Control

# Control with AMD Ryzen 5 5600X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a consistently playable experience across Control's resolution and settings ladder, with the data revealing a system that scales predictably from 1080p all the way to 4K. The measured frame rates show this combination landing at rank 1607 out of 3720 tested combos in this game, placing it in the upper portion of the database. Examining the full set of twelve measured rows — three resolutions at four quality presets each — the pattern is clear: this pairing favors high refresh 1440p gaming, while 4K remains viable with settings adjustments. The RTX 3070's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 1500 MHz base clock, boosting to 1725 MHz, form the backbone of these results, while the 5600X's six Zen 3 cores and 3.70 GHz base clock, boosting to 4.60 GHz, keep the pipeline fed without becoming the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K tells a compelling story about where the bottleneck lives in this Control configuration. At High settings, the measured average FPS falls from 100 at 1920x1080 to 76 at 2560x1440, then to 51 at 3840x2160 — a 49% reduction from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline indicates that the GPU becomes progressively more stressed as pixel count rises, which is typical for a visually demanding action-adventure title like Control, known for its physics-heavy environments and particle effects.

The Low settings preset exhibits an even more dramatic scaling curve. At 1920x1080 Low, the system produces 158 FPS average, which drops to 120 at 2560x1440 and 81 at 3840x2160. The 77 FPS gap between 1080p Low and 4K Low is substantial, representing a 48.7% performance hit. Interestingly, the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K at Low settings (39 FPS, or 32.5%) is slightly larger than the equivalent drop at High settings (25 FPS, or 32.9%) — though the percentages are remarkably close, suggesting a consistent GPU-bound scaling pattern regardless of preset.

Medium settings follow the same trajectory: 112 FPS at 1080p, 85 at 1440p, and 57 at 4K. The Ultra preset, which pushes the game to its maximum visual fidelity, delivers 87 FPS at 1080p, 66 at 1440p, and 44 at 4K. Across all four presets, the 4K to 1080p ratio hovers around 0.50 to 0.55, meaning 4K roughly halves the frame rate relative to 1080p. This consistent halving strongly implies the RTX 3070 is the limiting component — the CPU's workload does not scale linearly with resolution, so if the processor were the constraint, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at higher resolutions rather than continue dropping.

The data also reveals diminishing returns when lowering settings at 4K. Moving from Ultra to High at 3840x2160 gains only 7 FPS (44 to 51), while High to Medium gains 6 FPS (51 to 57), and Medium to Low gains 24 FPS (57 to 81). The largest jump occurs between Medium and Low, suggesting that Low settings remove a significant rendering burden — likely related to volumetric effects or shadow complexity — that disproportionately impacts 4K performance on this GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, built on the Ampere architecture with the GA104 chip, is the driving force behind these Control frame rates. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus delivers 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves sufficient for this title even at 4K Ultra — the lowest measured result is 44 FPS, so there is no evidence of memory capacity stalling performance. The GPU's 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output processors provide the raw throughput needed for Control's detailed environments and combat sequences.

Clock behavior plays a notable role in the observed scaling. The base clock of 1500 MHz, boosting to 1725 MHz, is modest for a high-end card, but the 20.31 TFLOPS FP32 performance indicates the architecture's efficiency. The 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores are present in this GPU, though the measured FPS data does not specify whether ray tracing or DLSS were enabled — the results should be interpreted as standard rasterization performance. The GPU's pixel rate of 165.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 317.4 GTexel/s are the specifications that directly influence how quickly Control can fill its screen with detailed textures and effects.

The GPU's benchmark profile places it at the 61st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, scores 17083 — a 0.7% difference — while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, trailing by 1%. On the upper side, the NVIDIA Tesla K40c scores 17468, putting the RTX 3070 1.5% behind that compute-oriented card. These tight deltas indicate that the RTX 3070 sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier, which aligns with its Control performance — strong at 1440p, acceptable at 4K with settings compromise.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is worth scrutinizing given Control's reputation for high-resolution textures. At 4K Ultra, the GPU maintains 44 FPS average, and while this is playable, it is not comfortable. The fact that Low settings at 4K nearly double that to 81 FPS suggests that texture memory pressure is not the primary limitation — if it were, we would expect to see stuttering or severe frame dips rather than a clean scaling curve. The Medium preset's min FPS of 49 at 4K (with a max of 66) shows some variance, but this is within normal ranges for a demanding title.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 3720 CPU-GPU combinations tested in Control, this pairing holds the 1607th position. This rank places it in the 43rd percentile — meaning approximately 57% of tested combos perform better, while 43% perform worse. The measured FPS data (not synthetic benchmarks) drives this ranking, making it a direct reflection of real-world gaming performance in this specific title.

