Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that rewards high frame rates, and this particular pairing of an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers an extreme level of performance that will push any display to its limits. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at lower resolutions, but the CPU still manages to keep up with the flagship graphics card admirably. Across all tested settings and resolutions, the average frame rate never drops below 80 FPS, which indicates that this combo is not just playable but exceptionally smooth for competitive play.

Best Settings per Resolution

The benchmark results for this combination are straightforward: the RTX 4090 is so powerful that it can run Lockdown Protocol at the highest preset at every resolution while maintaining frame rates well above the 60 FPS playability threshold. For those seeking the absolute best visual quality, the Ultra preset is the recommended choice across the board.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 169.3 FPS on the Ultra preset. This is the most demanding setting at this resolution, yet it still delivers a frame rate that is nearly three times the 60 FPS threshold. The data indicates there is no reason to drop to a lower preset for performance reasons, as even the most demanding settings provide a significant cushion. The High preset yields 204.2 FPS, Medium produces 213.3 FPS, and Low reaches 242.2 FPS, but the visual fidelity of Ultra is worth the modest frame rate trade-off.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Ultra preset again remains the best option, with an average of 128.6 FPS. This is a substantial drop from the 1080p result, but it is still more than double the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance cost of roughly 40 FPS on the Ultra preset, which is expected as the GPU takes on a heavier pixel workload. High settings at this resolution produce 168.8 FPS, Medium hits 190.7 FPS, and Low reaches 217.5 FPS, but again, the Ultra preset is entirely viable for a high-refresh-rate experience.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset still manages an average of 80.6 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold with a comfortable margin. This is the first resolution where the system begins to show any strain, but it is far from a concern. The High preset at 4K delivers 110.1 FPS, Medium reaches 123.1 FPS, and Low achieves 176.9 FPS. For 4K gaming, the Ultra preset is still the recommended setting, as it provides the best visual experience while remaining well above the minimum playable frame rate. The performance headroom is so large that even the most demanding settings do not compromise the playability of the game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, with the GPU being the dominant factor in most scenarios. The scaling between resolutions shows that the RTX 4090 is the primary driver of performance, as frame rates drop predictably when pixel count increases. However, the Ryzen 5 5500 plays a crucial role in ensuring the system does not bottleneck the GPU at lower resolutions.

At 1920x1080, the difference between the Low and Ultra presets is 72.9 FPS (242.2 vs 169.3), which is a significant gap that demonstrates the GPU’s workload scaling with graphical fidelity. The CPU’s influence is less apparent here, as the Ryzen 5 5500’s six cores and twelve threads are sufficient to feed the RTX 4090 at these frame rates. The fact that the system can reach 242.2 FPS on Low at 1080p suggests that the CPU is keeping up with the GPU’s output, even in a game that relies on fast reaction times.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop by approximately 20-25% compared to 1080p across all presets. For instance, the Ultra preset falls from 169.3 FPS to 128.6 FPS, while the Low preset drops from 242.2 FPS to 217.5 FPS. This pattern indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as the resolution increases, but the CPU is still managing to maintain adequate frame pacing. The Ryzen 5 5500’s Zen 3 architecture, with its 3.60 GHz base clock and 4.20 GHz boost clock, provides enough single-threaded performance to avoid becoming a bottleneck at 1440p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s dominance is even more pronounced. The Ultra preset drops to 80.6 FPS, which is a 37% reduction from the 1440p result. The Low preset still achieves 176.9 FPS, but the gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 96.3 FPS (176.9 vs 80.6), which is larger than at any other resolution. This indicates that the RTX 4090 is heavily taxed by the 4K pixel count, while the CPU’s role becomes less critical. The Ryzen 5 5500 is not the limiting factor at 4K; the GPU is simply working harder to render each frame.

The data suggests that for this game, the RTX 4090 is the component that matters most at all resolutions. The CPU’s influence is most noticeable at 1080p, where high frame rates can expose CPU limitations, but the Ryzen 5 5500 proves capable of handling the workload. At higher resolutions, the GPU’s raw processing power becomes the deciding factor, and the CPU’s performance is more than sufficient to support it.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this system performs across all tested configurations. Every result is an average frame rate, with no minimum or maximum values provided, but the averages alone tell a compelling story of consistent, high-level performance.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. The Low preset produces an average of 242.2 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in any test. The Medium preset achieves 213.3 FPS, the High preset reaches 204.2 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 169.3 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 72.9 FPS difference, which is a substantial range but still leaves even the lowest result well above the 60 FPS threshold. These numbers indicate that the system is capable of driving a 240Hz monitor at lower settings, or a 144Hz monitor at maximum settings with room to spare.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain impressive. The Low preset averages 217.5 FPS, the Medium preset hits 190.7 FPS, the High preset delivers 168.8 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 128.6 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra here is 88.9 FPS, which is slightly larger than at 1080p, reflecting the increased GPU workload. Even at the Ultra preset, the frame rate is more than double the 60 FPS threshold, making 1440p gaming a effortless experience on a high refresh rate display.

