Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers playable but not exceptional performance in Control, with the data showing a clear pattern: this pairing is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p, becomes more demanding at 1440p, and struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K. The combo ranks 1875th out of 2888 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the field, which reflects a system that is competent for mainstream gaming but not optimized for maximum visual fidelity at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, and built on TSMC’s 5 nm process node. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU features a 32 MB shared L3 cache, along with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. Memory support is DDR5, with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. In terms of synthetic benchmarks, this chip scores 21,765 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,072 in single-core, while its Passmark multi-thread score is 25,645 and single-thread score is 3,689. The processor sits at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,750. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T, which scores 32,707 (0.1% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H at 32,812 (0.2% higher), showing this CPU is closely matched with those parts in overall compute performance.

In Control, the CPU’s role is significant but secondary to the GPU at most settings. The game is an action-adventure title that relies heavily on physics and particle effects, which can stress processor threads, but the measured FPS data indicates that this 6-core/12-thread configuration provides sufficient headroom to avoid becoming the primary bottleneck at 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 122 FPS average, which is the highest result in the entire measured dataset. This suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough frames at lower resolutions, where the graphics card has less work to do per frame. The boost clock of 4.70 GHz, combined with the Zen 4 architecture’s strong single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,072), helps maintain consistent frame pacing in scenes with complex interactions. The Passmark physics score of 1,660 further indicates that the CPU can handle the game’s physical simulation demands without significant drops. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 34, and while the CPU is still working, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor as resolution and settings increase. The data shows no evidence of CPU-bound frame rate caps, as the 122 FPS at 1080p Low is well within the range of what this processor can support, given its multi-thread score of 25,645. The L3 cache of 32 MB is shared across all cores, which aids in reducing memory latency during gameplay, but the game’s performance scaling from 1080p to 4K (dropping from 122 to 34 FPS at Low settings) indicates that the GPU’s workload dominates as resolution climbs. For this specific title, the Ryzen 5 7400F provides enough compute power to keep up with the RX 6650 XT at all tested settings, with no measurable CPU bottleneck visible in the FPS data.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip, manufactured on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 280.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock is 2055 MHz, with a boost clock of 2635 MHz and a game clock of 2410 MHz. Memory operates at 2190 MHz, which translates to 17.5 Gbps effective. The card has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, along with 32 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 168.6 GPixel/s, texture rate is 337.3 GTexel/s, and FP32 performance is 10.79 TFLOPS. The GPU’s TDP is 176 W, and it uses a single 8-pin power connector with a suggested PSU of 450 W. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 17,166 in Passmark G3D and 75,32 in Passmark GPU compute. Its percentile ranking is 65th among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,765. Nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (19,885, 0.6% higher) and the AMD FirePro W7000 (19,905, 0.7% lower), indicating this card sits in a performance tier that is slightly below those professional-grade parts in raw compute but is optimized for gaming workloads.

