Control

) Control with AMD Ryzen 9 5950X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

The pairing of AMD's Ryzen 9 5950X with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a study in brute-force computing, and in Control, a game that thrives on chaotic physics and particle effects, this combo delivers a masterclass in high-refresh-rate 1440p and 4K gaming. The data shows a system that is almost hilariously over-qualified for 1080p, but one that scales predictably and impressively as resolution increases. Benchmark results indicate this combination holds the 160th spot out of 3,720 tested combinations in this title, placing it well within the top 5% of all systems. This page breaks down exactly what that ranking means for your in-game experience, resolution by resolution.

The overall performance picture is defined by a clear hierarchy of settings and resolutions. At 1080p, the system is practically idling, with frame rates so high that the limiting factor becomes the refresh rate of your monitor rather than the hardware. As you climb the resolution ladder to 1440p and 4K, the load shifts heavily onto the GPU, and the frame rates, while still high, become more grounded in the capabilities of the RTX 4090. The measured data shows a system that is not just fast, but consistently, predictably fast, with no bottlenecks that would cause stutters or unexpected dips.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly illustrates where the bottleneck lies. At 1080p with High settings, the combo posts a staggering 172 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that number drops to 130 FPS, a 24% reduction in performance. Pushing further to 4K, the average FPS falls to 88, a significant 49% drop from 1080p. This steep decline is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions; the CPU is no longer the primary limiter, and the RTX 4090's raw rendering power dictates the final frame rate.

This scaling is even more pronounced when we look at the Low preset. The system produces a phenomenal 232 FPS at 1080p, which then drops by 11% to 206 FPS at 1440p and by a further 33% to 139 FPS at 4K. The fact that the 4K Low preset (139 FPS) is still higher than the 1440p Ultra preset (113 FPS) speaks volumes about the GPU's headroom. The data suggests that for players with high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors, this system will never break a sweat, while 4K gamers will be able to enjoy a premium experience with high frame rates, assuming they are willing to dial settings down from the absolute maximum.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the undisputed star of this show, and its role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, it has the bandwidth to feed its massive AD102 chip. The data shows a consistent performance hierarchy across all resolutions: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra settings have a predictable impact on frame rates. The card is clearly the primary driver of the 4K performance, where it delivers playable to highly playable frame rates across all settings, from 76 FPS on Ultra to 139 FPS on Low.

The difference between the Medium and High presets is particularly telling. At 4K, the jump from High (88 FPS) to Medium (99 FPS) yields an 11 FPS gain, while the jump from Medium to Low (139 FPS) is a massive 40 FPS gain. This suggests that the "Low" preset is likely disabling or heavily reducing specific rendering features that are particularly taxing on even the mightiest of GPUs. The 4090 has enough raw power to make even the "Low" graphics setting look great on a 4K display, making it a fantastic tool for targeting the absolute highest refresh rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, while a generation behind the latest, proves to be a non-factor as a bottleneck in this configuration. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture, are far more than Control needs. The game is not heavily multithreaded, so the CPU's single-core performance, which is competitive with the likes of the Intel Core i7-14700 and i9-13900F, is what matters most. The data shows the 5950X is more than capable of feeding the RTX 4090 data at 1080p, where the CPU load is highest, as evidenced by the 172 FPS High preset result.

At 1080p, the game is entirely CPU-bound, meaning the frame rate is limited by the processor's ability to prepare frames for the GPU. The fact that this combo can push 232 FPS on Low settings at 1080p demonstrates that the 5950X has ample headroom and will not hold back the RTX 4090, even in this most demanding scenario. While a newer, faster gaming CPU might squeeze out a few more frames at 1080p, the difference would be marginal and the 5950X's performance is more than sufficient for a fluid and responsive experience, ensuring that the 4090 is never left waiting for data.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080: The system is a monster at this resolution, with every preset well above the 144Hz-plus territory. The average frame rates are 232 FPS (Low), 194 FPS (Medium), 172 FPS (High), and 149 FPS (Ultra). The Medium preset shows a 1% low of 165 FPS, proving that even the most demanding moments in the game won't cause a perceptible stutter. This is a case where the hardware is so far ahead of the game that the only real limitation is the refresh rate of a standard 1080p monitor.

2560x1440: The sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming, this resolution offers a great balance between visual fidelity and performance. The system delivers 206 FPS (Low), 146 FPS (Medium), 130 FPS (High), and 113 FPS (Ultra). The Medium preset's 1% low of 124 FPS means that even the most chaotic firefights will feel buttery smooth on a 144Hz monitor. The gap between High and Ultra is 17 FPS, suggesting that players chasing the absolute highest refresh rates can gain meaningful performance by dropping from Ultra to High.

3840x2160: This is where the RTX 4090 truly earns its keep, turning the most demanding resolution into a high-refresh-rate gaming experience. The system delivers 139 FPS (Low), 99 FPS (Medium), 88 FPS (High), and 76 FPS (Ultra). While the jump from "good" to "great" is clear, the most significant finding is that even at 4K Ultra, the system maintains an average of 76 FPS, which is perfectly playable on a 60Hz or 75Hz display. The data indicates that 4K at 144Hz is not quite on the table with this setup, but 120Hz is certainly within reach with a few settings tweaked down from Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 160 out of 3,720 in Control places it in the 95.7th percentile of all tested systems. This is a phenomenal result, reflecting the immense power of the RTX 4090 and the capable Zen 3 architecture of the 5950X. The CPU itself, when benchmarked in a vacuum, scores 51,947, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX (0.2% slower) and the AMD EPYC 8124P (0.3% slower), while it also edges out the Intel Core i9-13900F by 0.4%. This tells us that while the 5950X is not the absolute fastest gaming CPU ever made, it is within a hair's breadth of the top tier.

The GPU, as expected, is also a top-tier performer, scoring an average of 60,347, which places it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its performance is essentially tied with the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0.0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (0.3% slower). The combination of these two components in the 95.7th percentile for Control suggests that the game is well-optimized for high-end hardware and that this specific pairing is an excellent match for it, delivering a level of performance that is only bested by a tiny fraction of the systems we have data for.

Settings Recommendations

For the absolute best experience, the choice of settings depends entirely on your target resolution and refresh rate. If you are one of the few with a 1080p 240Hz monitor, the Low preset is the only way to get close to that 232 FPS average. However, for most players, the real value is at 1440p and 4K. At 1440p, the Ultra preset is the clear winner, providing an average of 113 FPS, which is perfect for a 120Hz or 144Hz monitor. The visual jump from High is significant, and the 17 FPS cost is worth it for the added visual fidelity.

At 4K, the decision is more nuanced. The High preset, with its 88 FPS average, is the sweet spot for a 4K 90Hz or 144Hz display. It offers a substantial visual improvement over Medium and is a better experience than the 76 FPS average of Ultra. The only reason to drop to Medium at 4K would be to chase a higher refresh rate on a 120Hz monitor, where the 11 FPS gain from High is a worthwhile trade, but the visual sacrifice is more noticeable. The data strongly suggests that High is the intended "max" setting for a premium experience, with Ultra being for those who prioritize absolute visual detail above all else.