Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, is a demanding title that stresses both the CPU’s physics and the GPU’s rendering pipeline. This analysis examines the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, a combination that sits in the 68th percentile of all tested system combos for this game, ranking 1118th out of 1636. The data reveals a system that is highly capable at 1080p, but one where the graphics card becomes the clear limiting factor as resolution scales to 4K.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 4 architecture, using the Phoenix codename on a 4 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. For a game like Control, which features complex physics and destruction, the CPU’s role is significant but not always the primary bottleneck. The CPU’s 16 MB of shared L3 cache is relevant for keeping game data close to the cores, while the dual-channel DDR5 memory support provides a high-bandwidth path for feeding the system.

The benchmark data for the CPU shows a strong single-threaded performance, which is crucial for game logic. In the 3dmark_single_thread test, it scores 951, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, it achieves 2943. These scores indicate the processor can handle the primary game simulation thread without being a major hindrance. The multi-threaded scores are equally robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and a Passmark multithread score of 24530, ensuring that background tasks and the game’s secondary threads are well-served.

When looking at how this CPU compares to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight grouping. The Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25064, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. It is virtually tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, which has an average score of 25057, a delta of 0%. It is also within a fraction of a percent of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 (-0.1%) and the AMD EPYC 9474F (-0.2%). This suggests that for CPU-bound scenarios in Control, the 8400F performs on par with these alternatives, providing a solid foundation for the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combined performance of the Ryzen 5 8400F and the RTX 3060 Ti in Control places the system at rank 1118 out of 1636 tested combinations. This rank, which corresponds to the 68th percentile, indicates that the pairing is above average but not at the top tier. The data suggests that while the CPU is a competent partner, the overall system performance is heavily influenced by the RTX 3060 Ti’s capabilities, which we will explore in the GPU section.

This mid-tier ranking is consistent with the individual component profiles. The CPU is in the 82nd percentile, but the GPU is in the 69th percentile. The system’s overall rank is lower than the CPU’s percentile, which hints that the graphics card is the more constraining element in achieving higher frame rates in Control. The benchmark results indicate a balanced system, but one where the GPU is more likely to be the first to reach its limits as graphical demands increase. This is a typical pairing for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and the rank reflects its competence in those areas while acknowledging its limitations at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

Analyzing the measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 117 FPS. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain a high output. Moving to 1440p at Low settings, the average drops to 87.7 FPS, a 25% decrease. At 4K with Low settings, the average falls to 61.1 FPS, a further 30% reduction from 1440p.

This steep decline with increasing resolution is a clear indicator that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the primary bottleneck. While the CPU’s performance is consistent, the GPU must work progressively harder to render more pixels. The frame rate drops are directly proportional to the increase in pixel count, which is the signature of a graphics-bound scenario. At 1080p, the system can often push past the 60 FPS mark, but at 4K, even Low settings only manage to average 61.1 FPS, showing the GPU is nearly maxed out. The data implies that the CPU has headroom at 4K, as the FPS is dictated by the GPU’s rendering speed, not the CPU’s ability to process game logic.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the system’s overall ranking for Control?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti combination is ranked 1118th out of 1636 tested combos, placing it in the 68th percentile for this game.

Q: How does the CPU perform in single-threaded tasks relevant to gaming?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F scores 951 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2943 in Cinebench R23 single-core. These scores indicate strong single-core performance, which is important for handling the main game logic thread.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system achieves an average of 77 FPS.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory bandwidth and how might it affect 4K performance?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the 8 GB capacity and bandwidth can be a limiting factor for texture-heavy scenes.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6600?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti’s average benchmark score is 25120, which is 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6600’s score of 25235. The deltaPct is -0.5, indicating nearly identical overall benchmark performance.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops from 87.7 on Low settings to 47.1 on Ultra settings, a significant reduction that highlights the impact of graphical fidelity on performance.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with the GA104 chip, manufactured on an 8 nm process at Samsung. It features 4864 shading units, 152 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. The GPU has a base clock of 1410 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is a critical spec for a game like Control that uses high-resolution textures and effects.

The GPU’s performance, as measured by benchmarks, shows it is a solid mid-range card. It scores 20349 in Passmark G3D and 10006 in Passmark GPU Compute. Its average benchmark score is 25120, placing it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. The data from the measured FPS in Control shows that the GPU is the deciding factor in performance. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the GPU can push 117 FPS, but at 4K with Ultra settings, it drops to 33.2 FPS. This shows that while the card is capable for 1080p and 1440p gaming, it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings.

The RTX 3060 Ti’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6700M, which has a deltaPct of -0.2%, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600, which is -0.5% slower in average benchmark score. This indicates that the 3060 Ti is competitive within its performance class, but its 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints for ultra-high-resolution gaming in Control.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, the data suggests different presets for different resolutions.

At 1080p, the system is capable of exceeding 60 FPS on all settings. The High preset yields an average of 77 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset drops to 66.4 FPS, still playable, but High offers a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS. For the best experience, High is recommended, as it maintains high frame rates without the performance cost of Ultra.

At 1440p, the data shows that the High preset is the best choice for a 60 FPS target. It achieves an average of 57.5 FPS, which is close to but slightly below 60 FPS. The Medium preset, at 63.9 FPS, is the only one that consistently breaks the 60 FPS barrier. For a smoother experience, Medium is the recommended preset. The Ultra preset at 47.1 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive.

At 4K, achieving 60 FPS is not possible with any preset. The Low preset yields an average of 61.1 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS mark. The High preset drops to 40 FPS, and Ultra to 33.2 FPS. For a playable experience at 4K, Low settings are necessary, but the visual compromise is significant. The recommendation would be to stick to 1440p for the best balance of fidelity and performance, or use Low at 4K if resolution is the priority.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following data is derived directly from the measured FPS table, showing the average FPS for each combination of resolution and settings.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 61.1 FPS
• Medium: 45.5 FPS
• High: 40 FPS
• Ultra: 33.2 FPS

The progression from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a clear and steep decline in performance. The drop from Low to Medium is 15.6 FPS, and from Low to Ultra is 27.9 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed at this resolution, and each increase in visual fidelity has a substantial cost.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 87.7 FPS
• Medium: 63.9 FPS
• High: 57.5 FPS
• Ultra: 47.1 FPS

At 1440p, the system is more comfortable. The Low preset provides a high frame rate, while Medium and High are viable for gameplay. The difference between Low and Ultra is 40.6 FPS, showing that the GPU still has a significant workload, but the overall performance is more manageable than at 4K.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 117 FPS
• Medium: 86.8 FPS
• High: 77 FPS
• Ultra: 66.4 FPS

At 1080p, the system demonstrates its strength. Even at Ultra settings, the average FPS is above 60, and Low settings provide a very high frame rate. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 50.6 FPS drop, but the absolute numbers remain high, indicating that the CPU and GPU combination is well-suited for this resolution. The data confirms that 1080p is where this combo delivers the most consistent and high-performance experience.