FPS is adequate, but players with high-refresh monitors may prefer the Medium preset at 192 FPS, which offers a modest 8 FPS improvement. The Ultra preset at 163 FPS is the least recommended at this resolution, as the visual gains over High are minimal while the frame rate drops by 21 FPS. The Low preset is not recommended at any resolution, as the performance gains are small and the visual quality loss is significant. The best overall experience for this combo is 4K Ultra, leveraging the GPU’s power while accepting the CPU’s limitations.