Control PC system requirements are the most demanding ever

Written by Jon Sutton on Tue, Aug 6, 2019 3:54 PM
System Requirements Optimum 1080p PC Build Low vs Ultra Screenshots GPU Performance Chart CPU List That Meet System Requirements GPU List That Meet System Requirements

UPDATE: It's all change for Control's system requirements. Once the most demanding game in existence on PC, developer Remedy has made some sweeping changes to the PC specs. Good, because there were barely any people that could run it last time.

Naturally, this quickly prompted suggestions that Remedy had downgraded Control's visuals in order to ensure parity with the console version. Thomas Puha, head of communications at Remedy has confirmed: "No, it's not downgraded." Lovely stuff.

Control Minimum System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5 GHz or AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB System Memory
  • GPU RAM: 3 GB Video Memory
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 or AMD Radeon R9 280X
  • For Ray Tracing: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
  • DX: DirectX 11
  • HDD: TBA available space

Control Recommended System Requirements 

  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-7600K 3.8 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X 3.6 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB System Memory
  • GPU RAM: 11 GB Video Memory
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 580
  • For Ray Tracing: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
  • DX: DirectX 12
  • HDD: TBA available space

As you can tell when comparing these specs to the original ones below, Remedy has brought these system requirements for Control right down to more reasonable levels. Enabling ray-tracing will obviously be a very demanding graphics option but those with lower-end systems do now have a much chance of running the game. The minimum spec GPUs have become the recommended graphics cards for Control, while the CPU requirements have also been lowered. 

There's no reason given for this huge change in specs, although we'd presume the official requirements were ahead of optimisation and also may have been targeting higher resolutions. It seems safe to assume these specs are targeted at PC players hoping to play Control at 1080p screen resolution.

Original Story: 16-Jul-2019 - Control PC system requirements are the most demanding ever

Ready your wallets and prepare your upgrades - the system requirements for Control are here. Remedy Entertainment's visually stunning third-person shooter promises to feature every graphical trick under the sun, including extensive ray-tracing support. Control looks as if it's going to push the envelope in terms of both graphical fidelity and PC gaming hardware demands.

Control Minimum System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-7500 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X 3.5 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB System Memory
  • GPU RAM: 6 GB Video Memory
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB
  • Ray Tracing: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
  • DX: DirectX 11
  • HDD: TBA available space

Control Recommended System Requirements 

  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-8600 3.6 GHz or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB System Memory
  • GPU RAM: 11 GB Video Memory
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or AMD Radeon Vega VII
  • Ray Tracing: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
  • DX: DirectX 12
  • HDD: TBA available space

We have a handy page here on GD which tracks the most demanding games on PC based on their system requirements. We collate all of the data and it automatically assigns a ranking based on the specs. And, Remedy's Control slots in at the number 1 spot comfortably. As it stands, Control is the most demanding game in existence on PC.

Control requires at least a Radeon VII 16GB or GeForce GTX 1080 Ti to meet recommended requirements running on High graphics setting. This hardware should achieve 60FPS. For your PC to completely meet the recommended requirements you will also need 16 GB system memory. Another thing to consider is the DirectX capability of your GPU. Control needs a GPU capable of running DirectX 12.

if you want to enjoy the real-time ray-traced lighting effects found in Control then you'll also need a GeForce RTX 20 series graphics card. The minimum-spec ray-tracing GPU is the GeForce RTX 2060, while the RTX 2080 is good to go for recommended. In terms of the Super cards, the RTX 2060 Super sits in between the min and recommended specs, the RTX 2070 Super meets the recommended, and the RTX 2080 Super will exceed the recommended requirements for Control.

Even the minimum specs are eye-catching though. To the best of my knowledge, we've never really seen a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or Radeon RX 580 become the minimum required graphics cards. According to Nvidia's own data, this means around 80-90% of PC gamers won't reach the minimum GPU requirements for Control.

As ever, remember you can always check out how well your PC can run the Control System Requirements here, where you can check benchmarking and performance from other users. Compare your graphics card to the Control GPU benchmark chart and we also have a Control Per Second system performance chart for you to check.

