Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile combo delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in Control, with performance that is heavily dictated by the graphics settings and resolution. The benchmark data reveals a system that can handle the game smoothly at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K, especially on higher presets. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU roles, scaling behavior, and provides specific recommendations based on the measured FPS.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a high-end mobile processor built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It features 16 cores and 32 threads, which is a substantial amount of parallel processing power. Its base clock is 2.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.40 GHz, allowing for strong single-threaded performance when needed. The CPU has a 64 MB L3 cache, which helps keep frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency.

In the context of Control, an Action Adventure game that relies on physics and complex AI routines, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. With 16 cores and 32 threads, this processor is overkill for most current games, and Control is no exception. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 124, which is likely near the game's engine limit or the GPU's output capacity. The CPU is not the bottleneck here; the GPU is.

Benchmark results for the CPU show it has a PassMark multithread score of 51405 and a single-thread score of 3907. In Cinebench R23, it scores 42713 in multicore and 6030 in single-core. These scores place it in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, indicating top-tier performance. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which is only 0.1% faster on average, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which is 0.6% slower. This shows that the 8945HX is competitively matched with the best mobile and even some desktop processors.

For Control, the high thread count is not fully utilized, but the strong single-core performance (boost clock of 5.40 GHz) ensures that the game's main thread can run efficiently. The measured FPS at lower resolutions and settings, such as 94 FPS at 1440p Low, suggests that the CPU can handle the game's demands without breaking a sweat. The limiting factor in this system is clearly the GPU, as we will see in the next section. The CPU's power is more than sufficient, and the data implies that upgrading the GPU would yield the biggest performance gains in this game.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is a mid-range graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1545 MHz and a boost clock of 1890 MHz. It features 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, along with 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores. The GPU's TDP is 115 W, which is typical for a mobile part of this class.

In Control, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The game is known for its use of ray tracing and advanced visual effects, which can be demanding on the GPU. The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the GPU can push out 124 FPS, but this drops to 68 FPS at Ultra settings. This is a significant drop of 45%, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed by the Ultra preset.

The GPU's benchmark scores show it has a PassMark G3D score of 17469 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 89420. It ranks in the 67th percentile among all GPUs, which is above average but not top-tier. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which is 0.7% faster on average, and the Intel Arc B580, which is 1.3% faster. This places the RTX 4060 Mobile in a competitive position with older desktop cards and newer mid-range mobile parts.

The 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Control at 1080p and 1440p, but it could become a limiting factor at 4K with high-resolution textures. The data does not show any VRAM-related stuttering, but the average FPS at 4K Ultra is only 35, which is likely due to the GPU's raw compute power rather than memory capacity. The boost clock of 1890 MHz is decent, but the GPU's overall performance is constrained by its 128-bit memory bus, which limits bandwidth. In summary, the RTX 4060 Mobile is a capable GPU for Control at 1080p and 1440p, but it struggles at 4K, especially on high and ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend of decreasing performance as resolution increases, which is expected. However, the rate of decline can tell us about the balance between CPU and GPU load. Let's examine the average FPS for each settings preset across the three resolutions.

For Low settings, the average FPS goes from 124 at 1080p, to 94 at 1440p, and down to 64 at 4K. This is a drop of 24% from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 32% drop from 1440p to 4K. For Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 88 at 1080p, to 67 at 1440p, and 45 at 4K. This is a 24% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 33% drop from 1440p to 4K. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 79 at 1080p, to 59 at 1440p, and 40 at 4K. This is a 25% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 32% drop from 1440p to 4K. For Ultra settings, the average FPS goes from 68 at 1080p, to 52 at 1440p, and 35 at 4K. This is a 24% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 33% drop from 1440p to 4K.

The consistent percentage drops across all settings presets indicate that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller performance drop when going from 1080p to 1440p, as the CPU load would not increase as much. However, the 24-25% drop from 1080p to 1440p is uniform across all settings, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The even larger 32-33% drop from 1440p to 4K further confirms this, as the GPU's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become increasingly strained at higher resolutions.

The data shows that the RTX 4060 Mobile is the limiting factor in this combo. The CPU has plenty of headroom, as evidenced by its high benchmark scores and the fact that it can easily push over 100 FPS at 1080p Low. To achieve higher frame rates at 1440p or 4K, the GPU would need to be upgraded. The scaling behavior is predictable and typical for a mid-range GPU, with performance dropping roughly linearly with the increase in pixel count.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the best settings preset depends on the user's resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual quality. The data provides average FPS for Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets at three resolutions.

