Control

Control is a demanding action-adventure title that leans heavily on both processor and graphics hardware. The combination of an Intel Core i5-9400 and an AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT delivers a playable experience across most settings, but the data reveals clear performance ceilings that are important for a builder to understand. This analysis breaks down exactly what each component contributes, how the pairing ranks against other tested combinations, and which settings will give you the smoothest experience in this particular game.

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

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, built on Intel's 14 nm process. Its base clock sits at 2.90 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This is a CPU with no hyper-threading, meaning it relies on its six physical cores to handle all workloads. The processor is not multiplier-unlocked, so overclocking headroom is absent, and it operates at a TDP of 65 W. The chip's cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 9 MB of L3 cache, which is a common arrangement for this generation of Intel desktop parts.

In terms of raw computational power, the i5-9400's benchmark scores are modest by modern standards. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 6629, while the single-core score is 935. Geekbench results show a multicore score of 5141 and a single-core score of 1389. The average benchmark score across all tests is 2254, which places it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs tested on this database. This means it outperforms roughly half of the CPUs in the database, but it is not a top-tier performer.

In the context of Control, a game that demands strong single-thread performance for its physics and AI systems, the i5-9400's single-core strength is adequate but not exceptional. The boost clock of 4.10 GHz is sufficient to drive the game's logic without becoming a severe bottleneck in most scenes, but it is not a high-frequency part that would excel in CPU-bound scenarios. With only six threads, the game's multi-threaded workloads will be handled competently, but the lack of hyperthreading means that heavy background tasks could interfere with performance. The CPU's memory bandwidth is rated at 42.7 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus, which is a standard figure for this generation and supports the GPU without introducing a memory-bound constraint in this pairing.

The nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 at 2259 and the Intel Core i3-10305 at 2264. The Core i5-9400 is 0.2% behind the i7-1068NG7 and 0.4% behind the i3-10305, meaning its raw computational performance is nearly identical to these parts. This is a useful reference point: the CPU is not a weak link in the system, but it won't push the GPU to its absolute limits in lower-resolution scenarios where the CPU must feed frames quickly.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the graphics card in this pairing, based on the Navi 33 chip and the RDNA 3.0 architecture, manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It is part of the Radeon RX 7000 series and features a 16 GB GDDR6 memory pool on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU clock speeds are a base of 1980 MHz, a game clock of 2470 MHz, and a boost clock of 2755 MHz. The memory runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed. This GPU has 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, 64 ROPs, and 32 ray accelerators, with a pixel rate of 176.3 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 352.6 GTexel/s. It also supports FP32 compute at 22.57 TFLOPS.

In benchmark results, the RX 7600 XT achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2348, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 92426, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 48366. Passmark scores include a G3D score of 17132 and a GPU compute score of 8987. The average benchmark score is 17083, placing it in the 60th percentile of all GPUs. This means the GPU performs better than 60% of the graphics cards in the database, which is a solid mid-range standing.

The 16 GB of VRAM is the standout feature here, and it has a direct impact on Control. This game is known for its high-resolution textures and particle effects, and at 4K resolution with high settings, VRAM usage can exceed 8 GB in many scenes. With 16 GB available, the RX 7600 XT will not run into memory limits, allowing the card to maintain consistent frame pacing without texture stutters. The 128-bit memory bus is narrow, but the 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for this title at most resolutions, although it may cap performance at 4K where bandwidth becomes more critical.

In relation to the measured FPS, the GPU's performance is the primary driver of the results. At 1080p, the GPU is not heavily stressed and can produce high frame rates, but the CPU's single-core performance will start to become a factor as frame rates climb. At 4K, the GPU is the dominant bottleneck, and the frame rates reflect the GPU's raw compute and memory bandwidth. The RX 7600 XT's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 at 17037 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 at 17208. The RX 7600 XT is 0.3% ahead of the GTX 690 and 0.7% behind the RTX 3070, which gives a rough sense of its performance class. It is a card that trades blows with high-end parts from previous generations, but the modern architecture and 16 GB VRAM give it an edge in current and future titles that demand higher memory capacity.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested CPU and GPU combinations for Control, this pairing ranks 2363 out of 3720 combinations. This rank places it squarely in the middle of the pack, meaning there are many combos that perform better, but also many that perform worse. The rank is a reflection of the CPU's moderate standing (47th percentile) and the GPU's upper-mid-range position (60th percentile) combined in a way that yields a balanced but not exceptional result.

The performance data suggests that the pairing is not a high-end powerhouse. At 4K, it is below the 60 FPS threshold in most settings, which is a sign that the combo is not designed for ultra-high-resolution gaming. However, at 1440p and 1080p, it achieves playable frame rates in most presets. The rank indicates that a builder could achieve higher frame rates with a more powerful CPU, but the GPU is the primary limiting factor for frame rate in this title. The combo is a good example of how a mid-range GPU can be paired with a mid-range CPU to produce a system that can handle the game at high settings but not at maximum settings, especially at higher resolutions.

