Control

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination in Control presents a study in asymmetrical performance. The data shows a processor with immense headroom paired with a graphics card that defines the playable experience. This analysis walks through the CPU and GPU roles, scaling behavior, and exact measured results to determine where this combo stands.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, built on TSMC's 4 nm process. Its base clock is 4.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor features a substantial 128 MB of L3 cache, alongside 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. With a TDP of 120 W and support for DDR5 memory on the AMD Socket AM5 platform, this is a high-end desktop part released in January 2025.

Benchmark results place this CPU in the 91st percentile among all tested processors. Its average benchmark score is 54762. The nearest rivals in the database show a tight grouping: the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 55093, which is -0.6% relative to the 9900X3D, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K scores 54053 (1.3% higher delta, meaning the 9900X3D is ahead). The Intel Xeon 6505P and Core i7-14700F trail slightly with scores of 53701 and 53620, respectively. This indicates the 9900X3D is competitive with, and slightly ahead of, several modern desktop and workstation chips in general compute workloads.

In Control, the CPU's role is largely preparatory. The game's physics and logic are not heavily threaded in a way that would strain a 12-core processor. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings are consistently limited by the GPU, not the CPU. For instance, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 118 FPS, which is the highest recorded. This suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU far more frames than the RTX 2060 SUPER can render. The 3DMark single-thread score of 1269 and multi-thread score of 13795 further corroborate that the processor has ample single-core performance for game logic. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737 and single-core score of 6739 reinforce the idea that this CPU is never the bottleneck in this pairing. The data shows that even at the lowest resolution and settings, the frame rate ceiling is set by the graphics card's output, not the processor's capability.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip, manufactured on a 12 nm process. It has a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz. The memory configuration consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The card features 2176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. It also includes 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores, supporting its DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) API compliance. The GPU is rated for a TDP of 175 W and has a launch MSRP of 399 USD.

This GPU sits in the 62nd percentile of all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rivals are closely matched: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile scores 18159 (-0.4% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189 (-0.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373 (-1.5% delta). This places the RTX 2060 SUPER in a performance tier that is capable of 1080p gaming and playable 1440p, but struggles at 4K in modern titles.

In Control, the GPU is the definitive performance limiter. The game's demanding rendering, including particle effects and destructible environments, places a heavy load on the graphics card. The 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows that the GPU's compute capability, measured at 7.181 TFLOPS FP32, is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K. The benchmark results indicate a clear hierarchy: the GPU's performance dictates the FPS, and the CPU's potential is left largely untapped. The card's DirectX 12 score of 61 in Passmark, while a specific synthetic test, aligns with the general trend of the GPU being the constraining component in this game.

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

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system's bottleneck. Starting at 1080p High, the combo averages 74 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 56 FPS, a reduction of 18 FPS. At 4K High, the average falls further to 38 FPS, a 36 FPS drop from 1080p. This pattern is consistent across all settings.

At Low settings, the scaling is more dramatic. The 1080p Low average is 118 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 89 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 60 FPS. The 4K Low result is notable because it exactly matches the 1080p Medium result of 84 FPS, though the 1080p Medium is higher. This shows that even with the lowest graphical settings, the resolution increase from 1080p to 4K nearly halves the frame rate.

This scaling behavior is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound system. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates at 1080p and 1440p would be closer together, as the CPU's workload does not scale significantly with resolution. Instead, the frame rate drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count, which is a direct function of the GPU's rendering load. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s are strained as the resolution increases, leading to the observed FPS degradation. The data shows that the GPU is the sole limiting component, as the Ryzen 9 9900X3D has more than enough headroom to handle the CPU-side tasks at any resolution.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete matrix of performance across three resolutions and four settings. Each entry is an average FPS, with some entries also providing minimum and maximum FPS for the Medium preset.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 118 FPS average
• Medium: 84 FPS average, with a minimum of 71 FPS and maximum of 96 FPS
• High: 74 FPS average
• Ultra: 65 FPS average

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 89 FPS average
• Medium: 63 FPS average, with a minimum of 54 FPS and maximum of 73 FPS
• High: 56 FPS average
• Ultra: 49 FPS average

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 60 FPS average
• Medium: 43 FPS average, with a minimum of 36 FPS and maximum of 49 FPS
• High: 38 FPS average
• Ultra: 33 FPS average

Analyzing these numbers, the Medium preset at each resolution provides a reference point for stability. The minimum FPS values are consistently lower than the average, indicating some frame time variance, but the maximums show the GPU can occasionally deliver higher performance. For example, at 1080p Medium, the range from 71 to 96 FPS shows a wide variance. At 4K Medium, the range is from 36 to 49 FPS, which is a narrower band but at a much lower performance level.

