Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination delivers a robust gaming experience in Control, with the data showing a clear balance between CPU-driven physics and GPU-driven rendering. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions and settings, interpreting what the scores indicate about system bottlenecks and optimal configurations.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 (Vermeer) architecture using a 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The processor features a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a defining characteristic of this chip. Its benchmark scores indicate strong multi-threaded capability, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14317 and a single-core score of 1452.

In the context of Control, which is an action-adventure game with destructible environments and complex physics, the CPU's role is significant. The game's engine must handle real-time calculations for object interactions and particle effects. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D's high thread count (16 threads) and large cache help maintain frame pacing during chaotic scenes. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 185, which is substantially higher than at higher resolutions. This indicates that at lower resolutions, where the GPU has less work, the CPU is capable of feeding frames rapidly, and the 5800X3D does not become the primary bottleneck.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D has an average benchmark score of 27896. The Intel Core i9-10900K is nearly identical with a score of 27872 and a deltaPct of 0.1%, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 27887 with a deltaPct of 0%. The Intel Core i5-12600KF is slightly lower at 27799 with a deltaPct of 0.3%. These results show that the 5800X3D is effectively on par with these processors in synthetic benchmarks. In Control, this translates to a CPU that is more than capable of supporting the GPU, as the performance scaling from 1080p to 1440p and 4K follows a pattern consistent with GPU limitation rather than CPU limitation.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the primary rendering engine in this combination. It is based on the Ampere architecture (GA102 chip) and manufactured on an 8 nm process. The GPU has a base clock of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 1710 MHz. It comes equipped with 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. With 8704 shading units and 68 RT cores, it is designed for high-fidelity rendering, including ray-traced effects.

In Control, the GPU's role is paramount. The game is known for its visual effects, including ray tracing, which the RTX 3080 is specifically designed to accelerate. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 52, while at 1080p Ultra it is 101. This scaling is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The 10 GB VRAM capacity is a relevant factor; the game's textures and effects at 4K High settings (60 FPS average) and 4K Medium settings (67 FPS average) are handled without exceeding memory limits, as evidenced by the playable frame rates.

The RTX 3080's benchmark performance places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (score 23273, deltaPct -0.4%) and the NVIDIA P106-100 (score 23249, deltaPct -0.3%), are very close in synthetic scores. However, in real-world gaming, the RTX 3080's advantage lies in its specific feature set and memory bandwidth. The data from Control confirms that the GPU is the dominant component in determining frame rates, especially as resolution increases, with the 4K Low setting still yielding 94 FPS, which confirms the GPU's raw compute power.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales with resolution. Starting at 1080p, the performance is exceptionally high. With Low settings, the average FPS is 185. At High settings, it drops to 117, and at Ultra, it is 101. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the system is not severely stressed, and the frame rates are high enough for competitive play.

Moving to 1440p, there is a noticeable decline. Low settings yield 140 FPS, High settings produce 88 FPS, and Ultra settings result in 77 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 24-25% for Low settings (185 to 140), 25% for High (117 to 88), and 24% for Ultra (101 to 77). This consistent percentage drop indicates that the GPU is becoming a more significant factor, but the CPU is still keeping up with the demands.

At 4K, the trend accelerates. Low settings average 94 FPS, High settings average 60 FPS, and Ultra settings average 52 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced: 33% for Low (140 to 94), 32% for High (88 to 60), and 32% for Ultra (77 to 52). This sharp decline is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The rendering load at 4K is four times that of 1080p, and the RTX 3080, while powerful, cannot maintain the same frame rates. The CPU, on the other hand, is not the limiting component here, as the scaling pattern is consistent with what would be expected from a GPU that is maxed out. The data suggests that for maximum frame rates, 1080p is the ideal resolution, while 4K is playable but requires lowering settings to maintain a smooth experience.

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

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the user's priorities for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For a balanced experience, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium yields an average of 131 FPS, which is only 54 FPS lower than Low (185 FPS) but provides significantly better visual quality. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 111, ensuring a smooth experience even in demanding scenes.

