Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT delivers a highly capable 1440p experience in Control, with performance scaling that reveals a clear GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all settings, where the combination of an 8-core Zen 3 processor and a 12 GB RDNA 3 graphics card produces frame rates that range from a demanding 45 FPS at 4K Ultra to a fluid 162 FPS at 1080p Low. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes them against the component benchmarks, and offers practical settings guidance based on the observed data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Control shows a predictable and steep decline as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited workload. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings reduces the average frame rate from 102 FPS to 77 FPS, a drop of 25 FPS. The transition from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 at the same settings is even more punishing, with the average falling further from 77 FPS to 52 FPS. This pattern is consistent across all quality presets, indicating that the rendering resolution is the primary variable driving performance.

The scaling behavior strongly suggests that the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the limiting component at 4K. At 1080p, the frame rates are high enough (89-162 FPS depending on settings) that the CPU's role becomes more relevant, but the data does not show a plateau that would indicate a hard CPU bottleneck. Instead, the consistent frame rate reduction with each resolution step—roughly 25% when going from 1080p to 1440p and another 32% when going from 1440p to 4K at High settings—points to the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth being fully utilized. The RX 7700 XT has a 192-bit memory bus and 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which are substantial but not unlimited, and the 4K resolution demands significantly more data transfer.

The difference between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution also illustrates the GPU's workload. At 1080p, the gap between Low (162 FPS) and Ultra (89 FPS) is 73 FPS, showing that the graphics card has headroom to render more complex effects. At 4K, the same settings gap narrows to 38 FPS (83 FPS on Low vs. 45 FPS on Ultra), which indicates that the absolute performance ceiling is lower, and the GPU is struggling to maintain high frame rates regardless of the visual complexity. This is a classic sign of a GPU that is saturated at the higher resolution, where even reducing the settings cannot fully compensate for the increased pixel count.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a Zen 3 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, running at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its benchmark results show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23794 and a 3DMark 16-thread score of 7683. In Control, the measured frame rates at 1080p Low (162 FPS) suggest that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to reach very high frame rates, but the data does not isolate the CPU's contribution independently.

The processor's single-thread performance, as indicated by a 3DMark single-thread score of 959 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3359, is also robust. Control is known to be a game that can utilize multiple cores, but it is not typically considered a heavy multi-threading benchmark. The 8-core/16-thread configuration of the 5800XT is likely sufficient to avoid a significant CPU bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU is the clear limiting factor. The processor's 32 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with game data locality, which can improve frame pacing.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals provides context for its gaming capability. The Ryzen 7 5800XT has an average benchmark score of 29879, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (29868, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (29955, -0.3% delta). It is also 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (29713). This indicates that in general-purpose and multi-threaded workloads, the 5800XT is competitive with these other processors. For Control, the data shows that at 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 115 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it achieves 89 FPS, which are solid numbers. The CPU's role becomes more pronounced at lower resolutions, but the frame rates remain high enough that the experience is smooth, with no indication of a severe CPU limitation in the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT has a combo rank of 1422 out of 3720 tested combinations in Control. This places it in the top 38% of all tested systems, which is a respectable position given the hardware. The rank reflects the overall performance across all measured resolutions and settings, and it shows that this pairing is capable of delivering a good experience, but it is not at the very top tier of performance.

The GPU's percentile ranking among all graphics cards is 67, and its average benchmark score is 22549. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (22435, 0.5% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (22729, -0.8% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (22895, -1.5% delta). This suggests that the RX 7700 XT performs on par with these mobile and previous-generation desktop cards in synthetic benchmarks. In Control, the measured FPS results are consistent with this tier of performance. The combo's rank of 1422 indicates that many other systems, likely with higher-end GPUs, will outperform it, but it also means that it is ahead of a significant number of combinations.

The CPU's percentile ranking is 81, which is higher than the GPU's, indicating that the processor is relatively stronger compared to its peers than the graphics card is. This suggests that in a game like Control, the GPU is more likely to be the limiting factor, which aligns with the resolution scaling analysis. The combo rank is a holistic measure, and the fact that it is near the top 38% shows that the pairing is well-balanced, but not overkill for the game. For users aiming for high refresh rates at 1080p or a solid 60+ FPS experience at 1440p, this combo is well-suited, as the data will show in the next section.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels.

1920x1080 (Full HD):

• Low: 162 FPS average
• Medium: 115 FPS average (min 98, max 133)
• High: 102 FPS average
• Ultra: 89 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo is exceptionally fast. Even at Ultra settings, the 89 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The jump from Low to Medium is a 47 FPS difference, which is significant, but the frame rates remain high enough that all settings are playable. The data shows that the GPU has plenty of headroom at this resolution, and the CPU is not a bottleneck.

2560x1440 (Quad HD):

• Low: 123 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average (min 74, max 100)
• High: 77 FPS average
• Ultra: 67 FPS average

At 1440p, the performance is still very strong. The 67 FPS average at Ultra settings is playable, and the 77 FPS at High is a good target for a high refresh rate monitor. The Medium preset's minimum of 74 FPS suggests that there is some frame time variance, but the overall experience remains smooth. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings is 39 FPS, showing that the resolution increase has a clear impact.