At 1080p, the High preset offers a good balance, with an average FPS of 79. This is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it provides better visual quality than Medium (88 FPS) or Low (124 FPS). The Ultra preset drops to 68 FPS, which is still playable but may not be worth the extra visual fidelity for some users. For those who prioritize a high refresh rate, the Low preset at 124 FPS is the best choice, but it sacrifices visual quality.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers an average FPS of 59, which is just below the 60 FPS ideal. The Medium preset at 67 FPS is a better choice for smooth gameplay, as it stays above 60 FPS while still offering decent visual quality. The Low preset at 94 FPS is excellent for competitive play, but the Ultra preset at 52 FPS is borderline playable and may result in noticeable stuttering in fast-paced scenes.

At 4K, none of the presets provide a truly smooth experience. The Low preset at 64 FPS is the only one that stays above 60 FPS, but it requires significant visual compromises. The Medium preset at 45 FPS is playable but not ideal, and the High (40 FPS) and Ultra (35 FPS) presets are too slow for a smooth experience. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option for a playable frame rate, but users may want to consider lowering the resolution or upgrading the GPU.

In summary, the best experience per the measured data is the High preset at 1080p (79 FPS) or the Medium preset at 1440p (67 FPS). These offer a good balance of visual quality and performance, keeping the frame rate above 60 FPS. At 4K, the Low preset is the only one that reaches 60 FPS, but it comes with a significant visual downgrade.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS is 79 at 1920x1080 with High settings.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 8945HX CPU a bottleneck in Control?

A: No, the data shows the CPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 124, which is likely near the game's engine limit or the GPU's output capacity. The CPU has a PassMark multithread score of 51405 and a single-thread score of 3907, placing it in the 95th percentile.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 Mobile compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 4060 Mobile has a PassMark G3D score of 17469. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, is 0.7% faster on average, while the Intel Arc B580 is 1.3% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is 0.8% slower.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p to maintain 60 FPS?

A: The Medium preset at 1440p has an average FPS of 67, which is above 60 FPS. The High preset is slightly below at 59 FPS, so Medium is the recommended choice for a smooth experience.

Q: Can this combo run Control at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: At 4K, the Low preset has an average FPS of 64, which is playable. The Medium preset drops to 45 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets are at 40 and 35 FPS respectively, which are not ideal for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 2278 out of 3720 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 39% of all combinations tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low settings: Average FPS of 124.
• Medium settings: Average FPS of 88, with minimum FPS of 75 and maximum FPS of 102.
• High settings: Average FPS of 79.
• Ultra settings: Average FPS of 68.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low settings: Average FPS of 94.
• Medium settings: Average FPS of 67, with minimum FPS of 57 and maximum FPS of 77.
• High settings: Average FPS of 59.
• Ultra settings: Average FPS of 52.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low settings: Average FPS of 64.
• Medium settings: Average FPS of 45, with minimum FPS of 38 and maximum FPS of 52.
• High settings: Average FPS of 40.
• Ultra settings: Average FPS of 35.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p offers the highest frame rates, followed by 1440p, with 4K being the most demanding. The Medium settings preset provides the only frames with minimum and maximum values, indicating a consistent performance range. For all other presets, only the average is available. The lowest average FPS recorded is 35 at 4K Ultra, while the highest is 124 at 1080p Low.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile ranks 2278 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the bottom 39% of all combinations tested, meaning that 61% of the other combos perform better in this game. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual components' benchmark scores, but it underscores the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions and settings.

The CPU is a top-tier mobile processor, ranking in the 95th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, are within 0.6% of its average score, showing that it is competitive with the best. However, the GPU is only in the 67th percentile, and it is closely matched with older desktop cards like the RTX 2080, which is 0.7% faster.

The ranking of 2278 suggests that, while the CPU has plenty of power, the GPU holds the combo back. For a game like Control, which is graphically demanding, the GPU's performance is the deciding factor. The data implies that pairing this CPU with a higher-end GPU would result in a much better ranking. The combo's performance is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it falls behind many other configurations at 4K. Users looking for a top-tier gaming experience in Control would need to consider a more powerful GPU.