Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT pairing in Control presents a study in asymmetrical performance. The data reveals a processor that is dramatically overqualified for the task, paired with a graphics card that defines the experience. The measured frame rates across the board indicate that the GPU is the primary governor of performance, while the CPU operates with significant headroom. This analysis examines the benchmark results to delineate the role each component plays in delivering the game's distinctive atmosphere of shifting geometry and psychic combat.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates on a base clock of 4.40 GHz and can boost up to 5.60 GHz, functioning within a 120 W TDP. This is a desktop-class component designed for AMD Socket AM5 with support for DDR5 memory. Its benchmark scores are formidable; for instance, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 46438 and a single-core score of 6555. In Passmark, its multithread score is 54643, with a single-thread score of 4672.

When contextualized against its nearest rivals, the 9900X's standing is clear. The data shows the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an average score of 54681, a delta of -0.4% from the 9900X's average of 54450. The Intel Core i7-14700F scores 54097, a delta of 0.7%, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K and 245KF post scores of 55304 and 55421, representing deltas of -1.5% and -1.8%, respectively. This places the 9900X in a tight performance cluster, with a percentile rank of 94 against all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general compute workloads.

However, the game's measured results suggest this computational muscle is not the limiting factor. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 145 FPS. Even at this lowest resolution, which typically stresses the CPU more than the GPU, the frame rate is high, but the consistency across resolutions hints at a different bottleneck. The fact that a processor with this level of multi-threaded and single-threaded prowess is paired with a mid-range GPU means that in Control, its role is to ensure frame pacing and provide enough headroom so that it never causes a stutter. The benchmark results indicate the CPU is likely idle much of the time, waiting for the GPU to render the next frame.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture and features the Navi 22 chip. It is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2321 MHz and a boost clock of 2581 MHz, with a game clock of 2424 MHz. It contains 2560 shading units and 40 ray accelerators. Its raw compute is rated at 13.21 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. In terms of benchmark standing, it holds a percentile rank of 77 against all GPUs.

Its nearest rivals in the database show a tight grouping. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 has an average score of 33493, a delta of 0.7% from the RX 6700 XT's 33721. Interestingly, the AMD Radeon HD 7950 and AMD Radeon RX 480 both score higher in the aggregate, with 34050 and 34059, respectively, representing deltas of -1%. The NVIDIA RTX A5000 scores 33294, a delta of 1.3%. This suggests the RX 6700 XT is positioned in a specific performance tier, and the Control results confirm this.

The GPU's role is clearly the dominant factor in the measured FPS. The data shows a direct relationship between resolution, settings, and frame rate that is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for the game's textures, even at high settings, but the GPU's processing power determines the output. The benchmark results show that as the load increases, either through higher resolution or higher graphical presets, the frame rate drops proportionally, underscoring that the RX 6700 XT is the limiting component in this configuration.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves in Control?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 145 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 54450, which is 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i7-14700F's score of 54097, but 0.4% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D's score of 54681.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more important for performance in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. For example, moving from 1080p Low to 4K Low drops the average FPS from 145 to 73.3, while the CPU's high benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Medium and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields an average of 74 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields 57.9 FPS. This represents a performance cost for the higher visual fidelity.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combination ranks 901 out of 1636 tested combos in the database for Control, placing it in the middle of the pack.

Q: Does the GPU's memory bandwidth affect the 4K results?

A: The RX 6700 XT has 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 38.3, suggesting that the GPU's processing capabilities, rather than a memory bottleneck alone, are the primary constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Control, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT holds a rank of 901 out of 1636. This places it squarely in the middle of the distribution of all tested systems. This mid-pack ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance tier. The CPU is a top-tier component, ranking in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, but the graphics card, while competent, is in the 77th percentile of all GPUs.

This disparity creates a system that is ultimately defined by its weakest link in gaming scenarios. The rank indicates that while this system can play Control at respectable frame rates, there are many other combinations that deliver higher average FPS. The data implies that the CPU's potential is not fully realized in this game, as it is held back by the GPU's output. This pairing would likely perform better in CPU-intensive tasks like productivity or rendering, but for gaming, its rank is dictated by the RX 6700 XT.

Settings Recommendations

For an optimal balance between visual quality and smooth gameplay, the benchmark data points to the High preset at 2560x1440 resolution as the most compelling option. This setting delivers an average of 65.6 FPS, which is generally considered a playable threshold for an action-adventure game. It offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings, which produce 74 FPS at the same resolution, but the 8.4 FPS gain is likely not worth the reduction in graphical fidelity, considering the game's atmospheric lighting and reflective surfaces.

If a higher frame rate is the priority, dropping to 1920x1080 with High settings yields an average of 89.4 FPS, providing a much smoother experience. The Ultra preset, while visually impressive, takes a toll on performance. At 1440p, it drops to 57.9 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to a less fluid 38.3 FPS. The data suggests that the High preset is the "sweet spot" for this hardware, offering a robust visual experience without sacrificing the responsiveness required for the game's intense combat sequences.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset achieves an average of 145 FPS. Moving up to Medium yields 102.1 FPS, and High produces 89.4 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset at this resolution still manages a solid 77.2 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the strain on the GPU becomes apparent. The Low preset averages 107.4 FPS. Medium settings deliver 74 FPS, while High drops to 65.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution brings the average down to 57.9 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RX 6700 XT is heavily taxed. The Low preset manages an average of 73.3 FPS. Medium settings drop to 52.4 FPS, followed by High at 46.6 FPS. The Ultra preset yields an average of only 38.3 FPS, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at High settings, the FPS drops from 89.4 to 65.6, a decrease of 26.6%. Scaling further to 3840x2160 at High settings, the FPS drops to 46.6, a further 29% reduction from the 1440p figure. This consistent and significant drop with each resolution increase is a classic sign of a GPU-limited workload.

The CPU's performance is not the issue here. The 9900X has enough power to handle the game's physics and logic at any of these resolutions. The data indicates that as the pixel count increases, the demand on the GPU's shading units, texture units, and memory bandwidth grows, and the frame rate falls in response. This scaling pattern confirms that the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the definitive limiting component in this configuration, and that any improvements in frame rate would need to come from reducing the graphical load on the GPU, rather than upgrading the processor.