Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti combination delivers a highly playable experience in Lockdown Protocol, with the data showing that the pairing is capable of hitting 60 FPS or higher at every tested resolution, though the margin of comfort varies significantly depending on the settings and resolution chosen. The 12-core, 24-thread Zen 5 processor provides ample headroom, while the RTX 3060 Ti acts as the primary bottleneck in most scenarios, particularly as resolution and graphical fidelity increase.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a clear performance hierarchy across the three resolutions and four settings presets tested. At 1920x1080, the system performs exceptionally well across the board. With Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 196 FPS, which drops to 139 FPS at Medium, 121 FPS at High, and 91 FPS at Ultra. The only frame time data captured at this resolution comes from the Medium preset, which shows a minimum of 118 FPS and a maximum of 160 FPS, indicating that even the dips stay well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably, but remains robust. Low settings produce an average of 144 FPS, Medium delivers 102 FPS with a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 117 FPS, High settings reach 89 FPS, and Ultra still manages a solid 67 FPS average. The step from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 25-30% of the frame rate at each corresponding setting, which is consistent with the increased pixel count. The Medium preset frame time data at this resolution—87 FPS minimum and 117 FPS maximum—shows that the 1% lows remain comfortably above the playability threshold, suggesting a stable experience without severe hitches.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes more dramatically. Low settings yield an average of 93 FPS, which is still excellent, but Medium drops to 66 FPS with a minimum of 56 FPS and a maximum of 76 FPS. This is the first instance where the minimum frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that while the average is playable, there are moments of perceptible slowdown. High settings fall to 57 FPS average, and Ultra drops further to 43 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is substantial—a 50 FPS difference—highlighting how demanding the higher presets become at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination ranks 1854th out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 50th percentile of all tested systems. This mid-pack positioning is somewhat surprising given the strength of the CPU, but it reflects the reality that the RTX 3060 Ti is the limiting factor in this pairing. The CPU alone sits in the 92nd percentile against all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 57498, while the GPU ranks in the 59th percentile with an average score of 16129. The discrepancy between these two percentiles explains why the combo ranks in the middle of the pack: the GPU holds back what is otherwise a top-tier processor.

The rank of 1854 out of 3714 means that roughly half of all tested combinations deliver better performance in Lockdown Protocol. This is not a condemnation of the combo, as the measured FPS data shows it handles the game well at most settings, but it does indicate that users seeking maximum frame rates at high resolutions would need a stronger GPU to move up the rankings. The data suggests that this combo is more than sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not competitive with higher-end configurations at 4K Ultra settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Ryzen 9 9900X and the RTX 3060 Ti becomes evident when examining the scaling patterns across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the CPU has a more significant role, as the GPU is not as heavily taxed by the lower pixel count. The jump from 121 FPS at High to 196 FPS at Low—a 62% increase—shows that the GPU has substantial headroom when the CPU is not the constraint. The fact that the CPU reaches 67 FPS at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, demonstrates that the processor is never the limiting factor in this game.

As resolution increases, the GPU's dominance in determining frame rates becomes more pronounced. At 3840x2160, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 50 FPS (93 vs 43), whereas at 1920x1080, the same settings gap is 105 FPS (196 vs 91). This indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU has more influence on the upper bound of performance, while at higher resolutions, the GPU's raw throughput dictates the outcome. The 4K Medium preset, with its 66 FPS average and 56 FPS minimum, shows the GPU approaching its limit, whereas the CPU is likely operating well below its maximum capacity in this scenario.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly telling. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 89 FPS to 57 FPS—a 36% reduction—while the resolution increase is 125%. This disproportionate drop indicates that the GPU is hitting a performance wall at 4K, and the CPU's 12 cores and 24 threads are not the limiting factor. Conversely, the 1440p Ultra result of 67 FPS suggests that the GPU can still handle the load at this resolution, provided the settings are not pushed to the extreme.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS on 4K?

A: Yes, but only with Medium settings or lower. The data shows 93 FPS at Low and 66 FPS at Medium, while High drops to 57 FPS and Ultra to 43 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: Ultra settings are fully playable, with an average of 67 FPS. All four presets—Low at 144 FPS, Medium at 102 FPS, High at 89 FPS, and Ultra at 67 FPS—exceed the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the RTX 3060 Ti bottleneck the Ryzen 9 9900X in this game?

A: Yes, at higher resolutions. The CPU ranks in the 92nd percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 59th percentile, and the frame rate drops significantly from 1440p to 4K, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

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

A: It delivers an average of 91 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The minimum frame rate was not recorded for this preset, but the average suggests a smooth experience.

Q: Is there a settings preset where the minimum FPS drops below 60?

A: Yes, at 4K Medium, the minimum FPS is 56, even though the average is 66. This is the only recorded instance where the minimum dips below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1854th out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the middle of the pack. This reflects the GPU's mid-range performance relative to other tested configurations.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides context on what other hardware would produce similar results. The Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 57498, with the AMD EPYC 9015 scoring 57555 (0.1% faster), the AMD EPYC 7313 scoring 57399 (0.2% slower), the Intel Core i9-14900 scoring 58115 (1.1% faster), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M scoring 58323 (1.4% faster). These deltas are all within a narrow band, meaning that swapping the 9900X for any of these processors would yield nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, as the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios.

For the GPU, the RTX 3060 Ti's average score of 16129 is closely matched by several alternatives. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014 (0.7% slower), the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M scores 16351 (1.4% faster), the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT scores 16361 (1.4% faster), and the AMD Radeon R9 370X scores 15862 (1.7% slower). These small percentage differences mean that any of these GPUs would deliver essentially the same performance in Lockdown Protocol, with frame rates varying by only a few FPS at each resolution and settings preset.

A system built with the Ryzen 9 9900X paired with any of these rival GPUs would land in a similar performance tier, with the combo ranking likely differing by only a few positions out of the 3714 tested. The practical takeaway is that the CPU has enough performance headroom that even a slightly weaker GPU would not meaningfully change the gaming experience, while a slightly stronger GPU would only provide marginal gains given the current bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is Medium, which delivers 66 FPS. The data shows that Low runs at 93 FPS and High drops to 57 FPS, so Medium is the optimal choice for 4K gaming—it offers the best visual quality while staying above the playability threshold. The minimum FPS of 56 at this setting is a concern, but the average remains acceptable.

For 2560x1440, Ultra settings are the best option, with an average of 67 FPS. All four presets are playable, but Ultra provides the highest visual fidelity while still exceeding 60 FPS. The 67 FPS average leaves little headroom, but it is sufficient for a smooth experience.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 91 FPS, making it the clear choice for maximum quality. The system has significant headroom at this resolution, with even the most demanding preset running nearly 50% above the 60 FPS threshold. Players seeking higher frame rates can drop to High at 121 FPS or Medium at 139 FPS, but the visual trade-off is unnecessary given the comfortable margin at Ultra.