Control

Control, the 2019 action-adventure title from Remedy Entertainment, presents a demanding scenario for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that is capable of delivering high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions but begins to show its limits when pushed to 4K. The measured FPS figures across the four settings presets and three resolutions provide a clear picture of a GPU-bound experience at higher resolutions and a more balanced workload at 1080p, where the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance can still be a factor.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K showcases a significant and expected drop in frame rates, indicating that the rendering load scales heavily with pixel count. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate falls from 93 FPS at 1920x1080 to 71 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 22 FPS, and then further down to 48 FPS at 3840x2160. This trajectory from 1080p to 4K represents a total average FPS loss of 45 frames, or roughly a 48% decrease in performance. This steep decline is a classic indicator that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 becomes the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, with the GPU's rendering throughput being saturated by the sheer number of pixels required for 4K output.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings presets. For instance, the Low preset drops from 148 FPS at 1080p to 112 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 76 FPS at 4K. Similarly, the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, starts at 81 FPS at 1080p, falls to 61 FPS at 1440p, and bottoms out at 41 FPS at 4K. The consistent relative drop between resolutions across all presets suggests that the performance ceiling is dictated by the GPU's fill rate and shader processing power, rather than any specific setting. The data shows that at 4K, even the Low preset, which typically reduces GPU load, only manages an average of 76 FPS, which is below the 144Hz threshold that many gamers target, and the Medium preset provides a playable but not exceptionally smooth 54 FPS. This points to a system that is best suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and solid 60+ FPS gaming at 1440p, with 4K being a less optimal target for this pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the context of all hardware combinations tested for this game, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and Radeon RX 7700 holds a rank of 1294 out of 2888 total combos. This places it in the 44.8th percentile of all tested systems, meaning that over half of the configurations in the database deliver higher average frame rates in Control. This mid-pack ranking is a nuanced result; it does not signify a weak system, but rather that the combination is not at the top tier for this particular title. The ranking is likely influenced by the fact that many higher-ranked combos may feature more powerful GPUs that can handle 4K resolution more effectively, while this combo is more balanced.

The performance of the CPU and GPU relative to their own nearest rivals helps contextualize this ranking. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D's average benchmark score of 27896 is virtually identical to its closest competitors, with a deltaPct of 0% compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U and a 0.1% difference from the Intel Core i9-10900K. This indicates that the processor is performing as expected and is not a bottleneck in the system. On the GPU side, the Radeon RX 7700, with an average benchmark score of 15852, is also closely matched with its rivals, showing a -1.7% deltaPct against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and a -1% deltaPct against the AMD Radeon RX 9060. The data suggests that both components are performing at their expected levels, and the combo's mid-pack ranking is a direct result of the GPU's overall performance tier, which is solid but not at the flagship level required for top-tier rankings in a demanding game like Control.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 93 FPS. This provides a smooth, high-fidelity experience that takes advantage of the game's visual details without sacrificing fluidity. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a slightly higher average of 105 FPS with a minimum of 89 FPS, which could be preferable for gamers with 144Hz monitors who prioritize frame rate over maximum visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1080p, while achieving an average of 81 FPS, still provides a playable experience but with diminishing returns on visual fidelity compared to the significant performance cost.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the sweet spot, producing an average of 71 FPS. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS target for most displays and maintains a high level of graphical detail. The Medium preset at this resolution yields 80 FPS average, which is also very playable and offers a good balance for those seeking higher refresh rates. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to an average of 61 FPS, which is still technically playable but may exhibit more noticeable frame time inconsistencies in demanding scenes. For 4K resolution, the data suggests that compromises are necessary. The Low preset provides the only average above 60 FPS at 76 FPS, but this comes at a significant cost to visual quality. The High preset at 4K averages 48 FPS, which is a playable console-like experience but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 54 FPS and a minimum of 46 FPS, represents a playable middle ground for those who can tolerate occasional dips below 60 FPS. For the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, the High preset at 1440p or the Medium preset at 1080p are recommended for a consistently smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The detailed measurements reveal a consistent hierarchy across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates strong performance, with the Low preset achieving an average of 148 FPS. The Medium preset produces an average of 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 121 FPS, showing a stable frame delivery. High settings at 1080p average 93 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset averages 81 FPS. This shows that even at the highest settings, the system is capable of maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS, making 1080p a very comfortable resolution for this hardware.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. The Low preset is the only one to exceed 100 FPS, averaging 112 FPS. The Medium preset averages 80 FPS, with a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 92 FPS, which is a solid performance for high-refresh-rate gaming. High settings at 1440p average 71 FPS, which is still an excellent result for a demanding title. The Ultra preset at this resolution averages 61 FPS, which is right at the boundary of the 60 FPS target. At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly under significant load. The Low preset is the only one to achieve a playable average of 76 FPS. The Medium preset's average of 54 FPS, with its minimum of 46 FPS, indicates that there will be noticeable dips in performance during intense action sequences. High settings at 4K average 48 FPS, and the Ultra preset can only manage an average of 41 FPS, which falls short of a smooth 60 FPS experience and is best avoided for this resolution.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is the central figure in this performance story, particularly at higher resolutions. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a substantial 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical resource for a game like Control that features complex textures and effects. The benchmark results suggest that this memory configuration is sufficient, as the frame rate drops are more likely attributable to the GPU's compute capabilities rather than memory capacity or bandwidth limitations. The GPU's boost clock of 2459 MHz and game clock of 2041 MHz, based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, are the engines driving the rendering, and the data shows they are working hard at 4K.

