Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers a robust 1440p and high-refresh 1080p experience in Control, with the data showing a clear shift from CPU-bound performance at lower settings to GPU-bound performance at higher resolutions. This combination places in the 74th percentile of all tested combos for this game.

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

The Ryzen 7 5700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer), running on the AM4 socket. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and it draws a 65W TDP. The CPU’s performance profile, as indicated by its benchmark scores, shows strong multi-threaded capability: it scores 22,620 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 9,500 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Single-thread performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,193 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2,148.

In Control, the CPU’s role becomes most apparent at lower settings and resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 190.7 fps, which is 54% higher than the 1440p Low result of 146.3 fps, and 89% higher than the 4K Low result of 100.8 fps. This scaling pattern suggests that at 1080p Low, the CPU is more heavily tasked with feeding the GPU, and the 5700X’s 16 threads and high boost clock are sufficient to keep frame rates very high. The data shows that even at 4K Low, the combo maintains over 100 fps, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck until resolutions drop further or settings are lowered.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the 5700X’s average benchmark score of 26,214 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i9-11900KF (26,196, deltaPct 0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (26,272, deltaPct -0.2%). This means that while the 5700X is not the absolute fastest in its class, it provides comparable CPU performance to these alternatives, ensuring that the GPU can be fully utilized in most gaming scenarios. For a game like Control, which is not particularly CPU-intensive at high settings, the 5700X’s 8 cores and 16 threads are more than adequate to avoid limiting the RX 9070 XT.

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

The Radeon RX 9070 XT is the primary driver of frame rates in Control. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 256-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1660 MHz, with a boost clock of 2970 MHz and a game clock of 2400 MHz. Its memory runs at 2518 MHz (20.1 Gbps effective). This hardware configuration results in a Passmark G3D score of 26,795 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 184,026, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU’s VRAM capacity is significant for Control at high resolutions. The game’s textures and effects can be demanding, and the 16 GB frame buffer ensures that there are no memory-related stutters or texture pop-in at 4K Ultra. The benchmark results confirm that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher settings: at 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 55.7 fps, while at 4K High it reaches 65.1 fps. This 17% difference between Ultra and High settings at 4K indicates that the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are being taxed heavily by the Ultra preset’s additional effects.

The RX 9070 XT’s closest rivals in terms of average benchmark score (39,647) include the AMD Radeon Pro 575 (39,703, deltaPct -0.1%) and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (39,879, deltaPct -0.6%). These deltas are all within 1%, meaning the RX 9070 XT is statistically on par with these older or workstation-oriented cards in raw compute. However, its modern RDNA 4.0 architecture and 16 GB VRAM give it a distinct advantage in a 2019 title like Control that benefits from newer feature sets and higher memory capacities.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, the data shows the combo achieves 55.7 fps at 4K Ultra, 65.1 fps at 4K High, and 67.8 fps at 4K Medium. For a smooth experience, High settings are recommended, as they stay above 60 fps.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, Low settings yield 146.3 fps, while Ultra drops to 80.6 fps. This is a 45% reduction in average frame rate, showing that Ultra settings are significantly more demanding on the GPU.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5700X a bottleneck for the RX 9070 XT in this game?

A: The data suggests minimal bottlenecking. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 190.7 fps, which is a high frame rate that relies on CPU throughput. The 5700X’s single-thread score of 3,193 in Cinebench R23 is sufficient to keep pace with the GPU at these settings.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a consistent 120+ fps experience?

A: At 1080p High, the combo achieves 120.8 fps, and at 1080p Medium it hits 136.2 fps. At 1440p Low, it reaches 146.3 fps, but 1440p High drops to 92.5 fps. For a stable 120+ fps, 1080p High or 1440p Low are the viable options.

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

A: The combo ranks 420th out of 1,636 tested combos, placing it in the top 26% of all configurations. This indicates a strong, but not top-tier, performance level for this specific game.

Q: Is there a large performance gap between High and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: Yes, the gap is notable. At 4K High, the combo averages 65.1 fps, but at 4K Ultra it drops to 55.7 fps. This 9.4 fps difference (a 14% reduction) suggests that Ultra settings include effects that heavily tax the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 7 5700X and RX 9070 XT achieves a rank of 420 out of 1,636 tested combos for Control. This places it comfortably in the upper quartile of all configurations, which is a strong result given the CPU’s 83rd percentile standing among all CPUs and the GPU’s 82nd percentile among all GPUs. The ranking indicates that this pairing is well-balanced for this game, with neither component holding the other back to a significant degree.

The rank also reflects the GPU’s dominance in this title. While the CPU is mid-range in terms of overall benchmark scores, the GPU’s high memory bandwidth and modern architecture are what push the combo into the top 26%. The data shows that the combo outperforms many configurations with more powerful CPUs but weaker GPUs, confirming that Control is more sensitive to GPU capabilities than CPU thread count. For context, the CPU’s nearest rivals (like the Ryzen 5 7600X) would likely produce similar frame rates when paired with the same GPU, as the CPU deltaPct is negligible.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers consistently high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 190.7 fps, which is the highest recorded value in the dataset. Medium settings drop to 136.2 fps, High settings to 120.8 fps, and Ultra settings to 105.6 fps. This shows that even at the most demanding 1080p preset, the combo stays well above 100 fps, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings hit 146.3 fps, Medium settings reach 104 fps, High settings average 92.5 fps, and Ultra settings drop to 80.6 fps. All of these values are playable, but the step from High to Ultra represents a 13% reduction in frame rate, suggesting that Ultra may not be worth the visual trade-off for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings produce 100.8 fps, which is still very smooth. Medium settings fall to 67.8 fps, High settings to 65.1 fps, and Ultra settings to 55.7 fps. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 33 fps, which is a massive jump, indicating that Medium settings enable significant graphical features that heavily impact GPU load. The 4K Ultra result is below the 60 fps threshold, making it less desirable for a consistently smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, the High preset at 120.8 fps offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it is only 15 fps slower than Medium but provides substantially better graphics. For 1440p, the Medium preset at 104 fps is the sweet spot, as it stays above 100 fps while offering improved visuals over Low. The High preset at 92.5 fps is also viable for those who prefer higher graphical fidelity, but it falls below the 100 fps mark.

For 4K gaming, the High preset at 65.1 fps is the recommended choice, as it stays comfortably above 60 fps and delivers a much better visual experience than Medium (67.8 fps, which is only marginally faster). The Ultra preset at 55.7 fps should be avoided unless the user accepts the sub-60 fps average. The data clearly shows that the jump from Medium to High at 4K costs only 2.7 fps, making High the clear choice over Medium, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 9.4 fps, which is not worth the performance hit. In summary, this combo is best utilized at 1080p High or 1440p Medium for high refresh rates, and at 4K High for a balanced 60+ fps experience.