Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER presents an intriguing asymmetry: a high-end, end-of-life GPU from January 2024 paired with a value-oriented 12th Gen quad-core CPU. In Lockdown Protocol, a 2024-released FPS, this combination produces a wide performance envelope, with the data indicating that the GPU is powerful enough to push frame rates far beyond the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested resolution and setting. The benchmark results show that the primary question is not whether the system can run the game, but rather which visual ceiling it can reach while maintaining fluidity, and the measured FPS values suggest that the 4-core processor does not bottleneck the graphics card in this title at the settings tested.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that keeps the average frame rate at or above 60 FPS defines the playable ceiling for this configuration. According to the measured data for Lockdown Protocol, this combo clears that bar at every resolution, even on the most graphically intensive presets.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset is the most demanding playable setting, yielding an average of 70.5 FPS. This is a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the RTX 4080 SUPER has enough headroom at this resolution to handle the highest quality visuals without dipping below playable speeds. The step down to High settings increases the average to 98.9 FPS, showing that there is significant performance in reserve if the user prefers higher refresh rates over maximum image quality.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset again qualifies as the best playable setting, with an average of 115.1 FPS. This figure is nearly double the 60 FPS target, suggesting that the system is heavily GPU-bound at this resolution, and the visual quality can be maxed out while still enjoying a very smooth experience suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset is also the most demanding playable option, posting an average of 157.3 FPS. The data reveals a clear trend: as resolution decreases, the average FPS at Ultra settings climbs substantially (from 70.5 to 115.1 to 157.3), reinforcing that the GPU has ample computational power for this game at lower pixel counts. In all three cases, the verdict by resolution confirms that all four settings (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) are playable, but the optimal choice for visual fidelity is always the Ultra preset, as it never falls below the 60 FPS floor.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets provides insight into which component is the limiting factor in this build. For Lockdown Protocol, the RTX 4080 SUPER is clearly the dominant component, but the role of the Core i3-12100F becomes more apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU’s workload diminishes.

Comparing the 2560x1440 results to the 3840x2160 results at the same settings reveals how much headroom the GPU has. At Ultra settings, the average FPS jumps from 70.5 at 4K to 115.1 at 1440p, a 63% increase in performance with a 56% reduction in pixel count. Similarly, at High settings, the average rises from 98.9 to 149.9 FPS. This scaling indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at these higher resolutions, as the frame rate responds strongly to the decreased rendering load.

However, the transition from 2560x1440 down to 1920x1080 tells a different story. At Ultra settings, the average FPS goes from 115.1 at 1440p to 157.3 at 1080p, which is an increase of about 37%. At Low settings, the jump is from 243 to 267.9 FPS, a mere 10% improvement. The diminishing returns at 1080p, particularly on the Low preset, suggest that the Intel Core i3-12100F is beginning to assert its influence. With only 4 cores and 8 threads, the CPU is likely reaching its limits in terms of game logic and draw call processing, preventing the RTX 4080 SUPER from fully stretching its legs at these lower resolutions and less demanding presets.

The difference between Low and Ultra settings at a fixed resolution further illustrates this. At 1080p, Low yields 267.9 FPS while Ultra yields 157.3 FPS; the gap of 110.6 FPS is entirely attributable to the GPU’s rendering workload. At 4K, the gap between Low (155) and Ultra (70.5) is 84.5 FPS, showing that the GPU still has a substantial role even at the highest resolution. The data implies that for Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is the bottleneck from 1440p upwards and at higher presets, while the CPU becomes a co-limiting factor specifically at 1080p with lower graphics settings, where the frame rate ceiling appears to be capped by the processor’s throughput.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The average FPS values across all combinations of resolution and settings are as follows, with no minimum or maximum frame data provided in the fact pack.

At 1920x1080, the results are uniformly high. The Low preset produces an average of 267.9 FPS, the Medium preset 234.6 FPS, the High preset 205.6 FPS, and the Ultra preset 157.3 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 110.6 FPS, showing a steady decrease as graphical complexity increases, but even the lowest result is far above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the averages are still very strong. Low settings deliver 243 FPS, Medium settings 171.8 FPS, High settings 149.9 FPS, and Ultra settings 115.1 FPS. The relative drop from Low to Ultra is more pronounced here, with the Ultra preset delivering less than half the frame rate of Low, which is consistent with the increased pixel count stressing the GPU’s fill rate and shading units.

At 3840x2160, the performance remains solid but scaled down further. Low settings average 155 FPS, Medium settings 111.7 FPS, High settings 98.9 FPS, and Ultra settings 70.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the only combination that comes close to the 60 FPS line, and it still exceeds it by 10.5 FPS, indicating that this is the most demanding scenario the combo can handle while remaining playable.

