Control

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile pairing delivers a high-refresh-rate experience in Control at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K remaining entirely playable. The data shows a combination that scales predictably with resolution and settings, leaning on the GPU for heavy lifting while the 16-core Zen 5 processor keeps frame pacing consistent. This is a strong laptop duo for a 2019 action-adventure title, one that rewards turning settings up rather than down.

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

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This is a mobile part, built on a 4 nm TSMC process, and it sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the benchmark database. Its raw multi-threaded capability is substantial, as reflected in a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35314 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20992. Single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2044 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2464.

For a game like Control, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics updates. The benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has no trouble keeping up with the RTX 5090 Mobile. The processor's average benchmark score of 77740 places it in the same ballpark as the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (76513, a 1.6% lead), the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P (76492, also a 1.6% lead), and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX (76212, a 2% lead). It is beaten by the Intel Core i9-14900K, which scores 79097, a -1.7% delta. These are all top-tier desktop and workstation parts, so the mobile 395 is positioned as a high-end performer.

The processor's L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and it shares a 64 MB L3 cache. It supports quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. This memory bandwidth is particularly important for a Strix Halo part, as the integrated Radeon 8060S graphics would rely on it, but even for the discrete RTX 5090 Mobile, it ensures the CPU can efficiently pass data to the GPU. The memory bus and cache architecture are designed to handle high-throughput workloads, and 32 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks during gaming.

In the context of the measured FPS, the CPU's role is clear: at 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 203 FPS average, which is a frame rate where CPU overhead can become the limit. The fact that this combo still achieves such high numbers suggests the Zen 5 cores are not a limiting factor. The CPU's percentile ranking versus all CPUs is 95, and its average benchmark score is 77740, which further indicates a high-end part. The benchmark results, especially the Passmark multi-thread score of 54934 and Passmark single-thread of 4147, confirm a strong all-around processor.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: How does the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 compare to the Intel Core i9-14900K in average benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has an average benchmark score of 77740, while the Intel Core i9-14900K scores 79097. That is a delta of -1.7%, meaning the Intel part is about 1.7% ahead. In a real-world gaming scenario, this difference is minor and likely not perceptible.

Q: The RTX 5090 Mobile has a 24 GB VRAM. Is that needed for Control at 4K?

A: The measured 4K data shows average FPS ranging from 57 (Ultra) to 103 (Low). The 24 GB of GDDR7 memory is far more than Control requires; the game is not hitting VRAM limits at any tested setting. The memory bandwidth of 896.0 GB/s is what actually matters here, as it helps sustain high frame rates at 4K.

Q: Which is more important for this game's frame rates—the CPU or the GPU?

A: The GPU is clearly the primary factor. For instance, at 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 103 on Low to 57 on Ultra. The CPU has 32 threads and a 95th percentile ranking, so it is not the limiting factor. The GPU's performance scaling with settings is the dominant variable.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 Mobile a strong performer compared to other GPUs?

A: The RTX 5090 Mobile sits in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 45152. It is narrowly behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (45384, -0.5% delta) and the Intel Arc A730M (45592, -1% delta), and only 1.8% behind the RTX 5880 Ada Generation (45972). It is 0.8% ahead of the RTX 4070 Ti (44795). The benchmark data shows it is a top-tier mobile GPU.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance affect the game?

A: The CPU has a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2044 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2150. Games like Control are often single-thread bound, but the combination of high single-core speeds and the fact that the GPU is the bottleneck means this CPU's single-thread performance is more than sufficient. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo hits 203 FPS, indicating no CPU limit.

Q: At what resolution does the combo start to become GPU-limited?

A: The data demonstrates a GPU limitation at all tested resolutions. At 1080p, the average FPS only drops from 203 (Low) to 111 (Ultra), a 92 FPS drop. At 4K, the drop is from 103 (Low) to 57 (Ultra), a 46 FPS drop. The GPU is the bottleneck in every scenario; the CPU is never the constraint.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo is at its most capable, pushing an average of 203 FPS on Low settings. At 2560x1440, the Low setting average drops to 153 FPS, a reduction of 50 FPS. At 3840x2160, the Low average is 103 FPS, a further drop of 50 FPS from 1440p. This trend is consistent with a GPU that is becoming more of a bottleneck as the pixel count increases.

