Control

Control is an action-adventure title that stresses both the CPU's ability to manage a complex physics-driven world and the GPU's raw rasterization throughput. The pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K with the AMD Radeon RX 570 presents a significant bottleneck imbalance, where the processor’s high-end capabilities are largely held back by an older, entry-level graphics card. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings indicate that this combination is not suitable for a smooth experience at higher fidelity presets, though it can approach playability at lower settings and resolutions. The data shows a clear pattern: the GPU is the limiting factor in virtually every scenario tested, while the CPU’s substantial multi-threaded headroom remains underutilized.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This is a desktop-class chip designed for high-throughput workloads, as evidenced by its benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 30745 points in the multi-core test and 2116 points in the single-core test. Its Passmark multi-thread score of 45887 and single-thread score of 4333 place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong performance relative to the broader market. The processor’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores slightly higher by 0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, which trails by 0.5%.

In the context of Control, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics calculations, and draw call submissions. The 3DMark scores show strong scaling from 2 threads (2262) to 16 threads (10717) and up to max threads (12412), suggesting that the processor can handle heavily threaded workloads. However, the measured FPS data for this combo reveals that the CPU is not the constraining component. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 57, which is relatively modest for a CPU of this caliber. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates that are much higher, particularly at lower resolutions where GPU load is reduced. The fact that the system only achieves 57 FPS at 1080p Low indicates that the GPU is already saturated, preventing the CPU from demonstrating its full potential. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache provide ample bandwidth for game data, but this advantage is moot when the graphics card cannot process frames fast enough.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the AMD Radeon RX 570 ranks 3549 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the bottom 5% of all system configurations, which is a poor showing for a processor that individually ranks in the 89th percentile. The discrepancy highlights the extent to which the GPU drags down the overall performance. The combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability but rather the GPU's limitations. The nearest rival for the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 470, has an average benchmark score that is 0.8% higher, while the AMD Radeon R9 M295X is 0.7% lower. These deltas are small, indicating that the RX 570 is firmly in the entry-level segment, but the CPU's nearest rivals are all within 0.5% of its score, showing that the processor is competitively positioned.

The data indicates that pairing a top-tier CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that performs no better than a much more balanced configuration. The combo’s rank of 3549 suggests that most other tested combinations, even those with weaker CPUs, achieve better frame rates in Control because they have more capable graphics cards. This is a critical insight for understanding the system's behavior: the CPU’s high benchmark scores do not translate into gaming performance when the GPU is the limiting factor. The system is effectively GPU-bound from the outset, and the CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads are largely idle during gameplay, waiting for the RX 570 to deliver frames.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data shows a predictable decline in frame rates as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop reveals the GPU's strain. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS at High settings falls from 36 to 27, a decrease of 25%. From 1440p to 4K, the average FPS at High settings drops further to 18, another 33% reduction. At Low settings, the decline is steeper in absolute terms: 57 FPS at 1080p, 43 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is approximately 49%, indicating that the GPU is struggling to fill the increasing number of pixels.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect frame rates to remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change significantly with resolution. Instead, the FPS drops sharply, confirming that the RX 570's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth are insufficient for higher resolutions. At 4K, even the Low preset only yields 29 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data suggests that the limiting component is undoubtedly the GPU, as the CPU's performance headroom is not being exercised. The transition from Medium to High settings also shows a consistent 2-3 FPS drop at each resolution, further indicating that the GPU is operating at its maximum capacity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1080p, the system achieves its best results. The Low preset averages 57 FPS, which is the only configuration that approaches a playable frame rate. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS with a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 46, showing some volatility. The High preset averages 36 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 31 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system can handle the game at Low settings comfortably, but higher presets will result in a suboptimal experience.

