Control

Control on this AMD Ryzen 5 5600G + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination presents a fascinating study in bottleneck dynamics. The data reveals a system where the GPU’s immense raw power is consistently held in check by the CPU, resulting in a performance curve that is surprisingly flat across resolutions. This pairing lands at rank 86 out of 2888 tested combos, which places it in the top 3% of all configurations, yet the pattern of scores suggests that the processor is the primary architect of the experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data tells a compelling story about where the limiting component lies in this system. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 213 FPS, but moving to 2560x1440 Low only drops this to 194 FPS, and at 4K Low it remains at 152 FPS. This is a remarkably shallow scaling curve. A system that were purely GPU-bound at 1080p would typically show a much steeper decline as pixel count quadruples, but here the drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is only about 28.6%, which strongly indicates that the CPU is reaching its ceiling long before the GPU is fully taxed.

The pattern becomes even more telling when examining the High settings across resolutions. At 1080p High, the combo produces 180 FPS, at 1440p High it manages 142 FPS, and at 4K High it falls to 96 FPS. The scaling here is more pronounced, with a 46.7% reduction from 1080p to 4K, suggesting that as settings increase, the GPU begins to play a larger role. However, even at 4K Ultra, the system still produces 83 FPS, which is a very playable frame rate. This suggests that the RTX 5090 D has substantial headroom that the Ryzen 5 5600G simply cannot feed at lower resolutions.

The most revealing data point is the comparison between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (213 FPS) and Ultra (163 FPS) is only 23.5%, which is a modest penalty for a massive visual quality increase. This narrow spread indicates that the CPU is the bottleneck at 1080p, as a GPU-limited scenario would show a much larger performance gap between the lowest and highest presets. The data implies that Control’s engine is heavily dependent on the processor for draw call submission and game logic, and the 5600G’s 6 cores are working to their maximum at these frame rates. At 4K, the spread between Low (152 FPS) and Ultra (83 FPS) widens to 45.4%, which shows that the GPU begins to assert its influence as the resolution increases, but the CPU still prevents the sort of massive frame rate differences one might expect from such a powerful graphics card.

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 results show a single-thread score of 872 in 3dmark_single_thread and a multicore score of 5455 in 3dmark_max_threads. These numbers place the CPU in the 74th percentile of all processors, which is respectable for a mainstream part. However, the data indicates that this processor is not enough to fully unlock the RTX 5090 D in Control.

The game’s results show that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 213 FPS, which is likely very close to the CPU’s maximum frame output. The fact that increasing the resolution to 1440p Low only reduces the frame rate to 194 FPS suggests that the CPU is still the primary constraint at this point. The 5600G’s 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s may be limiting factors in a game that requires rapid data access for physics and AI calculations. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 10551 indicates that the processor has decent multi-threaded capability, but Control may not be able to utilize all 12 threads efficiently, leaving the CPU to rely on its single-thread performance, which is only in the 872 range in 3dmark_single_thread.

The nearest rivals for this CPU include the Intel Core i3-1220P with an average score of 21066 and a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U with an average score of 21133 and a delta of -0.2%. These comparisons show that the 5600G is competitive with other mid-range parts, but none of these processors are in the same performance class as the RTX 5090 D. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 77712 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU’s average score of 21088 places it in the 74th percentile. This 18-percentile gap is a clear indication that the processor is the weaker link in this pairing, and the measured FPS data confirms this analysis.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 provides a strong balance, with 142 FPS at High settings and 194 FPS at Low settings. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 83 FPS, which is still playable but shows the GPU becoming more of a factor. The 1440p resolution offers high frame rates without the steep performance penalty seen at 4K.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 180 at 1080p to 142 at 1440p and finally to 96 at 4K. This represents a 46.7% reduction in frame rate from the lowest to the highest resolution, indicating that the GPU is being progressively more engaged as pixel count increases.

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

A: The data strongly suggests the CPU is the primary limiting factor at lower resolutions. The relatively small frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p (213 FPS vs 163 FPS, a 23.5% gap) indicates that the CPU is hitting its performance ceiling. At 4K, the wider spread between settings shows the GPU taking on more of the load.

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

A: This CPU and GPU pairing is ranked 86 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 3% of all configurations tested, which is a strong result overall, but the performance pattern suggests the CPU prevents it from achieving an even higher rank.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600G compare to its nearest rivals in terms of overall benchmark scores?

