Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 presents a compelling mid-range combination for Lockdown Protocol, delivering playable frame rates across all tested resolutions. The data indicates this system comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p and 1440p with maximum settings, while 4K requires a slight settings reduction to maintain smooth gameplay. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, compares the components to their nearest rivals, and identifies the optimal settings for each resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU in this system each have specific performance profiles that place them near other hardware in the benchmark database. For the Intel Core i5-12400, the average benchmark score of 18683 places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7643 with an average score of 18697, which is only 0.1% higher. This is a remarkably tight margin, suggesting that in purely computational terms, these two processors would deliver nearly identical performance in Lockdown Protocol. The Intel Core i7-1355U scores 18730, sitting 0.3% above the i5-12400, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is 0.7% higher at 18811. On the lower end, the Intel Core i3-14100F scores 18519, which is 0.9% below this CPU. These deltas are all within a 1.6% spread, meaning any of these processors would produce essentially indistinguishable frame rates in this game.

For the AMD Radeon RX 9070, the average benchmark score of 23877 puts it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs. The closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z at 23736, which is 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 6800S scores 24063, representing a 0.8% advantage over the RX 9070. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile is 1.1% lower at 23628, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER scores 24170, which is 1.2% higher. These GPU rivals are all within a 2.3% performance band, so users upgrading from any of these cards would see very similar frame rates in Lockdown Protocol. The practical takeaway is that this combination of CPU and GPU performs in a well-populated tier, with neither component being an outlier compared to its direct competition.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but not at the highest settings. The measured data shows 4K High settings produce an average of 69.5 FPS, while 4K Ultra drops to 54.4 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The playable settings at 3840x2160 are High, Medium, and Low.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is fully playable with an average of 84.7 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS, and it maintains a comfortable margin above the threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of raw performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, scores 18697, which is only 0.1% higher. This difference is negligible for gaming purposes.

Q: Does the GPU struggle at any resolution?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9070 only fails to reach 60 FPS at 4K with Ultra settings, where it averages 54.4 FPS. At every other resolution and settings combination tested, it exceeds 60 FPS, with the lowest playable result being 69.5 FPS at 4K High.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1080p with Low settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 246.1 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire test suite, making it ideal for competitive play on high refresh rate monitors.

Q: Is the RX 9070 significantly faster than the RTX 2080 SUPER?

A: The data shows the RTX 2080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 24170, which is 1.2% higher than the RX 9070's 23877. This means the RTX 2080 SUPER has a slight edge in raw GPU compute, but the difference is minor and unlikely to create noticeable FPS gaps in Lockdown Protocol.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the balance between CPU and GPU shifts across resolutions and presets in Lockdown Protocol. At 1920x1080, the system is likely more CPU-bound, as evidenced by the frame rates scaling significantly with settings changes. The jump from Low to Medium settings at 1080p reduces the average FPS from 246.1 to 173.9, which is a 72.2 FPS drop. Moving from Medium to High brings the average down to 153.3, and then to Ultra at 116.3. This steep decline with increasing graphical load suggests the CPU has ample headroom at lower settings, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor as visual complexity rises.

At 2560x1440, the pattern continues but with lower absolute frame rates. Low settings yield 181.9 FPS, Medium drops to 130.6, High to 110, and Ultra to 84.7. The relative performance gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 97.2 FPS, compared to 129.8 FPS at 1080p. This indicates the GPU is taking on more responsibility at higher resolutions, but the CPU still provides enough throughput to keep frame rates high. The 4K results show the most dramatic GPU dependency. At 3840x2160, Low settings average 114.7 FPS, Medium 81.2, High 69.5, and Ultra 54.4. The spread from Low to Ultra is 60.3 FPS, and notably, Ultra falls below the playable threshold. This demonstrates that at 4K, the RX 9070's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint, while the i5-12400 maintains sufficient CPU performance to avoid bottlenecking.

The scaling between resolutions at identical settings further clarifies component roles. At High settings, the FPS drops from 153.3 at 1080p to 110 at 1440p (a 28.2% reduction), then to 69.5 at 4K (a 36.8% further reduction). This non-linear scaling indicates that the GPU is increasingly stressed as pixel count grows, while the CPU's workload remains relatively constant. For Ultra settings, the pattern is similar: 116.3 at 1080p, 84.7 at 1440p, and 54.4 at 4K. The data suggests that for competitive play at high refresh rates, the CPU is more than adequate, but for 4K gaming, the GPU's performance ceiling is the deciding factor in whether the system can maintain 60 FPS.

