Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers exceptional performance in Lockdown Protocol, a fast-paced FPS that clearly favors high frame rates. Measured data shows this combination exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution and preset tested, making it a top-tier option for competitive and high-refresh-rate gameplay. The following analysis breaks down the benchmark results, compares the hardware to its nearest rivals, and provides guidance on optimal settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset for 4K gameplay with this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that remains playable, achieving an average of 80.6 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold with a comfortable margin, allowing for maximum visual fidelity at 4K.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1080p with the highest settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset, the system delivers an average of 174.7 FPS. This is more than triple the playability threshold of 60 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 the limiting factor at lower resolutions?

A: The data suggests the CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p, where the GPU is less stressed. For instance, the frame rate jumps from 174.7 FPS at Ultra to 367.4 FPS at Low settings, indicating that the CPU (with a max-thread score of 9771) can push the GPU to its limits at lower graphical loads.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combination ranks 63rd out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 2% of all systems benchmarked for this game.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 170.8 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 123.9 FPS. The transition from High to Ultra results in a performance cost of roughly 47 FPS but still maintains a very high level of smoothness.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming with ray tracing or other demanding features?

A: While the FACT PACK does not include ray tracing-specific measurements, the RTX 4090's raw performance is evident. At 4K Ultra, the combo averages 80.6 FPS, suggesting there is headroom for additional graphical features, though exact numbers for those features are not provided.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data identifies several components with average scores very close to the CPU and GPU in this combo, indicating they would deliver similar performance in Lockdown Protocol.

For the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, which has an average benchmark score of 37943, the nearest rivals are:

• Intel Core i9-14901E with an avg score of 37911, a negligible 0.1% difference.
• AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with an avg score of 37904, also 0.1% slower.
• Intel Core 5 211E with an avg score of 37829, just 0.3% behind.
• AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 with an avg score of 37804, 0.4% behind.

These processors would produce nearly identical frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios, such as the low-settings 1080p runs where the CPU plays a larger role.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, which has an average benchmark score of 60347, the nearest rivals are:

• Intel Arc Pro A60 with an avg score of 60326, showing a 0% difference.
• AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 with an avg score of 60140, 0.3% slower.
• AMD Radeon Pro W6600M with an avg score of 61896, which is actually 2.5% faster.
• AMD Radeon PRO V710 with an avg score of 58657, 2.9% slower.

In practice, swapping the RTX 4090 for the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M could yield slightly higher frame rates, while the Intel Arc Pro A60 would offer near-identical performance. However, these are professional-grade GPUs, and the RTX 4090's ecosystem and driver support may differ outside of pure benchmark scores.

Best Settings per Resolution

The goal is to identify the highest visual preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS. Based on the measured data, this system exceeds that target at every resolution and preset combination.

• 3840x2160 (4K): The most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 80.6 FPS. This provides the best visual quality while still delivering smooth gameplay. Lower presets yield higher frames: High averages 107.9 FPS, Medium averages 126.2 FPS, and Low averages 175.3 FPS.

• 2560x1440 (1440p): The Ultra preset remains the best choice, averaging 123.9 FPS. This is well above the threshold and offers a significant visual upgrade over lower settings. For reference, High averages 170.8 FPS, Medium averages 195.8 FPS, and Low averages 270.8 FPS.

• 1920x1080 (1080p): The Ultra preset is recommended, delivering an average of 174.7 FPS. This high frame rate is ideal for competitive play. The system is so powerful that even the most demanding settings leave plenty of performance headroom. High averages 227.6 FPS, Medium averages 266 FPS, and Low averages 367.4 FPS.

In all cases, the Ultra preset is the recommended setting, as it offers the best visual fidelity without dropping below the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol exceptionally well. The verdict by resolution is straightforward: all three tested resolutions — 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080 — have the Ultra preset listed as playable.

• At 4K Ultra, the system averages 80.6 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS playability threshold.
• At 1440p Ultra, the average is 123.9 FPS, providing a high-performance experience.
• At 1080p Ultra, the average is 174.7 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate displays.

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 delivers a flawless experience in Lockdown Protocol. The GPU, with its 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, is more than capable of handling the game's demands at any resolution. The CPU, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20485, ensures that frame rates remain high even in CPU-intensive scenarios.

There is no resolution or preset where this system fails to meet the playability standard. Users can confidently max out the settings and enjoy a smooth, high-fidelity experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

Understanding which component limits performance in Lockdown Protocol requires examining how frame rates scale with resolution and settings. The data shows a clear pattern of GPU dominance at higher resolutions and CPU influence at lower ones.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The frame rates scale consistently with the graphical preset: from 80.6 FPS at Ultra to 175.3 FPS at Low. This is a 94.7 FPS difference, driven entirely by the GPU's workload. The RTX 4090's performance here is the deciding factor.

At 2560x1440, the GPU still holds significant sway, but the CPU begins to play a larger role. The jump from Ultra (123.9 FPS) to Low (270.8 FPS) represents a 146.9 FPS increase, showing that reducing graphical load allows the CPU to push the frame rate much higher.

At 1920x1080, the CPU's importance becomes more pronounced. The difference between Ultra (174.7 FPS) and Low (367.4 FPS) is 192.7 FPS, the largest spread across all resolutions. This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU (with a 3dmark max-thread score of 9771) has more headroom to feed the GPU, and the system becomes more balanced.

The scaling between presets reveals that the RTX 4090 has immense raw power, but the Ryzen 7 9700X is well-matched to avoid creating a CPU bottleneck. Even at 1080p Low, the system reaches 367.4 FPS, demonstrating that the CPU can sustain very high frame rates. For most users playing at 1440p or 4K, the GPU will be the limiting factor, but the CPU ensures that frame rates never become a constraint.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 63rd out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This is a strong showing, placing the system in the top 1.7% of all configurations benchmarked.

This high rank is expected given the individual performance of both components. The CPU sits in the 86th percentile among all tested CPUs, while the GPU is in the 88th percentile among all tested GPUs. The combination of two top-tier parts results in a system that is exceptionally well-suited for this game.

The ranking indicates that while there are 62 configurations that perform better, the vast majority of systems (3651 out of 3714) will deliver lower frame rates. For a game like Lockdown Protocol, where high and consistent FPS is crucial, this combo is an elite choice. The only systems that outrank it likely feature even more specialized or newer hardware, but the practical difference in gameplay is minimal given that this setup already exceeds 60 FPS at 4K Ultra.