Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination delivers a solid 1080p and 1440p experience in Lockdown Protocol, with 4K playability limited to medium settings. Benchmark data shows this combo ranks 1709th out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of tested systems. The CPU sits in the 86th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 58th percentile against all GPUs, indicating a processor-heavy pairing that still manages to push strong frame rates across most settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1709 out of 3714 tested configurations places it in the 46th percentile of all tested combos. This mid-pack positioning reflects the pairing of a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU. The Ryzen 7 9700X is clearly the stronger component in this duo, with an average benchmark score of 37943 and an 86th percentile ranking. The RX 7700 trails significantly with an average benchmark score of 15852 and a 58th percentile ranking.

The CPU's nearest rivals show just how tightly grouped the top processors are. The Intel Core i9-14901E scores 37911, a mere 0.1% behind. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 37904, also 0.1% behind. The Intel Core 5 211E sits 0.3% behind at 37829, and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 is 0.4% behind at 37804. This grouping shows the 9700X is competitive with, but not decisively ahead of, its closest alternatives.

On the GPU side, the RX 7700's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon R9 370X, which scores 15862 and is 0.1% behind. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, putting it 1% ahead. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 scores 15679, which is 1.1% behind. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16129, placing it 1.7% ahead. These narrow deltas suggest the GPU is positioned in a competitive mid-range segment where small performance differences separate rivals.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component importance as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the CPU's strength becomes evident. The Ryzen 7 9700X's multi-threaded performance, demonstrated by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20485 and PassMark multi-thread score of 37161, helps drive frame rates to 200 FPS at Low settings. The GPU handles the lower resolution workload with ease, allowing the CPU to become the limiting factor at higher frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The RX 7700's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 624.1 GB/s bandwidth becomes more relevant as pixel count increases. Frame rates at Medium settings drop from 142 FPS at 1080p to 104 FPS at 1440p, a 27% reduction that reflects the increased GPU workload. The GPU's 25.18 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 96 ROPs are sufficient to maintain playable frame rates, but the margin narrows.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. The RX 7700's PassMark G3D score of 20974 and its 58th percentile ranking show its limits. Ultra settings at 4K produce only 44 FPS average, falling well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The scaling from Medium to Ultra at 4K is steep: 67 FPS down to 44 FPS, a 34% drop. This indicates the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth are insufficient for maximum quality at this resolution, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 93 FPS average, making it the clear choice for the most demanding visual experience while staying well above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset reaches 142 FPS and Low hits 200 FPS, but Ultra's 93 FPS provides the best quality without sacrificing smoothness.

For 2560x1440, Ultra settings produce 68 FPS average, just clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the best-looking playable option at this resolution. High settings reach 91 FPS and Medium hits 104 FPS, but Ultra remains viable and is the recommended choice for maximum visual fidelity.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes dramatically. Ultra settings fall to 44 FPS, which is unplayable. Medium settings achieve 67 FPS average, with a minimum of 57 FPS and maximum of 77 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 4K. Low settings reach 95 FPS, but Medium offers substantially better visuals while remaining playable.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings or lower. Medium settings produce 67 FPS average at 3840x2160, while Ultra drops to 44 FPS, below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: 2560x1440 at Ultra settings provides the best balance, delivering 68 FPS average. This resolution allows for maximum visual quality while maintaining playable frame rates.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700X scores 37943 on average benchmarks. The closest rival, the Intel Core i9-14901E, scores 37911, which is 0.1% behind. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is also 0.1% behind at 37904.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RX 7700 scores 15852 on average benchmarks. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 is 1% ahead at 16014, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is 1.7% ahead at 16129. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 1.1% behind at 15679.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings reach 200 FPS, Medium hits 142 FPS, High achieves 124 FPS, and Ultra delivers 93 FPS. All settings are well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: At 1080p, the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance helps achieve very high frame rates. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as shown by the drop from 67 FPS at Medium to 44 FPS at Ultra settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rate range is wide and consistently high. Low settings produce 200 FPS average. Medium settings deliver 142 FPS average with a minimum of 121 FPS and maximum of 163 FPS. High settings reach 124 FPS average. Ultra settings still achieve 93 FPS average. All presets at this resolution comfortably exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold.

The 2560x1440 results show more variation between presets. Low settings reach 147 FPS average. Medium settings achieve 104 FPS average with a minimum of 88 FPS and maximum of 120 FPS. High settings deliver 91 FPS average. Ultra settings drop to 68 FPS average, which remains playable but with less headroom.

At 3840x2160, the performance gap between presets widens significantly. Low settings reach 95 FPS average. Medium settings produce 67 FPS average with a minimum of 57 FPS and maximum of 77 FPS. High settings achieve 59 FPS average. Ultra settings fall to 44 FPS average. The Medium preset is the only one at 4K that maintains an average above 60 FPS, though its minimum dips to 57 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol at all three tested resolutions, but with important caveats. At 1920x1080, every preset from Low to Ultra clears the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra delivering 93 FPS average. This makes 1080p the most flexible resolution for this combo, allowing players to use maximum settings without concerns.

At 2560x1440, the system remains fully playable across all presets. Ultra settings achieve 68 FPS average, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. This resolution offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, making it the recommended choice for this hardware pairing.

At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium settings are playable. Medium achieves 67 FPS average but has a minimum of 57 FPS, which may cause occasional stutters. Ultra settings at 44 FPS are not playable. Players seeking 4K should stick to Medium settings for the best playable experience. The data clearly shows this combo is strongest at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K requiring compromises on visual quality.