Which specs do you meet?

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junior admin badge
10:51 Aug-07-2019

Good news.

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junior admin badge
02:33 Aug-07-2019

I feel tht the intial requirements were for 1080p and 4k resolutions. I don't know if many have noticed it, but the system requirements for most games show the minimum and recommended specs for 720p and 1080p resolutions. so chill guys, as the game won't be downgraded at all and the earlier recommended specs must be for 4k resolution. hope u guys don't start the downgrade talk for this mysterious and intriguing game, tht might end up being a decent game in the long run.

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17:04 Aug-08-2019

2080Ti recommended for 4K raytracing? I somehow doubt it, but I guess it would depend on the implementation. IMO there's something fishy going on here. Dropping from a 1080Ti to a 1060 for recommended (non-raytraced) is weird. You can't "optimize" the game like that to need 60% less GPU power within a few days.

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09:59 Aug-09-2019

I agree , they definitely downgraded something,optimization like that doesn't happen overnight .

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junior admin badge
13:18 Aug-09-2019

I also believe it might be a mistake on the devs part or a placeholder specs.

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22:03 Aug-06-2019

I always assumed they overshot requirements to begin with and probably some good old optimizations helped as well. Could be that they were also testing waters, to see how community would respond for future reference. Also could just be that they added more options to tune up graphics, allowing even lower end systems to play. But I guess we will never know.

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22:06 Aug-06-2019

As for graphics downgrade, while definitely also possible, I doubt it would be really badly different. Personally, I always expect some level of downgrade, because unless you were living under the rock, by now people should already know to not take pre-release graphics and everything for 100% accurate,I mean after you get burned few times, it kind of should be obvious,even if there are exceptions.

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22:08 Aug-06-2019

And also that is why you should NEVER pre-order, NEVER buy on release date, ALWAYS wait for reviews. Because that is only way you will 100% know what you are getting. Because things change, marketing tends to make things look better and naturally ALL pre-release content is 100% MARKETING. I hope caps helped to emphasize important bits.

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21:36 Aug-06-2019

From 1080Ti to 1060? Yeah, "not downgraded" my arse...

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21:44 Aug-06-2019

The changes are probably due to optimization. So yeah, I doubt they are downgraded either.

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17:18 Aug-07-2019

From a 1080Ti...to a 1060... that's cutting the requirements in the GPU alone by 60%. Perhaps if the game went from a cluttered alpha to the finished product over the years - sure, alphas can be bad. But within a couple of weeks? This is fishy as hell.

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19:06 Aug-07-2019

Even if it is a downgrade, which I still doubt, who honestly cares? I don't.

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17:07 Aug-08-2019

I always want the games to look their BEST. I wouldn't mind if my 2080Ti SLI rig wouldn't be able to run a game maxed out, because I always get back to older games with new hardware to see what new things I can do (such as 5K resolutions, new mods, etc). Just my view. Downgrades suck, because they trade the artistic vision and quality of the intended visuals for the ability to maximize the profits from what would be whiny "gamers" who complain they can't max the game out. Hairworks in Witcher 3 got downgraded to hell because of such whiny b*tches, where otherwise hairworks runs absolutely smooth on modern hardware and would have looked LITERALLY 3x better if it wasn't downgraded.
I care.

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04:43 Aug-09-2019

The problem here is that people with high end rigs like you are the minority, the majority have rigs with like a Core i5 and a $200 to $300 GPU like the GTX 1660 or 1660 Ti. Oh and 12GB RAM.


If most people can't even RUN the game then what's the point? That would seriously hurt any potential profit.


Besides gaming has never been about graphics and those that care more about the graphics than the game itself are the minority.

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16:36 Aug-12-2019

Honestly the first system specs for the game were downright bad, that's the MINIMUM system requirements.I honestly wouldn't care if a game need an RTX 2080 TITAN for Ultra settings since that is the whole point of graphics in games, to look as good and ''realistic " as possible.

