Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure, presents an interesting stress test for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER pairing. The measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a system that is clearly capable of dominating at 1080p but begins to show its limits when pushed to 4K. The data suggests a configuration where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the 8-core processor provides ample headroom to keep up with the graphics card’s output at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, indicating a shift in the limiting component. At 1080p High settings, the combo produces 135 FPS, but at 4K High, that number falls to 69 FPS. This represents a 49% reduction in performance, a steep decline that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario at higher pixel counts. The pattern is consistent across all settings, with the 4K Ultra preset yielding 60 FPS compared to 118 FPS at 1080p Ultra, a drop of 49% as well.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is also telling. At High settings, the system delivers 102 FPS at 2560x1440, which drops to 69 FPS at 3840x2160, a 32% decrease. This is a significant step down, reinforcing that the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 192-bit bus are being taxed heavily by the higher resolution. The data implies that while the GPU has enough raw power for high refresh rate gaming at 1440p, it is not a 4K powerhouse for this title, especially when aiming for frame rates above 60 FPS with maximum quality.

Conversely, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is more moderate. At High settings, the drop is from 135 FPS to 102 FPS, a 24% reduction. This suggests that the system is still relatively comfortable at 1440p, with the CPU and GPU working in better balance. The fact that the 1080p Low preset hits 214 FPS while the 4K Low preset hits 110 FPS shows that even at the lowest settings, the resolution scaling penalty is severe, highlighting that pixel throughput, not graphical complexity, is the main limiter at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 438th out of 2888 tested combos for Control. This places it in the top 15% of all system configurations, a strong showing that underscores its capability for this specific game. The percentile ranking for the CPU alone is 94, meaning it outperforms 94% of all CPUs tested, and the GPU sits at the 83rd percentile, indicating it is a high-end component relative to the entire database.

The combo’s rank is a reflection of the synergy between the two parts. The Ryzen 7 9700F, with its high single-thread performance, is well-suited to feed the RTX 4070 SUPER. The data shows that this pairing is not bottlenecked by the processor at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 214 FPS result at 1080p Low. If the CPU were a weak link, we would expect to see a performance ceiling at lower resolutions, but the frame rates continue to climb as settings are reduced, indicating the GPU is still the primary driver of performance even at 1080p.

However, the rank also suggests that while the combo is excellent, it is not at the absolute top tier. The presence of 2888 combos means there are many configurations with more powerful GPUs or CPUs that would place higher. The data implies that for a game like Control, which is demanding on both the CPU and GPU, this pairing represents a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming, but it is not an extreme enthusiast setup that would top the charts at 4K Ultra.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a Zen 5 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, running on the AM5 socket. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz are key to its performance. The benchmark data shows a Passmark single-thread score of 4691, which is a strong indicator of its ability to handle per-core workloads that many games, including Control, rely on. The multithread score of 36470 further demonstrates its capability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

In the context of the measured FPS, the CPU’s role becomes clear when examining the 1080p Low preset, which hits 214 FPS. This high frame rate would be impossible if the CPU were severely limiting the system. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 9700F is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 4070 SUPER’s output at lower resolutions, and it is likely not the bottleneck until the GPU is fully saturated. The processor’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (89.6 GB/s bandwidth) contribute to its ability to feed data efficiently to the GPU.

The nearest rivals for the CPU, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.2% faster), Intel Core i7-14700KF (0.2% slower), and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.7% faster). These are all high-performance parts, and the 9700F sits right in the middle of this group, indicating it is a top-tier processor for gaming. The fact that it is within 1% of these rivals suggests that any performance differences in games would be minimal, and the GPU would be the deciding factor in most scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the data shows a clear progression from Low to Ultra settings. The Low preset delivers an average of 214 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suitable for competitive play on high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings reduce this to 152 FPS (with a min of 130 FPS and max of 175 FPS), while High settings yield 135 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 118 FPS, which is still very smooth and well above the 60 FPS target for most displays. This indicates that at 1080p, the system has significant headroom and can handle even the most demanding settings without issue.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates remain commendable. The Low preset averages 162 FPS, a slight drop from 1080p but still very high. Medium settings produce 115 FPS (98 min, 133 max), and High settings reach 102 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 89 FPS, which is a solid result for a high-fidelity experience. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance between visual quality and performance, with all presets staying above 60 FPS.

