Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, is a demanding title that stresses both CPU and GPU, but the data for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 combination reveals a fascinating bottleneck dynamic. The pairing of a mid-range 6-core Zen 3 processor with the flagship Blackwell GPU produces a frame rate profile that is more nuanced than a simple "it's fast" verdict. Across the 12 measured data points, this combo demonstrates that while the RTX 5090 is the dominant force for raw output, the Ryzen 5 5600F’s architectural limits become visible at lower resolutions, creating a scaling pattern that warrants close inspection.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable trend: performance degrades as resolution increases, but the rate of that degradation is not uniform across all settings. At Medium settings, the average frame rate falls from 165 FPS at 1920x1080 to 150 FPS at 2560x1440, a drop of 15 FPS, and then to 101 FPS at 3840x2160, a further drop of 49 FPS. This pattern indicates that the RTX 5090 is being increasingly utilized as pixel count rises, shifting the workload from the CPU to the GPU.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is relatively modest, suggesting that at 1080p the system is not fully GPU-bound. For instance, at High settings, the transition from 1920x1080 (158 FPS) to 2560x1440 (133 FPS) represents a 25 FPS loss. However, the drop from 1440p to 4K at High settings is a steeper 43 FPS (from 133 to 90 FPS), which is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor. The 4K resolution demands a massive amount of pixel throughput, and the data shows the RTX 5090 flexing its muscles here, albeit with less headroom.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more telling. The jump from 1080p (187 FPS) to 1440p (171 FPS) is only a 16 FPS loss, but the subsequent drop to 4K (142 FPS) is a 29 FPS loss. This suggests that even at Low settings, the CPU is able to feed the GPU adequately at 1080p and 1440p, but the sheer pixel load at 4K finally overwhelms the GPU’s ability to maintain the same frame rate. The fact that Low settings at 4K (142 FPS) are faster than Ultra settings at 1440p (116 FPS) underscores that resolution is the primary lever for GPU load.

Looking at the biggest gap, the Ultra preset at 4K (78 FPS) is the slowest measured point, while Low at 1080p (187 FPS) is the fastest. This 109 FPS spread between the most and least demanding scenarios highlights the extreme flexibility of this combo. The data implies that the limiting component is situational: at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU can become a constraint, preventing the RTX 5090 from reaching its full potential, whereas at 4K, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck, as evidenced by the steep FPS drops across all settings.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. It features a 32 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. In the context of Control, a game known for its physics-heavy environments and complex AI, the CPU's role is to manage game logic and draw calls. The benchmark results indicate that this processor is not a weak link, but its performance ceiling is visible in the data.

The PassMark single-thread score for the 5600F is 2872, which is a strong result for a processor in its class. This is crucial for Control, as it relies heavily on single-threaded performance for its main game loop. The multi-threaded score is 19236, which suggests that the 12 threads are adequately utilized, but the game does not appear to be a massive multi-threaded workload. The data shows that at 1080p, the FPS is capped at around 187 FPS on Low settings, which is likely close to the CPU's maximum frame output for this title.

Comparing the 5600F to its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score, it sits within a tight pack. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has an average score of 36938 with a deltaPct of 0, making it a direct equivalent. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is only 0.2% faster, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 0.4% faster. The Intel Core i9-12900T is 0.5% faster. This indicates that the 5600F is not an outlier in CPU performance; it is a competent mid-range chip that can handle modern games without being a significant bottleneck. However, the fact that the FPS at 1080p Low (187 FPS) is not significantly higher than at 1440p Low (171 FPS) suggests that the CPU is reaching its limit around the 170-190 FPS range, regardless of resolution.

The 65W TDP and 7nm process node suggest an efficient chip, but the data does not show any thermal throttling effects. The processor’s percentile rank of 85 vs all CPUs indicates that it is in the top 15% of all processors, which is respectable. For Control, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient to avoid stuttering, as evidenced by the min FPS values at Medium settings (140 FPS at 1080p, 127 FPS at 1440p, and 86 FPS at 4K). These minimums are still high, indicating that the CPU can maintain a consistent frame delivery without severe drops.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a behemoth, with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, resulting in a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its boost clock is 2407 MHz, and it has a massive 21760 shading units. This GPU is designed for 4K gaming and beyond, and the data confirms that it is the star of the show at higher resolutions. The 4K High setting yields 90 FPS, and 4K Ultra yields 78 FPS, which are excellent numbers for a demanding title like Control.

The GPU’s percentile rank of 92 vs all GPUs places it in the top 8% of all graphics cards, and its PassMark G3D score of 39650 confirms its raw power. The RTX 5090’s 32 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Control at any resolution, and the data shows no signs of memory bandwidth limitations. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming is never a bottleneck, even at 4K Ultra settings.

The role of the GPU becomes increasingly clear as resolution rises. At 1080p, the GPU is often idle, waiting for the CPU to send instructions. At 1440p, the workload is better balanced, but the GPU still has headroom. At 4K, the GPU is fully saturated, and the FPS drops are directly proportional to the increase in pixel count. For instance, at High settings, the GPU’s performance scales from 158 FPS at 1080p to 90 FPS at 4K, which is a 43% reduction in frame rate for a 4x increase in pixel count. This indicates that the GPU is not perfectly scaling, likely due to other bottlenecks like memory latency, but it is clearly the dominant factor.

