Control

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael), manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It runs at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The chip supports DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, providing 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and offers 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. With a 32 MB shared L3 cache and 1 MB L2 per core, the 7700 is a desktop-class part released in January 2023.

In synthetic CPU benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 7700 scores 18,760 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,930 in single-core, while Geekbench results show 15,371 multi-core and 2,525 single-core. The 3DMark thread scaling tests show 8,484 for 16 threads, 6,933 for 8 threads, 3,931 for 4 threads, and 2,043 for 2 threads, with a single-thread score of 1,049. PassMark results include 34,470 for multithread, 4,063 for single-thread, and 110,295 for integer math. These figures place the CPU in the 87th percentile among all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 40,081.

For Control, the game's demands are primarily GPU-bound, but the 7700's strong single-thread performance (1,930 in Cinebench R23 single-core) ensures that scene complexity and physics calculations do not become a bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 122 FPS average, which is high enough that the CPU still has headroom. The 8-core/16-thread configuration also helps with background tasks and any game logic threads, though Control is not known for heavy multi-threading. The CPU's nearest rivals by average benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core 5 221E (0.2% lower), the AMD Ryzen 9 270 (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i9-13905H (0.6% lower). These deltas are within 1%, so the 7700 sits in a tight performance cluster.

The fact that the 7700 was released in early 2023, with a launch MSRP of $329, and remains in production, means it is a current-generation part. Its 5 nm process and 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die contribute to its efficiency. For Control, the CPU's 3DMark 16-thread score of 8,484 and PassMark physics score of 1,978 indicate it can handle the game's real-time calculations without issue, as reflected in the measured FPS data.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is a RDNA 2.0 architecture GPU (chip Navi 23) with 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. It has 32 ray accelerators and operates at a base clock of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz. The memory subsystem consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, running at 2190 MHz (17.5 Gbps effective), yielding 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's compute capabilities are 10.79 TFLOPS FP32 and 21.59 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1). The board has a 176 W TDP, requires a single 8-pin power connector, and a suggested 450 W PSU. It uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In GPU benchmarks, the RX 6650 XT scores 18,59 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 97,969 in Geekbench Metal, 10,111 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 81,306 in Geekbench Vulkan. PassMark results include 17,166 for G3D, 7,532 for compute, and 62 for DirectX 12. The GPU sits in the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19,765. Its nearest rivals by average score are the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (0.6% higher), the AMD FirePro D300 (0.7% lower), the AMD FirePro W7000 (0.7% higher), and the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (0.8% lower). These are older workstation-class cards, indicating the 6650 XT's position in the midrange consumer segment.

For Control, the 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor. At 4K Ultra, the game averages 34 FPS, which suggests the GPU is both memory- and compute-limited. The 128-bit memory bus and 280.3 GB/s bandwidth are modest for 4K, but at lower resolutions the GPU shows its strength. The boost clock of 2635 MHz provides decent rasterization throughput, and the 32 ray accelerators enable ray-traced effects, though Control's implementation is not the focus of the measured data. The GPU's pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as the FPS numbers confirm.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system averages 122 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops to 93 FPS (a 23.8% reduction), and at 4K Low it falls to 63 FPS (a 48.4% reduction from 1080p). This steep decline indicates the GPU becomes increasingly the limiting factor as resolution rises.

For Medium settings, the pattern is similar: 87 FPS at 1080p, 66 FPS at 1440p (24.1% drop), and 44 FPS at 4K (49.4% drop from 1080p). The High preset shows 77 FPS at 1080p, 58 FPS at 1440p (24.7% drop), and 39 FPS at 4K (49.4% drop). Ultra settings yield 67 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p (23.9% drop), and 34 FPS at 4K (49.3% drop from 1080p).

The consistent ~24% drop from 1080p to 1440p and ~49% drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a signature of GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, these percentages would diverge more significantly between Low and Ultra settings. The fact that the drop percentages are nearly identical regardless of preset confirms the RX 6650 XT is the primary limiter at higher resolutions.

