Control

Control on the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX with the AMD Radeon 890M is a study in compromise. The CPU is a top-tier mobile powerhouse, but the integrated graphics solution that pairs with it dictates the experience, especially at higher resolutions. The benchmark data shows a system that can deliver playable frame rates at 1080p with settings turned down, but one that struggles to maintain smoothness as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, ranking, and practical settings for this specific combination.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern: performance degrades significantly as resolution climbs from 1080p to 4K. This is a classic sign that the AMD Radeon 890M integrated GPU is the primary limiting component in this combo, rather than the powerful Ryzen 9 8945HX CPU. The CPU has ample headroom, but the GPU's shading units, texture units, and memory bandwidth are simply overwhelmed by the increasing pixel count.

At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 58 FPS. This is the only measured configuration that approaches a truly smooth 60 FPS experience. Moving up to Medium settings at 1080p drops the average to 41 FPS, a 29% decrease, while High settings yield 37 FPS and Ultra settings bring it down to 32 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a 45% performance hit, which is substantial but leaves the game in a playable, if not ideal, state for most users.

The transition to 1440p shows the GPU struggling more acutely. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 58 at 1080p to 44 at 1440p, a 24% reduction. This gap widens at higher presets. High settings at 1440p average 28 FPS, which is a 24% drop from the 37 FPS at 1080p. The trend continues, with Medium at 31 FPS and Ultra at 24 FPS. The data indicates that 1440p is a significant hurdle for this integrated GPU, pushing it below the 30 FPS threshold for most presets, which is often considered the minimum for a playable experience in a game like Control.

At 4K, the limitations of the Radeon 890M become stark. The maximum average FPS recorded at this resolution is a mere 30 FPS, and only with Low settings. Medium settings drop to 21 FPS, High to 19 FPS, and Ultra to a slideshow-like 16 FPS. The performance cliff between 1080p and 4K is severe, with the Ultra preset losing 50% of its already-low 32 FPS average at 1080p. This confirms that 4K is not a viable target for this combination, and even Low settings will present a choppy experience. The scaling analysis points directly at the GPU as the bottleneck; a more capable discrete GPU would show a much smaller FPS delta between these resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combos for Control, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and AMD Radeon 890M holds a rank of 2728 out of 2888 total combinations. This places it in the bottom 6% of all tested systems, which is a poor showing for a modern platform. The low ranking is a direct consequence of the integrated GPU's performance, which is the limiting factor in this game.

The CPU itself is a high performer. Its average benchmark score is 76212, which puts it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs tested. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which is a mere 0.1% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which is 0.6% faster. This indicates the processor is not the source of the low game rank. However, the GPU's average benchmark score is only 9210, placing it in the 45th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Vega 8, which is 0.1% faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, which is 0.7% faster. The GPU is clearly a mid-to-low-tier performer, and its score drags the entire combo down in the game-specific ranking.

The discrepancy between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's mid-range percentile, combined with the combo's bottom-tier rank in Control, is a powerful illustration of the bottleneck. The 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 8945HX has the processing power to handle the game's physics and AI with ease, but the Radeon 890M simply cannot render the frames fast enough to take advantage of it. For a builder considering this platform for gaming, the data suggests that the integrated graphics will severely limit the experience, regardless of the CPU's strength.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo can achieve in Control?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 58, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system run Control at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but the playability is very poor. The best 4K result is 30 FPS on Low settings, while High and Ultra presets drop to 19 FPS and 16 FPS, respectively. The minimum FPS for 4K Medium is 18, indicating significant stuttering.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212. It is 0.1% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and 0.4% faster than the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P. It is 0.4% slower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX and 0.6% slower than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark data strongly indicates the AMD Radeon 890M GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is in the 95th percentile of all processors, while the GPU is in the 45th percentile. The significant FPS drops when increasing resolution from 1080p to 4K are a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What settings are recommended for a smoother experience?