The CPU's standalone ranking helps contextualize this combo position. The Ryzen 5 5600X sits at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 21771. Its nearest rivals show remarkably tight competition: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H scores 21749 (0.1% lower), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U scores 21874 (0.5% higher), the Intel Core i7-11700 scores 21891 (0.5% higher), and the AMD EPYC 9554P scores 21899 (0.6% higher). This clustering suggests the 5600X is well-matched to its peers, and its 75th percentile CPU standing is notably higher than the combo's 43rd percentile game rank — indicating that the GPU is holding the combo back in Control rather than the processor.

The GPU's 61st percentile among all GPUs provides the counterpoint. When a 75th-percentile CPU pairs with a 61st-percentile GPU, the resulting game performance will typically land between those percentiles, weighted toward the GPU in graphically intensive titles. Control, with its heavy visual effects and destructible environments, is exactly such a game. The combo rank of 1607 out of 3720 (43rd percentile) sits below both component percentiles, reinforcing that this game is demanding on the graphics subsystem and that the RTX 3070, while capable, does not boost the pairing above its component average.

This ranking also implies that users with higher-tier GPUs would see meaningful gains in Control with this CPU. The 5600X's 12 threads and 32 MB of L3 cache are not the limiting factor here; the data suggests headroom exists for a more powerful GPU to push higher frame rates, particularly at 1080p where the CPU's role is more prominent.

Settings Recommendations

For 4K display owners, the measured data offers a clear hierarchy. Ultra at 3840x2160 delivers 44 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players prefer for a fast-paced action game. High settings at 4K improve this to 51 FPS, still short of 60. Medium at 4K reaches 57 FPS, with a min of 49 and max of 66 — this is the closest to playable smoothness at this resolution. Low settings at 4K achieve 81 FPS, which is fully playable but sacrifices significant visual quality. The data suggests Medium is the sweet spot for 4K: it maintains 57 FPS average while preserving more visual fidelity than Low, and the min FPS of 49 indicates occasional dips but nothing catastrophic.

At 2560x1440, the picture brightens considerably. High settings produce 76 FPS, which is smooth for most players. Medium reaches 85 FPS (min 72, max 98), providing headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra at 1440p delivers 66 FPS, which is playable and visually rich. Low at 1440p hits 120 FPS, ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. For the best balance of quality and performance at 1440p, High settings at 76 FPS is the recommended starting point, with Ultra available for those who prioritize visuals over the 10 FPS difference.

At 1920x1080, all presets are playable. Low reaches 158 FPS, Medium 112 FPS (min 96, max 129), High 100 FPS, and Ultra 87 FPS. For 1080p, the recommendation is Ultra at 87 FPS — this resolution has enough GPU headroom to run maximum settings while maintaining above-60 FPS performance. The 13 FPS gap between High and Ultra is worth the visual upgrade for most players. Only those with 144 Hz or higher refresh rate monitors should consider dropping to High or Medium to push frame rates above 100.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset shows the most consistent minimum FPS data — it is the only preset with recorded min/max values, showing tighter frame pacing (e.g., 96-129 at 1080p, 72-98 at 1440p, 49-66 at 4K) compared to what the averages suggest for other presets.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K 60 FPS?

A: No. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 81 (Low settings), but the best visual preset that approaches 60 FPS is Medium at 57 FPS average. Ultra at 4K delivers 44 FPS, High delivers 51 FPS — none reach 60 FPS.

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

A: 2560x1440 provides the best balance. High settings achieve 76 FPS, Medium 85 FPS, and Ultra 66 FPS, all comfortably above 60 FPS while maintaining good visual quality.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3070 scores 17208 on average. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is 0.7% lower (17083), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 is 1% lower (17037), and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M is 1.1% lower (17019). The NVIDIA Tesla K40c is 1.5% higher (17468).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in Control?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The 5600X ranks at the 75th percentile among CPUs, while the RTX 3070 ranks at the 61st percentile among GPUs. The combo's game rank of 1607 out of 3720 (43rd percentile) is lower than both, implying the GPU constrains performance.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra is 87. This is playable and represents the maximum visual quality at the lowest resolution tested.

Q: How much performance is lost going from 1080p to 4K?

