Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB pairing delivers a highly constrained 4K experience in Control, but the data shows it remains viable at lower resolutions. This analysis examines the measured performance of this specific combo, placing it within the context of the broader hardware landscape and detailing its behavior across resolutions and settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination in Control?

A: The combo ranks 1496th out of 1636 tested combinations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems tested for this game.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D has an average benchmark score of 31580. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700F, scores 31543, making the AMD part only 0.1% faster. The Ryzen 9 5980HX and Ryzen 7 8700G are just 0.3% and 0.6% slower, respectively.

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable at 1080p with this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is achieved at 1080p with Low settings, reaching 83.5 FPS. This is the only setting and resolution combination that breaks the 80 FPS mark.

Q: Is the GPU's 4 GB VRAM a limiting factor at higher resolutions?

A: The data indicates a significant performance drop as resolution increases. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 44.6, which falls to 34.5 at 1440p and further to 22 at 4K, suggesting the GPU's memory capacity and bandwidth are substantial bottlenecks at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the jump in performance from High to Low settings at 1440p?

A: Moving from High to Low settings at 1440p yields a substantial increase in average frame rate, from 38.3 FPS to 63.6 FPS, a gain of 25.3 FPS. This indicates the GPU is the primary performance limiter in this configuration.

Q: Does the CPU show strong multi-threaded capability in its benchmarks?

A: Yes, the CPU's benchmark results show a strong scaling from single to multi-threaded workloads. Its scores range from 959 in the 3dmark single-thread test to 7967 in the max-threads test, and it achieves 29149 in Cinebench R23 multicore.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, using the Raphael codename on a 5 nm process. It has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a key feature for gaming performance. In synthetic tests, it demonstrates a strong single-core foundation with a 3dmark single-thread score of 959 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2725. This single-thread strength is crucial for games that rely on a primary processing thread.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are also robust, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29149 and a Geekbench multicore score of 15101. However, its performance relative to its nearest rivals is marginal. The data shows it is only 0.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-12700F and 0.3% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX in average benchmark scores. This suggests that while the 7800X3D is a high-performing CPU, its computational advantage over its immediate competitors is not massive.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern where performance scales almost entirely with resolution and graphics settings. For instance, at 4K, the average frame rate drops to 22 FPS on Ultra settings, which is a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's high performance, with a Passmark single-thread score of 3759, is likely sufficient to feed the GPU in most scenarios, but the combination's low overall rank suggests that the GPU is the definitive bottleneck, preventing the CPU from being fully utilized.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB is an Ampere-architecture GPU built on an 8 nm process. It features 2048 shading units and a 128-bit memory bus connecting to 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, yielding a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1545 MHz with a boost clock of 1740 MHz. The GPU's 4 GB VRAM is a critical limitation, especially in a game like Control which has detailed environments and effects. The data shows that this VRAM capacity, combined with the memory bandwidth, is the primary factor limiting performance at higher resolutions.

The GPU's performance is best understood through the measured FPS data. At 1080p, the GPU can deliver playable frame rates, with an average of 83.5 FPS on Low settings. However, as the resolution increases, the demand on the GPU's memory and processing power grows exponentially. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is stark. For example, on High settings, the average FPS falls from 53.1 at 1080p to 38.3 at 1440p, and finally to a nearly unplayable 27.6 at 4K. This pattern clearly identifies the GPU as the main performance constraint.

The GPU's percentile ranking of 50 places it in the middle of all GPUs, but its 4 GB memory capacity is a severe handicap for modern titles at high resolutions. The data suggests that even with the powerful 7800X3D CPU, the RTX 3050 4 GB cannot maintain high frame rates at 1440p and 4K. The GPU is the definitive bottleneck in this system, and its limitations are exposed as resolution and settings are increased.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB ranks 1496th out of 1636 tested combos in Control. This places it in the bottom 10% of all tested systems, indicating that it is a lower-performing pairing for this specific game. This low ranking is primarily attributable to the GPU, which is an entry-level part paired with a high-end CPU.

The data shows a massive disparity between the CPU's capability and the GPU's output. The 7800X3D is a top-tier processor, as its percentile ranking of 87 against all CPUs indicates. Its synthetic benchmark scores are impressive, with an average of 31580. However, the RTX 3050 4 GB's percentile ranking of 50 is much lower. This mismatch means the CPU is essentially waiting on the GPU. The benchmark results indicate that the system's overall performance is defined by its weakest link, which is clearly the graphics card.

The ranking suggests that in Control, this combo will struggle to deliver a smooth experience at higher resolutions or with demanding settings. While the CPU can handle the game's physics and logic, the GPU's inability to render frames quickly enough creates a bottleneck. This pairing is an example of an imbalanced system where the CPU's potential is not fully realized due to the GPU's constraints. The rank of 1496 out of 1636 is a clear indicator that this is not a combination optimized for high-end gaming performance in Control.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data for this combo shows a clear and predictable decline as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. This scaling is a direct indicator of the GPU being the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the system achieves an average of 83.5 FPS. This is a playable frame rate. However, moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 63.6 FPS, a 23.8% decrease. At 4K Low, the average falls to 39.9 FPS, which is a 52.2% decrease from the 1080p baseline.

The trend is consistent across all settings. On High settings, the average FPS is 53.1 at 1080p, 38.3 at 1440p, and 27.6 at 4K. The performance hit is stark, with the 4K frame rate being almost half of the 1080p frame rate. This pattern is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's performance is relatively constant across resolutions, but the GPU's workload increases dramatically with pixel count. The data reveals that the GPU's 4 GB memory and 192.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the demands of 4K, and even 1440p proves challenging.

The scaling behavior confirms that the limiting component is the GPU. The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is significant, and the system is not able to maintain a smooth experience at higher resolutions. The performance gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens at higher resolutions, further emphasizing the GPU's struggle. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 38.9 FPS, while at 4K, this difference is 17.9 FPS, showing that the GPU is maxed out at 4K regardless of the settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance in Control.

1920x1080:

At 1080p, the system performs reasonably well. On Low settings, it achieves an average of 83.5 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo. Medium settings yield an average of 58.3 FPS, while High settings produce 53.1 FPS. The most demanding Ultra settings bring the average down to 44.6 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the combo can deliver playable performance, but users will need to adjust settings to maintain higher frame rates.

2560x1440:

At 1440p, the performance drops significantly. Low settings still provide a playable average of 63.6 FPS. However, Medium settings fall to 44.9 FPS, and High settings drop to 38.3 FPS. Ultra settings are the most challenging, with an average of only 34.5 FPS. This resolution is where the GPU's limitations become more apparent, as the frame rates are below the 60 FPS target for many settings.

3840x2160:

At 4K, the system is heavily constrained. Low settings produce an average of 39.9 FPS. Medium settings drop to 30.9 FPS, and High settings fall to 27.6 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with an average of only 22 FPS. These frame rates are generally considered unplayable for a smooth, responsive experience. The data clearly shows that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming, as the GPU cannot handle the workload.