In Control, the GPU’s role is dominant across all tested resolutions and settings. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gameplay, as evidenced by the FPS results, but at 4K, the card begins to show its limitations. At 4K High settings, the average FPS is 39, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 34 FPS. The memory bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s, while respectable for a mid-range card, becomes a constraint at higher resolutions where the game requires more data throughput for textures and effects. The boost clock of 2635 MHz helps maintain performance in less demanding scenes, but the overall frame rates at 4K suggest the GPU is fully utilized. At 1080p Low, the card delivers 122 FPS, showing that it has enough raw power to handle the game at lower settings with high frame rates. The 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it in the mid-range tier, and the data confirms this: it can handle 1080p with ease, manage 1440p with some compromises, but struggles at 4K. The FP32 performance of 10.79 TFLOPS and the 32 ray tracing cores are relevant for Control’s visual effects, but the game’s measured FPS at 4K (34-63 FPS depending on settings) indicates that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute capacity are not sufficient for 4K Ultra settings. The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for the game’s textures at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the card’s 128-bit memory bus and 280.3 GB/s bandwidth become limiting factors, as the game requires more data to be processed per frame. The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, while at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU and GPU work together more evenly, with the GPU still being the main driver of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 1875th out of 2888 tested combos in Control, which places it in the 35th percentile of all tested systems. This ranking reflects a mid-tier configuration that is capable of running the game, but it is not among the top performers. For context, the CPU’s percentile ranking is 83rd among all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 65th percentile, meaning the GPU is the weaker component in this pairing relative to the broader hardware landscape. The combo’s rank of 1875 suggests that many other systems, particularly those with higher-end GPUs, will outperform this setup in Control. The data shows that the average FPS across all measured settings and resolutions is roughly 67 FPS (calculated from the 12 data points), which is decent but not outstanding for a game like Control that can be demanding at higher settings. The rank of 1875 out of 2888 means that about 65% of tested combos perform better, indicating that this is a budget-to-midrange solution. However, the CPU’s strong performance (83rd percentile) helps mitigate the GPU’s limitations, especially at lower resolutions. The nearest rivals for the GPU, such as the NVIDIA Tesla K40m and AMD FirePro W7000, have similar synthetic scores but are not designed for gaming, so in real-world gaming scenarios, the RX 6650 XT should outperform those parts. The combo’s rank is also affected by the game’s optimization; Control is known for its use of DirectX 12 and ray tracing, which can strain GPUs with limited VRAM and bandwidth. The 8 GB VRAM on the RX 6650 XT is a potential weak point, but at 1080p and 1440p, it is sufficient. The rank of 1875 is not a failure; it indicates a playable system for 1080p gaming with high settings, and 1440p with medium-to-high settings, but 4K gaming is not viable for smooth gameplay. Compared to the CPU’s rivals, the Ryzen 5 7400F holds its own, being within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 and 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-14600T in average score, but the GPU’s mid-range positioning pulls the combo down in the overall ranking.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings levels. At 1080p, the combo delivers 122 FPS average on Low settings, 87 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 74 and maximum of 100), 77 FPS on High, and 67 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system is capable of high refresh rate gaming, especially at Low and Medium settings, where it exceeds 60 FPS comfortably. The drop from Low to Ultra is 55 FPS (122 to 67), which is a 45% reduction, indicating that the GPU is handling the increased workload as settings rise. At 1440p, the performance decreases: Low settings yield 93 FPS, Medium 66 FPS (minimum 56, maximum 76), High 58 FPS, and Ultra 51 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is 29 FPS (122 to 93), a 24% decrease, while at Ultra settings it is 16 FPS (67 to 51), a 24% decrease as well. This shows that resolution scaling is consistent across settings, with the GPU being the primary limiter. At 4K, the performance becomes marginal: Low settings produce 63 FPS, Medium 44 FPS (minimum 38, maximum 51), High 39 FPS, and Ultra 34 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 59 FPS (122 to 63), a 48% reduction, while at Ultra settings it is 33 FPS (67 to 34), a 49% reduction. This indicates that the GPU’s limitations at 4K are significant, and only Low settings at 4K approach playable frame rates. The minimum FPS data, available only for Medium settings, shows 74 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and 38 FPS at 4K, which suggests that the game can experience frame dips in demanding scenes, but these are less severe at lower resolutions. The maximum FPS at Medium settings is 100 at 1080p, 76 at 1440p, and 51 at 4K, indicating that the system can occasionally reach higher frame rates but is generally limited by the GPU’s processing power. Overall, the measured FPS data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve 60+ FPS at all settings, with 1440p being playable at Medium and Low settings, and 4K being only viable at Low settings.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior of this combo reveals that the GPU is the limiting component as resolution increases. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 24% across all settings. For example, at Low settings, the FPS drops from 122 to 93, a decrease of 29 FPS (23.8%). At High settings, it drops from 77 to 58, a decrease of 19 FPS (24.7%). This consistent percentage drop indicates that the GPU’s workload scales linearly with the increase in pixel count from 1080p to 1440p (a 78% increase in pixels), but the actual FPS drop is smaller, suggesting that the GPU is not fully saturated at 1080p and has some headroom. However, from 1440p to 4K, the FPS drops more significantly. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 93 to 63, a decrease of 30 FPS (32.3%). At Ultra settings, it drops from 51 to 34, a decrease of 17 FPS (33.3%). The larger percentage drop from 1440p to 4K (which is a 125% increase in pixels) indicates that the GPU is becoming fully utilized, and the 8 GB VRAM and 280.3 GB/s memory bandwidth are not sufficient to maintain performance. The data shows that at 4K, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU’s performance (83rd percentile) is more than adequate for the game’s CPU demands. The fact that the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 48% (122 to 63) and at Ultra settings is 49% (67 to 34) suggests that the GPU’s raw compute power, not the CPU, is dictating performance. The CPU’s boost clock of 4.70 GHz and 12 threads are sufficient to keep up with the GPU’s frame output, as evidenced by the 122 FPS at 1080p Low, which is a frame rate that would require a capable CPU to sustain. The memory bandwidth of the GPU (280.3 GB/s) is a likely contributor to the steep drop at 4K, as Control’s high-resolution textures and effects require more data transfer. The resolution scaling analysis confirms that this combo is optimized for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being a stretch that only works at Low settings. The 39 FPS at 4K High and 34 FPS at 4K Ultra are below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay, and even the 63 FPS at 4K Low is marginal, as it may dip below 60 in demanding scenes. This indicates that the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for 4K gaming in Control, and users should stick to 1440p or lower for a consistent experience.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1080p is the best resolution for this combo, as it delivers 67 FPS at Ultra settings and 122 FPS at Low settings. At 1440p, the Ultra setting drops to 51 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, so 1080p is the only resolution where all settings achieve playable frame rates.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Control?

A: The measured FPS at 4K shows that only Low settings achieve a playable average of 63 FPS. Medium settings drop to 44 FPS, High to 39 FPS, and Ultra to 34 FPS. These results indicate that 4K gaming is not viable for this combo beyond Low settings, and even that is borderline.

Q: How does the CPU’s performance compare to its rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 5 7400F has an average benchmark score of 32,750, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600T (32,707) and 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (32,812). Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, is 0.3% behind at 32,662.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking and what does it mean?

A: The RX 6650 XT is at the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,765. This places it in the mid-range tier, meaning it outperforms 65% of GPUs but is behind higher-end models. In Control, this translates to strong 1080p performance but limited 4K capabilities.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM cause issues in Control?

A: The data shows that at 4K settings, the FPS drops significantly (e.g., 63 FPS at Low to 34 FPS at Ultra), which suggests that the 8 GB VRAM and 280.3 GB/s memory bandwidth are insufficient for high-resolution textures. At 1080p and 1440p, the VRAM is adequate, as frame rates are playable.

Q: How does the combo’s rank of 1875 out of 2888 compare to the individual component rankings?

A: The CPU is at the 83rd percentile, and the GPU is at the 65th percentile, but the combo ranks 1875th out of 2888, which is roughly the 35th percentile. This discrepancy indicates that the GPU’s mid-range performance drags down the overall system ranking, as many other combos with similar CPUs but better GPUs outperform this setup in Control.