Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title from Remedy Entertainment, presents a demanding environment for any hardware configuration. The data measured for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination provides a clear picture of how this system handles the game's physics-heavy combat and destructible environments. The benchmark results show a system that is capable of delivering high frame rates at lower resolutions but begins to show strain at 4K, particularly with the highest graphical presets. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, the role of each component, and what the numbers suggest for an optimal gameplay experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across the three resolutions reveals a classic scaling pattern where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases. At 1920x1080, the system is clearly capable of pushing very high frame rates, with the Low preset hitting 195.3 FPS and even the demanding Ultra preset maintaining 107.7 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, there is a noticeable drop in performance; the Low preset falls to 145 FPS, representing a 25.8% decrease from the 1080p result, while the High preset drops from 123.8 FPS to 93.1 FPS.

The transition to 3840x2160 (4K) is where the scaling becomes most severe. The Low preset at 4K drops to 96 FPS, which is a 33.8% reduction from the 1440p Low result. More critically, the Ultra preset at 4K falls to 53.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold commonly considered smooth for action games. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 4070’s compute capabilities are being heavily taxed by the 4K resolution, and the game’s visual effects at Ultra settings compound this load. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 4K is a 44.4% performance gap, highlighting that resolution scaling amplifies the cost of higher graphical settings.

This data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is likely keeping pace with the GPU, but at 4K, the GPU’s rendering workload dominates. The frame rate deltas between presets at each resolution are also telling. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 87.6 FPS, whereas at 4K, that same gap narrows to 42.6 FPS. This compression of the performance spread at higher resolutions is a classic sign of GPU saturation, where the graphics card is the limiting component regardless of the settings chosen.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achieved by this configuration?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 195.3 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only with the High and Medium presets, which average 62.1 FPS and 72.7 FPS respectively. The Ultra preset at 4K falls short, averaging 53.4 FPS.

Q: How does the Ultra preset performance compare between 1440p and 4K?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 78.7 FPS. At 3840x2160, this drops to 53.4 FPS, a 32.1% decrease in performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 a high-performing GPU in general benchmarks?

A: The GPU holds an 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37283. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, has a slightly higher average score of 37507.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between the Low and High presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 145 FPS, while the High preset averages 93.1 FPS, a difference of 51.9 FPS.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is in the 84th percentile for performance among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27220.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the dominant component in this configuration for Control. The measured FPS data demonstrates that its capabilities directly dictate the playable settings and resolutions. The GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game's textures and effects at 1440p and 4K, but the processing power becomes the limiting factor at the highest settings. The card’s boost clock of 2475 MHz and base clock of 1920 MHz are the engines driving the frame rates, and the significant drop in performance from 1080p to 4K confirms that these clocks are working at their limit.

The GPU's general performance is strong, as evidenced by its 81st percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 37283. However, its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which scores 37507, a difference of -0.6%. This indicates that while the RTX 4070 is a capable card, it is not at the very top of the performance hierarchy. In the context of Control, this means that while it can handle lower resolutions with ease, the Ultra preset at 4K is beyond its comfortable reach, resulting in average frame rates below the 60 FPS mark. The data shows a clear trend: the RTX 4070 excels in high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming but requires a reduction in settings to achieve smooth 4K gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete matrix of performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1080p, the system is exceptionally fast. The Low preset yields an average of 195.3 FPS, which is ideal for competitive or high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium and High presets still deliver excellent performance at 138.7 FPS and 123.8 FPS, respectively. Even the Ultra preset maintains an average of 107.7 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience with all visual features enabled.

At 1440p, the performance remains strong but with a noticeable shift. The Low preset averages 145 FPS, still very high. The Medium preset drops to 102.3 FPS, and the High preset averages 93.1 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution averages 78.7 FPS, which is still comfortably above 60 FPS and provides a good balance of visual quality and performance for a 1440p monitor.

The 4K results are where the system’s limits are tested. The Low preset manages an average of 96 FPS, which is playable. The Medium preset averages 72.7 FPS, providing a good experience. The High preset just clears the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 62.1 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 53.4 FPS, which may result in noticeable stuttering during intense action sequences. This data clearly shows the progression of performance degradation as both resolution and settings increase.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as it provides the highest visual fidelity while still maintaining an average of 107.7 FPS, which is well above the standard 60 FPS target. This allows users to experience the full visual effects of Control without sacrificing smoothness.

For 1440p, the Ultra preset is still viable, averaging 78.7 FPS. This is a solid frame rate for most action games and offers the best visual experience available in the measured data. However, for users who prioritize higher refresh rates or want more headroom for demanding scenes, the High preset at 93.1 FPS is an excellent alternative that still looks very good.

At 4K resolution, the Ultra preset is not recommended, as the 53.4 FPS average is below the smoothness threshold. The High preset, with an average of 62.1 FPS, is the best choice for maintaining a playable frame rate while retaining good visual quality. The Medium preset at 72.7 FPS provides a more comfortable margin for stability and is recommended for users who are sensitive to frame time spikes. The Low preset at 96 FPS is available for those who prioritize performance above all else, but it sacrifices the visual atmosphere that Control is known for.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 plays a supporting but crucial role in this configuration. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it offers substantial multithreading capability, which is beneficial for the game’s physics simulations and AI computations. The CPU’s base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz provide strong single-threaded performance, which is essential for game logic and rendering command submission. The benchmark data shows the CPU has a strong average score of 27220, placing it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 5700 is closely matched. The Intel Core i9-9900K scores 27043, a difference of only 0.7%, while the Intel Core i7-12700H scores 27006, a 0.8% difference. This indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in most scenarios. The measured FPS data supports this, as the frame rates at 1080p are very high, suggesting the CPU is feeding the GPU adequately. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and the CPU’s performance is sufficient to keep up with the reduced frame rates. The 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are adequate for the game’s data streaming needs, ensuring that the GPU is not starved of data. The CPU architecture, Zen 3, is well-suited for gaming workloads, and its performance is more than enough to complement the RTX 4070 in this title.