However, the scaling is not linear. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 50 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K drop is also 50 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is not yet at its maximum load at 1080p, and the CPU is still able to feed it. At 4K, the GPU is working much harder, but the combo still maintains playable frame rates. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the average is 57 FPS, which is still above the 30 FPS minimum for a good experience. The delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is 46 FPS, while at 1080p it is 92 FPS. This shows that the GPU's performance headroom is reduced at higher resolutions, as expected.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would see a much smaller FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a plateau at higher resolutions. Instead, the FPS drops consistently, which points to the GPU being the primary constraint. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395's strong single-thread performance, with a Geekbench score of 2464, ensures that it is not holding back the GPU at any resolution. The FPS scaling is a classic example of GPU-bound performance.

How This Combo Ranks — combo rank and comparison to other tested combos

The combo of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile ranks 812 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This puts it in the top 21.8% of all tested combinations. While it is not a top-100 combo, it is a very high-performing one, especially considering that the list includes desktop systems with more powerful GPUs. The rank indicates that this combo is well above average for gaming performance.

The GPU's 84th percentile ranking and the CPU's 95th percentile ranking are both high, but the combo's rank is lower than either of these percentiles might suggest. This is because the combo rank includes other factors, such as the motherboard and memory configuration, but the data shows that this is a strong pairing. The RTX 5090 Mobile sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs in the database, which places it above many desktop GPUs. The CPU's 95th percentile ranking reinforces that this is a high-end mobile platform.

When compared to other combos, the rank of 812 out of 3720 is in the top 21.8%. This means it will beat over 78% of the tested combos, which is a good performance. The gap to the top is likely due to the GPU being a mobile part, not a desktop card. The CPU's high ranking helps, but the GPU's mobile nature holds the combo back from the top 100. Still, for a mobile system, this is a very strong result, and it will handle Control with ease.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's performance at each resolution and setting.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS varies from 103 on Low to 57 on Ultra. The Medium setting shows an average of 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 85. The High setting averages 65 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is playable at all settings, with Ultra still hitting 57 FPS average, which is above the 30 FPS minimum standard.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS is much higher. Low hits 153 FPS, High hits 97 FPS, Medium averages 109 FPS (min 93, max 125), and Ultra averages 84 FPS. This resolution offers a great balance between visual quality and frame rate, with even Ultra staying above 84 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the combo is extremely fast. Low settings yield an average of 203 FPS. Medium averages 144 FPS (min 122, max 165), High averages 128 FPS, and Ultra averages 111 FPS. The 1080p data shows a 92 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, which is the largest delta across all resolutions. This is because the GPU is less stressed at 1080p, so the settings have a more pronounced effect.

The minimum FPS data is only available for Medium settings. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 62 FPS, at 1440p Medium, it's 93 FPS, and at 1080p Medium, it's 122 FPS. The minimum FPS values are all well above 60, suggesting that the combo maintains a stable frame rate without significant drops. The maximum FPS at Medium settings are 85 at 4K, 125 at 1440p, and 165 at 1080p, indicating the combo can push high peaks when the scene allows.

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

For the best experience, the data suggests different presets based on the target resolution.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset provides an average of 57 FPS, which is technically playable but might feel slightly less smooth on a 60 Hz display. The High preset gives 65 FPS, which is a better fit for a 60 Hz screen, as it stays above the refresh rate. The Medium preset averages 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62, which is a great choice for 4K, as it offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Low preset, at 103 FPS, is also an option if you want to maximize frame rate, but it sacrifices visual fidelity. For 4K, the Medium preset is the best of both worlds, providing high FPS and good visuals.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset gives 84 FPS, which is very smooth for most monitors. The High preset is 97 FPS, Medium is 109 FPS, and Low is 153 FPS. For 1440p, the Ultra preset is a good choice if you want the best visuals, as it still stays above 84 FPS. The Medium preset is also excellent, with 109 FPS and a minimum of 93, which is ideal for a 144Hz monitor. The Low preset is overkill for 1440p, as the High and Medium presets already provide high frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the combo is so fast that even the Ultra preset with 111 FPS is a great experience. The Medium preset with 144 FPS (min 122, max 165) is the best for a 144Hz monitor, as it stays above the refresh rate. The High preset at 128 FPS is also a good option. The Low preset at 203 FPS is a waste of visual quality unless you have a 240Hz display and want to push the highest frame rates possible. For most players at 1080p, selecting the Medium or High preset will offer a great combination of performance and visual quality.

In summary, the data indicates that the combo is best paired with Medium or High presets at 4K and 1440p, and Medium or High at 1080p. The Ultra preset is only recommended for 1440p or 1080p, where it still delivers high frame rates. The Medium preset is the most versatile, providing a consistent experience across all resolutions, with the highest minimum FPS values (62 at 4K, 93 at 1440p, 122 at 1080p). This makes the Medium preset the best overall recommendation for a balance of quality and performance.