Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a formidable combination for Lockdown Protocol, delivering playable frame rates at every tested resolution and preset. The data shows that this combo clears the 60 FPS threshold even at 4K Ultra settings, which is rare for most hardware pairings. Across all twelve measured configurations, the average frame rate never falls below 62.3 FPS, making this a versatile setup for both competitive and visually demanding play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combo demonstrates its high-end capability, but with significant variation across presets. The Ultra preset yields an average of 62.3 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold of 60 FPS, indicating that maxing out settings at 4K is viable but leaves little headroom for frame-time spikes. Dropping to High increases the average to 85 FPS, a 36% improvement over Ultra. Medium produces 95.8 FPS, while Low delivers 131.5 FPS, which is more than double the Ultra result and ideal for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors.

At 2560x1440, the bottleneck shifts away from the GPU, and frame rates climb substantially. Ultra settings average 94.8 FPS, which is over 50% higher than the 4K Ultra result. High reaches 129.2 FPS, Medium achieves 147.7 FPS, and Low hits 208.2 FPS. The jump from Ultra to Low at this resolution represents a 120% performance increase, showing that the RX 7900 XT has ample headroom when pixel count is reduced. For gamers targeting 144Hz at 1440p, the High preset is the sweet spot, while Low easily exceeds 200 FPS for esports-level responsiveness.

At 1920x1080, the combo becomes almost overkill, with all presets delivering well above 130 FPS. Ultra averages 133.3 FPS, which is already excellent for 1080p. High pushes to 171.6 FPS, Medium reaches 201.9 FPS, and Low peaks at 276.2 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p is less dramatic than from 4K to 1440p, suggesting that the CPU begins to play a larger role at lower resolutions. The difference between 1080p Ultra and 1440p Ultra is 38.5 FPS, which is notable but not as large as the 32.5 FPS jump from 4K Ultra to 1440p Ultra.

The data reveals a consistent pattern: lowering settings from Ultra to Low yields roughly 2x performance at each resolution. At 4K, the spread is 69.2 FPS (from 62.3 to 131.5); at 1440p, the spread is 113.4 FPS (from 94.8 to 208.2); at 1080p, the spread is 142.9 FPS (from 133.3 to 276.2). This indicates that the GPU scales efficiently with reduced graphical load, but the returns diminish as resolution drops, pointing to CPU limitations at 1080p.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly. The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039, which places it at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs. Its closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with an average score of 19047, showing a delta of 0% — essentially identical performance. The Intel Core 3 201E scores 19056, which is only 0.1% higher, while the Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18982 (0.3% lower) and the AMD EPYC 7773X scores 18979 (0.3% lower). This means that in CPU-bound scenarios within Lockdown Protocol, any of these four alternatives would deliver nearly indistinguishable frame rates, though the 12400F is a desktop part with higher sustained power limits compared to the mobile and embedded chips listed.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT has an average benchmark score of 13745, placing it at the 55th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon 660M with a score of 13812, which is only 0.5% higher. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile scores 13821 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 570X scores 13871 (0.9% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543 (1.5% lower). Notably, the RX 9070 XT is the only rival that scores lower, suggesting it would be slightly slower in GPU-bound scenes. However, the RX 7900 XT's 20 GB of VRAM and 800.0 GB/s bandwidth give it an advantage in high-resolution textures that these benchmark scores may not fully capture.

When considering a combo swap, the closest overall alternative would be pairing the Core i5-12400F with the RX 9070 XT, which would trade a small amount of GPU performance (1.5% lower score) for a more modern architecture. Conversely, swapping the CPU to the Ryzen 5 7535HS while keeping the RX 7900 XT would yield nearly identical results, as the CPU scores are within 0.1% of each other. None of these alternatives would meaningfully change the verdict that this combo can run Lockdown Protocol at 60+ FPS across all settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of all tested combinations, this pairing ranks 656 out of 3714 combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 82nd percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms roughly 82% of all configurations tested for this game. The rank of 656 is particularly impressive given that the GPU's percentile vs all GPUs is only 55, while the CPU's percentile is 73. This suggests that the combination of these two specific parts synergizes well with Lockdown Protocol's engine, producing results better than either component's individual standing would predict.

