Control

# Control with AMD Ryzen 7 3700X + AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ranks 1181 out of 1636 tested combos in Control, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This is a modest result for a pairing built around hardware released in 2019, and the measured frame rates show a combination that can handle 1080p comfortably but struggles to maintain smooth performance at higher resolutions. The 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 7 3700X provides solid CPU headroom, while the RX 5700 XT with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory becomes the primary constraint in demanding scenes. Benchmark results indicate this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming in Control, with playable but not exceptional performance at 1440p and clear limitations at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1181 out of 1636 tested combinations places it in the 28th percentile of all tested systems for Control. This is a below-average standing, reflecting that most combinations in the database deliver higher average frame rates in this game. The CPU alone performs much better relative to its peers — the Ryzen 7 3700X sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs — but the GPU trails significantly, ranking at the 68th percentile among all GPUs. The gap between CPU and GPU percentiles is telling: the processor is not the limiting factor in this pairing.

Looking at the CPU’s nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 3700X’s average benchmark score of 28631 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-12600’s 28654, a delta of -0.1%. It also matches the Intel Core i5-12600H (28666, -0.1%) and edges out the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (28591, +0.1%) and AMD EPYC 7203P (28583, +0.2%). These negligible differences mean the 3700X is competitive with mid-range chips from later generations in raw compute, but that strength does not translate into a strong in-game ranking because the GPU holds the pairing back.

For the GPU, the RX 5700 XT’s average benchmark score of 24731 places it near the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile (24763, -0.1%) and slightly ahead of the Intel Arc A350M (24647, +0.3%) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (24592, +0.6%). The data shows a GPU that performs in line with mid-range laptop parts, which explains why the combo’s Control results are modest. The overall ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s mid-pack standing.

GPU Role

The Radeon RX 5700 XT is built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture with the Navi 10 chip, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It carries 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1605 MHz, with a game clock of 1755 MHz and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. Memory runs at 1750 MHz, which translates to 14 Gbps effective. These specifications define a mid-range graphics card that was competitive at launch but now faces newer architectures with better efficiency.

In Control, the GPU’s role is decisive. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 118.5 FPS average, but dropping to Ultra settings cuts that to 66.5 FPS — a reduction of 52 FPS. The pattern repeats at 1440p, where Low yields 91.1 FPS and Ultra falls to 49.1 FPS. At 4K, the GPU clearly becomes the bottleneck: even Low settings only produce 56.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 35.3 FPS. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for this game at the tested settings, but the raw compute power of the GPU — 9.754 TFLOPS FP32 — is simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s pixel rate of 121.9 GPixel/s and texture rate of 304.8 GTexel/s further illustrate its mid-range positioning. These figures support playable performance at 1080p and acceptable results at 1440p with reduced settings, but they are inadequate for 4K gaming in a title like Control, which demands substantial fill rate and shading throughput.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the combo delivers 76.1 FPS at 1080p, 54.9 FPS at 1440p, and 35.9 FPS at 4K. That represents a 28% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 35% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario: as pixel count rises, the RX 5700 XT has to work proportionally harder, and the frame rate falls accordingly.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The combo hits 118.5 FPS at 1080p, 91.1 FPS at 1440p, and 56.7 FPS at 4K. The 4K result is less than half of the 1080p result, confirming that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would stay relatively flat across resolutions, but the data shows a clear downward trend that tracks with GPU load.

The drop from Medium to Ultra settings at each resolution is also telling. At 1080p, Medium delivers 85.6 FPS while Ultra drops to 66.5 FPS. At 1440p, the gap narrows somewhat: 62.5 FPS on Medium versus 49.1 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, Medium produces 44 FPS and Ultra produces 35.3 FPS. This suggests that Ultra settings impose a heavy penalty on the GPU, and the combo cannot sustain 60 FPS at any resolution above 1080p when using higher presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo performs best. Low settings deliver an average of 118.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. Medium settings drop to 85.6 FPS, still comfortable for most displays. High settings produce 76.1 FPS, maintaining playability. Ultra settings fall to 66.5 FPS, which remains above 60 FPS but with less headroom. The data shows that 1080p is the sweet spot for this pairing, with every preset achieving at least 66.5 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance becomes more variable. Low settings yield 91.1 FPS, which is excellent for 1440p. Medium settings drop to 62.5 FPS, still above 60. High settings produce 54.9 FPS, dipping below the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra settings fall further to 49.1 FPS. This resolution requires careful settings management: Low and Medium presets are playable, while High and Ultra will show noticeable stutter on standard 60 Hz monitors.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles across all settings. Low settings deliver 56.7 FPS, just below 60. Medium settings produce 44 FPS. High settings drop to 35.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 35.3 FPS. None of these results are ideal for 4K gaming, and even the best-case scenario at Low settings is marginal. The data clearly indicates that 4K is beyond the capabilities of this pairing in Control, regardless of settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor with a Matisse codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU’s TDP is 65 W, and it supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Cache amounts to 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB L3.

In Control, the CPU’s impact is secondary to the GPU. The 3700X’s 8 cores and 16 threads provide ample processing power for game logic, physics, and AI, and its single-thread performance — a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2694 — is sufficient for this title. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 28631 places it in the 85th percentile, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.2% of its score, indicating balanced mid-range performance.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are strong: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19087 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 8083. These results show that the 3700X will not bottleneck the RX 5700 XT in Control, which is a GPU-intensive title. The 16 threads handle background tasks and streaming without issue, and the 32 MB L3 cache reduces latency for frequently accessed data. However, because the GPU is the limiting factor, the CPU’s headroom goes unused in this configuration.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data supports a clear recommendation: use the Low preset at 1080p for the best combination of frame rate and visual fidelity, as it delivers 118.5 FPS. For players who prefer higher visual quality, Medium at 1080p is a strong alternative at 85.6 FPS, while High at 76.1 FPS is still playable. Ultra at 1080p is acceptable at 66.5 FPS but offers diminishing returns over High.

At 1440p, Low settings are the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, hitting 91.1 FPS. Medium settings at 62.5 FPS are borderline playable, but High and Ultra fall below 55 FPS and are not recommended for smooth gameplay. At 4K, no preset reaches 60 FPS; Low settings at 56.7 FPS is the best option, but players should consider lowering resolution or upgrading the GPU for a satisfactory experience.

The overall verdict is that this combo delivers its best experience at 1080p with Medium or High settings, balancing visual quality and performance. For competitive play, Low settings at 1080p or 1440p provide the highest frame rates. Ultra settings are only viable at 1080p and offer marginal visual gains over High.

FAQ

Q: What is the Combo’s rank in Control?

A: The combo ranks 1181 out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle range of the database.

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

A: The best resolution is 1920x1080, where the combo achieves above 66 FPS on all settings, with Low settings reaching 118.5 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K in Control?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 56.7 at Low settings, with Ultra dropping to 35.3 FPS, so 4K is not playable.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average score of 28631, nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-12600 (28654, -0.1%) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (28591, +0.1%).

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 5700 XT has an average score of 24731, close to the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile (24763, -0.1%) and slightly ahead of the Intel Arc A350M (24647, +0.3%).

Q: What settings should I use for 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings deliver 62.5 FPS, which is the only preset above 60 FPS besides Low (91.1 FPS); High and Ultra fall below 55 FPS.