Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 presents a curious case for Lockdown Protocol, a 2024-released FPS. The data shows a combination where the CPU's high multi-threaded performance (3dmark_max_threads score of 12536, Cinebench R23 multi-core of 29300) meets a GPU that ranks in the 61st percentile among all GPUs. Benchmark results indicate that this system can clear the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested resolution, but the headroom and the optimal settings vary significantly depending on whether you are targeting 1080p, 1440p, or 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the implications for settings, and the roles each component plays.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS, based on the measured FPS data, differs at each resolution. The data suggests that 4K is the most challenging environment for this combo, while the lower resolutions offer substantial performance headroom.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system can only maintain 60 FPS on Medium settings, where the average frame rate is exactly 63 FPS. While the Low preset averages 89 FPS, it is not the most demanding option that stays above 60 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 55 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and Ultra averages just 42 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the combo can handle the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding settings level. The average FPS at Ultra here is 64, which is just above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows that all other settings at this resolution, from Low to High, also average above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system again achieves the Ultra preset as the best playable option, with an average FPS of 88. This is 36% higher than the 64 FPS average at 1440p on the same settings, showing a clear performance scaling as resolution decreases. The measured FPS data for 1080p shows that even the most demanding preset leaves considerable performance in reserve.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 resolution with the High preset, the measured average FPS is 55, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows that at 4K, the system is limited to the Medium preset (avg 63 FPS) for a playable experience.

Q: What is the highest quality preset that stays above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: According to the measured data, the Ultra preset at 2560x1440 delivers an average of 64 FPS, making it the most demanding settings level that still averages above the 60 FPS threshold. The average FPS at 1440p High is significantly higher at 86 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060's performance compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639. The data shows it is marginally slower than the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which has a deltaPct of -0.2%, meaning the HD 7790 is about 0.2% faster. On the other hand, the RTX 4060 is about 0.3% faster than the AMD Radeon 780M and 0.5% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro 560.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this game?

A: The data indicates the Ryzen 9 7900X has a strong multi-threaded performance with a 3DMark max threads score of 12536. The performance scaling between resolutions suggests a GPU bottleneck. For example, the average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 88, which drops to 64 at 1440p Ultra and 42 at 4K Ultra. This pattern shows that as the resolution increases and the GPU load increases, the frame rate drops, indicating the GPU is the primary limiting factor in these high-detail scenarios.

Q: What is the expected average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data for 1920x1080 with Medium settings shows an average FPS of 30. The data also lists a min FPS of 114 and a max FPS of 154 for this specific configuration.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested combinations?

A: This combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is ranked 2009 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the middle of the pack, indicating that while it performs well, there are many other combinations that achieve higher frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data shows the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The data includes average FPS for all configurations, and min/max FPS for the Medium preset at each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance is the weakest. The Ultra preset averages 42 FPS, High averages 55 FPS, Medium averages 63 FPS (with a min of 54 and max of 73), and Low averages 89 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is wide, showing the game's high demand at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS for all presets is above 60. The Ultra preset provides an average of 64 FPS, High averages 86 FPS, Medium averages 98 FPS (with a min of 83 and max of 113), and the Low preset averages 138 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the performance is strongest. The Ultra preset averages 88 FPS, High averages 117 FPS, Medium averages 134 FPS (with a min of 114 and max of 154), and the Low preset averages 189 FPS. The data shows a clear and consistent pattern: for each resolution, the average FPS drops as the settings are increased, and the 1080p resolution provides the highest frame rates across all presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearestRivals data from the FACT PACK, the components in this system have benchmark scores very close to other hardware, although the rival performance is for the component's overall average score, not specifically for Lockdown Protocol.

For the CPU (AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, avg score 53288), the closest rivals are all within a 1% performance delta. The Intel Core i7-14700F has a slightly higher average score of 53620 (a delta of -0.6%, meaning the 7900X is slower). The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 is also slightly faster (score 53469, delta -0.3%). The AMD EPYC 7313P is the closest match with a score of 53206 (delta 0.2%), making the 7900X only 0.2% faster. The Intel Xeon 634 has the lowest score of 52974 (delta 0.6%), placing the 7900X 0.6% faster.

For the GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (avg score 17639), the nearest rivals are all AMD products. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 has a slightly higher score of 17666, making it 0.2% faster. The AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, which is 0.3% slower. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 score 17551 and 17509 respectively, making them 0.5% and 0.7% slower than the 4060.

A user with a system using one of these alternative CPUs or GPUs would likely experience a very similar performance profile in Lockdown Protocol, with the small deltas suggesting they would fall within the same rank or very close to it.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame data places this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 at rank 2009 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This position puts it just past the 54th percentile of all tested combinations. It is a middle-of-the-road ranking, which aligns with the measured data that shows it can handle the game well at 1080p and 1440p, but falls short of the smoothest high-end 4K experiences. The rank indicates that while there are many faster combos (1700+ of them), there are also a substantial number of slower ones (about 1700), confirming that this is a capable but not top-tier configuration for this specific game.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? Yes, the data confirms that it is fully playable, but with a caveat at 4K. The verdictByResolution data is clear:

• At 1920x1080, it can run Ultra settings with an average of 88 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold.
• At 2560x1440, it can also run Ultra settings, achieving an average of 64 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold.
• At 3840x2160, the system can only run Medium settings (63 FPS) or Low settings (89 FPS) to stay above 60 FPS. The High (55 FPS) and Ultra (42 FPS) presets are not playable.

The data shows that the system is most effective at 1080p and 1440p, where it offers high frame rates even on the most demanding preset. At 4K, it requires a significant reduction in settings to maintain smooth gameplay.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured data allows us to infer the roles of the CPU and GPU at different resolutions. The Ryzen 9 7900X is a high-end 12-core desktop chip with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29300, which indicates a strong CPU. The RTX 4060 is a mid-range GPU with an avg score of 17639, placing it in the 61st percentile.

The scaling of frame rates with resolution is the key indicator. When setting the game to Ultra at 1080p, the average FPS is 88. Dropping the resolution to 1440p on the same settings reduces the average to 64 FPS, a 27% decrease. Going to 4K Ultra further drops the average to 42 FPS, a 34% decrease from 1440p. This consistent downward trend as the GPU workload increases shows that the GPU is the decisive component at these high settings and resolutions.

On the other hand, the CPU's role is more apparent at lower resolutions or lower settings. At 1080p on Low settings, the average FPS is 189. This high frame rate is likely to require a strong CPU to feed the GPU with frame data. The 7900X with its high single-thread score (3dmark_single_thread score of 1093) and multi-thread capabilities (3dmark_max_threads score of 12536) is more than capable of handling this task, allowing the RTX 4060 to reach its maximum frame output. The data shows that at 1080p, the performance difference between Low (189 FPS) and Ultra (88 FPS) is 101 FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU load increasing, not the CPU. Therefore, the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this configuration for most scenarios, but the CPU's strength is what enables the high frame rates at lower settings and resolutions.