The Verdict

The measured data confirms that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol at playable frame rates, but the experience varies significantly by resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, all four settings presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—clear the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset achieves an average of 116.3 FPS, which is nearly double the playable threshold and provides a smooth experience on standard 60Hz displays and a very good one on 120Hz or higher refresh rate monitors. At 2560x1440, the system also runs every preset above 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 84.7 FPS. This is sufficient for most gaming scenarios, though users with 144Hz or 165Hz 1440p monitors may prefer to use High settings, which average 110 FPS, for a more responsive feel.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The Ultra preset falls short of the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 54.4 FPS, making it unplayable by the established criterion. However, High settings deliver 69.5 FPS, Medium produces 81.2 FPS, and Low achieves 114.7 FPS. The recommended best settings for 4K is High, which provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while maintaining better visual quality than Medium or Low. Overall, this combination is a capable 1080p and 1440p machine for Lockdown Protocol, and it can handle 4K with a modest settings compromise.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average frame rates provides a detailed picture of performance across all tested configurations. At 3840x2160, the system produces an average of 114.7 FPS on Low settings, 81.2 FPS on Medium, 69.5 FPS on High, and 54.4 FPS on Ultra. The progression shows a consistent decline as graphical fidelity increases, with the largest single drop occurring between Medium and High at 11.7 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 60.3 FPS, highlighting the substantial performance cost of maximum settings at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 181.9 FPS on Low, 130.6 FPS on Medium, 110 FPS on High, and 84.7 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Medium is 51.3 FPS, which is the steepest reduction between consecutive settings at this resolution. From Medium to High, the decline is 20.6 FPS, and from High to Ultra, it is 25.3 FPS. All values remain comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, with even the most demanding Ultra preset exceeding it by 24.7 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates: 246.1 FPS on Low, 173.9 FPS on Medium, 153.3 FPS on High, and 116.3 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 129.8 FPS reduction, which is the largest absolute drop across any resolution. The relative performance at 1080p Ultra is still 56.3 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this resolution is well within the system's capabilities for all settings. The data also shows that the transition from 1080p to 1440p at the same settings costs between 35.4% (Low: 246.1 to 181.9) and 27.2% (Ultra: 116.3 to 84.7) of the frame rate, while the transition from 1440p to 4K costs between 36.9% (Low: 181.9 to 114.7) and 35.8% (Ultra: 84.7 to 54.4).

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 1090th out of 3714 total combos. This places it in the top 29.4% of all tested systems, which is a respectable position given the mid-range nature of both components. The rank reflects that while the i5-12400 and RX 9070 are not flagship parts, their combination delivers solid performance that outperforms a majority of tested systems. The CPU's 72nd percentile standing and the GPU's 69th percentile standing both contribute to this overall rank, with neither component dragging the other down significantly.

The rank of 1090 suggests that there are many systems with more powerful components that achieve higher frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, but there are also a substantial number of weaker combinations that fall below this pairing. The fact that this combo outperforms 2624 other tested configurations indicates that it offers a balanced level of performance for the game. The data also implies that the RX 9070, despite being in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, is well-matched with the i5-12400 for this particular title, as the combined result is better than what either component's individual percentile might suggest on its own.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the optimal settings preset is the most demanding one that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 116.3 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate that is well above the playable threshold. For users with high refresh rate displays, the High preset at 153.3 FPS or Medium at 173.9 FPS could be preferable for competitive advantage, but Ultra remains the best balance of quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the recommended choice, with an average of 84.7 FPS. This is 24.7 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold, leaving some headroom for demanding scenes. The High preset at 110 FPS is a viable alternative for those who prioritize higher frame rates, but the data shows that Ultra is fully playable and offers the best visual experience. At 3840x2160, the best settings preset is High, which averages 69.5 FPS. This is 9.5 FPS above the playable threshold, providing a stable experience without sacrificing too much visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 54.4 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS target. Medium at 81.2 FPS and Low at 114.7 FPS are also playable options, but High offers the best combination of visual quality and performance at this resolution.