A: For a target of near 60 FPS, the only viable option is 1080p with Low settings, which averages 58 FPS. For a playable 30+ FPS experience, 1440p with Low settings averages 44 FPS, but 1080p with Medium settings averages 41 FPS. Higher presets result in sub-30 FPS averages.

Q: What is the GPU's raw compute performance?

A: The AMD Radeon 890M has a FP32 performance of 5.939 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 185.6 GTexel/s. Its pixel rate is 92.80 GPixel/s, and it has 1024 shading units.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. All numbers are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: 30 FPS
• Medium: 21 FPS (min 18, max 24)
• High: 19 FPS
• Ultra: 16 FPS
• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: 44 FPS
• Medium: 31 FPS (min 27, max 36)
• High: 28 FPS
• Ultra: 24 FPS
• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: 58 FPS
• Medium: 41 FPS (min 35, max 47)
• High: 37 FPS
• Ultra: 32 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p, the Low preset is the only one that breaks the 50 FPS barrier. The Medium preset provides a 41 FPS average, which is still within the range of playability for many, but the jump to High and Ultra shows diminishing returns. At 1440p, the performance envelope shrinks. Even the Low preset's 44 FPS is a significant drop, and all other presets sit below 32 FPS, making the game feel sluggish. At 4K, the experience is consistently poor across the board. The 30 FPS on Low is the only result that even approaches a console-like framerate, but it is still not ideal for a fast-paced action game.

The minimum FPS values are only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p, the minimum is 35 FPS, which is a 15% drop from the average. At 1440p, the minimum drops to 27 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 18 FPS. These figures highlight that even the playable Medium preset can have noticeable hitches, and the stuttering becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions. The data suggests that for a consistent experience, users should stick to the Low preset at 1080p or accept the trade-offs of lower averages at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the recommendation for this combo is straightforward: prioritize resolution and settings to target a playable frame rate. The primary goal should be to avoid the sub-30 FPS territory that makes Control's combat feel unresponsive.

The only configuration that delivers a near-60 FPS experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, averaging 58 FPS. This should be the default choice for any user who prioritizes smoothness and responsiveness. The visual downgrade is noticeable, but the gameplay benefit is substantial. This preset is the clear winner for an optimal experience.

If the user prefers a balance between visual quality and performance, 1920x1080 with Medium settings is the next best option, averaging 41 FPS. This is a 29% performance drop from Low but offers a better-looking game. It is playable, but the minimum FPS of 35 indicates there will be occasional dips. For those who want to try 1440p, 2560x1440 with Low settings is the only viable choice, averaging 44 FPS. This resolution offers a sharper image than 1080p but at the cost of lower settings. The 1440p Medium preset, at 31 FPS, is on the borderline of playability and should only be considered if the user is willing to tolerate inconsistent frame pacing.

The High and Ultra presets are not recommended. At 1080p, they offer only 37 FPS and 32 FPS, respectively, which is a poor trade-off for the extra visual effects. At 1440p and 4K, they produce averages below 30 FPS, making them unsuitable for a game that requires precise timing. The data clearly shows that this integrated GPU is best utilized with lower settings to maintain a functional frame rate. Pushing for higher graphical fidelity will result in a compromised experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This is a high-end mobile CPU, evidenced by its 95th percentile ranking among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 76212. Its performance is nearly identical to that of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which is only 0.1% slower.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and AI. The 16 cores and 32 threads provide massive parallel processing capability. The L3 cache is 64 MB, and the CPU supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. These specifications are more than sufficient for a game released in 2019. The CPU is not the bottleneck in this system.

The benchmark data confirms this. While the CPU is in the 95th percentile, the GPU is in the 45th percentile. The combo's rank in Control is 2728 out of 2888, which is reflective of the GPU's performance, not the CPU's. The massive FPS drops from 1080p to 4K, and the inability to maintain high frame rates at higher settings, are classic signs of a GPU-limited scenario. The Ryzen 9 8945HX is waiting for the Radeon 890M to catch up, but it never does. In this pairing, the CPU is a top-tier performer that is hamstrung by its integrated graphics counterpart. The data shows that for this game, the processor's power is largely untapped.