Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and AMD Radeon RX 6600 combination delivers a playable, if not always fluid, experience in Control. The data shows a system that is clearly capable of 1080p gaming with high frame rates, but which struggles to maintain performance at 4K with higher graphical presets. The benchmark results paint a picture of a balanced pairing where the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, while the CPU provides ample headroom.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is built on the Zen 3 architecture and is a desktop-class processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. It operates at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and can boost up to 4.70 GHz, with a 105W TDP. This is a modern, high-performance part that sits well above the average in synthetic benchmarks, holding an 81st percentile ranking against all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 29123 places it in close competition with the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, which scores 29093 (a 0.1% difference), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT, which scores 28940 (a 0.6% difference). The data suggests that the 5800X's multi-threaded might, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15476, is more than sufficient for the demands of Control.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. With 16 threads, the 5800X has significant parallel processing capability. The game is known to be demanding, but the 8-core/16-thread configuration ensures that the processor is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the measured frame rates are high, indicating the CPU is keeping up with the GPU's output. The data shows that as resolution increases to 1440p and then 4K, the frame rates drop significantly. This drop is a classic sign of the GPU becoming the limiting factor, not the CPU. The 5800X's high single-thread performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1574.5, is also critical for maintaining consistent frame pacing in a title like this.

Furthermore, the CPU's strong memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, paired with dual-channel DDR4 support, helps to move data efficiently. The 32 MB of L3 cache is also beneficial for gaming workloads. While the 5800X is a powerful part, its performance in Control is not the primary constraint on the system's overall frame rate. The benchmark data indicates that the CPU has enough headroom to handle the game's physics and AI, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of performance, particularly at higher resolutions. The system's performance is therefore more indicative of the RX 6600's capabilities than the 5800X's, with the CPU providing a stable and potent foundation.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of how different presets affect performance. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 108 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth. The Medium preset drops to an average of 77 FPS, still very playable, and the High preset yields 68 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, brings the average down to 59 FPS. The sweet spot for a high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p is the Medium preset, as it offers a significant jump in visual quality over Low while maintaining an average frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold.

For 2560x1440, the story changes. The Low preset averages 82 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 58 FPS. High is at 52 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45 FPS. Here, the Low preset is the only option that guarantees a consistently smooth experience above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 58 FPS is borderline, and for players who prefer a more visually rich experience over a minor frame rate drop, it could be considered acceptable. However, the data suggests that the High and Ultra presets at this resolution will result in noticeable stutter and a less fluid experience.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more challenging. The Low preset is the only one that manages an average above 50 FPS, at 55 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 39 FPS, High to 35 FPS, and Ultra to 30 FPS. At this resolution, only the Low preset is truly playable. The Medium preset could be tolerated by some, but the frame rate is below the ideal threshold for a smooth experience in a fast-paced action game. The measured minimum FPS for Medium at 4K is 33, which indicates there will be noticeable dips. For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the data points to a clear strategy: use Low at 4K and 1440p, and Medium at 1080p for a superior experience. The Ultra preset provides the lowest frame rates across all resolutions and should be avoided.

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

The frame rate scaling across resolutions is stark and revealing. At 1080p with the High preset, the average FPS is 68. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 52 FPS, a decrease of 16 FPS. At 4K High, the average plummets to 35 FPS, a further drop of 17 FPS. This pattern is consistent across all presets. For example, with the Low preset, 1080p yields 108 FPS, 1440p yields 82 FPS, and 4K yields 55 FPS. This significant and consistent decline in performance as resolution increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound system.

The data strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 6600 is the primary limiting component in this configuration. The CPU, as discussed, has the processing power to handle the game's logic, but the GPU's rendering capabilities are overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count. The RX 6600 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 128-bit memory bus, which provides a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. This is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the sheer volume of data required to fill the frame exceeds what the GPU can efficiently process. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly a 50% reduction in frame rate across most presets, which is a heavy toll that points squarely at the GPU.