The RTX 5090’s nearest rivals in benchmark scores are interesting, as they include a mix of data center and mobile GPUs. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is 1.1% slower. This shows that the RTX 5090 is in a league of its own for desktop gaming, but the deltaPct values are small, indicating that the benchmark scores are close. In Control, the GPU's raw power translates to high FPS, but the data suggests that the RTX 5090 is not fully utilized until 4K, where it can stretch its legs and show a 78 FPS minimum at Ultra settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 achieves a rank of 184 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 6.4% of all systems tested, which is a very strong showing. The rank is a composite measure that takes into account all measured FPS scenarios, and it indicates that this particular CPU-GPU pairing is well-suited for this game.

The high rank is somewhat surprising given the CPU is not a top-tier model, but it demonstrates that the RTX 5090 can carry the system to high frame rates even with a mid-range CPU. The fact that it ranks 184th suggests that there are 183 other combos that achieve better overall performance, likely featuring higher-end CPUs like the Ryzen 7 or Core i7 series paired with the same or similar GPUs. The data does not provide a breakdown of what those combos are, but it is reasonable to infer that the primary difference is the CPU's ability to push higher frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

The combo rank is a single number, but it is derived from the 12 measured data points. The system's performance is strongest at 4K, where the GPU is the limiting factor, and the CPU's relative weakness is masked. At 1080p, the system is likely leaving performance on the table, as the CPU cannot keep up with the GPU's potential. This is a classic case of a bottleneck, where the combo rank would be higher if the CPU were faster. The 184th rank reflects the GPU's dominance, but it also hints at the untapped potential of the RTX 5090 in this specific pairing.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 151 at Ultra to 187 at Low. The Medium preset yields 165 FPS, with a min of 140 and a max of 190. The High preset yields 158 FPS. This shows a tight clustering of results, with only a 36 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. The 1080p data suggests that the CPU is the primary limiter, as the GPU has ample headroom.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 116 at Ultra to 171 at Low. The Medium preset yields 150 FPS, with a min of 127 and a max of 172. The High preset yields 133 FPS. The scaling from 1080p is notable: for example, High settings drop from 158 to 133 FPS (a 25 FPS loss), and Low settings drop from 187 to 171 FPS (a 16 FPS loss). This indicates that the GPU is starting to become more relevant, but the CPU is still contributing to the frame rate limit.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 78 at Ultra to 142 at Low. The Medium preset yields 101 FPS, with a min of 86 and a max of 116. The High preset yields 90 FPS. The 4K results show a significant drop from 1440p, with the GPU now being the absolute bottleneck. For instance, High settings drop from 133 to 90 FPS (a 43 FPS loss), and Low settings drop from 171 to 142 FPS (a 29 FPS loss). The Ultra preset at 4K (78 FPS) is the lowest measured value, but it is still a playable frame rate for a single-player action-adventure game.

Looking at the min FPS data, the only preset with min values is Medium. At 1080p Medium, the min is 140 FPS, which is 85% of the average (165 FPS). At 1440p Medium, the min is 127 FPS, which is 85% of the average (150 FPS). At 4K Medium, the min is 86 FPS, which is 85% of the average (101 FPS). This consistent ratio suggests that the system has a stable frame delivery, with no severe stutters or hitches. The max FPS values are also consistent, with 190 FPS at 1080p Medium, 172 FPS at 1440p Medium, and 116 FPS at 4K Medium.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For 4K gaming, the Ultra preset provides an average of 78 FPS, which is a smooth experience for most players, but the High preset at 90 FPS offers a better balance between visual fidelity and performance. The Medium preset at 101 FPS is the best choice for those seeking a higher frame rate without sacrificing too much visual quality. The Low preset at 142 FPS is the fastest but will significantly reduce visual detail. For a 4K display, the data suggests that High or Medium is the sweet spot, as they provide 90-101 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

For 1440p gaming, the Ultra preset at 116 FPS is an excellent choice, offering near-maximum visual quality with a high frame rate. The High preset at 133 FPS is even better for competitive players, and the Medium preset at 150 FPS is ideal for those who want a high refresh rate experience. The Low preset at 171 FPS is the maximum frame rate achievable, but the visual downgrade may not be worth it. The data indicates that at 1440p, the system has enough headroom to run Ultra settings comfortably above 100 FPS.

For 1080p gaming, the situation is different. The Ultra preset at 151 FPS is the best visual option, and it is only 36 FPS slower than the Low preset at 187 FPS. The High preset at 158 FPS and Medium preset at 165 FPS are also excellent choices. Given that the CPU is likely the limiting factor at this resolution, there is little benefit to dropping below High settings, as the frame rate gains are minimal (from 158 to 187 FPS). The data suggests that the best experience at 1080p is to use High or Ultra settings to maximize visual quality, as the system is not GPU-bound.

In summary, the measured rows indicate that the system is most balanced at 1440p, where all settings presets provide playable frame rates. At 4K, the Medium or High presets are recommended to maintain a high frame rate. At 1080p, the Ultra or High presets are recommended to avoid leaving visual quality on the table.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo in Control?

A: The highest average FPS is 187, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: At 4K resolution, which settings preset provides the highest minimum FPS?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 is the only one with a min FPS value recorded, and it is 86 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its closest rival?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has a PassMark single-thread score of 2872. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225, has an average benchmark score that is exactly 0% different, making them equivalent in overall CPU benchmark performance.

Q: What is the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 158 at 1920x1080 to 90 at 3840x2160, a total loss of 68 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 5090's VRAM capacity a limiting factor in this game?

A: No, the RTX 5090 has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory, which is more than sufficient for Control. The data shows no indication of memory-related bottlenecks, as the FPS scales consistently with resolution.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems for Control?

A: The combo ranks 184th out of 2888 tested combos, placing it in the top 6.4% of all systems benchmarked for this game.