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16:38 Aug-12-2019

Sure most people wouldn't be able to run the game at those max specs but games like The Witcher 2 did the same thing with Uber Sampling (I believe it was called) and know people can play that game with today's hardwear and the games looks awesome.

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23:53 Aug-06-2019

Unless optimization was a complete and utter disaster, it would be very difficult to go from 1080ti down to a 1060. Considering the game is set to launch in a few weeks and the fact that the original sys requirements were published just days ago, it is highly unlikely they had enough time to make enough tweaks to change the requirements so drastically.

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17:19 Aug-07-2019

1080Ti is about 120% more powerful than a 1060 (6GB)... Nobody optimizes THAT well in a few days.

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20:09 Aug-07-2019

They were probably fake honestly or just placeholders no way they would put a 1080ti as a requirement for 1080p thats insane plus what would the people on console play at 144p? eksdee. These were probably original requirements which fall in line with pretty much every game 1080ti for 4K requirements would make sense

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20:48 Aug-06-2019

Are these new requirements supposed to make me feel better? cuz they don't.
Btw what engine was this game built with.

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21:20 Aug-06-2019

Get yourself an i5 8400 and an RX 570. You'll be good.

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21:24 Aug-06-2019

yep, gtx 1050 ti is still pretty decent for high-ultra settings @ 900p

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19:30 Aug-08-2019

I won't be upgrading anytime soon so we'll have to see how optimized the game will be.

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20:15 Aug-06-2019

now that makes more sense. the original ones made no sense on the other hand this is in line with pretty much every game. Hopefully remedy can deliver something its been a long time since max payne 1,2 since theyve done an amazing game.Alan wake was ok but i didnt like quantum break that much i hope this ones better.

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18:05 Aug-06-2019

Well, that means I can play it on high or ultra minus ray tracing. Now, I have to wait until I see some reviews and some benchmark videos showing that Control isn't the technical mess Quantum Break was. I'll then have to buy a game from the Epic Store.


Three more weeks.

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16:43 Aug-06-2019

Downgrade?

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03:33 Jul-25-2019

Sometimes devs exaggerate requirements which I think is the case here. I should be able to run this game at high settings 60fps without a problem.

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22:08 Jul-23-2019

580 means it should be able to use a 290x. That's completely okay for a GPU. Nvidia could go back to Titan Black or 980ti. VRAM is the killer that limits Nvidia GPUs.

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17:35 Jul-23-2019

Good job NVIDIA, one example of how to "suggest" people to buy your 5h1T


"hey looks like our high end parts doesn't sell as much as our lower end ones, how do we fix that?"


"Just tell our game developer partners to make their game unoptimized AF"

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06:35 Jul-23-2019

Good luck to those fortnite kids that play on their mom's cheap laptop buying it from epic...

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04:23 Jul-22-2019

I don't see system requirements, I only see poor optimisation - Definitly a NO BUY for me

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14:02 Jul-19-2019

Nowadays games are more like who will make the most demanding game rather the most optimized game.

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12:00 Jul-18-2019

Cyberpunk 2077 better not be like this

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08:26 Jul-20-2019

Cyberpunk will be optimized
This will only be a poor optimized mess and more a demo for RTX rather than a game

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05:11 Jul-22-2019

let's hope they will be different. I remembered the witcher being very smooth to majority of PC rigs back when it launched. Hopefully, Cyberpunk will follow that footsteps. And every patch they released are 98% positive (only a few break mod support or cause a bit stuttering if i recall)

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21:26 Aug-06-2019

I know right? , i was even able to play the witcher 3 at medium settings @ 900p 30 fps with a ddr 3 gt 730 2 gb xD.

