Control

# Control — AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

Control, released in August 2019, is an action-adventure title that stresses both CPU and GPU depending on resolution and settings. The measured combination here pairs AMD's Ryzen 7 5800XT (8 cores, 16 threads, Zen 3 architecture on the AM4 socket) with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080 (Ada Lovelace, 16 GB GDDR6X). The benchmark data provides FPS readings across three resolutions and four quality presets, offering a clear view of where the bottleneck shifts. This analysis interprets those numbers, positions the combo among 3,720 tested configurations, and gives practical guidance.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression from 1080p to 4K reveals how the system scales under increasing pixel load. At High settings, the average frame rate moves from 156 FPS at 1920x1080 to 118 FPS at 2560x1440, then drops to 79 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 33% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 49%, meaning the RTX 4080 loses roughly half its frame rate when pixel count quadruples. This is typical of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions — the render pipeline fills more pixels per frame, and the graphics card becomes the limiting factor.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The system produces 236 FPS at 1080p, 186 FPS at 1440p, and 126 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 21%, and from 1440p to 4K is 32%. The absolute numbers are higher because the GPU has less work per pixel, but the relative scaling is similar. At Low, the CPU has more room to feed frames, yet the 4K result still sits at 126 FPS, suggesting that even with minimal graphics load, the RTX 4080's raw throughput sets the ceiling.

Ultra settings tell a different story. From 135 FPS at 1080p to 102 FPS at 1440p (a 24% drop), then to 69 FPS at 4K (a 32% drop). The 4K Ultra figure of 69 FPS is the lowest in the entire dataset, indicating that the most demanding preset at the highest resolution pushes the GPU to its limit. The consistency of the percentage drops across settings — roughly 20-25% from 1080p to 1440p and 30-33% from 1440p to 4K — suggests that the RTX 4080's memory bandwidth (716.8 GB/s) and pixel rate (280.6 GPixel/s) are the primary constraints as resolution increases.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU may still be partially involved, especially at Low settings where 236 FPS approaches the practical limit for many game engines. But at 1440p and above, the GPU dominates. For a game like Control, which features physics-heavy environments and particle effects, the shift from CPU to GPU bottleneck is expected as resolution climbs.

How This Combo Ranks

Among 3,720 tested CPU-GPU combinations in Control, this pairing ranks 304th. That places it in the top 8.2% of all configurations. The rank reflects the combined capability of the Ryzen 7 5800XT and the RTX 4080, but the percentile is not uniform across components. The CPU itself sits at the 81st percentile among all processors, while the GPU achieves the 86th percentile among all graphics cards. The combo rank being lower than either individual percentile suggests that Control's engine does not perfectly utilize the full potential of both parts simultaneously — there is some inefficiency in how the two interact.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the Ryzen 7 5800XT has an average benchmark score of 29,879, which is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (29,868, 0% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (29,955, -0.3% difference). The slightly lower score than the 8845HS and 7840HS means those mobile chips outperform the 5800XT by a hair in synthetic tests, but the difference is within noise. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X trails by 0.6%, indicating that the 5800XT's extra cores (8 vs 6) do not translate into a meaningful advantage in this game's CPU workload. The 5800XT's 16 threads and 32 MB of shared L3 cache are adequate for Control, but the game likely does not use all of them efficiently.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4080's average benchmark score is 54,247. Its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54,209 (0.1% higher), meaning the two are virtually identical in synthetic performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are 2.6% and 2.7% lower, respectively. The RTX 4080's 86th percentile among all GPUs is strong, but the combo rank of 304 out of 3,720 suggests that many other pairings — likely with faster CPUs or more optimized memory configurations — achieve better frame rates in Control.

The rank implies that this system is more than capable for 1440p and 4K gaming, but it is not at the absolute top tier. There are 303 combinations that perform better, likely featuring CPUs with higher single-thread performance or GPUs with more bandwidth. For Control specifically, the game's reliance on physics simulation (which can stress CPU cores) and its use of real-time ray tracing (which heavily loads the GPU) means that a more balanced pairing might yield higher ranks. The 5800XT's 3.80 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost clocks are respectable, but newer architectures like Zen 4 or Zen 5 offer higher IPC, which could push the combo higher.