A: Across all presets, 4K roughly halves the frame rate compared to 1080p. At High settings, the drop is from 100 to 51 FPS (49% reduction); at Low, from 158 to 81 (48.7% reduction); at Medium, from 112 to 57 (49.1% reduction); at Ultra, from 87 to 44 (49.4% reduction).

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, a Zen 3 architecture chip codenamed Vermeer, provides the processing foundation for this combo. Its six cores and twelve threads operate at a 3.70 GHz base clock with a 4.60 GHz boost clock, and the 65 W TDP reflects the efficiency of the 7 nm TSMC process node. The 32 MB of L3 cache, distributed across the chiplet design, is ample for gaming workloads, and the 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth from dual-channel DDR4 support is standard for this generation.

In Control, the CPU's role is evident from the resolution scaling data. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 158 FPS, which is high enough that CPU overhead could become a factor. However, the smooth scaling to 120 FPS at 1440p Low and 81 FPS at 4K Low indicates the CPU is keeping pace — if the 5600X were struggling, we would expect to see frame rates plateau or become erratic at lower resolutions where GPU load is lighter. The 3dmark scores support this: single-thread performance of 917, 2-thread of 1793, and 8-thread of 4811 indicate strong per-core performance, which is critical for games like Control that rely on a few heavily loaded threads for game logic and physics.

The CPU's benchmark profile shows it outperforming its nearest rivals in average score. At 21771, it edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (21749, 0.1% lower), while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U (21874) and Intel Core i7-11700 (21891) are 0.5% higher. The AMD EPYC 9554P at 21899 is 0.6% higher. This tight grouping suggests the 5600X is right at the expected performance level for its class, and in Control, it contributes enough to keep the RTX 3070 fed.

The CPU's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11838 and single-core of 1541 indicate balanced performance that translates well to gaming. The Geekbench multicore score of 9173 and single-core of 1989 further confirm this. For Control specifically, the CPU's 12 threads handle the game's background simulation tasks while the six cores provide the high-frequency response needed for frame pacing. The PassMark single-thread score of 3364 places it in a strong position for games that are not fully multithreaded.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS dataset for this combo in Control is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Ultra: 44 FPS average
• High: 51 FPS average
• Medium: 57 FPS average (min 49, max 66)
• Low: 81 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Ultra: 66 FPS average
• High: 76 FPS average
• Medium: 85 FPS average (min 72, max 98)
• Low: 120 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Ultra: 87 FPS average
• High: 100 FPS average
• Medium: 112 FPS average (min 96, max 129)
• Low: 158 FPS average

Examining the data row by row, the Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, providing insight into frame variance. At 4K Medium, the range spans 49 to 66 FPS, a 17 FPS spread that indicates some scene-dependent variability. At 1440p Medium, the range is 72 to 98 FPS (26 FPS spread), and at 1080p Medium, 96 to 129 FPS (33 FPS spread). The widening ranges at lower resolutions suggest that as GPU load decreases, the CPU's ability to feed frames becomes more variable, though the averages remain respectable.

The scaling factors between presets at each resolution are consistent. At 4K, Low is 1.59x Medium (81 vs 57), Medium is 1.13x High (57 vs 51), and High is 1.16x Ultra (51 vs 44). At 1440p, Low is 1.41x Medium (120 vs 85), Medium is 1.12x High (85 vs 76), and High is 1.15x Ultra (76 vs 66). At 1080p, Low is 1.41x Medium (158 vs 112), Medium is 1.12x High (112 vs 100), and High is 1.15x Ultra (100 vs 87). The near-identical ratios between Medium-to-High and High-to-Ultra across all resolutions suggest the settings tiers impose similar relative costs, while the Low-to-Medium gap is larger and more variable (1.41x to 1.59x), indicating that Low settings remove a significant rendering feature that has a disproportionate impact at higher resolutions.

The frame rate deltas between resolutions at each preset are also informative. At Ultra, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 21 FPS (87 to 66), and from 1440p to 4K is 22 FPS (66 to 44) — nearly identical steps. At High, the drops are 24 FPS (100 to 76) and 25 FPS (76 to 51). At Medium, they are 27 FPS (112 to 85) and 28 FPS (85 to 57). At Low, they are 38 FPS (158 to 120) and 39 FPS (120 to 81). The consistent step sizes at each preset indicate that resolution scaling in Control is linear and GPU-bound, with no unexpected bottlenecks appearing at any configuration.