At 3840x2160, the system still performs admirably. The Low preset averages 176.9 FPS, which is higher than the Ultra preset at 1440p, showing the scaling of GPU load across resolutions. The Medium preset achieves 123.1 FPS, the High preset reaches 110.1 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 80.6 FPS. The range between Low and Ultra at 4K is 96.3 FPS, the largest of any resolution, which confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this pixel density. However, even the lowest result of 80.6 FPS is comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold, meaning that 4K gaming with maximum settings is entirely feasible with this combo.

The data shows a consistent pattern: frame rates scale predictably with both resolution and preset level. The system never falls below 80 FPS in any tested configuration, which is a remarkable achievement for a game that demands fast, responsive performance. The lack of minimum or maximum frame rate data means that frame pacing cannot be assessed directly, but the high averages suggest that the system maintains smooth performance under load.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the AMD Ryzen 5 5500, the nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores offer similar levels of CPU performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 has an average score of 19617, which is 0.1% lower than the Ryzen 5 5500’s average of 19593. This negligible difference means that the two CPUs would perform almost identically in Lockdown Protocol, with the Ryzen AI 5 430 being a suitable alternative if it is available at a comparable price point. The Intel Core i5-12500 scores 19668, which is 0.4% higher, again indicating near-identical performance. The Intel Core i7-10700F scores 19499, which is 0.5% lower, while the Intel Core i5-11600KF scores 19723, which is 0.7% higher. These four alternatives all fall within a 1% performance band of the Ryzen 5 5500, meaning that any of them would produce essentially the same frame rates in this game when paired with the RTX 4090.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, the nearest rivals are less conventional. The Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score of 60326, which is 0% different from the RTX 4090’s average of 60347. This is a surprising result, as the Arc Pro A60 is a workstation-oriented GPU, but the benchmark data places it on par with the RTX 4090 in terms of average score. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60140, which is 0.3% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61896, which is 2.5% higher. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58657, which is 2.9% lower. These rivals are all professional or workstation GPUs, and while their average benchmark scores are similar, they may not offer the same gaming-specific features as the RTX 4090. However, based purely on the numbers, these GPUs would deliver comparable frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, assuming driver support and game optimizations are equivalent.

The practical takeaway from this data is that the Ryzen 5 5500 has several viable alternatives that would not change the gaming experience, as the performance differences are within the margin of error. The RTX 4090’s rivals are less common in gaming builds, but the benchmark scores suggest that they could handle the game similarly if they were paired with a capable CPU.

The Verdict

The verdict is unambiguous: this PC can run Lockdown Protocol exceptionally well at every resolution and preset combination tested. The data shows that the system clears the 60 FPS playability threshold in all twelve measured configurations, with the lowest average frame rate being 80.6 FPS at 4K Ultra settings.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves a minimum of 169.3 FPS on the Ultra preset, which is nearly three times the playability threshold. This makes the combo ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, as even the most demanding settings provide a frame rate that exceeds 144Hz. The Low preset reaches 242.2 FPS, which is suitable for 240Hz displays. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers 128.6 FPS, which is still well above 60 FPS and suitable for 120Hz or 144Hz monitors. The Low preset at 1440p hits 217.5 FPS, providing plenty of headroom for competitive play. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset manages 80.6 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and makes 4K gaming with maximum settings a viable option. The High preset at 4K reaches 110.1 FPS, offering an even smoother experience for those who prefer a slight reduction in visual quality for higher frame rates.

The data indicates that there is no scenario where this system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The RTX 4090 is so powerful that it effectively removes any performance concerns, and the Ryzen 5 5500 is sufficient to support it without causing a significant bottleneck. The only consideration is that the CPU may limit the system at very high frame rates in CPU-intensive scenarios, but the measured data shows that even at 1080p Low, the system maintains 242.2 FPS, which is beyond the refresh rate of most gaming monitors.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of all tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing ranks 266 out of 3714 combos. This places it in the top 7.2% of all systems tested, which is a strong result given the relatively modest CPU paired with the flagship GPU. The rank reflects the system’s ability to deliver high frame rates across all resolutions, but it also indicates that there are 265 other combinations that perform better, likely featuring more powerful CPUs that can better feed the RTX 4090 at lower resolutions.

The ranking is notable because the Ryzen 5 5500 is not a top-tier CPU, yet the combo still achieves a high percentile rank. This suggests that Lockdown Protocol is not heavily CPU-bound, and the GPU is the primary driver of performance. The RTX 4090’s massive compute power compensates for the CPU’s mid-range status, allowing the system to outperform many combinations with more balanced hardware. At 1080p, a stronger CPU might unlock even higher frame rates, but the data shows that the current setup already exceeds 240 FPS on Low settings, which is near the limit of most displays.

The rank of 266 out of 3714 also indicates that this combo is well above average, as the median combination would rank around 1857. The system’s performance is top-tier for gaming, and the only way to improve upon it would be to pair the RTX 4090 with a higher-end CPU, such as a Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9, to reduce any potential CPU bottlenecks at lower resolutions. However, for the vast majority of gaming scenarios, this combo delivers exceptional performance that will satisfy even the most demanding players.