Control

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the Intel Arc B580 lands in the 1282nd position out of 1636 tested combinations for Control, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. This rank reflects a pairing where the GPU’s overall compute percentile (66th) and the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance (89th percentile) do not translate into top-tier frame rates in this title. The data shows a system that is capable of smooth playable experiences at 1080p, but it struggles to maintain high refresh rates or high preset quality at higher resolutions, indicating a fundamental balance issue where the graphics card becomes the primary constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 1282 out of 1636 tested configurations places it squarely in the 78th percentile of all tested pairings for Control. This is a modest result, especially considering the individual components’ standings. The Intel Arc B580 holds a 66th percentile ranking among all GPUs, while the Ryzen 7 9700X sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs. The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile and the combo’s lower rank signals that the processor’s potential is not being fully utilized in this game, with the GPU acting as the limiting factor.

Benchmark results indicate that this combination is not optimized for high-end 4K gaming, as the average FPS at 4K Ultra (34.4) falls below the generally accepted 60 FPS threshold. The pairing performs more convincingly at 1080p, where even the Ultra preset achieves an average of 63.4 FPS. The data suggests that users seeking a fluid experience should prioritize resolution over graphical fidelity. When comparing to the GPU’s nearest rivals, the Arc B580’s average benchmark score of 23021 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon 760M (22999, +0.1%) and the NVIDIA P106-100 (22950, +0.3%), while being slightly behind the GeForce RTX 4060 (23181, -0.7%). This indicates that the B580 is a mid-pack performer, and in the context of Control, its capabilities are the ceiling for this combo.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is achieved at 1080p with the Low preset, which delivers an average of 111.1 FPS. This is the only configuration that breaks the 100 FPS barrier, offering a significantly smoother experience than the next best option. For users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, the High preset at 1080p (71.7 FPS) provides a solid compromise, remaining well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

At 1440p, the data suggests that the Low preset (87.2 FPS) is the only viable option for a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at this resolution drops to 58.7 FPS, which is borderline, while High (52.4 FPS) and Ultra (48.5 FPS) fall below playable standards. For 4K gaming, the results are more challenging. The Low preset at 3840x2160 achieves an average of 59.7 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that approaches acceptable playability. All other 4K presets, including Medium (41.3 FPS), High (36.3 FPS), and Ultra (34.4 FPS), are not recommended for a fluid experience. The benchmark results indicate that the "best experience" is heavily dependent on whether the user prioritizes frame rate or resolution, with 1080p Low offering the most headroom.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear and predictable performance drop as resolution increases. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 71.7 FPS at 1080p to 52.4 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 19.3 FPS. The scaling to 4K is even more severe, with the High preset dropping to 36.3 FPS, representing a 35.4 FPS loss from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is consistent across all presets, but the relative drop is more pronounced at higher quality settings.

This behavior strongly indicates that the Intel Arc B580 is the limiting component in this configuration. The GPU’s rendering workload increases significantly with pixel count, and the data shows that the processor is not the bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 111.1 FPS, suggesting the CPU can feed frames quickly. However, at 4K Low, the FPS drops to 59.7, a 51.4 FPS decrease. This halving of performance from 1080p to 4K is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics card’s compute and memory bandwidth are saturated. The CPU’s high single-thread score (1280 in 3dmark_single_thread) and robust multi-threaded performance (9771 in 3dmark_max_threads) are not the constraining factors here.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a 60+ FPS average?

A: The data shows that 1080p is the only resolution where multiple presets exceed 60 FPS. The Low (111.1 FPS), Medium (81.9 FPS), and High (71.7 FPS) presets all achieve this target, while Ultra (63.4 FPS) also remains above 60 FPS.

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

A: The benchmark results indicate that 4K gaming is not viable for this combo. The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 59.7 with the Low preset, and all other presets fall below 42 FPS, which is not a smooth experience.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 9700X has an average benchmark score of 36029. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14500HX (35940) and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (35802). It is slightly behind the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (36165, -0.4%) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H (36328, -0.8%).

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves an average of 87.2 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 48.5 FPS. This represents a performance reduction of 38.7 FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more likely to bottleneck this system in Control?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor. As resolution increases, the FPS drops significantly at the same settings, which is a classic sign of GPU saturation. The CPU’s performance is sufficient to drive high frame rates at 1080p, as seen with the 111.1 FPS result.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B580’s average score compare to the GeForce RTX 4060?

A: The Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, which is 0.7% lower than the GeForce RTX 4060’s score of 23181. This indicates the B580 is marginally slower in overall compute performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is the primary determinant of this combo’s gaming performance in Control. Its specifications, including 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, provide a bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base and boost clocks are both set at 2670 MHz, with a memory clock of 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). These features contribute to a PassMark G3D score of 15748 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3068.

In the context of Control, the GPU’s role is critical. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (34.4 FPS) versus 4K Low (59.7 FPS) shows a 25.3 FPS swing, highlighting how the graphics card’s pixel and texture processing rates (213.6 GPixel/s and 427.2 GTexel/s) are stressed by higher detail settings. The 13.67 TFLOPS FP32 performance is sufficient for 1080p gaming, but the data suggests it is insufficient for maintaining high frame rates at 4K. The GPU’s percentile rank of 66 places it in the mid-range, and its nearest rival, the GeForce RTX 4060, performs only 0.7% better on average. This indicates that while the B580 is a capable card, it is not a high-end solution, and its 190W TDP and dual-slot design reflect a mid-range target.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X provides the computational backbone for this combo. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, it has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Its 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (89.6 GB/s bandwidth) offer a solid platform for gaming. The CPU’s benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31588 and a single-core score of 4459.

In this pairing, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with enough data to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 111.1 FPS, which indicates the CPU is capable of high instruction throughput. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1280 and the PassMark single-thread score of 4654 demonstrate excellent per-core performance, which is crucial for game logic and physics. However, the CPU’s performance is not the limiting factor in this game. As resolution increases, the FPS drops, showing that the GPU’s workload scales faster than the CPU’s. The Ryzen 7 9700X’s 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its high-end status, but in Control, its capabilities are held back by the Arc B580’s rendering limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four quality presets.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset achieves an average of 111.1 FPS, which is the highest score across all tested configurations. The Medium preset follows at 81.9 FPS, and the High preset reaches 71.7 FPS. The Ultra preset, while the most demanding, still manages an average of 63.4 FPS, keeping it above the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution offers the most flexibility, allowing users to choose between high frame rates and higher visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. The Low preset remains the most playable option at 87.2 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 58.7 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS target. The High preset (52.4 FPS) and Ultra preset (48.5 FPS) are both below playable standards for a smooth experience. The data indicates that 1440p gaming is possible, but only with significant compromises to graphical settings.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset is the only option that approaches acceptability, with an average of 59.7 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 41.3 FPS, the High preset to 36.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset to 34.4 FPS. These results confirm that 4K gaming is not a realistic use case for this hardware combination in Control, as even the lowest settings cannot consistently deliver a smooth experience.