The percentiles of the individual components are reflected in the combo rank. The CPU's 47th percentile means it is surrounded by other parts that are similar in performance, and the GPU's 60th percentile means it is better than the CPU. This imbalance means that the CPU is more likely to be a limiting factor at lower resolutions, while the GPU is the main limit at higher resolutions. The overall rank of 2363 out of 3720 is a strong indicator that this is a mid-range setup, and users should set expectations accordingly.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the lowest resolution tested, the frame rates are the highest. With the Low preset, the combo averages 124 FPS, which is a very smooth experience. The Medium preset drops to 88 FPS on average, with a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 101. The High preset is 78 FPS on average. The Ultra preset is 68 FPS on average. This shows that at 1080p, the combo is capable of high frame rates, and even the Ultra settings remain above 60 FPS, which is a good result for a 60 Hz monitor.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the frame rates are lower. The Low preset averages 94 FPS, which is a solid result. The Medium preset averages 67 FPS, with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 76. The High preset drops to 59 FPS on average, which is just below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset averages 51 FPS. This shows that at 1440p, the combo can handle Low and Medium settings well, but High and Ultra settings will require a 60 Hz display with V-Sync or a adaptive sync monitor to avoid tearing.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the frame rates are the lowest. The Low preset yields 63 FPS on average, which is a playable result. The Medium preset is 45 FPS on average, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. The High preset drops to 40 FPS on average. The Ultra preset is 35 FPS on average. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming on this combo is only truly smooth on the Low preset, and even then, the minimum frame rate is not provided, so it may dip below 60 in heavy scenes. The Medium preset is borderline playable but will be rough in intense battles.

The data shows a consistent trend: as resolution increases, frame rates drop, which is expected. The performance difference between Low and Ultra at each resolution is significant, with a 45% drop at 1080p (124 vs 68), a 45% drop at 1440p (94 vs 51), and a 44% drop at 4K (63 vs 35). The Medium and High settings are only a few frames apart, with Medium always a few frames higher than High. The Low settings are always the best for maximum FPS, but the visual quality is the trade-off.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 2560x1440 with the Low or Medium preset is the best experience. At 1440p, the Low preset averages 94 FPS and the Medium preset averages 67 FPS, both of which are above 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, which is also smooth, but the increase in resolution is more important for visual clarity.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Control?

A: Yes, but only on the Low preset, which averages 63 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 45 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets are 40 FPS and 35 FPS, respectively. For a 60 Hz display, the Low preset is the only one that is consistently smooth, and even then, the minimum frame rate is not measured.

Q: How does the RX 7600 XT's 16 GB of VRAM affect performance in Control?

A: The 16 GB VRAM is a significant advantage in this game, as it prevents texture-related stuttering and memory limitations at high resolutions. At 4K, the game can use more VRAM than the card's memory capacity, but the 16 GB ensures the GPU never runs out of memory, which would otherwise cause severe frame drops.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-9400 a bottleneck in this setup?

A: At higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, so the CPU does not limit performance. At 1080p with Low settings, the CPU's single-core performance may be a factor, but the frame rates are still high at 124 FPS. The CPU's six cores are sufficient for the game's threads.

Q: What is the best setting to get a stable 60 FPS experience?

A: At 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, so it is a good choice. At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 67 FPS, which is just above 60. At 4K, only the Low preset averages 63 FPS. For a consistent 60 FPS, the 1440p Medium preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RX 7600 XT's closest rivals?

A: The RX 7600 XT's average benchmark score is 17083, which is 0.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GTX 690 and 0.7% behind the RTX 3070. This indicates that the GPU is a mid-range performer, and in Control, the combo's rank of 2363 out of 3720 reflects that it is a capable but not high-end setup.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is at 2560x1440 with the Medium preset. This setting averages 67 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target, and the minimum frame rate of 57 FPS is still playable. The Medium preset offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, as the High preset drops to 59 FPS, which is just below 60, and the Ultra preset averages 51 FPS. If a player wants the highest visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1080p will give you 124 FPS, but the visual quality will be significantly reduced.

For 4K, the Low preset is the only one that is a smooth experience, averaging 63 FPS, but this is not a high visual quality experience. The Medium preset at 4K is 45 FPS, which is not recommended for players who want smooth motion. At 1080p, the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS, which is a good choice for a 60 Hz monitor, but the additional visual detail of the Medium preset at 1440p might be more appealing. Overall, the 1440p Medium preset is the recommended choice for this combo, as it provides a smooth frame rate with a good visual quality. The 1080p Ultra preset is an acceptable alternative if a player prefers higher frame rates over resolution.