The GPU's overall standing, with a percentile rank of 58 among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 15852, categorizes it as a mid-range performer. In Control, this translates to very good performance at 1080p and 1440p, where it can often push frame rates into the triple digits on lower presets. However, the 4K results, with High and Ultra settings averaging 48 and 41 FPS respectively, clearly demonstrate that the RX 7700 is not designed for max-settings 4K gaming in this title. The gap between the Low preset's 76 FPS and the High preset's 48 FPS at 4K highlights how sensitive the card is to the increased shader and fill-rate demands of higher quality settings. The performance is in line with its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which shows a deltaPct of -1.7%, confirming that its capabilities are well-understood within its performance class.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Control with this CPU and GPU combo for a high refresh rate experience?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution for high frame rates. At this resolution, even the High preset achieves an average of 93 FPS, while the Low preset reaches 148 FPS, making it ideal for 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitors.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, but with compromises. The only 4K preset to average above 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 76 FPS. High and Medium settings average 48 FPS and 54 FPS, respectively, which are playable but not consistently smooth. The Ultra preset averages only 41 FPS.

Q: How does the Radeon RX 7700 compare to its direct competitors in this game?

A: The RX 7700's average benchmark score of 15852 is very close to its rivals. It is 1.7% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and 1% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 9060, indicating that performance in Control is expected to be very similar across these cards.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D a bottleneck for the Radeon RX 7700 in Control?

A: The data does not suggest a significant CPU bottleneck. The CPU's average benchmark score of 27896 is in the 80th percentile of all CPUs and nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with a 0% deltaPct against the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U. The frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with a GPU-limited scenario.

Q: What is the performance difference between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 71 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 61 FPS. This represents a 10 FPS average difference, which is a meaningful trade-off for the additional visual effects offered by the Ultra preset.

Q: How many total hardware combinations does this system rank above in Control?

A: This combo ranks 1294 out of a total of 2888 tested combinations. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, though it is not among the top performers.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, provides a robust foundation for gaming. Its high L3 cache of 96 MB is a notable feature that can be beneficial in games, and its benchmark scores reflect a strong processor. The data shows it is not the limiting factor in this pairing, as the performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU fast enough to achieve an average of 148 FPS on the Low preset, indicating that its single-thread performance, with a 3dmark single thread score of 884, is more than adequate.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are also strong, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14317 and a Geekbench multicore score of 11765. This ensures that the game's background tasks and physics calculations are handled smoothly without impacting frame pacing. The processor's 105W TDP and boost clock of 4.50 GHz allow it to maintain high performance under sustained loads. However, the benchmark results indicate that its role diminishes as resolution increases. At 4K, the frame rate is almost entirely determined by the GPU's rendering speed, and the CPU's strong performance cannot compensate for the GPU's inability to process pixels fast enough. The CPU's average benchmark score is essentially tied with its closest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K with a 0.1% deltaPct, confirming that it is performing at the expected level for its class and is not a performance outlier in this system.