3840x2160 (4K UHD):

• Low: 83 FPS average
• Medium: 59 FPS average (min 50, max 68)
• High: 52 FPS average
• Ultra: 45 FPS average

At 4K, the GPU starts to struggle. The 45 FPS average at Ultra is below the 60 FPS target, and even the Low preset's 83 FPS is a significant drop from the 162 FPS seen at 1080p. The Medium preset's minimum of 50 FPS indicates that there are moments of noticeable slowdown. This data clearly shows that 4K is not the ideal resolution for this combo if you want to max out the settings, but it can handle 4K at lower presets.

FAQ

*Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K 60 FPS?*

A: The measured data shows that at 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 59, with a minimum of 50. At High settings, the average drops to 52 FPS. Therefore, achieving a constant 60 FPS at 4K is not guaranteed, and you would likely need to use Low settings (83 FPS average) to consistently hit that target.

Q: What is the best resolution for a 144Hz monitor?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves over 100 FPS on High and 89 FPS on Ultra. At 2560x1440, it achieves 123 FPS on Low, 87 FPS on Medium, and 77 FPS on High. To fully utilize a 144Hz monitor, 1080p with High settings or 1440p with Medium/High settings are viable options.

Q: Is the game more CPU or GPU bound for this hardware?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The performance drops significantly when moving from 1440p to 4K, which points to the graphics card being saturated. The CPU's high percentile ranking (81) and the high frame rates at 1080p suggest it is not a major bottleneck.

*Q: How does the RX 7700 XT's performance in Control compare to its synthetic benchmarks?*

A: The RX 7700 XT has a Passmark G3D score of 22547 and a percentile ranking of 67. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, has a score of 22895 (1.5% higher). The measured FPS in Control aligns with this tier of performance, showing it is a capable mid-to-high range card.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at 1440p?

A: The data for 2560x1440 Medium settings shows an average of 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This range of 26 FPS indicates some frame time variance, but the average is high enough that it should not be distracting in most scenes.

*Q: Should I upgrade the CPU or GPU for better performance in Control?*

A: Based on the resolution scaling, the GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p and 4K. Upgrading the CPU would have a minimal impact on these resolutions. A GPU upgrade would yield larger gains, particularly at 4K, where the RX 7700 XT struggles to maintain 60 FPS on higher presets.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for different display configurations. For users with a 1920x1080 monitor, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as the 89 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold and the visual quality is maximized. If you have a high refresh rate monitor (144Hz or higher), the High preset (102 FPS) is a better option to get closer to the refresh rate cap. The Low preset (162 FPS) is unnecessary unless you are chasing extremely high frame rates for competitive play, which is not the target audience for Control.

For 2560x1440, the High preset (77 FPS) is the recommended starting point, as it provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. The Ultra preset (67 FPS) is also acceptable, especially if you prefer higher quality over raw frame rate. The Medium preset (87 FPS) offers a good middle ground if you want to ensure a more stable frame rate with less variance. The data shows that all presets are playable at 1440p, but the High preset is the sweet spot for a standard 60-75Hz monitor.

For 3840x2160, the situation is different. The Ultra preset (45 FPS) is not recommended for a smooth experience, and the High preset (52 FPS) is borderline. The Medium preset (59 FPS) is the highest quality option that is close to a 60 FPS target, but its minimum of 50 FPS means there will be occasional dips. The Low preset (83 FPS) is the only option that consistently provides a high frame rate at 4K. If you are using a 4K display, the recommendation is to use the Medium preset and accept the occasional frame drops, or drop to Low for a more consistent experience. The data clearly shows that this combo is best used at 1080p or 1440p, where it can fully flex its capabilities.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the dominant component in determining Control's performance, particularly at resolutions above 1080p. The GPU has a base clock of 1435 MHz, a game clock of 2171 MHz, and a boost clock of 2544 MHz. It features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. These specifications are directly reflected in the measured FPS data, where the card's performance scales predictably with the resolution and settings.

The GPU's 96 ROPs and 216 TMUs are responsible for the pixel and texture processing rates (244.2 GPixel/s and 549.5 GTexel/s respectively), which are crucial for a game like Control with its complex visual effects. The 3456 shading units handle the general-purpose shader workload, and the 54 RT cores support ray tracing, although the measured data does not include ray tracing-specific results. The FP32 performance of 35.17 TFLOPS is a strong number for a mid-range card, and it explains why the GPU can achieve high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.

The benchmark results for the GPU show a Passmark G3D score of 22547, which places it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, scores 22895, which is 1.5% higher. This indicates that the RX 7700 XT is a solid performer, but it is not at the top tier. In Control, this translates to the 4K performance being the weakest link. The 45 FPS at 4K Ultra and 52 FPS at 4K High show that the GPU runs out of steam at this resolution. The 12 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for Control at all settings, but the raw processing power is the limiting factor. The data suggests that the RX 7700 XT is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Control, where it can deliver high frame rates with excellent visual quality.