At 1440p, Medium offers 99 FPS average with a minimum of 84 FPS. This is a solid performance level for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset at 1440p drops to 88 FPS, which is still playable but less comfortable for competitive play. At 4K, Medium is the only preset that provides both an average above 60 FPS (67) and a minimum above 60 (57). This makes it the recommended choice for 4K gaming, as High (60 FPS average) and Ultra (52 FPS average) may suffer from frame drops that are noticeable in action sequences.

For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p displays, the Low preset (185 FPS) or High preset (117 FPS) are viable. Low offers the highest possible frame rates, while High provides a more immersive visual experience. At 4K, the Ultra preset (52 FPS) is only suitable for slower-paced exploration, while Medium is the best compromise between performance and visual quality. The data indicates that the Medium preset is the most versatile, offering the best experience across all three resolutions without significant compromises.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is ranked 1071 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 29% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing. The rank is determined by the measured FPS across all settings and resolutions. The data indicates that this combo is well-suited for the game, providing high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, and playable performance at 4K with adjusted settings.

The rank of 1071 out of 3720 suggests that there are many systems that perform better, likely featuring more powerful GPUs like the RTX 3090 or newer generations. However, it also means that this combo outperforms the majority of tested systems. The CPU's high performance, as indicated by its 80th percentile ranking among all CPUs, ensures that it does not hold back the GPU. The GPU's 68th percentile ranking indicates that it is also a solid performer. Together, they form a balanced system that excels in Control.

The nearest rival combos are not listed, but the individual component rankings provide context. The CPU's average benchmark score is 27896, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i9-10900K. The GPU's average score is 23172, which is only 0.4% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6600M. These marginal differences in synthetic benchmarks translate to a well-rounded gaming experience. The rank of 1071 reflects the synergy between the 5800X3D's large cache and the RTX 3080's high memory bandwidth, which are both beneficial for Control's engine.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?*

A: The data shows that 1080p provides the highest frame rates, with an average of 185 FPS on Low and 117 FPS on High. 1440p is also excellent, with 140 FPS on Low and 88 FPS on High. 4K is playable, but the average FPS drops to 60 on High and 52 on Ultra.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K follows a consistent pattern of decreasing performance, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D's 16 threads and large cache are sufficient to keep feeding the GPU.

Q: Which settings preset should I use for a smooth 4K experience?

A: The Medium preset is recommended for 4K, as it is the only one with an average FPS above 60 (67) and a minimum FPS of 57. High and Ultra presets have averages of 60 and 52, respectively, which may result in noticeable stutters.

*Q: How does the RTX 3080's VRAM affect performance in Control?*

A: The 10 GB of GDDR6X memory is sufficient for the game's demands. The measured FPS at 4K High (60) and 4K Medium (67) indicates that memory capacity is not a bottleneck, as the GPU can handle the high-resolution textures without issue.

Q: Is this combo better than using a different CPU with the same GPU?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 27896 is nearly identical to its closest rivals, such as the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872). The performance difference is minimal, suggesting that the choice of CPU has little impact on Control's FPS when paired with the RTX 3080.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only settings with recorded minimum FPS values are Medium. At 4K, the minimum is 57 FPS, at 1440p it is 84 FPS, and at 1080p it is 111 FPS. These values indicate that the Medium preset maintains a stable frame rate.

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

The following data was measured for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 in Control:

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: average 185 FPS
• Medium: average 131 FPS, minimum 111 FPS, maximum 151 FPS
• High: average 117 FPS
• Ultra: average 101 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: average 140 FPS
• Medium: average 99 FPS, minimum 84 FPS, maximum 114 FPS
• High: average 88 FPS
• Ultra: average 77 FPS

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: average 94 FPS
• Medium: average 67 FPS, minimum 57 FPS, maximum 77 FPS
• High: average 60 FPS
• Ultra: average 52 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. The difference between Low and Ultra settings is most pronounced at 1080p, where the gap is 84 FPS (185 vs 101). At 4K, the gap narrows to 42 FPS (94 vs 52), which indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The Medium preset consistently offers a balance between the two extremes, with the minimum FPS values ensuring a playable experience even in demanding scenes.