Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT combination delivers a solid, if not spectacular, 1080p experience in Control, with performance degrading predictably as resolution climbs. The data shows a pairing where the CPU provides ample headroom, but the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions, ultimately placing this combo in the lower-middle tier of tested systems.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a high-end desktop processor built on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This configuration gives it substantial multi-threaded capability, reflected in its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30325 and Geekbench multicore score of 15538. Its single-thread performance is equally robust, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4281 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4190.

In the context of Control, an Action Adventure title, the game's engine benefits from strong per-core performance. The Ryzen 7 7700X’s high boost clock and efficient Zen 4 architecture ensure that the CPU is rarely a bottleneck in the measured scenarios. Its 32 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s provide ample data throughput for game logic and physics. The CPU’s 89th percentile ranking versus all CPUs confirms its high standing, though its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-13500 (0.4% delta) and Intel Core i7-12800HX (0.5% delta), show that the performance advantage is marginal in general benchmarks. For this specific game, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU efficiently; the measured FPS deltas between settings and resolutions indicate that the 7700X does so without becoming the limiting factor, even at 1080p with Low settings where the average FPS reaches 116.2.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture (Navi 23 chip) using a 7 nm process. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is rated at 2589 MHz, with a game clock of 2359 MHz. Its compute capabilities include 2048 shading units and 32 ray accelerators, producing a FP32 performance of 10.60 TFLOPS. The GPU holds a 71st percentile ranking versus all GPUs, placing it near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (0.1% delta) and AMD Radeon R9 M395X (0.4% delta) in average benchmark scores, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 sits slightly ahead at -0.9% delta.

In Control, the GPU is the dominant factor for frame rate. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game’s textures at 1080p and 1440p, but the data suggests it is a constraint at 4K. The measured FPS drops sharply from 1080p to 4K at every settings level, indicating that the RX 6600 XT’s raw rendering power, rather than the CPU, is the limiting component. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 16461 and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1804 reflect its mid-range standing, which aligns with the observed performance in Control: playable at 1080p, acceptable at 1440p with adjustments, and not viable at 4K for smooth gameplay.

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

The measured data shows a clear and consistent pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, confirming a GPU-bound scenario. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 76.2 at 1920x1080 to 54.1 at 2560x1440, and further to 39.8 at 3840x2160. This represents a 29% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a 48% decrease from 1080p to 4K. The trend is similar across all settings, with Low settings showing the largest absolute drop from 116.2 FPS at 1080p to 58.2 FPS at 4K.

These numbers indicate that the RX 6600 XT’s rendering throughput scales poorly with pixel count. The CPU’s performance, which remains constant, does not compensate for the GPU’s workload increase. The fact that the FPS at 4K with Low settings (58.2) is still higher than the FPS at 4K with Ultra settings (32.1) by 81% shows that the GPU’s compute units are the primary bottleneck, not memory bandwidth or CPU limitations. At 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-thread performance allows the GPU to reach its maximum output, as seen in the 116.2 FPS Low result. The scaling pattern therefore points to a classic mid-range GPU limitation: the combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p requiring settings compromises, and 4K being only for lower presets.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the benchmark database for Control, this specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 1219 out of 1636 tested combos. This places it in the 25th percentile of all combinations, meaning roughly three-quarters of tested systems deliver higher average frame rates. The rank reflects the GPU’s mid-range positioning; while the CPU is high-end, the RX 6600 XT holds back the overall performance.

Within the context of its nearest rivals, the GPU’s average benchmark score is nearly identical to the GTX 980 Ti and R9 M395X, which are older or lower-tier cards. This explains why the combo’s rank is not higher. The CPU’s 89th percentile ranking does not boost the combo’s standing in a game that is heavily GPU-dependent. The data suggests that pairing the Ryzen 7 7700X with a more powerful GPU would yield a significantly higher rank, but as configured, the combo’s 1219th position is a direct consequence of the GPU’s 71st percentile performance. The measured FPS figures, such as the 67.2 FPS at 1080p Ultra, align with this mid-tier ranking, indicating that the system is capable but not competitive with top-tier configurations in this title.

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

For the best experience, the data strongly favors playing at 1920x1080 with High settings. This preset yields an average FPS of 76.2, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, while still providing a significant visual upgrade over Low settings. The jump from Low to High at 1080p costs 40 FPS (from 116.2 to 76.2), but the visual fidelity gain is substantial for most users. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 67.2, which is still playable, but the difference between High and Ultra is often less noticeable in Control’s environments than the performance cost.

At 2560x1440, the High preset produces 54.1 FPS, which is borderline for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 61.1 FPS is a better choice for maintaining a smoother experience, though it requires a visual quality reduction. At 4K, none of the presets deliver a fully smooth experience; the High preset at 39.8 FPS and the Low preset at 58.2 FPS are the only options, with Low being the only one approaching playability. Given the measurements, the recommended path is 1080p High for the best balance of visuals and performance, with 1440p Medium as a viable alternative for users with higher-resolution monitors who prioritize frame rate over maximum detail.

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

The measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X + AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT in Control is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 116.2 average FPS
• Medium: 82.2 average FPS
• High: 76.2 average FPS
• Ultra: 67.2 average FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 89.7 average FPS
• Medium: 61.1 average FPS
• High: 54.1 average FPS
• Ultra: 49.3 average FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 58.2 average FPS
• Medium: 45.0 average FPS
• High: 39.8 average FPS
• Ultra: 32.1 average FPS

The data shows that at 1080p, all presets are playable, with even Ultra maintaining an average FPS above 60. At 1440p, Low is the only preset that remains above 60 FPS, with Medium just above the threshold at 61.1. The High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS, indicating a need for settings reduction. At 4K, only the Low preset exceeds 50 FPS, and all others are below 45 FPS, making the game difficult to play smoothly. The step from Low to Medium at each resolution costs roughly 30-35% of the FPS, while the step from High to Ultra costs about 10-15%, showing diminishing returns for the highest quality settings.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, as all presets achieve an average FPS above 60, with Low reaching 116.2 FPS and Ultra maintaining 67.2 FPS.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 58.2 on Low settings, while High and Ultra drop to 39.8 and 32.1 FPS respectively, indicating that 4K is not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700X has an average benchmark score of 34313, which is 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i5-13500 and 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-12800HX, but 0.8% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance ranking?

A: The RX 6600 XT holds a 71st percentile ranking versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27985, placing it nearly even with the GTX 980 Ti (0.1% delta) and slightly behind the RTX 3070 (-0.9% delta).

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest frame rate at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset provides the highest average FPS at 89.7, followed by Medium at 61.1, High at 54.1, and Ultra at 49.3.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The FPS drops from 1080p to 4K are significant (e.g., High settings drop from 76.2 to 39.8), while the CPU’s performance remains constant, indicating the GPU is the limiting component in Control for this combo.