Control

Control with the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti presents a classic bottleneck scenario, where the GPU's age and memory configuration cap the experience. The measured data shows a system that can deliver playable frame rates at 1080p, but struggles significantly as resolution increases, revealing a hard ceiling imposed by the graphics card. This analysis breaks down the exact performance metrics, contextualizes them against other tested combos, and explains what the numbers imply for each component's role.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K in Control is steep and telling. At 1080p Low settings, the combo produces an average of 91 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 69 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 46 FPS. This represents a 49% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a substantial hit. The scaling suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor; if the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions since the CPU workload doesn't change much with pixel count.

The pattern intensifies at higher settings. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 57 at 1080p to 43 at 1440p and then 29 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at High is also around 49%, consistent with the Low setting behavior. This consistency indicates a purely GPU-bound performance profile. The GTX 1660 Ti is simply running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth as the render target grows, with the CPU having ample headroom to feed it frames.

Looking at the Ultra preset, the numbers confirm the trend: 50 FPS at 1080p, 38 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is effectively unplayable, and even 1440p Ultra sits below the smooth 60 FPS threshold. The data implies that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, with any attempt to push higher resolutions requiring significant settings compromises. The scaling curve is smooth and predictable, which is typical for a GPU-limited setup, leaving no doubt about which component dictates the experience.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the decisive factor in this system's Control performance. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is modest by modern standards. The 12 nm TU116 chip, with a base clock of 1500 MHz and boost of 1770 MHz, delivers a theoretical FP32 performance of 5.437 TFLOPS. These specifications place the GPU in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, indicating it sits below the median in overall capability.

Benchmark scores reinforce this position. The GPU's average benchmark score is 7723, with its nearest rivals being the AMD Radeon 540 (avg score 7673, deltaPct 0.7), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 (avg score 7580, deltaPct 1.9), and the AMD Radeon R7 250 (avg score 7557, deltaPct 2.2). The GTX 1660 Ti is only 0.7% ahead of the Radeon 540 in average score, showing that it sits at the very edge of its performance class. In DirectX 12, a key API for Control, the GPU scores 51 in Passmark, while its OpenCL score is 51029 in Geekbench. These figures illustrate a card that was entry-level at its launch and has since become outdated.

The 6 GB VRAM is likely a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. Control is a game known for its physics and particle effects, which can consume memory. While the measured data doesn't show explicit VRAM exhaustion, the significant FPS drops at 4K (down to 25 FPS on Ultra) suggest the card is struggling with both compute and memory bandwidth. The GPU's role here is clear: it is the bottleneck that prevents the Ryzen 5 7400F from demonstrating its full potential in this title.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of CPU and GPU ranks 2471 out of 2888 combos for Control. This places it in the bottom 15th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this specific game. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU alone would rank much higher if paired with a more capable graphics card.

The combo's rank of 2471 suggests that the vast majority of other tested systems deliver better performance in Control. This is not surprising given the GPU's 41st percentile standing. The data implies that users with this combo will experience performance comparable to older or lower-end systems, which is a significant drawback for a game that can be visually demanding. The combination is not well-balanced for this title, as the GPU holds back the entire system's potential.

To contextualize the CPU's potential, its average benchmark score is 32750, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T (avg score 32707, deltaPct 0.1) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (avg score 32812, deltaPct -0.2). This high CPU standing contrasts sharply with the GPU's low standing, highlighting the mismatch. The combo rank is thus dragged down entirely by the GPU, which is the weakest link in the chain for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of what to expect across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system performs best. Low settings yield an average of 91 FPS, Medium produces 64 FPS (with a minimum of 55 and maximum of 74), High delivers 57 FPS, and Ultra drops to 50 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system can handle even the Ultra preset with playable frame rates, though not at a high refresh rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance declines noticeably. Low averages 69 FPS, Medium drops to 49 FPS (min 41, max 56), High falls to 43 FPS, and Ultra is down to 38 FPS. At this resolution, only Low settings maintain a frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium and High presets are playable but not smooth, and Ultra is on the edge of being too sluggish for a fast-paced action game.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. Low averages 46 FPS, Medium drops to 33 FPS (min 28, max 38), High falls to 29 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 25 FPS. None of these results are ideal for a smooth experience. The data shows a clear pattern: to achieve a consistent 60 FPS, the user must play at 1080p with Low settings. For a 30 FPS experience, 4K Low is possible, but the visual quality will be significantly compromised.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a modern 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 5 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65W TDP. Its L3 cache is 32 MB shared, and it supports DDR5 memory on the AM5 socket. This CPU is a strong performer, as evidenced by its benchmark scores: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21765 and a single-core score of 3072.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle the game's physics, AI, and scene management. The data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck here. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 91 FPS, which is a solid result that indicates the CPU can feed frames quickly. The fact that performance drops so significantly at higher resolutions points to the GPU being the limiting factor, not the CPU. The Ryzen 5 7400F is likely operating well within its limits, with its 12 threads providing ample processing power for the game's logic.

The CPU's high percentile ranking (83rd) and strong multi-threaded performance suggest it is future-proof for many games, but in this specific pairing, its potential is unrealized. The GPU's 6 GB VRAM and older architecture are the primary constraints. The data implies that upgrading the GPU would yield massive performance gains in Control, while upgrading the CPU would provide little to no benefit. The CPU is simply waiting for a more capable GPU to pair with.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The data shows that 1080p Low settings is the only configuration that achieves a 60 FPS average, hitting 91 FPS. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 64 FPS, which is close to 60 but not as stable.

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

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases (from 91 FPS at 1080p Low to 46 FPS at 4K Low), which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU is performing well in the 83rd percentile, indicating it has plenty of headroom.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it averages 46 FPS. At Medium, High, and Ultra settings, the average FPS is 33, 29, and 25 respectively, which are not ideal for a smooth experience.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 2471 out of 2888 tested combos for Control, placing it in the bottom 15th percentile. This is a below-average result, largely due to the GPU's age and specifications.

Q: What is the GPU's performance level relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has an average benchmark score of 7723, which is only 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon 540 (7673) and 2.3% higher than the Intel Arc A310 (7550). It sits in the 41st percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What is the CPU's performance level relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 7400F has an average benchmark score of 32750, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707) and 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (32812). It sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs.

Settings Recommendations

The optimal settings for this system depend entirely on the user's target resolution. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 57 FPS is a good balance of visual quality and performance, though it does not hit a locked 60 FPS. For a smoother experience, the Medium preset at 64 FPS is recommended, as it provides a more consistent frame rate while still looking decent. The Ultra preset at 50 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast action.

At 1440p, the situation is more constrained. The Low preset at 69 FPS is the only option that provides a frame rate above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 49 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive. High at 43 FPS and Ultra at 38 FPS are less desirable for a game that requires quick reactions.

For 4K, the data suggests that only Low settings at 46 FPS are viable. The Medium preset at 33 FPS is borderline, and High at 29 FPS or Ultra at 25 FPS are not recommended for a playable experience. Given the significant performance drops, the best experience is achieved by playing at 1080p with Medium or High settings, which provides a good balance of visual fidelity and frame rate. The data clearly indicates that this system is best utilized as a 1080p gaming machine for Control.