This resolution scaling also shows that the system is not CPU-limited at any point in the tested range. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller drop in frame rates as resolution increases, since the CPU's workload would remain similar while the GPU's workload increases. Instead, the frame rates drop proportionally with the increase in resolution, confirming that the RX 6600 is the component that is being pushed to its limits. The 5800X is effectively waiting for the GPU to catch up, a common scenario in modern gaming systems where a powerful CPU is paired with a mid-range graphics card. The data suggests that to improve 4K performance, a more powerful GPU would be needed, as the CPU is not the constraining factor.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the comprehensive database of tested hardware combinations, the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X with the AMD Radeon RX 6600 holds a rank of 2904 out of 3720 total combinations. This places it in the bottom 22% of all tested systems for this specific game. This is a low ranking, indicating that while the combination is playable, it does not offer top-tier performance compared to other systems that have been benchmarked. The rank reflects the system's overall performance metric, which is heavily weighted by the GPU's capabilities.

The low rank is not a surprise given the performance data. The RX 6600 is a mid-range card, and its performance in Control is its primary limitation. Many other combinations in the database will feature more powerful GPUs, which will naturally achieve higher frame rates and thus a better rank. The 5800X, while a strong CPU, cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in this context. The combination rank is a holistic measure that includes all resolutions and settings, and the 4K results, where the GPU struggles, drag the overall score down significantly.

Looking at the GPU's nearest rivals, the RX 6600's average benchmark score of 19036 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 (19030) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile (19049). This suggests that its raw compute potential is similar to those parts. However, in a real-world game like Control, the RX 6600's performance is what matters. The combination's rank of 2904 indicates that there are over 800 other combinations that perform better. This ranking signals to potential users that this system is best suited for 1080p and perhaps 1440p gaming, rather than a high-end 4K experience. The system is a capable mid-range performer, but it is not near the top of the performance charts for this title.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture and features the Navi 23 chip. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, which delivers a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1626 MHz and a boost clock of 2491 MHz, with a game clock of 2044 MHz. These specifications place it as a solid 1080p performer, which aligns perfectly with the measured frame rates. The 8 GB of VRAM is a key factor; it is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p with most settings, but at 4K, the increased texture detail and resolution can exceed the available memory, leading to performance hits.

The GPU's clock speeds are high, and its 1792 shading units work to process the graphics workload. The 64 ROPs and 112 TMUs are responsible for pixel output and texture filtering, respectively. In Control, which features complex visual effects and detailed environments, these units are heavily utilized. The measured FPS shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K, where its processing power and memory bandwidth are insufficient to maintain high frame rates with demanding presets. The GPU's performance is the reason why the High preset at 4K only achieves 35 FPS, while the same preset at 1080p achieves 68 FPS.

The RX 6600's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 and the RTX 4050 Mobile, with performance deltas of 0% and -0.1%, respectively. This indicates that its raw computational power is on par with those parts. However, the game's specific requirements, such as its use of DirectX 12 Ultimate features, which the RX 6600 supports, can influence real-world performance. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is a critical specification for Control, as the game's textures and effects can be memory-intensive. The data suggests that the GPU is a capable 1080p card that will struggle with 4K, and its role in this system is to provide a good experience at mainstream resolutions rather than a high-end one.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance in Control.

1920x1080 (1080p)

At 1080p, the system performs admirably. The Low preset achieves an average of 108 FPS. Moving up to Medium, the average drops to 77 FPS, with a minimum of 65 FPS and a maximum of 88 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 68 FPS. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, still manages an average of 59 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, all presets are playable, with Low and Medium providing the smoothest experience.

2560x1440 (1440p)

At 1440p, the performance becomes more demanding. The Low preset achieves an average of 82 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 58 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 67 FPS. The High preset averages 52 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 45 FPS. At this resolution, the Low preset is the only one that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset is playable but not ideal, while High and Ultra will show noticeable frame rate drops.

3840x2160 (4K)

At 4K, the GPU is severely challenged. The Low preset is the only one that is playable, achieving an average of 55 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 30 FPS. This shows that the system is not suited for 4K gaming with this title, as even the Low preset is only marginally above 60 FPS. The higher presets will result in a stuttery and less enjoyable experience.