Control

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a solid, if not spectacular, 1080p and 1440p experience in Control, with the data showing a clear drop-off at 4K. This combo ranks in the 35th percentile among all tested combinations in this game, indicating that while it is capable of smooth gameplay at mainstream resolutions, it is outpaced by a significant majority of other pairings. The measured FPS results show that the GPU is the primary driver of performance, as scaling from Low to Ultra settings produces dramatic framerate shifts across all three resolutions tested.

FAQ

*Q: What is the combo's overall rank in Control?*

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination ranks 1875th out of 2888 tested combos for this game.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 provides the highest framerates, with an average of 122 FPS at Low settings and 67 FPS at Ultra. 2560x1440 is also playable, with averages ranging from 93 FPS at Low to 51 FPS at Ultra.

Q: How much VRAM does the RX 6650 XT have?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the GPU?

A: The GPU has a base clock of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 7500X3D has an average benchmark score of 44573, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i9-13950HX, and 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385. It is 0.7% lower than the Intel Core i5-14600.

Q: Is the CPU's performance a bottleneck in this game?

A: Given the significant performance drops when raising settings or resolution, the data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU's strong multi-threaded score of 25047 in Passmark suggests it has ample headroom for this title.

Q: What are the CPU's core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

How This Combo Ranks

The data places this specific combination at rank 1875 out of 2888 tested configurations for Control. This ranking, which puts it in the bottom 35% of all combos, reflects a pairing that is capable but not top-tier for this particular title. The rank is a holistic measure that accounts for performance across all tested settings and resolutions. The fact that this combo is not higher on the list suggests that while it can run the game, many other hardware pairings deliver higher average framerates, particularly at higher resolutions and graphical presets.

This position is not a condemnation, but rather a contextual placement. The combo's performance is largely dictated by the GPU's specifications, which are positioned at the 65th percentile among all GPUs. The CPU, however, is a much stronger component, sitting at the 89th percentile among all CPUs. This asymmetry is the key takeaway. The system has a high-end processor paired with a mid-range graphics card, and in a GPU-intensive game like Control, the graphics card's capabilities will define the overall experience. The ranking of 1875 suggests that for users seeking to maximize frame rates, the GPU would be the first component to consider upgrading, as the CPU has significant performance overhead that is not being fully utilized. The delta between the CPU's and GPU's percentile rankings highlights this imbalance. The result is a combo that delivers a very consistent experience at 1080p and a playable one at 1440p, but it falls behind other pairings that feature more powerful graphics solutions, especially when the graphical load is increased to the Ultra preset.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the central performance arbiter in this pairing for Control. Its specifications, including 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 128-bit memory bus, produce a memory bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. This bandwidth is a critical factor in a game like Control, which features a dense, physics-heavy environment. The data shows that the GPU's capabilities are the primary determinant of the measured FPS, with the game's settings and resolution having a massive impact on the average framerate.

The GPU's clock speeds—a base of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz—are the engine driving these results. The boost clock is the maximum speed the card can achieve, and the game clock is the typical speed expected during sustained gaming loads. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Control, but the data suggests it may be a limiting factor at 4K, where the High and Ultra presets yield average FPS of 39 and 34, respectively. This is likely due to the combination of higher resolution textures and the increased memory pressure from the game's complex scenes. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 17166 and its 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirm its position as a mid-range performer. Its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA Tesla K40m and AMD FirePro D300, have very similar average scores, with the RX 6650 XT being 0.6% lower than the Tesla K40m and 0.7% higher than the FirePro D300.

The GPU's performance characteristics are directly visible in the FPS data. At 1920x1080, the card is able to stretch its legs, delivering a very playable 77 FPS at High and a highly responsive 122 FPS at Low. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p costs 55 FPS, which is a 45% reduction in performance. This pattern is consistent at 2560x1440, where the framerate drops from 93 FPS at Low to 51 FPS at Ultra, a 42 FPS difference. At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overburdened. The 63 FPS average at Low settings is the only playable result, and it drops to 34 FPS at Ultra. This data indicates that the RX 6650 XT's 8 GB VRAM and 280.3 GB/s bandwidth are not sufficient for a consistently smooth 4K experience in Control beyond the Low preset. The GPU's role is therefore to provide a high-refresh experience at 1080p and a solid 60 FPS experience at 1440p with adjusted settings, but it is not a 4K-capable card for this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data paints a clear picture of the combo's capabilities across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo's performance is strong. The Low preset delivers an average of 122 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS, indicating smooth and consistent performance. High settings yield an average of 77 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 67 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 55 FPS, highlighting the significant performance cost of the highest graphical preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains respectable but the impact of the higher resolution is clear. The Low preset averages 93 FPS, a 24% drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium averages 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 76 FPS. This is still within the range of smooth gameplay. High settings drop to an average of 58 FPS, and Ultra drops further to 51 FPS. The 42 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p shows a similar trend to 1080p, but the starting point is lower. The data shows that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 1440p, the Medium preset is the most demanding setting that can achieve it, while High and Ultra will result in averages below 60 FPS.

