Lockdown Protocol

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a highly capable Lockdown Protocol experience, particularly at 1440p and 1080p. The data indicates that this combination clears the 60 FPS threshold at every settings preset in those resolutions, while 4K requires a more conservative approach to settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes it against rival hardware, and provides precise settings recommendations based on the benchmark data.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Ryzen 9 9900X sits in a performance tier where its closest rivals are a mix of enterprise and high-end desktop parts. The data shows the CPU’s average benchmark score of 57498 places it within a narrow band of its nearest competitors. The AMD EPYC 9015 scores 57555, a negligible 0.1% difference, making it a near-identical match in compute capability. The AMD EPYC 7313 trails by just 0.2% with a score of 57399. On the Intel side, the Core i9-14900 leads this group slightly with a score of 58115, putting it 1.1% ahead of the 9900X, while the Xeon Platinum 8260M is 1.4% ahead at 58323. For gaming workloads that rely on the CPU, any of these processors would produce very similar frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, though the 9900X’s 12-core, 24-thread configuration with a 5.60 GHz boost clock is well-suited for the game’s demands.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4060’s average benchmark score of 17639 is closely matched by some surprisingly older hardware. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, just 0.2% higher, while the AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics score 17588, a 0.3% deficit. The Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 round out the group at 17551 and 17509 respectively, representing 0.5% and 0.7% differences. These figures indicate that the RTX 4060’s raw compute performance in synthetic tests is comparable to these cards, but its modern Ada Lovelace architecture with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth provides features like DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4 support that older cards lack. In practice, the RTX 4060’s 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores give it a significant advantage in newer game engines, even if the synthetic scores are close.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results show a clear pattern of GPU dependency as resolution increases, with the CPU maintaining a consistent baseline. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across all settings, ranging from 186.4 FPS on Low to 90.3 FPS on Ultra. This wide spread indicates that at 1080p, the RTX 4060 is the primary bottleneck when settings are increased, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU. Moving to 2560x1440, the FPS drops by roughly 25-34% depending on the preset, with Ultra falling from 90.3 to 66.4 FPS. This reduction is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario where the RTX 4060’s 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB frame buffer become more limiting.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s role becomes even more dominant. The Ultra preset drops to 44.4 FPS, which is 33% lower than the 1440p Ultra result, while Low settings only manage 86.6 FPS compared to 139.1 at 1440p. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a 53.5% reduction in frame rate, confirming that the RTX 4060 is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The Ryzen 9 9900X, with its strong single-thread score of 1286 in 3DMark and 2253 in Cinebench R23, is never the bottleneck here. The data suggests that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU provides a stable platform that allows the GPU to operate at its full potential, while at 4K, the GPU’s raw throughput dictates performance entirely.

The difference between Low and Ultra presets also highlights this dynamic. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 96.1 FPS (186.4 vs 90.3), while at 4K, the same comparison shows a 42.2 FPS difference (86.6 vs 44.4). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is already near its limits at 4K, so the settings change has a smaller absolute impact compared to lower resolutions where the GPU has more headroom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4060 paired with the 9900X delivers excellent performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 186.4 FPS, which is more than triple the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings still produce 135 FPS, while High drops to 115.2 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 90.3 FPS, keeping the experience smooth even in intense firefights. This resolution shows the combo’s strength, with all settings providing a substantial buffer above the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected scaling. Low settings average 139.1 FPS, which is still very high. Medium maintains 101.1 FPS, and High produces 87.3 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 66.4 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by a healthy margin of 6.4 FPS. This makes 1440p Ultra a viable option for players who prioritize visual fidelity, though those who want more headroom for 1% lows might prefer High settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limitations. Low settings average 86.6 FPS, which is still playable and quite good for 4K. Medium drops to 65.2 FPS, narrowly staying above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings fall to 58.2 FPS, just under the playable line, while Ultra averages 44.4 FPS, which is not smooth enough for a competitive FPS. The data clearly shows that 4K requires dropping to Medium or Low to maintain a consistent 60 FPS experience, with Medium being the best playable option at 65.2 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Lockdown Protocol, and it does so with authority at most resolutions. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 1920x1080, every settings preset clears the 60 FPS threshold, with the lowest result being 90.3 FPS on Ultra. This makes 1080p a completely unrestricted experience where players can max out all settings without any performance concerns. At 2560x1440, the story is equally positive, as all four presets are playable, with Ultra achieving 66.4 FPS. This means 1440p users can enjoy the game at its highest visual quality while maintaining smooth frame rates.

The 3840x2160 results are more nuanced. The Low and Medium presets clear the threshold at 86.6 FPS and 65.2 FPS respectively, making 4K playable. However, High settings at 58.2 FPS fall just short of the 60 FPS target, and Ultra at 44.4 FPS is not suitable for a fast-paced FPS. The best playable setting at 4K is Medium, which provides a 65.2 FPS average. This gives players a workable 4K experience, but they will need to make visual compromises compared to lower resolutions. Overall, the data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it offers a fully maxed-out experience, while 4K is playable with settings reduced to Medium or Low.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 90.3 FPS. This is the recommended setting for 1080p, as it delivers the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The 30.3 FPS margin above the threshold provides adequate headroom for scene complexity variations.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 66.4 FPS, making it the best choice for this resolution. The 6.4 FPS margin is tighter than at 1080p, but it still clears the threshold. Players who want more consistency might opt for High at 87.3 FPS, but for maximum fidelity, Ultra is viable.

For 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Medium, which averages 65.2 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that maintains a 60 FPS average. Low settings offer a higher 86.6 FPS, but Medium provides a better visual experience while still meeting the performance target. High at 58.2 FPS and Ultra at 44.4 FPS are not recommended for this resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 44.4 FPS, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable 4K setting is Medium at 65.2 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 1440p, with an average of 66.4 FPS. This is the most demanding setting that stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest GPU rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17639. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, scores 17666, which is 0.2% higher. The AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% lower at 17588.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 High is 115.2 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X a bottleneck for the RTX 4060 in this game?

A: The benchmark data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The 9900X’s strong single-thread performance (1286 in 3DMark) allows the GPU to be the limiting factor, particularly at higher resolutions where frame rates drop significantly with increased settings.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested configurations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: This combo ranks 1981 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all tested systems for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1981 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 53rd percentile of all tested systems, indicating it outperforms a slight majority of configurations. The ranking reflects the balance between the high-end CPU and the mid-range GPU. The 9900X, which sits in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 57498, provides a strong foundation. The RTX 4060, in the 61st percentile of GPUs with an average score of 17639, is the limiting factor in this pairing.

The rank suggests that while the CPU is overqualified for the GPU, the overall system performance is solid for 1080p and 1440p gaming. The data shows that the combo performs best at resolutions below 4K, where the RTX 4060’s 8 GB memory capacity is sufficient. The substantial gap between the CPU’s high percentile and the GPU’s lower percentile indicates that upgrading the GPU in the future would yield significant performance gains, particularly at 4K. For the current configuration, the measured FPS results confirm that this is a well-matched system for competitive FPS play at mainstream resolutions, with the caveat that 4K requires settings compromises to maintain 60 FPS.