Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark contrast in component tiers, and the benchmark results in Control reflect this imbalance. The data shows a configuration where a top-tier CPU is paired with an entry-level integrated GPU, resulting in a unique performance profile that is entirely dictated by the graphics solution.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frames per second (FPS) data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 65 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 50 FPS, a decrease of 15 FPS. At 4K, the average falls further to 33 FPS, representing a 32 FPS drop from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline is the signature of a system where the graphics processor is the limiting component.

The data indicates that the Arc B390's rendering throughput is saturated well before the CPU's potential is reached. At 4K High settings, the average FPS is 21, while at 4K Low, it is 33. The scaling from Low to High at 4K is a 12 FPS reduction, showing that the GPU struggles to maintain frame rates as the shading and texture demands increase. The difference between Medium and Ultra at 4K is similarly tight, with averages of 24 and 18 FPS respectively, confirming that the GPU's compute units are the bottleneck across all quality presets at this resolution.

The performance delta between 1080p and 4K is not linear, but the trend is unambiguous. The FPS drops from 65 to 33 at Low settings, a ~49% reduction, indicating that the GPU's fillrate and shading capacity are being overwhelmed by the pixel count at 4K. The benchmark results suggest that the CPU is not a contributing factor to the FPS decline, as the frame rate loss is directly proportional to the increase in rendering resolution, a hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture. Its benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32172 and a single-core score of 2253. In comparison to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is a formidable performer. The average benchmark score of 57498 is within 0.1% of the AMD EPYC 9015 and 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7313, while being 1.1% behind the Intel Core i9-14900.

In Control, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, but the measured FPS data shows no evidence of CPU limitation. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 65, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. If the CPU were the bottleneck, this number would be higher, but the data suggests the GPU is already at its limit. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 1286, is more than sufficient for this game's demands.

The CPU's 12 cores and 24 threads are largely underutilized in this pairing. The game's frame rate is not scaling with the CPU's capabilities; instead, it is capped by the GPU. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 12552 indicates that the CPU has substantial multi-threaded headroom, but Control is not leveraging it here. The data clearly shows that the Ryzen 9 9900X is not the limiting factor in this configuration, as the FPS remains low even in CPU-light scenarios like 4K Ultra, where the GPU is clearly struggling.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz and a TDP of 80 W. Its performance is entry-level, as indicated by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482. This score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are legacy NVIDIA parts like the GeForce GT 520MX and GT 710, which it edges out by 1.3% and 2.7% respectively.

The GPU's memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's DDR5 RAM, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent." This is a crucial factor for Control, a game that can be demanding on memory bandwidth. The shared memory architecture likely contributes to the low performance, as the GPU must contend with the CPU for memory access. The base clock of 300 MHz and boost clock of 2500 MHz show a wide dynamic range, but the GPU's 1536 shading units are simply not enough to drive high frame rates at higher resolutions.

The data shows that the Arc B390 is the definitive bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the FPS of 65 is the best case scenario, but even this is a modest result for a game from 2019. The GPU's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for smooth gameplay at 1440p or 4K, where the average FPS falls below 50 and 33 respectively. The performance at 4K Ultra, with an average of 18 FPS, is below playable thresholds, confirming that the GPU is over-matched by the game's rendering requirements. The GPU's percentile rank of 9 underscores its position as a low-performance part, and the measured FPS data in Control is consistent with this assessment.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 65, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The Arc B390 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's score of 1463.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X a limiting factor in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates the CPU is not the bottleneck, as frame rates are consistently low across all settings, pointing to the GPU as the primary limiting component.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS on Low settings is 33, while on Ultra settings it drops to 18, a difference of 15 FPS.

Q: Does the combo's performance at 1440p Medium settings provide a playable experience?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 35, with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS, which is marginally playable but subject to noticeable dips.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 2551 out of 2888 combos indicate?

A: This rank places the combo in the lower 12% of all tested combinations for Control, confirming that its overall performance is poor relative to other configurations.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 2551 out of 2888 tested combinations in Control, placing it in the bottom 12% of all configurations. This rank is a direct consequence of the Intel Arc B390's low performance, as the CPU's high benchmark scores are unable to compensate for the GPU's limitations. The data shows that this pairing is heavily imbalanced, with the CPU's performance potential being wasted due to the GPU bottleneck.

In practical terms, this rank means that the majority of other tested combos, even those with more balanced mid-range components, will outperform this configuration. The 3DMark score of the GPU, which is in the 9th percentile, is a strong predictor of its in-game performance. The CPU's percentile rank of 92 is irrelevant when the GPU is this weak, as the frame rate is capped by the graphics processor. The benchmark results suggest that this combo is only suitable for very low-resolution or low-detail gaming, and even then, it does not rank well.

The gap between the CPU and GPU performance is the key takeaway. The Ryzen 9 9900X is a top-tier processor, but the Arc B390 is an entry-level integrated solution. This mismatch results in a combo rank that is far below what the CPU alone would suggest, highlighting the importance of GPU selection in a balanced system. The data clearly shows that the combo's rank is determined almost entirely by the GPU's capabilities.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the combo shows its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 65, which is the highest of any measured configuration. At Medium settings, the average drops to 46 FPS, with a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 53. High settings yield an average of 41 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 36 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 29 FPS drop, showing that the GPU's performance is significantly impacted by quality presets even at 1080p.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the frame rates decline further. The Low setting average is 50 FPS, which is a 15 FPS drop from 1080p. Medium settings average 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. High settings average 31 FPS, and Ultra settings average 27 FPS. The data shows that at 1440p, the GPU is struggling to maintain playable frame rates, with the Ultra preset dipping below 30 FPS.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the performance is the weakest. The Low setting average is 33 FPS, which is a 32 FPS drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. High settings average 21 FPS, and Ultra settings average 18 FPS. The data shows that at 4K, the combo is not capable of delivering a smooth experience, with all presets falling below 35 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 65 FPS. This is the only configuration in the dataset that approaches a consistently smooth frame rate. While higher settings at 1080p are playable, they come with a significant performance cost. For instance, switching from Low to Medium at 1080p reduces the average FPS from 65 to 46, a 19 FPS drop that may not be worth the visual improvement given the GPU's capabilities.

For users willing to compromise on resolution, the 2560x1440 resolution with Low settings is a viable option, producing an average of 50 FPS. However, this is a 15 FPS decrease from 1080p Low, and the visual fidelity of the game may not justify the performance hit. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 35 FPS, is borderline playable, but the minimum FPS of 30 suggests that frame pacing may be inconsistent.

The data strongly suggests avoiding 4K resolution entirely, as even the Low preset at 3840x2160 produces an average of only 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 4K is the worst performing, with an average of 18 FPS, making it unsuitable for any gameplay. The recommendation is to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, using 1080p Low as the baseline for the best experience. If a higher resolution is desired, the 1440p Low preset is the only other option that provides a reasonable average FPS above 50.