Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER pairing delivers a playable but demanding 4K experience in Control, with performance scaling that clearly favors lower resolutions and settings. The 12-core, 24-thread processor provides ample headroom, while the 8 GB GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher visual fidelity.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz place it firmly in the high-end desktop segment. The processor’s 64 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are typical for its class. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 33,150 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4,680 in single-core, indicating strong multi-threaded capability that exceeds what Control typically demands.

In the context of this game, the CPU’s 90th percentile ranking among all tested processors suggests it is far from a bottleneck. The measured frame rates show that the CPU is not limiting performance, as the game’s workload is predominantly GPU-bound. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 9,075 and max-thread score of 10,075 confirm that the processor can handle heavily threaded scenarios, but Control’s engine does not appear to leverage all 24 threads effectively. Even at 1080p Low, the average frame rate of 120.9 fps suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU adequately.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 5900X’s average benchmark score of 39,453 is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS (39,747) and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-13700F (39,095). The data indicates that the 5900X is competitively positioned, but for Control, the CPU’s raw power translates into consistent frame delivery rather than dramatic performance swings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, built on the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip, is the decisive component for this game’s performance. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU’s base clock of 1470 MHz and boost clock of 1650 MHz, combined with 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs, define its rasterization throughput. The 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores support ray tracing and DLSS, though the measured data does not include those features.

In Control, the GPU’s 63rd percentile ranking among all GPUs is reflected in the frame rates. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 36.2 fps, which is below the 60 fps threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K High preset yields 38 fps, while Medium improves to 41.6 fps, and Low reaches 62.6 fps. This pattern shows that the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and compute resources are heavily taxed at 4K, with even the Medium preset failing to reach 60 fps.

At 1440p, the situation improves. The High preset averages 57.5 fps, which is close to playable, while Medium reaches 61.1 fps and Low hits 89.1 fps. The 1080p results are more favorable, with High achieving 74.5 fps, Medium at 81.4 fps, and Low at 120.9 fps. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 19,774 places it just 0.5% ahead of the RTX 2070 (19,680) and 0.3% ahead of the GTX TITAN (19,706), indicating that the 2060 SUPER delivers near-2070 performance despite its lower tier.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the most consistent, with High averaging 74.5 fps and Medium at 81.4 fps. At 1440p, High drops to 57.5 fps, while 4K High averages only 38 fps, making 1080p the clear choice for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 9 5900X has an average benchmark score of 39,453, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 4245P (39,383) and 0.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-13700F (39,095). It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS by 0.7%.

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

A: Only at Low settings, where it averages 62.6 fps. At Medium (41.6 fps), High (38 fps), and Ultra (36.2 fps), frame rates fall below 60 fps, indicating that 4K is only viable with significant graphical compromises.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance tier relative to other cards?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER’s average benchmark score of 19,774 places it at the 63rd percentile. It is 0.5% ahead of the RTX 2070 (19,680) and 1.3% ahead of the Tesla K40m (19,519), showing it competes closely with higher-tier models.

*Q: How does the CPU’s multi-threaded performance affect Control?*

A: The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 33,150 and 3DMark max-thread score of 10,075 indicate strong multi-threading, but Control’s frame rates are limited by the GPU. Even at 1080p Low, the 120.9 fps average suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck.

Q: What preset offers the best balance at 1440p?

A: Medium delivers 61.1 fps, which is just above the 60 fps target, while High averages 57.5 fps. For a smoother experience, Medium is the recommended preset at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1157th out of 1636 tested combos for Control. This places it in the lower-middle tier of the benchmark database, reflecting the GPU’s mid-range positioning rather than the CPU’s high-end capabilities. The data shows that the CPU is overqualified for the GPU, as the 5900X’s 90th percentile ranking is significantly higher than the GPU’s 63rd percentile.

The ranking suggests that while the CPU provides excellent headroom for future GPU upgrades, the current pairing limits the overall experience. In practical terms, this combo performs well at 1080p and adequately at 1440p, but struggles at 4K. The rank of 1157 out of 1636 indicates that most other tested configurations deliver better frame rates in Control, likely due to more powerful GPUs. The delta between the CPU and GPU performance tiers is notable: the 5900X outperforms its rivals by small margins, but the 2060 SUPER’s 0.5% lead over the RTX 2070 in average benchmark scores does not translate into a high combo ranking.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the measured data points to 1080p Medium as the optimal preset, delivering 81.4 fps on average. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 fps target while maintaining visual quality. At 1080p High, the average drops to 74.5 fps, which is still playable but with a modest reduction in performance. The 1080p Low preset reaches 120.9 fps, but this sacrifices too much visual fidelity for the extra frames.

At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 61.1 fps, making it the only preset at this resolution that consistently hits the 60 fps threshold. The High preset at 57.5 fps is close but may exhibit occasional dips, while Ultra at 50.9 fps is not recommended for smooth play. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 62.6 fps, but the visual compromise is substantial. The Ultra presets at 4K (36.2 fps) and 1440p (50.9 fps) are best avoided unless frame rate is not a priority.

The data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balanced experience across resolutions. At 1080p, it provides 81.4 fps, which is 9.3% faster than High and 34.5% faster than Ultra. At 1440p, Medium’s 61.1 fps is 6.3% faster than High and 20% faster than Ultra. This pattern confirms that the RTX 2060 SUPER is best utilized with medium-quality settings to maintain consistent performance.