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05:58 Jul-18-2019

Are they dumb or what?
Battlefield V has the most details ever and still runs like a charm while this game requires a gtx 1060 as minimum
Well from what I think they will have a major loss on pc sales

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00:29 Jul-18-2019

I really REALLY wish the devs would just start adding a resolution and an FPS target to the requirements. These days people play at anything between 1080p and 4K (and beyond), all of the resolutions being mainstream now. So how the hell am I supposed to read the specs? Are they for 1080p60? Are they for 1440p60? Are they for 4K60? Are they for 1080p30 #cinematic? With what raytracing preset (recommended spec)? What about the overall game preset? Ultra? High? What specs for 120+ fps for high refresh rate monitor owners?


The specs sheets are becoming more useless by the day...

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00:49 Jul-18-2019

Hmmmm...
I wonder now... could it be that they now rely on a wave of benchmarks for free publicity?
So they don't give you any specs, but instead then force a bunch of youtubers to bench the game, creating a wave of content and, therefore, associated web traffic...

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10:06 Jul-18-2019

Idunno quantum break hammered hardware in 2015 so who knows but i agree these specs are worthless is this 144FPS or 4K or somehow 1080p 60fps ultra? Who knows these requirements have a huge delta in the min and recommended ones.

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23:11 Jul-17-2019

If minimum means high-ultra settings at 30 fps with low-mid AA at 1080p then i can understand the requirments otherwise this game could be unoptimized.

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13:13 Jul-17-2019

There is no way in hell this game requires a 1060 6gb for MINIMUM! Clearly,the developers didn't give a F.U.C.K about the P.C players (it was kinda obvious since they went ePiC StOrE ExClUsIvE ).Definitely won't buy this ****.

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13:18 Jul-17-2019

maybe after a year when it releases on steam it will be better optimized thanks to patches (really doubt it) or players will come up with solutions like mods or fixes.

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07:49 Jul-17-2019

how the bloody hell can its minimum requirements be that high and it still work on consoles?? are those for 1080 60fps 30? high? medium? i love it when studios explain what output youll get with the particular requirement set

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19:26 Jul-17-2019

minimum is usually like everything low 720p 30fps and recommended is for 1080p 60fps but on which settings who knows

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09:24 Jul-18-2019

I'd say recommended is for 60 fps on the highest-tweaked available (for ex toned down shadows), but even then it's average fps.

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Can They Run... |

| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Core i9-9900K 8-Core 3.6GHz GeForce GTX 1060 Gigabyte Mini ITX OC 6GB 32GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core 3.6GHz Radeon RX 5700 PowerColor Red Dragon 8GB 16GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
0% No [1 votes]
| 60FPS, Ultra, 4k
Core i9-9900K 8-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Asus ROG Strix OC 11GB 32GB
| 30FPS, Ultra, 1440p
Ryzen 5 2600X 6-Core 3.6GHz GeForce GTX 1080 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core 3.6GHz GeForce RTX 3050 16GB
| 60FPS, Ultra, 1080p
Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core 3.7GHz Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB 32GB
| 30FPS, Low, 720p
Core i3-2367M 1.4GHz Intel HD Graphics 3000 Desktop 4GB
| High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 2600 GeForce GTX 1070 Ti MSI Gaming 8GB 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]
Core i7-7700K 4-Core 4.2GHz Intel HD Graphics 630 Mobile 24GB
0% No [1 votes]
| 30FPS, Low, 1080p
Core i5-7600K 3.8GHz GeForce GTX 970 MSI Gaming 4GB Edition 16GB
100% Yes [2 votes]
| 30FPS, Low, 1080p
Ryzen 3 3200G GeForce GTX 1050 Ti MSI Gaming X 4GB 8GB
50% Yes [2 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 2600 GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Gigabyte Gaming OC 6GB 16GB
100% Yes [2 votes]
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core 3.6GHz GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Asus Phoenix 6GB 16GB
100% Yes [4 votes]
| 60FPS, Ultra, 1080p
Core i7-10750H 6-Core 2.60GHz GeForce RTX 2060 6GB 16GB
100% Yes [2 votes]
| 30FPS, Low, 720p
Pentium Gold G5500 2-Core 3.8GHz Radeon RX 550 2GB 8GB
| 60FPS, High, 1080p
Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ASUS ROG STRIX 11GB 16GB
100% Yes [1 votes]