Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that stresses both CPU and GPU. This analysis examines the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination across three resolutions using measured frame rate data. The benchmark results show this pairing is capable of running the game at maximum settings at every tested resolution, with the 4K Ultra preset landing just above the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the frame rate scales cleanly with preset level. The Low preset delivers an average of 132 FPS, which drops to 93 FPS on Medium. The measured Medium preset shows a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS, indicating a playable range throughout. High settings produce an 82 FPS average, while the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 61 FPS. This 4K Ultra result is the critical data point, as it clears the 60 FPS playability threshold by a narrow margin.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance improves substantially across all presets. The Low preset reaches an average of 204 FPS, while Medium averages 145 FPS with a measured range of 123 to 166 FPS. High settings achieve 126 FPS average, and Ultra averages 95 FPS. The jump from 4K to 1440p yields roughly a 54% improvement at Ultra settings (61 to 95 FPS), highlighting how resolution scaling impacts this combination.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its full potential. Low settings produce an average of 278 FPS, with Medium at 197 FPS (minimum 168, maximum 227). High settings average 172 FPS, and Ultra remains well above the playability threshold at 129 FPS. The 1080p Ultra result is more than double the 4K Ultra average, demonstrating that lower resolutions give this hardware significant headroom. The measured FPS data confirms that the RTX 5070’s 12 GB GDDR7 memory and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for this game at all preset levels.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU benchmarks place the Ryzen 9 9900X3D in a specific performance tier. Its average benchmark score of 54762 sits slightly below the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF, which scores 55093, a delta of -0.6%. The gap to the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K is 1.3% in favor of the AMD chip (54053 vs 54762). The Intel Xeon 6505P trails by 2% (53701), and the Intel Core i7-14700F is 2.1% behind (53620). These deltas are small, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, assuming the GPU is the limiting factor.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5070’s average benchmark score is 40377. The closest rival is the AMD Radeon Pro 580 at 40318, a delta of just 0.1%. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 scores 40063, which is 0.8% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 is 1.2% ahead at 40870. The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile trails by 2% at 39568. These are workstation-class cards, but the benchmark deltas suggest that in raw compute terms, the RTX 5070 is essentially matched by the Radeon Pro 580. For Lockdown Protocol specifically, users with any of these GPUs should expect similar frame rates at the same settings and resolution, though the RTX 5070’s driver optimization for gaming may yield better real-world results than the deltaPct alone suggests.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset is the best playable option, averaging 61 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, though it leaves no margin for frame drops. The High preset at 82 FPS offers more headroom if consistent performance is preferred over visual fidelity.

For 2560x1440, Ultra remains the best choice at 95 FPS average. This provides a comfortable buffer above the 60 FPS threshold while delivering the highest visual quality. The Medium preset at 145 FPS is an option for players targeting high refresh rates, but Ultra is the recommended setting for this resolution.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings average 129 FPS, making it the clear choice for maximum quality. Even at the most demanding preset, the system has over double the 60 FPS threshold, allowing for smooth gameplay on high refresh rate monitors. The High preset at 172 FPS and Medium at 197 FPS exist for those prioritizing frame rate above all else, but the data shows Ultra is fully playable.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates this PC can run Lockdown Protocol at every resolution and preset combination tested. At 3840x2160, the verdict is playable across all settings, with Ultra averaging 61 FPS. This is a pass, but a narrow one—the minimum FPS data for Ultra is not recorded, so users should be aware that dips below 60 FPS are possible during intense scenes. The Medium preset at 93 FPS (with a 79 FPS minimum) is the safer choice for 4K if frame consistency matters most.

At 2560x1440, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold with substantial margin. Ultra averages 95 FPS, meaning even the most demanding preset provides a 35 FPS buffer above the playability threshold. All other presets at this resolution are well above 60 FPS, with Low hitting 204 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for the RTX 5070, balancing visual quality with high frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the verdict is overwhelmingly positive. Ultra averages 129 FPS, and every preset exceeds 170 FPS. The combination of the Ryzen 9 9900X3D’s 12 cores and 24 threads with the RTX 5070’s 6144 shading units proves more than adequate for this game at 1080p. The data shows no resolution or preset fails to meet the 60 FPS threshold, making this a universally playable configuration for Lockdown Protocol.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between components. At 4K Ultra (61 FPS) versus 1080p Ultra (129 FPS), the frame rate more than doubles, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The RTX 5070’s 30.87 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 201.0 GPixel/s pixel rate are taxed heavily at 3840x2160, where the 61 FPS Ultra result shows the GPU nearing its limits.

The CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the Ryzen 9 9900X3D’s 128 MB L3 cache and high single-thread performance (1269 in 3dmark_single_thread, 6739 in cinebench_r23_singlecore) help maintain high frame rates. The 1080p Low preset at 278 FPS suggests the CPU can feed the GPU with frames faster than the RTX 5070 can render them at lower settings. The single-thread benchmark scores of 3041 in Geekbench indicate strong per-core performance, which is crucial for FPS games that often rely on a few primary threads.

The preset scaling also shows where the GPU dominates. At 4K, moving from Low (132 FPS) to Ultra (61 FPS) cuts performance by more than half, a clear sign of GPU-bound rendering. At 1080p, the same preset change drops from 278 FPS to 129 FPS, a less severe reduction that reflects the CPU’s ability to keep up with the GPU at lower resolutions. The 12-core, 24-thread CPU with a 4.40 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost clock provides ample processing power, but the data suggests it is not the limiting factor at any resolution tested. The RTX 5070 is the component that dictates performance, particularly at 4K where its 192-bit memory bus and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth are fully utilized.

FAQ

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average at 3840x2160 Ultra is 61 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playability threshold. However, this is a minimal margin, and the minimum FPS for this preset is not recorded, so temporary dips below 60 FPS are possible.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate gaming with this hardware?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 129 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 278 FPS. This resolution provides the highest frame rates, making it suitable for 144Hz or 240Hz monitors. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 95 FPS, which is better suited for 144Hz displays.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5070’s average benchmark score of 40377 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon Pro 580 at 40318 (0.1% difference). The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 trails by 0.8%, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 is 1.2% ahead. These deltas suggest similar raw performance, though gaming-specific drivers may affect real-world results.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 9900X3D a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 278 FPS, showing the CPU can drive very high frame rates. The CPU’s 3dmark single-thread score of 1269 and Geekbench single-core score of 3041 support strong per-core performance for FPS games.

Q: Which component matters more for Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at 3840x2160. The frame rate drops from 132 FPS at Low to 61 FPS at Ultra, a 54% reduction that reflects the RTX 5070’s rendering workload. The CPU’s performance remains sufficient, as evidenced by the same preset scaling being less severe at lower resolutions.

Q: What settings should be used at 1440p for consistent frame rates?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 95 FPS with no recorded minimum below 60 FPS, making it the best choice for visual quality. If a higher frame rate is desired, the Medium preset averages 145 FPS with a minimum of 123 FPS, providing a substantial margin above the playability threshold.