Control

# Control — AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + Intel Arc B370

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a highly constrained gaming experience in Control, with the measured frame rates indicating that the integrated GPU is the overwhelming performance bottleneck across all resolutions and settings. The combination ranks 2657th out of 2888 tested combos in this title, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, and the data consistently shows that the CPU's substantial processing resources remain largely untapped as the graphics solution struggles to maintain playable frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K reveals a steep and predictable performance curve that strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting component at every resolution tested. At 1080p with Low settings, the combination achieves 59 FPS, but this drops to 45 FPS at 1440p and further to 30 FPS at 4K — representing a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 33% reduction from 1440p to 4K. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload increases with pixel count and the graphics processor cannot keep pace.

The High settings row tells a similar story with even more dramatic reductions. Starting at 37 FPS in 1080p, performance falls to 28 FPS at 1440p (a 24% drop) and then to 19 FPS at 4K (a 32% drop from 1440p). The consistency of these percentage reductions across different settings presets reinforces that resolution scaling is the dominant factor, with the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity being exhausted as pixel counts rise.

At Medium settings, the measured data includes minimum and maximum frame times, providing additional insight into the scaling behavior. The 1080p Medium result shows an average of 42 FPS with a range from 36 to 48 FPS, while 1440p Medium averages 32 FPS with a range from 27 to 37 FPS, and 4K Medium averages 21 FPS with a range from 18 to 25 FPS. The proportional reductions continue here — approximately 24% from 1080p to 1440p and 34% from 1440p to 4K — and the frame time ranges scale similarly, indicating consistent rendering behavior rather than sporadic stuttering.

Ultra settings exhibit the lowest overall performance, with 32 FPS at 1080p, 25 FPS at 1440p, and 17 FPS at 4K. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p is 22%, and from 1440p to 4K is 32%, which aligns closely with the other presets. This uniformity across all four settings levels strongly indicates that the resolution scaling is independent of the graphics configuration, which is exactly what would be expected when the GPU is saturated.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process with the Panther Lake chip. Its specifications reveal a deliberately limited design: 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 render output units, with 10 ray tracing cores available. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 2400 MHz, delivering a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 12.29 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio.

The memory configuration is notable for its absence of dedicated VRAM — the Arc B370 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the host system's DDR5 memory rather than having its own dedicated video memory. The memory bus width and bandwidth are likewise listed as "System Shared" and "System Dependent" respectively, indicating that performance will vary based on the system's memory configuration. This architectural choice has significant implications for gaming performance, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth and latency-sensitive operations.

The benchmark data positions this GPU at the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark database are all older, lower-performance parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (0.2% higher), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7% higher), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4% lower). This places the Arc B370 in a performance class that is roughly equivalent to a decade-old discrete mobile GPU, which aligns with the measured frame rates in Control.

In Control specifically, the GPU's limited fill rate and shading capability become immediately apparent. The game's use of physics-based rendering and complex particle effects places substantial demands on the graphics processor, and the Arc B370 simply cannot deliver the throughput needed for smooth gameplay. The fact that even Low settings at 1080p only reach 59 FPS — barely above the 60 FPS threshold — underscores how constrained the GPU is, as Low settings typically reduce the rendering workload significantly.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X presents a stark contrast to the GPU in terms of raw capability. This is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture (Raphael codename), manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 170 W TDP. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache, providing substantial data locality for compute-heavy workloads.

The CPU's benchmark results demonstrate its high-end positioning. In Cinebench R23, it scores 29300 in multi-core and 2016.5 in single-core tests. Geekbench results show 19267 multi-core and 2617 single-core scores. The 3DMark thread scaling tests range from 1093 in single-thread to 12536 in max-thread workloads. PassMark scores include 51406 multi-thread, 4238 single-thread, and 103952 in floating-point math. The CPU holds the 91st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53288.

In Control, the CPU's role is minimal because the GPU is so heavily constrained. The game's frame rates are limited by the graphics processor's rendering capacity, not by the CPU's ability to feed it data or process game logic. Even at 1080p Low where the GPU is least stressed, the 59 FPS result likely reflects the GPU's ceiling rather than any CPU limitation. The Ryzen 9 7900X's 12 cores and 24 threads, with their high boost clocks, would be more than sufficient to handle Control's CPU demands, which are relatively modest for an action-adventure title from 2019.