At 4K, the limitations of the RTX 4070 SUPER become apparent. The Low preset averages 110 FPS, which is still playable, but the Medium preset drops to 78 FPS (66 min, 90 max). High settings average 69 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 60 FPS. This shows that while the GPU can manage 4K, it is not ideal for high refresh rates. The data implies that to maintain a smooth experience at 4K, users would need to stick with Medium or High settings, as Ultra is right at the edge of the 60 FPS threshold, which could lead to noticeable frame pacing issues on some displays.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 is the optimal resolution. All presets, including Ultra at 89 FPS, stay well above 60 FPS, providing a smooth experience with high visual fidelity.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. The 4K Ultra preset averages 60 FPS, while High settings average 69 FPS. For a more comfortable margin, Medium settings at 78 FPS would be recommended.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9700F compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The data shows it is nearly identical in performance. It is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-14700KF and 0.7% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, indicating these CPUs are essentially interchangeable in gaming workloads.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter, as frame rates scale significantly with settings changes. The 1080p Low preset achieves 214 FPS, indicating the CPU can push far beyond the GPU’s limits at higher settings.

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p High settings?

A: The measured average frame rate is 102 FPS. This is a strong result that indicates the combo can deliver a high-refresh-rate experience at this resolution with high-quality visuals.

Q: How much faster is the 1080p Low preset compared to the 4K Ultra preset?

A: The 1080p Low preset averages 214 FPS, while the 4K Ultra preset averages 60 FPS. This represents a 256% increase in performance at the lower resolution and settings.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1440p appears to be the most balanced choice. It delivers an average of 115 FPS with a minimum of 98 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. This combination offers a significant visual upgrade over Low settings while maintaining a high frame rate that exceeds most monitors’ refresh rates. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs 13 FPS (115 to 102), which may not be worth the visual gain for competitive players.

If a user has a 1080p monitor, the High preset at 135 FPS is recommended, as it provides excellent visual quality with a very high frame rate. The Ultra preset at 118 FPS is also viable, but the marginal gain in fidelity over High is not worth the 17 FPS loss for most users. For those with 4K displays, the Medium preset at 78 FPS is the most sensible option, as it keeps the frame rate comfortably above 60 FPS while offering better visuals than Low. The High preset at 69 FPS is acceptable, but it is closer to the threshold where frame drops become noticeable.

The data implies that the Ultra preset is best reserved for 1080p gaming, where the 118 FPS average is still smooth. At higher resolutions, the cost of Ultra is too steep, and the performance gains from dropping to High or Medium are substantial. Users prioritizing frame rate over maximum visual fidelity should consider the Low preset, which provides exceptional performance at 214 FPS at 1080p and 162 FPS at 1440p.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a 40-series card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, featuring 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus with a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. Its boost clock of 2475 MHz and 7168 shading units provide substantial compute power, with a FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS. The card’s 80 ROPs and 224 TMUs are essential for rasterization and texturing, which are critical for a game like Control with its complex environments and effects.

The GPU’s role is most evident in the resolution scaling data. The significant drop in frame rates from 1440p to 4K points to the memory bandwidth and compute limits of the card. The 12 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the increased texture and buffer demands may be pushing the memory system to its limits. The 504.2 GB/s bandwidth, while high, is not enough to sustain the same frame rates at 4K as it does at lower resolutions.

The RTX 4070 SUPER’s percentile ranking of 83 places it in the top 17% of all GPUs, confirming its high-end status. Its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB and GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile, are within 1% of its average benchmark score, showing that it is competitive with other top-tier cards. In Control, the data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU is capable of delivering much higher frame rates at lower resolutions. This indicates that for this game, the RTX 4070 SUPER is the defining component for high-resolution performance.