Control

Control, Remedy’s 2019 action-adventure set in a shifting brutalist labyrinth, remains a demanding showcase for both CPU and GPU. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, based strictly on benchmark data. The combination produces a playable but resolution-sensitive experience, with the data revealing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as pixel count rises.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows that resolution is the single largest variable affecting this combo’s performance in Control. Moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 76 FPS to 39 FPS—a substantial 49% reduction in throughput. This scaling pattern indicates that the system is heavily dependent on the GPU’s rendering capabilities at higher resolutions, with the RTX 5060’s 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus becoming increasingly strained.

At 2560x1440 High, the average sits at 58 FPS, which is 76% of the 1080p result. The drop from 1440p to 4K is steeper: 58 FPS to 39 FPS, a 33% decline. This non-linear scaling is typical for a GPU with limited memory bandwidth (448.0 GB/s) and a narrower bus width. The data suggests that 1440p is the practical ceiling for smooth playability, while 4K requires significant settings compromises.

The Low settings preset offers a clearer picture of the underlying capabilities. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 121 FPS average, dropping to 91 FPS at 1440p and 62 FPS at 4K. The 4K Low result being nearly double the 4K Ultra result (62 FPS vs 34 FPS) highlights that the RTX 5060 has the raw compute headroom but is constrained by memory throughput and fill rate at high resolutions. The gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution widens as resolution increases, confirming that the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration for Control.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, manufactured on TSMC’s 4 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, drawing a 55 W TDP. This mobile-class chip, part of the Strix Halo lineup, delivers strong multi-threaded performance: its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 35,314, and its Geekbench multi-core score is 20,992. Single-thread performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,044.

In Control, the CPU’s role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations. The data shows that even at 1080p Low—where the GPU load is lowest—the combo achieves 121 FPS, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution. The 16 cores and 64 MB of shared L3 cache provide ample headroom for the game’s asynchronous compute and physics workloads. The processor’s 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77,740, places it in the top tier, though its nearest rivals—including the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (1.6% higher) and Intel Core i9-14900K (1.7% lower)—show that it is competitive but not class-leading.

The boost clock of 5.10 GHz is particularly relevant for Control’s single-threaded rendering tasks. The game’s engine benefits from high per-core performance, and the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 delivers a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,044, which is sufficient to avoid limiting the RTX 5060 at 1080p. However, as resolution increases, the CPU’s influence wanes. The FPS delta between 1080p and 4K at the same settings is almost entirely attributable to GPU load, not CPU capability.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is a Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 3,840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It features 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores, with a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. The 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This GPU is positioned in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26,331, placing it near the AMD Radeon 860M (-0.3% delta) and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (-0.3% delta).

In Control, the GPU’s memory configuration is the primary limiting factor at high resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 34, with the game likely exceeding the memory buffer and causing stutter. The measured data supports this: 4K Medium produces an average of 44 FPS with a minimum of 37 FPS, while 4K High drops to 39 FPS average. The jump from Medium to Ultra at 4K costs 10 FPS (44 to 34), a 23% reduction that suggests texture streaming and memory pressure.

The RTX 5060’s FP32 throughput of 19.18 TFLOPS is sufficient for Control’s visual effects, but the 128-bit memory bus limits bandwidth-bound operations. At 1080p Ultra, the card manages 66 FPS average, which is respectable, but at 4K Ultra, the 34 FPS result is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The GPU’s 145 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a mainstream part, and the data reflects that: it is not a 4K-capable GPU for this title without substantial settings reductions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1,894th out of 2,888 tested combinations in Control. This places it in the 34th percentile of all combos, meaning roughly two-thirds of tested systems perform better in this game. The ranking is driven primarily by the GPU’s mid-range positioning; the CPU is a top-5% performer (95th percentile), but the RTX 5060’s 72nd percentile ranking drags the overall result down.

This rank suggests that the combo is mismatched for Control at high resolutions. The CPU is overqualified for the GPU’s capabilities, particularly at 4K where the RTX 5060 becomes the clear bottleneck. At 1080p, the combo performs admirably, but the rank reflects the full range of tested scenarios, including 4K Ultra where the system struggles. The 1,894th rank out of 2,888 indicates that while this is not a bottom-tier combination, it is also not competitive with high-end systems that pair the same CPU with a more powerful GPU.

The data shows that the combo’s performance is GPU-limited in most scenarios. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (1.6% higher average score) and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX (2% higher), would not materially change the Control results because the GPU is the constraining factor. Conversely, upgrading the GPU would yield significant FPS gains across all resolutions, particularly at 4K where the RTX 5060 is clearly out of its depth.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 121 FPS average
• Medium: 86 FPS average (min 73, max 99)
• High: 76 FPS average
• Ultra: 66 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo delivers playable frame rates across all settings. The Low preset exceeds 120 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The step from Low to Medium costs 35 FPS (121 to 86), a 29% drop, while the step from High to Ultra costs 10 FPS (76 to 66), a 13% drop. This suggests that the GPU has sufficient headroom at 1080p to handle Ultra settings, and the CPU is not limiting.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 91 FPS average
• Medium: 65 FPS average (min 55, max 75)
• High: 58 FPS average
• Ultra: 50 FPS average

At 1440p, the performance remains playable but begins to show strain. The Low preset still exceeds 90 FPS, but Ultra drops to 50 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for many players. The delta between Medium and High is 7 FPS (65 to 58), while the delta between High and Ultra is 8 FPS (58 to 50). The minimum FPS at Medium (55) indicates occasional dips, but overall the experience is consistent.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 62 FPS average
• Medium: 44 FPS average (min 37, max 50)
• High: 39 FPS average
• Ultra: 34 FPS average

At 4K, the combo struggles. Only the Low preset achieves an average above 60 FPS. Medium dips to 44 FPS with a minimum of 37 FPS, which will be noticeable. High and Ultra both fall below 40 FPS, making these settings impractical for smooth gameplay. The 28 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K (62 to 34) highlights the GPU’s limitations at this resolution.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the RTX 5060 can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease, but 4K requires significant settings reductions. The 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are the primary constraints, with the GPU’s 19.18 TFLOPS compute being less of a factor than memory bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Control?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 at Ultra settings (66 FPS average) or 2560x1440 at High settings (58 FPS average) are the best options for a balance of visual quality and playability. 4K is only viable at Low settings (62 FPS average).

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26,331, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Radeon 860M (26,401) and 0.3% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26,421). It is 1.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (26,011).

Q: Is the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 a bottleneck for the RTX 5060 in Control?

A: No. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (121 FPS) indicates the CPU is not limiting. The processor’s 16 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom. The GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as shown by the steep FPS drops from 1440p to 4K.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1,894th out of 2,888 tested combinations in Control. This places it in the 34th percentile, indicating that most other tested systems perform better in this game.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 76 at 1080p High to 39 at 4K High, a 49% reduction. This is a significant loss that makes 4K High settings impractical for smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the RTX 5060 have enough VRAM for Control at 4K?

A: The 8 GB of GDDR7 memory appears to be insufficient for 4K Ultra settings, as the average FPS drops to 34. The step from Medium to Ultra at 4K costs 10 FPS (44 to 34), suggesting memory pressure and texture streaming issues at higher settings.