These numbers show a consistent pattern: for a given resolution, each step up in settings (Low to Medium to High to Ultra) reduces the average FPS by a meaningful margin, and for a given setting, increasing the resolution reduces the average FPS even more. The lack of min/max data means the analysis is limited to averages, but the consistency of the results suggests stable performance without major frame-time spikes.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on the nearest rivals for both components, several other hardware combinations would likely produce similar results in Lockdown Protocol. For the CPU, the Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494 and sits at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The closest rival is the Intel Core 3 N355, with an average score of 13492, a delta of 0% — essentially identical performance. This means a system using the Core 3 N355 would behave almost exactly like the i3-12100F in terms of CPU-bound tasks.

The Intel Core i5-9500 (avg score 13452, delta 0.3%) is also effectively equivalent, being slightly slower but within a negligible margin. Conversely, the Intel Core 5 120UL (avg score 13594, delta -0.7%) is marginally faster, and the Intel Core i7-1250U (avg score 13351, delta 1.1%) is slightly slower. For Lockdown Protocol, any of these CPUs would yield a similar frame rate ceiling, especially at 1080p where the processor’s limitations become noticeable.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209 and ranks at the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, with an average score of 54247, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the two are virtually interchangeable. A system with an RTX 4080 would deliver nearly identical FPS values in this game.

The other rivals are slightly faster: the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (avg score 54828, delta -1.1%), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (avg score 55698, delta -2.7%), and the AMD Radeon 8060S (avg score 55757, delta -2.8%). While these GPUs are nominally a few percentage points ahead in synthetic benchmarks, the real-world impact in Lockdown Protocol would be minimal, likely shifting average FPS by only a few frames at most. Thus, swapping the RTX 4080 SUPER for any of these rivals would preserve the same overall experience, with all of them still clearing the 60 FPS threshold at Ultra settings across all resolutions.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally confirms that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol. The verdict by resolution lists all settings as playable at every resolution, with the best settings being Ultra in all cases. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 157.3 FPS, which is more than double the 60 FPS target. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 115.1 FPS, and at 3840x2160, Ultra averages 70.5 FPS. In every scenario, the average frame rate stays comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold, with the lowest margin being 10.5 FPS at 4K Ultra.

For a user seeking the highest visual quality, the recommendation is straightforward: enable Ultra settings at any resolution. The system has sufficient headroom to handle the most demanding preset without compromising playability. The only consideration is refresh rate; for 4K displays capped at 60Hz, the 70.5 FPS average is acceptable, but for 1440p or 1080p monitors with 144Hz or higher refresh rates, the Ultra presets (115.1 and 157.3 FPS, respectively) will still provide a smooth experience, though dropping to High or Medium would unlock even higher frame rates for competitive play.

The Core i3-12100F does not prevent the system from being playable, but it does appear to limit the absolute maximum FPS at lower resolutions. The data suggests that the CPU is the weaker link, yet it is still sufficient to keep the game running well above the threshold. This is a balanced verdict: the GPU is overqualified for the task, while the CPU is adequate but not exceptional, and the combination works because Lockdown Protocol does not appear to be heavily CPU-threaded.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest setting I can use to stay above 60 FPS at 4K?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 yields an average of 70.5 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the most demanding setting that remains playable at this resolution.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU matter more for this game at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the GPU still matters, as shown by the difference between Low (267.9 FPS) and Ultra (157.3 FPS). However, the CPU becomes a limiting factor because the jump from 1440p Low (243 FPS) to 1080p Low (267.9 FPS) is only a 10% increase, suggesting the 4-core i3-12100F caps the frame rate at this resolution.

Q: Are all settings playable at 2560x1440?

A: Yes, the verdict indicates all settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable. The lowest average FPS at this resolution is 115.1 FPS on Ultra, which is well above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to the RTX 4080 in this system?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, while the RTX 4080 scores 54247, a delta of -0.1%. In practice, they are nearly identical, so FPS in Lockdown Protocol would be virtually the same.

Q: What is the worst-case average FPS for this combo?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 70.5 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. No other combination falls below this value, and all exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is there any setting that drops below 60 FPS?

A: No. The measured data shows that every resolution and settings combination, from 1080p Low (267.9 FPS) to 4K Ultra (70.5 FPS), maintains an average frame rate above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 307th out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places the system in the top 8.3% of all configurations in the benchmark database, which is a strong showing given the relatively modest CPU. The high rank is largely attributable to the GPU’s exceptional performance, as the RTX 4080 SUPER sits at the 86th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU only reaches the 68th percentile.

The ranking implies that this pairing is more capable than the vast majority of systems tested for this game, despite the potential CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions. The data suggests that the i3-12100F, while not a top-tier processor, is sufficient to avoid dragging the combo down significantly in this particular title. The top 307 ranking out of 3714 means that only about 8% of tested systems perform better, and those are likely to feature much newer or higher-core-count CPUs alongside similarly powerful GPUs. For the purposes of running Lockdown Protocol, this combo delivers a playable experience at the highest settings on all resolutions, and its rank reflects that capability.