The 3840x2160 results demonstrate a significant performance wall. The Low preset is the only one that achieves a playable average, at 63 FPS. Medium drops to an average of 44 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 51 FPS, which will be perceptibly less smooth. High settings average 39 FPS, and Ultra settings average 34 FPS. The data shows that the RX 6650 XT is not well-suited for 4K gaming in Control at medium to ultra settings, as the average framerates fall well below the 60 FPS target. The 29 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is proportionally similar to other resolutions, but the absolute values are so low that the experience is compromised. The minimum FPS of 38 at 4K Medium is particularly telling, as it indicates that even in less demanding scenes, the framerate can dip to a level that detracts from the game's fast-paced action. The data clearly shows that this combo is best used at 1080p or 1440p.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired framerate. For a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset is the best choice for visual fidelity, as it still maintains an average of 67 FPS. For players who prioritize a higher framerate for competitive or fast-paced play, the High preset at 77 FPS or the Medium preset at 87 FPS are both excellent options. The data shows that even the most demanding preset at 1080p is comfortably playable, so the choice comes down to a preference for visual quality versus a higher refresh rate. The Low preset's 122 FPS is only recommended for esports-level responsiveness, as the visual downgrade is substantial.

For a 2560x1440 display, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation for a balanced experience. The average of 66 FPS, with a minimum of 56 FPS, ensures smooth gameplay without major stutters. The High preset, at 58 FPS, is also playable but may be less consistent. The Ultra preset, with an average of 51 FPS, is not recommended for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 93 FPS could be used for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, but it sacrifices too much visual detail. The data suggests that Medium is the "sweet spot" for 1440p, offering a good compromise between graphical quality and performance.

For a 3840x2160 display, the Low preset, at 63 FPS, is the only setting that provides a playable experience. The Medium, High, and Ultra presets all produce averages below 45 FPS, which is not suitable for a fluid action-adventure game. Even at Low, the 63 FPS average is not a locked 60 FPS, so players may experience some frame pacing issues. The data strongly suggests that this combo is not intended for 4K gaming in Control, and users with 4K displays should either lower the resolution in-game or consider a more powerful GPU. The recommendation is to play at 1440p Medium for the best overall experience, or 1080p Ultra if visual fidelity is the primary concern. The measured results make it clear that the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best combination of a high average FPS, a reasonable minimum FPS of 56, and a maximum of 76 FPS, providing a smooth and visually appealing experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D serves as a high-performance foundation for this system, even though its role in Control is secondary to the GPU. The CPU has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. It is built on the 5 nm process and features a large 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is a significant asset for gaming. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 25047 and single-thread score of 3494 place it at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, demonstrating its strong processing power.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals is notable. Its average benchmark score of 44573 is slightly higher than the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (44466, a 0.2% difference), the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44342, a 0.5% difference), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44309, a 0.6% difference). It is 0.7% lower than the Intel Core i5-14600 (44889). These close margins show that the 7500X3D is a top-tier performer in its class, and it is not a source of bottleneck in this setup.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this game. When comparing the FPS results at different resolutions, the performance scales predictably with the GPU load. For example, at 1920x1080, moving from Low to Ultra settings reduces the framerate by 55 FPS, while at 2560x1440, the same settings change reduces the framerate by 42 FPS. This dependency on settings and resolution, rather than CPU-bound scenarios, suggests the GPU is the performance ceiling. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at all tested settings, as evidenced by the fact that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the framerate scales up to 122 FPS without any apparent CPU limitation. The 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for Control, which is not known for being heavily multi-threaded. The high boost clock of 4.50 GHz also ensures strong single-thread performance, which is important for game logic and physics. The CPU's 65W TDP and support for DDR5 memory with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth further solidify its role as a robust, future-proof platform component that will not hinder the GPU's performance in this title. The data clearly shows that the Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a powerful processor that enables the RX 6650 XT to perform to its full potential.