Settings Recommendations

The measured rows provide four presets at each resolution, and the data suggests a clear sweet spot. At 1920x1080, Medium settings deliver 175 FPS average with a minimum of 149 FPS and maximum of 201 FPS. That is a smooth experience for any display, and the gap between Medium and High (156 FPS) is only 19 FPS. Ultra at 1080p runs at 135 FPS, which is still playable but with diminishing returns for the visual upgrade. For competitive play or high-refresh monitors, Low at 236 FPS offers the headroom, but the visual fidelity loss is significant.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset again stands out: 132 FPS average, 113 FPS minimum, 152 FPS maximum. High runs at 118 FPS, and Ultra at 102 FPS. The jump from Medium to Ultra costs 30 FPS, which is a 23% reduction. For a 144Hz monitor, Medium is the recommended choice because it stays above the refresh rate with a comfortable margin. High is also viable if the display is 120Hz, but the minimum frame rate is not provided for High, so the frame pacing is less certain. Low at 186 FPS is overkill for most 1440p displays and sacrifices too much detail.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes. Medium runs at 89 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS and maximum of 103 FPS. High is 79 FPS, and Ultra drops to 69 FPS. For a 60Hz 4K display, all three presets are playable, but Medium offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate stability. The minimum of 76 FPS on Medium means there are no dips below 60, which is crucial for avoiding stutter. Ultra at 69 FPS is close to the 60Hz floor, but any demanding scene could push it lower. Low at 126 FPS is unnecessary at 4K unless the display supports a higher refresh rate.

The pattern across all resolutions is that Medium provides the most consistent frame pacing — it is the only preset with both minimum and maximum values recorded, and those ranges are tight (e.g., 149-201 FPS at 1080p, 113-152 FPS at 1440p, 76-103 FPS at 4K). This suggests that Medium is the preset where the CPU and GPU are best balanced, without one component becoming a hard bottleneck. For the best experience, Medium is the default recommendation, with High as a viable alternative at 1080p and 1440p if the user prioritizes visual fidelity over raw frame rate.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 at Medium settings provides 132 FPS average with a minimum of 113 FPS, which is ideal for 120Hz or 144Hz displays. At 4K, Medium still delivers 89 FPS average and 76 FPS minimum, making it suitable for 60Hz monitors. The choice depends on the display's refresh rate, but 1440p offers the best combination of speed and stability.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest rival in this game?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54,209, a 0.1% difference. In Control's measured FPS, the 4080 produces up to 236 FPS at 1080p Low, but the game's actual performance is tied to the CPU and memory configuration. The synthetic scores suggest no meaningful difference between the two cards.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5800XT a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low settings, the system reaches 236 FPS, which is very high but may not fully saturate the RTX 4080's potential. The CPU's single-thread score of 959 in 3DMark and its 81st percentile among all processors indicate it is competent, but the game's engine may not scale perfectly with all 16 threads. At 1080p High, the 156 FPS figure suggests the GPU is still the primary limit.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 4K Ultra?

A: The measured 4K Ultra average is 69 FPS, with no minimum or maximum recorded. This is the lowest figure in the dataset and indicates that the RTX 4080 is heavily loaded. For a 60Hz display, this is playable, but there is little headroom for demanding scenes. Dropping to High (79 FPS) or Medium (89 FPS) provides more safety margin.

Q: Does the combo rank of 304 out of 3,720 mean this is a low-end system?

A: No. The rank places this pairing in the top 8.2% of all tested configurations. The CPU and GPU both sit above the 80th percentile in their respective categories. The rank is relative to 3,720 combos, many of which use higher-end CPUs or multiple GPUs, so 304th is a strong result for a single-GPU desktop setup.

Q: How much faster is the 5800XT compared to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800XT's average benchmark score is 29,879, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS scores 29,955, making the 5800XT 0.3% slower. Against the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (29,868), the 5800XT is effectively tied at 0% difference. The differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die. It features 9,728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, 112 ROPs, 76 ray tracing cores, and 304 tensor cores. The base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and the memory runs at 1400 MHz (22.4 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus, yielding 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The 16 GB of GDDR6X memory is ample for Control's textures and effects, even at 4K Ultra.