The step from Medium to High at 1080p is a 10 FPS drop (from 84 to 74). The step from High to Ultra is a 9 FPS drop (from 74 to 65). This shows diminishing returns on performance as settings increase. At 4K, the step from Low to Medium is a 17 FPS drop (from 60 to 43), which is a significant reduction. The difference between 1080p Low and 4K Low is 58 FPS, a substantial gap that highlights the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Control with this combo?*

A: Based on the measured data, 1080p is the only resolution where all settings achieve playable frame rates. At 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 49 FPS, while at 4K, even the Low preset only manages 60 FPS, with Medium and above falling below 43 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 9900X3D perform relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The data shows the 9900X3D has an average benchmark score of 54762, which is -0.6% relative to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (score 55093). It is ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K by 1.3% (score 54053) and ahead of the Intel Xeon 6505P and Core i7-14700F by 2% and 2.1%, respectively.

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

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases, which is a signature of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's high benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 47737, indicate it has more than enough headroom.

Q: What is the highest FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 118, achieved at 1080p with Low settings. The next highest is 89 FPS at 1440p Low, followed by 84 FPS at 1080p Medium.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093. It is -0.4% relative to the RTX 3060 Mobile (18159), -0.5% relative to the Radeon Pro 5700 (18189), and -1.5% relative to the Radeon RX 460 (18373). This shows it is slightly outperformed by all four listed rivals in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 4K Ultra is 33. This is the lowest recorded average across all tested configurations. The data indicates that 4K Ultra is not a playable setting for this combo, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear guide for optimizing the playable experience. At 1080p, the High preset yields 74 FPS average, which is a smooth and responsive experience. The Ultra preset drops to 65 FPS, which is still playable but offers diminishing returns for the performance cost. The Medium preset at 84 FPS provides a good balance, but the High preset is recommended for a better visual quality without a significant frame rate penalty.

At 1440p, the High preset achieves 56 FPS average, which is acceptable for a slower-paced game like Control. The Ultra preset drops to 49 FPS, which may be noticeable as less smooth. The Medium preset at 63 FPS is the best option for maintaining a higher frame rate, though it requires a visual quality reduction. For players prioritizing smoothness, the Medium preset at 1440p is the recommended choice.

At 4K, the data shows that the system is under severe strain. The Low preset achieves 60 FPS average, which is the only playable option. The Medium preset at 43 FPS is borderline, and High and Ultra are not recommended. The 4K Low preset is the only configuration that delivers a consistent 60 FPS, but it does so at the cost of visual fidelity. Given that the game is an action-adventure title, a stable frame rate is often preferable to higher settings. The measured minimums at 4K Medium (36 FPS) and 1440p Medium (54 FPS) suggest that frame pacing can be inconsistent, so sticking to the Low preset at 4K is the safest bet.

Overall, the best experience per the measured rows is at 1080p High, offering a high frame rate with solid visual quality. For 1440p, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, balancing performance and fidelity. For 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2054 out of 2888 tested combos in Control. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, which is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations. The CPU is a top-tier performer, sitting in the 91st percentile, but the GPU's 62nd percentile ranking drags the overall combo down.

This ranking indicates that while the processor is capable of supporting far more powerful graphics cards, the RTX 2060 SUPER restricts the system's overall gaming performance. The data suggests that a user with this CPU would benefit significantly from a higher-tier GPU to unlock the processor's full potential in Control. The combo's rank is more indicative of the GPU's age and performance tier than the CPU's capability. The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the reason for the low ranking; rather, it is the GPU's inability to deliver high frame rates at higher resolutions that places this combo in the lower percentile.