The data supports this interpretation through the consistency of frame rates across settings. If the CPU were a bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates that remain relatively constant regardless of resolution or quality settings, since CPU workload is largely independent of pixel count. Instead, the frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings, which is the signature of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU's power remains in reserve, and the combination's poor ranking in this game is attributable entirely to the graphics solution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings for this combination depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for frame rate variability. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 59 FPS average, which is the only configuration that approaches a standard 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 1080p provides 42 FPS with a range of 36 to 48 FPS, which is playable but noticeably below the Low preset's smoothness. High and Ultra at 1080p offer 37 FPS and 32 FPS respectively, which may be acceptable for users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate.

At 1440p, the Low preset drops to 45 FPS, which remains usable but requires compromises in visual fidelity. Medium at 1440p delivers 32 FPS with a range of 27 to 37 FPS, and High falls to 28 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p brings performance down to 25 FPS, which is marginal for gameplay. For 4K, the data shows that only the Low preset achieves 30 FPS, while Medium runs at 21 FPS, High at 19 FPS, and Ultra at 17 FPS — none of which would be considered enjoyable for an action game.

The best experience per the measured rows is clearly the 1080p Low configuration, which offers the highest average frame rate at 59 FPS. This setting minimizes the GPU's workload while still providing a complete rendering of the game world, and it is the only configuration that keeps the frame rate above 55 FPS. For users who prefer higher visual quality, the 1080p Medium preset at 42 FPS is the next best option, offering a balance of quality and performance. At higher resolutions, users should expect to use the Low preset exclusively if they want any semblance of playability.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combination in Control?

A: The 1080p resolution with Low settings provides the highest measured average frame rate at 59 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops performance to 45 FPS, and 4K Low falls to 30 FPS, so 1080p is the only resolution that comes close to a standard 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it at the 5th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, 0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, 0.5% faster), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, 0.7% faster), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4% slower).

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X a bottleneck in this configuration?

A: No. The frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's high performance — including a 29300 Cinebench R23 multi-core score and 91st percentile ranking — far exceeds what Control requires, leaving the GPU as the sole constraint.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average is 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and maximum of 37 FPS. This provides a playable but not smooth experience, with some frame rate variation during demanding scenes.

Q: How does this combination rank among all tested configurations in Control?

A: It ranks 2657th out of 2888 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU's limited performance rather than any CPU deficiency.

Q: Does the Arc B370 have dedicated video memory?

A: No. The GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it relies on the host system's DDR5 memory instead of dedicated VRAM. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also listed as system-dependent, which can affect performance based on the overall system configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combination in Control is as follows:

At 1920x1080 resolution, the Low settings preset achieves an average of 59 FPS. The Medium preset averages 42 FPS with a minimum of 36 FPS and maximum of 48 FPS. High settings average 37 FPS, and Ultra settings average 32 FPS. This resolution shows the highest overall performance, with the Low preset being the only configuration that approaches a 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the Low preset averages 45 FPS, representing a 24% reduction from the 1080p Low result. Medium averages 32 FPS with a range of 27 to 37 FPS, which is a 24% reduction from 1080p Medium. High settings average 28 FPS (24% lower than 1080p High), and Ultra settings average 25 FPS (22% lower than 1080p Ultra).

At 3840x2160 resolution, the Low preset averages 30 FPS, which is a 33% reduction from 1440p Low. Medium averages 21 FPS with a range of 18 to 25 FPS, a 34% reduction from 1440p Medium. High settings average 19 FPS (32% lower than 1440p High), and Ultra settings average 17 FPS (32% lower than 1440p Ultra).

The frame time ranges provided for Medium settings show that the variability is consistent across resolutions. At 1080p, the spread is 12 FPS (36 to 48), at 1440p it is 10 FPS (27 to 37), and at 4K it is 7 FPS (18 to 25). This narrowing range at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is operating closer to its maximum capacity, leaving less headroom for variation.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2657th out of 2888 tested combos in Control, placing it in the 8th percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects the severe imbalance between the CPU and GPU capabilities — the processor is a high-end desktop part with a 91st percentile CPU ranking, while the graphics solution is an integrated part with a 5th percentile GPU ranking.

The combination's position in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance ceiling. The measured frame rates, which range from 17 FPS at 4K Ultra to 59 FPS at 1080p Low, are consistent with what would be expected from a GPU that benchmarks at the 5th percentile. The CPU's substantial processing power cannot compensate for the GPU's limited fill rate, texture throughput, and shading capability.

The data suggests that this combination would be better suited to less demanding games or to older titles where the GPU's capabilities are sufficient for the rendering workload. In Control, however, the GPU's constraints are fully exposed, and the combination's ranking reflects this. The 2888 total combos tested in this game include a wide range of hardware configurations, and this pairing sits near the bottom due to the GPU's limited performance.