The top 17.7% ranking indicates that this combo is well above average, but not elite-tier. Systems ranked above 656 likely include higher-end CPUs like Core i7 or i9 parts, or GPUs from the RTX 4090 class. However, the gap between this combo and the top tier is not enormous in practical terms, as the 4K Ultra result of 62.3 FPS is already playable, and most top-tier systems would only push that to 80-90 FPS at best. For 1080p and 1440p gaming, the ranking suggests this combo is overkill for most competitive titles, providing frame rates that exceed typical high-refresh-rate monitors.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Lockdown Protocol, and it does so with authority at every resolution and preset combination tested. The verdictByResolution data confirms that all four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at all three resolutions, with the playable threshold set at 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, achieving 62.3 FPS — a marginal but real margin above the threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra delivers 94.8 FPS, providing comfortable headroom for smooth gameplay. At 1920x1080, Ultra reaches 133.3 FPS, which is more than sufficient for 120Hz displays.

The critical takeaway is that this combo never forces a compromise between visual quality and playability. At 4K, users can choose between 62 FPS at Ultra or 131 FPS at Low, depending on whether they prioritize image quality or smoothness. At 1440p, even the most demanding preset stays well above 90 FPS, making this an excellent pairing for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors. At 1080p, the frame rates are so high that the GPU is rarely the limiting factor, and the CPU becomes more relevant.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals clear division of labor between the Intel Core i5-12400F and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT. At 4K, the GPU dominates the workload, as evidenced by the dramatic frame rate drops when moving to higher presets. The difference between 4K Low (131.5 FPS) and 4K Ultra (62.3 FPS) is 69.2 FPS, a 111% reduction, indicating that the GPU's shading units, TMUs, and ROPs are the primary drivers. The RX 7900 XT's 5376 shading units and 192 ROPs are heavily taxed at this resolution.

As resolution drops to 1440p, the CPU begins to exert more influence. The gap between 1440p Low (208.2 FPS) and 1440p Ultra (94.8 FPS) is 113.4 FPS, which is a larger absolute spread than at 4K. This widening gap suggests that while the GPU still matters, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are increasingly able to feed the GPU, preventing it from becoming the sole bottleneck. The 12400F's boost clock of 4.40 GHz and 18 MB of shared L3 cache contribute to this improved throughput.

At 1080p, the CPU's role becomes even more pronounced. The difference between 1080p Low (276.2 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (133.3 FPS) is 142.9 FPS, which is the largest absolute spread of any resolution. However, the relative scaling from Ultra to Low is 107%, which is lower than at 1440p (120%). This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is approaching its limits in feeding the GPU, particularly at lower settings where the GPU is underutilized. The 12400F's 3dmark single-thread score of 909 and its 3dmark 2-thread score of 1699 indicate moderate per-core performance, which becomes the limiting factor at very high frame rates.

In summary, at 4K, the RX 7900 XT is the dominant component, with its 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 800.0 GB/s bandwidth proving sufficient for high-resolution textures. At 1440p, the balance shifts toward a more even split, with both components contributing meaningfully. At 1080p, the CPU becomes the primary constraint, though it still manages to deliver over 276 FPS at Low settings, which is more than enough for any current display technology.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 62.3 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold. However, it is the closest result to the threshold, so users should expect occasional dips below 60 FPS during intense scenes.

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

A: The data shows that Ultra at 2560x1440 delivers 94.8 FPS, which is well above the playable threshold. For the highest visual quality while maintaining smooth performance, Ultra is recommended. For higher refresh rates, High at 129.2 FPS or Medium at 147.7 FPS are also excellent choices.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039, while its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, scores 19047 — a 0% difference. In Lockdown Protocol, this means gameplay would be virtually identical with either processor.

Q: Is the RX 7900 XT overkill for 1080p gaming?

A: The data suggests yes, as the combo reaches 276.2 FPS at 1080p Low and 133.3 FPS at 1080p Ultra. These frame rates far exceed typical 60Hz or 144Hz monitor capabilities, indicating the GPU is not fully utilized at this resolution.

Q: What is the weakest preset at 4K in terms of margin above the 60 FPS threshold?

A: The 4K Ultra preset has the smallest margin, averaging 62.3 FPS — just 2.3 FPS above the threshold. The 4K High preset offers a larger buffer at 85 FPS, making it a safer choice for consistent performance.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Lockdown Protocol?

A: It ranks 656 out of 3714 total combos, placing it in the top 17.7% of all tested configurations. This is higher than the GPU's 55th percentile ranking would suggest, indicating strong synergy with the game's engine.