In Control, the GPU's role becomes dominant as resolution increases. At 4K Ultra, the 69 FPS average is constrained by the card's pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s. The game's use of real-time ray tracing, particularly for reflections and lighting, activates the 76 RT cores, which can reduce frame rates further. The FP32 throughput of 48.74 TFLOPS is high, but the game's shading complexity at Ultra settings means the card is working near its limit.

The GPU's percentile of 86 among all GPUs indicates it is above average, but its nearest rivals show that the 4080 SUPER is 0.1% faster in synthetic tests, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% slower. In Control, the measured FPS at 1080p Low (236 FPS) is likely close to the engine's maximum frame rate, suggesting that the GPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, at 4K, the 4080's bandwidth and compute resources are fully utilized, as evidenced by the 49% drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings.

The 16 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor here — Control's maximum memory usage is well below that, and the card's 716.8 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming is not an issue. The GPU's role is to render the game's intricate environments and physics-based destruction, and the data shows it does so effectively up to 1440p, with only 4K Ultra pushing it to the edge.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a Zen 3 architecture processor (codenamed Vermeer) on a 7 nm TSMC process, with 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The CPU supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration, providing 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. It fits in the AMD Socket AM4 and has a TDP of 105 W.

In Control, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits 236 FPS, which is a high frame rate that requires the CPU to feed the GPU quickly. The 5800XT's 16 threads help with the game's physics simulation, which can be parallelized across cores. The CPU's 3DMark scores — 959 single-thread, 3,603 for 4 threads, 6,141 for 8 threads, and 7,680 for max threads — show that scaling from 4 to 8 threads is not linear (only 71% improvement), suggesting that Control's engine may not fully utilize all 8 cores. The 16-thread score (7,683) is nearly identical to the 8-thread score, indicating minimal benefit from SMT beyond 8 threads.

The CPU's benchmark average of 29,879 places it at the 81st percentile, and its nearest rivals are all mobile or newer desktop chips. The AMD Ryzen 7 7840H and 8845HS are within 0.3% in synthetic tests, which means the 5800XT's older architecture does not hurt it significantly in this game. However, the CPU's 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is lower than newer platforms, which could affect frame pacing in scenes with heavy data streaming.

At 1440p and 4K, the CPU's influence diminishes as the GPU takes over. The FPS drops from 1080p to 1440p are consistent across settings (20-25%), indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck at higher resolutions. The 5800XT's boost clock of 4.80 GHz provides sufficient single-thread performance for Control's game logic, and the 8 cores handle the background tasks without issue. The CPU's role is to maintain a stable frame delivery, which it does well, as evidenced by the tight minimum/maximum ranges on Medium settings (e.g., 113-152 FPS at 1440p).

Measured FPS Breakdown

The dataset includes 12 measured FPS points, covering three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). All values are average FPS, with minimum and maximum only recorded for Medium settings.

At 1920x1080:

• Low: 236 FPS average
• Medium: 175 FPS average, 149 FPS minimum, 201 FPS maximum
• High: 156 FPS average
• Ultra: 135 FPS average

At 2560x1440:

• Low: 186 FPS average
• Medium: 132 FPS average, 113 FPS minimum, 152 FPS maximum
• High: 118 FPS average
• Ultra: 102 FPS average

At 3840x2160:

• Low: 126 FPS average
• Medium: 89 FPS average, 76 FPS minimum, 103 FPS maximum
• High: 79 FPS average
• Ultra: 69 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step down (from 1080p to 1440p to 4K) reduces frame rate by roughly 20-30%, regardless of settings. The Medium preset is the only one with frame time data, and its ranges are narrow (e.g., 149-201 FPS at 1080p, a 52 FPS spread; 76-103 FPS at 4K, a 27 FPS spread), indicating stable performance. The Low settings produce the highest frame rates but likely compromise visual quality, while Ultra at 4K (69 FPS) is the most demanding scenario.

The combination of the 5800XT and RTX 4080 delivers playable frame rates at all resolutions and settings, with 4K Ultra being the only configuration that approaches the 60 FPS floor. For users with high-refresh monitors, 1080p and 1440p Medium or High presets provide the best balance of speed and fidelity, as the data shows these settings maintain frame rates well above 100 FPS while keeping the GPU and CPU working in harmony.