Control

Control is an action-adventure title from 2019 that pushes both CPU and GPU hard, particularly with its physics-heavy environments and real-time ray tracing options. The benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination provides a clear picture of a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while still showcasing the CPU's strength in maintaining high frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and scaling behavior to help contextualize what these numbers mean for a potential builder.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, and manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The processor includes a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a key asset for games that benefit from high-capacity, low-latency data access. The CPU's TDP is rated at 120 W, and it supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics calculations, and draw call submissions. The 8-core/16-thread configuration is well-suited for modern titles, but Control's engine can be demanding on single-thread performance for scene management. The measured frame rates suggest that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of pushing frame rates well beyond 200 FPS in lower settings, but it does not become the primary bottleneck until the GPU is under less load. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 251 FPS, which indicates the CPU can maintain extremely high throughput without throttling performance.

The 3DMark benchmarks for this CPU show a single-thread score of 959, while the 16-thread score is 7980. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16817 and single-core score of 1713 further illustrate its strong per-core performance. In Control, this translates to a CPU that can efficiently feed a powerful GPU at lower resolutions, but the data shows that the frame rate ceiling is more dependent on the GPU as resolution increases. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 33079, placing it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, Intel Core i7-13650HX, and AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, all of which have a deltaPct of 0.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship graphics card based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, with the GB202 chip. It is manufactured on a 5 nm process and contains a massive 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. The GPU features 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. The core clocks are set to a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The card has 21760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster output pipelines, along with 170 ray tracing cores and 680 tensor cores.

In Control, the GPU's role is dominant, particularly as resolution and settings increase. The RTX 5090 D's immense memory capacity and bandwidth ensure that texture streaming and high-resolution assets are handled without issue. The measured FPS data shows a clear trend: at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 83 FPS, while at 1920x1080 with Low settings, it reaches 251 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the CPU has more headroom to spare.

The GPU's benchmark scores are equally impressive, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14326 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 310674. The Passmark G3D score of 44065 places the RTX 5090 D in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (deltaPct 1.1) and AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (deltaPct -1.6), highlight that while this card is top-tier, the performance delta to some other parts is minimal in synthetic tests. However, in real-world gaming at 4K, the 32 GB VRAM and high bandwidth give it a clear advantage in maintaining frame rates without memory-related stutters.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 142 FPS. This shows a solid balance between visual fidelity and performance, suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its multicore performance in this game?

A: The CPU's 3DMark single-thread score is 959, while the 16-thread score is 7980. In Control, the game benefits from both, but the high single-thread score ensures that the CPU does not bottleneck the GPU at lower resolutions, as seen with the 251 FPS average at 1080p Low.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 83 FPS (Ultra) to 152 FPS (Low), showing a significant drop compared to 1080p, which is typical of GPU-bound scenarios.

Q: What is the recommended memory configuration for this CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. This configuration is necessary to avoid memory bandwidth bottlenecks, especially in CPU-intensive scenes.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D's memory bandwidth affect Control's performance?

A: The GPU's 1.79 TB/s bandwidth and 32 GB VRAM ensure that the game's high-resolution textures and complex effects are loaded efficiently. This is reflected in the stable minimum FPS at 1440p Medium, which is 136 FPS.

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

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 31st out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 1.1% of all systems tested.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves a rank of 31 out of 2888 tested combinations in Control. This is a top-tier result, placing the system in the 99th percentile of all configurations tested. The ranking confirms both the CPU's strong gaming performance and the GPU's raw power. While the CPU alone sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, the GPU's 92nd percentile ranking compensates with overwhelming graphics throughput.

The data shows that this combo is not just about peak frame rates; it also maintains high minimum FPS. For example, at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 108, with a minimum of 92 FPS. This consistency is crucial for a smooth experience, especially in a game with fast-paced action and environmental destruction. The rank of 31 indicates that there are only 30 other combinations that outperform it, likely featuring even more exotic hardware or overclocked variants. For most users, this combo represents a near-optimal configuration for Control, balancing the need for high CPU performance with the GPU's ability to render the game's detailed visuals.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K, which indicates the system's bottleneck shifts from the CPU to the GPU as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 251, which is a high ceiling that suggests the CPU is capable of generating frames faster than the GPU can render them at this resolution. As we move to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 225 at Low settings, a reduction of 26 FPS, which is a relatively small decrease, indicating that the GPU is still not fully saturated.

However, the trend changes dramatically at 3840x2160. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 152, which is a 73 FPS drop from 1080p Low. This is a significant reduction, showing that the GPU is now the limiting factor. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a 10% to 20% performance decrease, while the jump to 4K results in a 30% to 40% decrease, depending on the settings. For example, at High settings, the FPS goes from 188 at 1080p to 142 at 1440p (a 24% drop), and then to 96 at 4K (a 32% drop from 1440p). This pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the increased pixel count and shading workload overwhelm the GPU's capabilities.

The data suggests that for a 60 FPS experience at 4K Ultra, the system is adequate, with an average of 83 FPS. For higher refresh rates, dropping to High settings at 1440p provides a 142 FPS average, which is ideal for a 144 Hz monitor. The CPU's role is more evident at 1080p, where the frame rates exceed 200 FPS in most settings, showing that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D can handle the game's engine without becoming a bottleneck.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo provides a detailed look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 163 FPS at Ultra settings to 251 FPS at Low settings. The Medium preset yields an average of 211 FPS, with a minimum of 180 FPS and a maximum of 243 FPS. The High preset averages 188 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is capable of delivering extremely high frame rates, making it suitable for competitive play on high-refresh-rate monitors.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops but remains very playable. The Low settings average 225 FPS, while Medium averages 160 FPS (with a minimum of 136 FPS and maximum of 184 FPS). High settings average 142 FPS, and Ultra settings average 124 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, as it offers a balance between visual quality and performance, with even Ultra settings staying above 120 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down further. The Low settings average 152 FPS, which is still high for 4K. Medium settings average 108 FPS (with a minimum of 92 FPS and maximum of 124 FPS). High settings average 96 FPS, and Ultra settings average 83 FPS. These results show that the RTX 5090 D is powerful enough to handle 4K gaming at high settings, but the frame rates are more modest. For those seeking the highest visual fidelity at 4K, the Ultra preset is still playable, but for competitive or high-refresh-rate gaming, dropping to Medium or High settings is recommended.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and refresh rate preferences. For 1080p gaming, the data shows that even Ultra settings provide an average of 163 FPS, which is well above the 144 Hz threshold. However, for maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 251 FPS is ideal for esports-style play. The Medium preset at 211 FPS offers a good balance, with a minimum FPS of 180 ensuring minimal stutter.

For 1440p, the High preset at 142 FPS is the best recommendation for a 144 Hz monitor, as it provides a smooth experience with improved visual quality over Medium. The Ultra preset at 124 FPS is also viable if the user has a 120 Hz display, but the slight dip to 124 FPS may not be noticeable to all users. If prioritizing frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 225 FPS is excellent, but the visual fidelity loss is significant.

At 4K, the recommendation is more nuanced. The Ultra preset at 83 FPS is playable on a 60 Hz or 120 Hz display, but the Medium preset at 108 FPS offers a better experience for 120 Hz panels, with a minimum FPS of 92 ensuring consistent performance. The High preset at 96 FPS is also a solid choice, providing a balance between detail and speed. For those with a 144 Hz 4K monitor, the Low preset at 152 FPS is the only way to achieve high refresh rates, but the visual compromise is substantial. In summary, the data suggests that for a balanced experience, High settings at 1440p or Medium settings at 4K are the sweet spots, offering high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual quality.