Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a clear performance profile for Lockdown Protocol, with results that scale predictably across resolutions. The data shows a system that is firmly capable at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires careful settings management. The CPU, a 6-core/12-thread Zen 3 part with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, sits in the 73rd percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU, based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, holds the 65th percentile against all GPUs. Together, they form a balanced pairing that handles this FPS title with distinct strengths and limitations at each resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 77 FPS. This is the full visual experience, and the system has headroom to spare. Pushing to Ultra at this resolution is not a compromise; it is the optimal choice for image quality.

Moving to 2560x1440, the best settings shift to High, achieving an average of 75 FPS. This is a significant step down from Ultra in terms of preset level, but the frame rate remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The data indicates that High at 1440p is the sweet spot, balancing visual fidelity with smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. The only preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS is Low, which yields 78 FPS. This is a stark contrast to the lower resolutions. While the frame rate is playable, the visual quality is reduced to the minimum settings, making 4K a demanding target for this hardware. The measured data shows that Medium at 4K drops to 56 FPS average, and High falls to 49 FPS, so Low is the sole viable option for a consistent 60+ FPS experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals how the CPU and GPU divide responsibilities in Lockdown Protocol. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but the CPU's 6-core/12-thread configuration is sufficient to feed it. The jump from Medium (117 FPS) to Low (165 FPS) at 1080p shows a 48 FPS increase, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed by higher settings. The CPU, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and a single-core score of 2319, provides enough processing power to avoid becoming a limiting factor at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The GPU's workload increases, as seen in the drop from 121 FPS on Low to 75 FPS on High. The CPU's role remains consistent, but the GPU's pixel throughput becomes more critical. The Radeon RX 6650 XT, with a texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 168.6 GPixel/s, handles the extra resolution demand, but the margin for high settings narrows. The 46 FPS difference between Low and High at 1440p, compared to the 62 FPS difference at 1080p, shows the GPU is working harder relative to the CPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmingly the dominant factor. The CPU's performance becomes almost irrelevant as the GPU struggles to maintain frame rates. The drop from 78 FPS on Low to 36 FPS on Ultra at 4K is a 42 FPS swing, entirely driven by GPU load. The Ryzen 5 5500's 16 MB of L3 cache and Zen 3 architecture are more than adequate for the CPU-side tasks, but the RX 6650 XT's 8 GB memory buffer and 128-bit bus are pushed to their limits. The data clearly shows that at 4K, the GPU is the sole determinant of playability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 165 FPS with no min/max data recorded. Medium settings average 117 FPS, with a minimum of 100 FPS and a maximum of 135 FPS. High settings average 103 FPS. Ultra settings average 77 FPS. The frame times show a consistent scaling, with each preset step reducing performance by roughly 15-20% except for the Ultra step, which drops more sharply from High.

At 2560x1440, Low settings deliver an average of 121 FPS. Medium settings average 86 FPS, with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS. High settings average 75 FPS. Ultra settings fall to an average of 56 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Medium settings show the most stable frame pacing, with a 26 FPS range between min and max, suggesting a good balance of load.

At 3840x2160, Low settings yield an average of 78 FPS. Medium settings average 56 FPS, with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS. High settings average 49 FPS. Ultra settings drop to 36 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K is notable for its wide min/max spread, indicating significant frame time variance that could lead to stutter in intense scenes. The Low preset is the only one with a clear margin above the playable threshold.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience varies significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS on every preset, including Ultra at 77 FPS, making it fully capable of the highest visual quality. At 2560x1440, the system clears 60 FPS on High, Low, and Medium, with High being the recommended settings at 75 FPS. Ultra at 1440p falls short at 56 FPS, so it should be avoided for consistent gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system only clears 60 FPS on Low settings, which average 78 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the threshold, with averages of 56, 49, and 36 FPS respectively. This means 4K gaming is possible only with significant visual compromises. The verdict is clear: this is a solid 1080p and 1440p setup, but 4K users should stick to Low settings or consider hardware upgrades. The combo rank of 2439 out of 3714 combinations places this pairing in the lower-middle tier for this specific game, reinforcing that it is not a high-end 4K solution but a very competent mid-range performer.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 performs nearly identically to several other processors. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 has an average score of 19617, which is just 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i5-12500 scores 19668, a 0.4% difference. The Intel Core i7-10700F scores 19499, which is 0.5% higher. Finally, the Intel Core i5-11600KF scores 19723, 0.7% higher. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, as the differences are within the noise margin of benchmark variance.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are less conventional. The NVIDIA Tesla K40m has an average score of 19885, 0.6% higher than the RX 6650 XT. The AMD FirePro D300 scores 19637, 0.7% lower. The AMD FirePro W7000 scores 19905, 0.7% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro K5200 scores 19602, 0.8% lower. These are professional/workstation cards, not gaming-focused hardware, but the benchmark scores suggest similar raw compute performance. In gaming scenarios, the RX 6650 XT's driver support and gaming optimizations would likely yield better real-world results, but the raw scores are comparable.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS on Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080, yes, Ultra averages 77 FPS. At 2560x1440, no, Ultra averages 56 FPS. At 3840x2160, no, Ultra averages 36 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this PC?

A: The data indicates 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, as it allows for Ultra settings at 77 FPS with no compromises.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck at 3840x2160. The frame rate drops from 78 FPS on Low to 36 FPS on Ultra, a change driven entirely by GPU workload, while the CPU's performance remains sufficient.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to the Intel Core i5-12500?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593, while the Intel Core i5-12500 scores 19668, a difference of only 0.4%. In game, performance would be nearly identical.

Q: Are the GPU's nearest rivals suitable for gaming?

A: The nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA Tesla K40m and AMD FirePro D300, are professional cards with similar raw benchmark scores, but they lack the gaming-focused drivers and features of the RX 6650 XT.

Q: What settings should be used for a smooth 1440p experience?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 provide an average of 75 FPS, which is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS at that resolution. Medium settings are also viable at 86 FPS, but High offers better visuals with a still-comfortable frame rate.