Moving to 1440p, the performance degrades significantly. The Low preset averages 43 FPS, which is still playable but with noticeable drops. The Medium preset averages 30 FPS with a minimum of 26 and a maximum of 35, suggesting occasional stuttering. The High preset averages 27 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 24 FPS. At this resolution, the system is only viable at Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is not stable. At 4K, the system is essentially unplayable. The Low preset averages 29 FPS, the Medium preset averages 21 FPS with a minimum of 17 and a maximum of 24, the High preset averages 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 16 FPS. None of these configurations provide a smooth experience, and the frame rates are consistently below 30 FPS.

The data shows a clear trend: the system is only suitable for 1080p gaming at Low settings, and even then, the 57 FPS average is not particularly high. The Ultra preset at any resolution is a poor choice, as it yields the lowest frame rates without providing a proportional visual benefit. The Medium preset offers a slight improvement over High in terms of FPS, but the difference is marginal. The lack of min and max FPS data for most configurations makes it difficult to assess frame time consistency, but the available data for Medium settings shows a spread of 10-12 FPS between min and max, indicating some variance.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 570 is a Polaris 20 chip built on a 14 nm process, featuring 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. It has a base clock of 1168 MHz and a boost clock of 1244 MHz, with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. The GPU's computing power is rated at 5.095 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. In benchmark tests, it scores 880 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 42752 in Geekbench Vulkan, and 39349 in Geekbench Metal. These scores place it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs, which is surprisingly high given its age, but this is likely due to the benchmark database containing many older or weaker cards.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6800M, which scores 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 470, which scores 0.8% higher. This indicates that the RX 570 is at the lower end of the performance spectrum. In Control, the GPU's role is to render the game's environments, which feature complex lighting and particle effects. The 4 GB VRAM is a significant limitation, especially at higher resolutions and settings, as the game may exceed this capacity, leading to texture swapping and performance degradation. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the system fails to maintain playable frame rates at 1440p and above. The GPU's 32 ROPs are also a bottleneck for pixel fill rate, which is critical at high resolutions. The data shows that the GPU is the primary constraint in this combo, and its performance is insufficient for a demanding title like Control.

FAQ

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

A: The best performance is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which averages 57 FPS. At this resolution, the Medium preset averages 40 FPS, High averages 36 FPS, and Ultra averages 31 FPS. Higher resolutions result in significantly lower frame rates.

Q: Why does the system perform so poorly at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 16 at Ultra to 29 at Low. This is due to the AMD Radeon RX 570's 4 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth being insufficient for the pixel count, making the GPU the limiting factor.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K the bottleneck in this system?

A: No, the data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU has high benchmark scores, such as 30745 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, but the FPS does not improve at lower resolutions, which would be expected if the CPU were limiting.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 3549 out of 3720 tested combos in Control, placing it in the bottom 5% of configurations. This is a poor ranking primarily due to the GPU's performance.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low averages 57 FPS, while Ultra averages 31 FPS, a difference of 26 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended as it provides a marginal visual improvement for a significant performance cost.

Q: Are there any settings where the system achieves a stable 60 FPS?

A: No, the maximum average FPS recorded is 57 at 1080p Low. No configuration in the measured data reaches 60 FPS, indicating that the GPU cannot deliver a consistently smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable configuration for a playable experience is 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 57 FPS. This is the highest average FPS recorded and is the closest to a standard 60 FPS targetais. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 40 FPS, which is playable but may feel less responsive, and the data shows a minimum of 34 FPS, suggesting occasional dips. The High preset at 1080p averages 36 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 31 FPS, both of which are below the threshold for a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 43 FPS, which is borderline playable, but the Medium preset drops to 30 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets fall to 27 and 24 FPS, respectively. These are not recommended for a comfortable gaming session. At 3840x2160, all settings yield average frame rates below 30 FPS, making the game effectively unplayable at this resolution. The data suggests that users should prioritize resolution over quality, staying at 1080p and using the Low preset for the best experience. If a higher preset is desired, the Medium preset at 1080p is the only alternative that remains above 30 FPS, but users should be prepared for frame rate dips. The Ultra preset is not recommended under any circumstances, as it provides the lowest frame rates without a proportional visual benefit.