Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti combination delivers a playable but demanding experience in Control, with performance scaling that clearly identifies the GPU as the primary constraint at higher resolutions. The measured frame rates show a predictable pattern: as resolution increases, the gap between settings narrows, indicating where the hardware limits lie.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 72.4 at 1920x1080 to 54.9 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 17.5 FPS (24%). Moving further to 3840x2160 yields 39.5 FPS, which is 32.9 FPS (45%) below the 1080p result. This steep decline at 4K suggests the RTX 3060 Ti is working near its limit, especially when handling the game's visual effects.

The pattern holds across all settings. At Low settings, the drop from 117.4 FPS (1080p) to 91.9 FPS (1440p) to 60.4 FPS (4K) represents a cumulative 48.5% reduction. Interestingly, the Low setting at 4K still manages to exceed 60 FPS, which indicates that even at this high resolution, the combination can achieve smooth gameplay when graphical demands are reduced.

Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling. The 62.9 FPS at 1080p drops to 49.5 FPS at 1440p and further to 35.1 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is only 55.8% of the 1080p Ultra figure, demonstrating that the highest quality preset pushes this hardware to its breaking point. The data reveals a clear inflection point: 1440p High (54.9 FPS) and 4K Low (60.4 FPS) are the boundary conditions where the combo transitions from comfortable to marginal.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 7 3700X provides the processing foundation for this configuration. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it offers substantial parallel processing capability. The base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz are moderate for the 3000 series, but the Zen 2 architecture with its 7 nm process node and 32 MB L3 cache helps maintain consistent performance.

Benchmark results show the CPU's multitasking strengths. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19087 and Geekbench multicore score of 8083 indicate strong throughput for a desktop part. Single-thread performance is less impressive, with Cinebench R23 single-core at 2694 and Geekbench single-core at 1672. In Control, which relies heavily on single-thread performance for game logic and physics, this limitation becomes more apparent.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 85 against all CPUs places it in the upper tier, but its nearest rivals tell a nuanced story. The Intel Core i5-12600 scores within 0.1% (deltaPct -0.1), meaning the two are effectively tied in average benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT is similarly close at 0.1% higher. This suggests that while the 3700X is competitive, it is not a standout performer for this generation.

In practice, the CPU does not appear to be the limiting factor in Control. The consistent frame rate scaling across resolutions follows GPU-centric behavior. At 1080p Low, the 117.4 FPS result is high enough that CPU overhead could theoretically cap performance, but the absence of min/max FPS data prevents definitive conclusions. The data as measured shows the GPU taking the lead role in determining output.

FAQ

*Q: How does the RTX 3060 Ti perform at 1440p High settings in Control?*

A: The measured average FPS is 54.9, which is shy of 60 FPS but playable for most users. The 1440p Low setting achieves 91.9 FPS, offering a smooth alternative if frame rate is prioritized over visual quality.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X sufficient for this game?

A: The CPU's 8-core, 16-thread configuration and Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19087 suggest it can handle the game's processing demands. The benchmark data shows no evidence of CPU bottlenecking, as frame rates scale consistently with GPU load.

Q: What is the best setting for 4K gaming with this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, only the Low preset (60.4 FPS) exceeds 60 FPS. Medium (43.5 FPS), High (39.5 FPS), and Ultra (35.1 FPS) all fall below 45 FPS, making them less ideal for fast-paced action.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1152 out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the lower third of the database. This ranking reflects the hardware's mid-range positioning rather than any specific deficiency in Control.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: The difference is 54.5 FPS, with Low at 117.4 FPS and Ultra at 62.9 FPS. This represents a 46.4% reduction in frame rate when enabling the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the GPU's 8 GB VRAM cause issues at high resolutions?

A: The data shows frame rates declining at 4K, but this is consistent with GPU compute limits rather than memory capacity. The 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 256-bit bus provide sufficient throughput for the game's textures at 8 GB capacity.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1152 out of 1636 tested combinations places it in the 70th percentile of all configurations. This means that roughly 30% of tested combos perform worse, while 70% perform better. Given that the CPU ranks in the 85th percentile and the GPU in the 69th percentile individually, the combined ranking is slightly lower than the CPU's standalone position but consistent with the GPU's mid-tier status.

The ranking suggests that this is a balanced but not exceptional pairing. The CPU's strong multithreaded performance (Cinebench R23 multicore 19087) is partially offset by the GPU's moderate standing. The RTX 3060 Ti's PassMark G3D score of 20349 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2626 reflect its capability, but the 69th percentile ranking indicates that many GPUs outperform it.

In the context of Control, the rank is fair. The game is demanding, and the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (35.1) and 1440p Ultra (49.5) shows that this combo is not designed for maximum settings at high resolutions. The rank of 1152 aligns with the observed performance: playable at medium settings or lower resolutions, but not a top-tier contender.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the dominant factor in this combo's Control performance. Its GA104 chip, built on the 8 nm Ampere architecture, provides 4864 shading units and 152 texture mapping units. The boost clock of 1665 MHz and base clock of 1410 MHz are modest, but the 16.20 TFLOPS FP32 performance is substantial for a mid-range card.

Memory configuration is notable: 8 GB GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus yields 448.0 GB/s bandwidth. This is adequate for Control's textures at 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K results suggest the memory subsystem is stressed. The pixel rate of 133.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 253.1 GTexel/s are consistent with the measured frame rates.

The GPU's benchmark scores reinforce its positioning. The PassMark G3D score of 20349 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 109075 are solid mid-range numbers. The 69th percentile ranking against all GPUs places it slightly below the average of its nearest rivals. The AMD Radeon RX 6700M scores 0.2% higher, while the RX 6600 is 0.5% higher, indicating the 3060 Ti is competitive but not leading its class.

In Control, the GPU's role is clear from the resolution scaling. The 4K High result of 39.5 FPS versus the 1080p High result of 72.4 FPS shows a 45% drop, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 3060 Ti is the bottleneck at all settings above 1080p Low, and even at 1080p Low, the 117.4 FPS is likely near the CPU's practical limit for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across all tested configurations.

At 1920x1080, the results are:

• Low: 117.4 FPS
• Medium: 85.1 FPS
• High: 72.4 FPS
• Ultra: 62.9 FPS

The spread from Low to Ultra is 54.5 FPS, showing that settings have a major impact at this resolution. The Ultra preset achieves 53.6% of the Low preset's frame rate, which is a significant penalty for maximum visual quality.

At 2560x1440:

• Low: 91.9 FPS
• Medium: 66.5 FPS
• High: 54.9 FPS
• Ultra: 49.5 FPS

The 1440p results show a narrower spread of 42.4 FPS between Low and Ultra. The High setting at 54.9 FPS is borderline for 60 Hz displays, while Low comfortably exceeds 90 FPS. Ultra at 49.5 FPS is playable but not ideal for competitive play.

At 3840x2160:

• Low: 60.4 FPS
• Medium: 43.5 FPS
• High: 39.5 FPS
• Ultra: 35.1 FPS

The 4K results are the most telling. Only Low exceeds 60 FPS, and the drop from Low to Ultra is 25.3 FPS, representing a 41.9% reduction. The High setting at 39.5 FPS is below the 40 FPS threshold that many players consider minimum playability.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 3060 Ti is the limiting component, with the Ryzen 7 3700X providing adequate support. The combo is best suited for 1080p gaming at High or Ultra settings, or 1440p at Medium settings. At 4K, only Low settings deliver smooth gameplay, and even then, the 60.4 FPS average leaves little headroom for demanding scenes.