Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in Control, with performance that scales predictably across resolutions and settings. The data indicates a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s capabilities become more relevant at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the component roles, and offers guidance on optimizing the experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected decline as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that decline reveals the system’s limiting component. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces an average of 87.6 FPS. Moving to 1440p reduces this to 67.9 FPS, a drop of roughly 22.5%. At 4K, the average falls to 45.6 FPS, which is a 47.9% reduction from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario; the RX 6700 XT is being pushed harder as pixel count rises, while the CPU has ample headroom.

The story is similar when comparing Low settings across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system hits 145.2 FPS, which drops to 107.6 FPS at 1440p and 71 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is about 25.9%, and from 1080p to 4K it is 51.1%. The fact that the relative performance loss is consistent across both High and Low presets suggests that the GPU’s rendering workload is the dominant factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS gap between resolutions to shrink at lower settings, where the GPU has less work to do. Instead, the gap remains proportionally similar, indicating the RX 6700 XT is the constraining component.

The Ultra preset at 4K yields only 43 FPS, while the Low preset at the same resolution yields 71 FPS. This 28 FPS difference highlights how much headroom exists in the settings, but it also shows that even at Low, 4K is demanding on this GPU. At 1080p, the spread is wider: 80.5 FPS on Ultra versus 145.2 FPS on Low. The data suggests that for 4K gaming, the user must accept either a lower preset or a sub-60 FPS experience. For 1440p, the situation is more comfortable, with High delivering 67.9 FPS and Ultra delivering 60.9 FPS, both playable. At 1080p, all presets exceed 80 FPS, making it the resolution where this combo offers the most flexibility.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19983. This positions it as a capable mid-range part, but not a top-tier performer. In synthetic tests, it scores 16758 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2365 in single-core, which are respectable figures for its class.

In the context of Control, the CPU’s role appears to be secondary to the GPU, but not negligible. The fact that the FPS drops from 145.2 at 1080p Low to 87.6 at 1080p High shows that the GPU is still the main driver of performance, even at lower resolutions. However, the CPU must be able to feed the GPU with enough frames. The 5600G’s 12 threads and 16 MB of L3 cache are sufficient to avoid becoming a major bottleneck in this title, as evidenced by the high frame rates achievable at 1080p.

Comparing the 5600G to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is very closely matched with the Intel Core i7-11600H, which has a 0.2% higher average score, and the Intel Core i7-11800H, which is 0.2% lower. This suggests that the CPU is not an outlier in either direction; it performs exactly as expected for its position. The 5600G’s single-thread performance, with a Geekbench single-core score of 1933, is adequate for Control’s game logic and physics, but the game’s engine is not known for being extremely CPU-intensive. Therefore, the 5600G provides a stable foundation without being the source of any significant performance ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a 60 FPS target, the 1440p High preset is the sweet spot, delivering 67.9 FPS. This offers a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. If the user prioritizes higher frame rates, dropping to 1440p Medium yields 76.9 FPS, which is a noticeable improvement without a drastic visual downgrade. The Ultra preset at 1440p, at 60.9 FPS, is borderline, and the data suggests that High is the better choice for consistency.

At 1080p, the situation is much more forgiving. The High preset delivers 87.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Low preset at 145.2 FPS or the Medium preset at 99.3 FPS are viable options. The Ultra preset at 80.5 FPS is also playable, making 1080p the only resolution where the Ultra preset is a comfortable choice. The data shows that the gap between Medium and High at 1080p is only about 11.7 FPS, so the High preset is generally recommended for the visual improvements it brings.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. The High preset at 45.6 FPS is below the 60 FPS target, and the Ultra preset at 43 FPS is even lower. The Medium preset at 54 FPS is closer but still not ideal. The Low preset at 71 FPS is the only 4K option that clears the 60 FPS bar, but it requires significant visual compromises. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo is possible but only at lower settings, and users seeking a high-quality 4K experience would be better served by lowering the resolution to 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination ranks 868th out of 1636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 47th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it performs better than roughly half of the systems tested. This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the hardware’s individual positions: the CPU is in the 78th percentile and the GPU is in the 77th percentile, but the combination’s overall ranking is dragged down by the fact that many other systems pair higher-end CPUs with this GPU or vice versa.

The GPU’s nearest rivals provide context. The RX 6700 XT has an average benchmark score of 33721, which is 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6800 and 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA RTX A5000. This indicates the GPU is a solid performer, but not a standout. The CPU’s rivals are similarly close, with the 5600G scoring within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX. This suggests that the combo’s ranking is not due to any single weak component, but rather the result of being a balanced mid-range pairing.

The data shows that this combo is not a top-tier configuration. A rank of 868 out of 1636 means there are many systems that achieve higher frame rates in Control. However, it also means that the combo is not a poor performer; it sits squarely in the middle of the pack. For a user with a 1080p or 1440p monitor, this ranking is more than adequate, as the measured FPS at those resolutions is generally high. The ranking is more concerning for 4K gaming, where the combo’s performance is at the lower end of the spectrum.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60 FPS consistently?

A: The data shows that 1440p High settings deliver 67.9 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target. At 1080p, all presets exceed 80 FPS, making it the most comfortable resolution.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The FPS drops proportionally with resolution increases, and the CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 78th percentile, suggesting it has sufficient headroom.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The Low preset at 4K achieves 71 FPS, while the High preset drops to 45.6 FPS and Ultra to 43 FPS.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 868th out of 1636 combos, placing it in the middle of the pack. The GPU scores 0.7% higher than the RX 6800, and the CPU is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-11800H.

Q: What is the performance difference between Medium and High settings at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset delivers 99.3 FPS, while the High preset delivers 87.6 FPS, a difference of 11.7 FPS. The High preset is recommended for the visual improvement at a minor FPS cost.

Q: Does the CPU’s 6-core/12-thread configuration hold back the GPU?

A: The data suggests not. The CPU’s multi-threaded score of 16758 in Cinebench R23 and its single-thread score of 2365 are sufficient to keep the GPU fed, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low (145.2 FPS).