A: The 5600G has an average benchmark score of 21088. Its closest rival is the Intel Core i3-1220P with a score of 21066, which is 0.1% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 7530U scores 21133, which is 0.2% higher. These are very small differences, showing that the 5600G is right in the middle of its peer group.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K with Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. This is the only 4K setting with a reported minimum and maximum, showing a consistent range of performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the performance is consistently high, with the Low preset yielding the best result at 213 FPS. The Medium preset produces 187 FPS with a minimum of 159 FPS and a maximum of 215 FPS, showing a very stable range. High settings give 180 FPS, while Ultra reduces the frame rate to 163 FPS. The fact that the difference between Low and Ultra is only 50 FPS highlights the CPU limitation at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers show a clear step down. Low settings produce 194 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings average 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 184 FPS. High settings drop to 142 FPS, and Ultra settles at 124 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a reduction of 36.1%, which is more pronounced than at 1080p, indicating the GPU is starting to have a greater impact.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes more of a factor. Low settings still manage 152 FPS, which is impressive for 4K. Medium settings average 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS. High settings drop to 96 FPS, and Ultra produces 83 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 45.4%, which is the largest of any resolution, confirming that the GPU is now the more significant bottleneck. The data shows that while the system is capable of high frame rates at 4K Low, the CPU still limits the maximum achievable performance at lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 86 out of 2888 tested configurations places this pairing in the top 3% of all systems tested for Control. This is a strong overall position, but the data suggests that the CPU is holding back the GPU from achieving an even higher rank. The RTX 5090 D is a top-tier GPU, with an average benchmark score of 77712 and a percentile rank of 92, while the Ryzen 5 5600G has a percentile rank of only 74. This 18-point gap is significant and directly impacts the game’s performance.

The ranking indicates that there are 85 other combinations that perform better in this game. Given the GPU’s position in the 92nd percentile, it is likely that many of these higher-ranked combos feature more powerful processors that can better feed the RTX 5090 D. The data shows that the CPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the relatively flat performance scaling across resolutions. If the processor were more capable, the rank would likely be higher, as the GPU clearly has the potential to produce higher frame rates, especially at 1080p where the CPU is clearly the bottleneck.

The ranking also puts this combination ahead of the vast majority of systems, which confirms the raw power of the RTX 5090 D. Even with a mid-range processor, this combo can achieve 4K Ultra at 83 FPS and 1080p Low at 213 FPS, which are excellent results for most users. However, for those seeking the absolute maximum performance, the data implies that a more powerful CPU would be necessary to fully utilize the GPU’s capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 180 FPS is the recommended choice, as it offers a substantial visual upgrade over Medium (187 FPS) with minimal performance cost. The Ultra preset at 163 FPS is also viable, but the 17 FPS drop from High may not be worth the additional visual fidelity. The Low preset at 213 FPS is only for those seeking the absolute highest frame rate, which is likely unnecessary given the high performance at other settings.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 142 FPS is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The Medium preset at 160 FPS is a good alternative for those who prefer higher frame rates, but the difference between Medium and High is only 18 FPS, making High the more visually appealing option. The Ultra preset at 124 FPS is still above 60 FPS and provides the best visuals, but the scaling from High to Ultra shows a 12.7% performance penalty, which may be noticeable on high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 108 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides a smooth experience with a minimum of 92 FPS. The High preset at 96 FPS is also acceptable, but the 11.1% reduction in frame rate compared to Medium may not be worth the visual upgrade. The Low preset at 152 FPS is for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, while the Ultra preset at 83 FPS is only for those who demand the highest visual quality and can tolerate lower, though still playable, frame rates. The data suggests that Medium at 4K offers the best experience, as it maintains a comfortable frame rate while providing good visual fidelity.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a monstrous GPU built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. The GPU has 21760 shading units and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, which contributes to its FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS. Its average benchmark score of 77712 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT with a score of 76904 and a delta of 1.1%, and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT with a score of 78940 and a delta of -1.6%.

In Control, the GPU’s role is significant, but the data shows it is often underutilized due to the CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the GPU is likely idling, waiting for the CPU to send draw calls, which is why the frame rate of 213 FPS is not as high as the GPU could theoretically achieve. The GPU’s 32 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Control, as the game is unlikely to exceed even 8 GB at 4K Ultra, but the massive memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s ensures that texture streaming is never a bottleneck.

As the resolution increases to 4K, the GPU begins to work harder, as evidenced by the frame rate dropping from 213 FPS at 1080p Low to 152 FPS at 4K Low. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 45.4% reduction in frame rate, which is a much larger drop than at 1080p (23.5%). This suggests that at 4K Ultra, the GPU is finally being pushed to a significant extent. The GPU’s pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s are more than enough to handle the game’s demands at these resolutions, but the CPU’s inability to provide enough data prevents the GPU from reaching its full potential. The data indicates that the RTX 5090 D is a capable and powerful GPU, but in this particular pairing, it is constrained by the processor, resulting in a performance profile that is more limited than the GPU’s raw specifications would suggest.