At 4K, even Low settings only reach 63 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 38 and a maximum of 51, showing variability that suggests VRAM or bandwidth constraints. The 8 GB VRAM is likely a factor at 4K, as texture loads and buffer sizes can exceed that capacity in demanding scenes. At 1080p, all settings except Ultra stay above 77 FPS, indicating the GPU has sufficient headroom at lower resolutions.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience depends on the target resolution. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides a smooth experience with better visual quality than Low. The High preset at 77 FPS is also acceptable, but the jump from Medium to High costs 10 FPS while the visual difference in Control is often subtle. Ultra at 67 FPS is borderline for high-refresh displays, but for a 60 Hz monitor, it remains playable.

At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 66 FPS with a minimum of 56 and a maximum of 76. This is the sweet spot for 1440p, as it stays close to 60 FPS with occasional dips. High at 58 FPS is slightly below the 60 FPS target, so it may be preferable to stick with Medium. Low at 93 FPS is an option for competitive play, but the visual compromise is significant. Ultra at 51 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience.

At 4K, no preset achieves a consistent 60 FPS. Low averages 63 FPS, which is above 60 but with no minimum data, it may dip below. Medium averages 44 FPS with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 51, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. High at 39 FPS and Ultra at 34 FPS are both below the playable threshold for most users. For 4K, the recommendation is to use Low settings if smoothness is prioritized, or Medium if visual quality matters more and the player can tolerate lower frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is ranked 2,438 out of 3,720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the 65.4th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning roughly 65% of combos perform worse and 35% perform better. Given the GPU's midrange positioning (65th percentile among GPUs) and the CPU's high-end positioning (87th percentile among CPUs), the combo rank reflects the GPU's limiting role. The CPU is overqualified for this GPU in Control's workload, but the overall combination still outperforms a majority of tested systems.

The rank of 2,438 out of 3,720 suggests that while this combo is not a top-tier performer, it is above the median. In practical terms, this means the system can handle Control at 1080p and 1440p with respectable frame rates, but it will struggle at 4K. The data is measured, not estimated, so the rank reflects actual test results. Compared to other combos with similar GPUs, the 7700's strong single-thread performance likely helps in scenes with complex physics, but the overall FPS is still dictated by the 6650 XT.

For users considering this combo, the takeaway is that it is a balanced midrange setup for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with the CPU providing headroom for future GPU upgrades. The combo rank of 2,438 indicates it is not a flagship pairing, but it is far from the bottom of the list. In Control specifically, the system delivers playable frame rates at all resolutions except 4K Ultra, which is consistent with the GPU's capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS is 87, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100, as measured in the data.

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

A: At 4K, Low settings average 63 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS (min 38, max 51), High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra averages 34 FPS. Only Low approaches a smooth 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700 has an average benchmark score of 40,081, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, 0.2% lower than the Intel Core 5 221E, 0.4% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 270, and 0.6% lower than the Intel Core i9-13905H.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The RX 6650 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, running at 2190 MHz (17.5 Gbps effective), providing 280.3 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Control?

A: The combo is ranked 2,438 out of 3,720 tested combos, placing it in the 65.4th percentile.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 77 at 1080p to 58 at 1440p (a 24.7% drop) and to 39 at 4K (a 49.4% drop from 1080p).

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

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). All data is from measured tests.

1920x1080:

• Low: 122 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average, minimum 74, maximum 100
• High: 77 FPS average
• Ultra: 67 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 93 FPS average
• Medium: 66 FPS average, minimum 56, maximum 76
• High: 58 FPS average
• Ultra: 51 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 63 FPS average
• Medium: 44 FPS average, minimum 38, maximum 51
• High: 39 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

The minimum and maximum FPS values are only provided for Medium settings at each resolution. The 1080p Medium has a spread of 26 FPS (74 to 100), the 1440p Medium has a spread of 20 FPS (56 to 76), and the 4K Medium has a spread of 13 FPS (38 to 51). This narrowing spread at higher resolutions indicates the GPU is more consistently saturated at 4K, with less headroom for frame time variation. At 1080p, the wider spread suggests the CPU or other factors can cause larger frame time swings.

The delta between Low and Ultra at each resolution is consistent: 55 FPS at 1080p (122 to 67), 42 FPS at 1440p (93 to 51), and 29 FPS at 4K (63 to 34). This shows that the performance cost of each settings tier is roughly proportional across resolutions, further confirming the GPU as the scaling bottleneck. For a player, the data suggests that if they want to maintain 60 FPS, they should use Medium or lower at 1080p, Medium at 1440p (with some dips), and Low at 4K.