Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a robust performance profile in Lockdown Protocol, with the data showing that all tested settings at every resolution clear the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded measurements indicate a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the aging six-core processor still manages to keep frame rates high at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination shows a clear performance hierarchy across the three tested resolutions and four preset levels. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates range from 60.4 FPS on Ultra to 127.5 FPS on Low. The High preset delivers 82.4 FPS, while the Medium preset lands at 93.9 FPS. This 4K spread demonstrates that even the most demanding settings remain playable, though the gap between Low and Ultra is substantial at 67.1 FPS.

Dropping to 2560x1440, the averages improve significantly. The Low preset reaches 146.4 FPS, followed by Medium at 128.5 FPS and High at 124.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces 93.8 FPS, which is nearly identical to the Medium result at 4K. The scaling from 4K to 1440p shows an average increase of roughly 40 to 50 percent across the presets, with the Low preset seeing the smallest absolute gain.

At 1920x1080, the system hits its highest recorded averages. The Low preset runs at 164.2 FPS, Medium at 142.2 FPS, High at 139.4 FPS, and Ultra at 120.3 FPS. The difference between 1440p and 1080p is much smaller than the jump from 4K to 1440p, particularly at the Low preset where the gain is only 17.8 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the Intel Core i5-9400 begins to limit the RX 7900 XT, preventing the frame rate from scaling as aggressively as it does at higher pixel counts.

The min and max FPS values are not recorded in the database, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates. The measured values indicate consistent performance across the board, with no preset at any resolution falling below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The most demanding configuration, 4K Ultra, produces an average of 60.4 FPS, which barely clears the playable mark but still qualifies as acceptable for a smooth experience. The 4K High preset offers a more comfortable margin at 82.4 FPS, while 4K Medium and Low provide even greater headroom at 93.9 and 127.5 FPS respectively.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-9400, based on average benchmark scores, come from a mix of mobile and desktop parts. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, which is 0.2 percent higher than the i5-9400's average of 2254. The Intel Core i3-10305 sits at 2264, representing a 0.4 percent lead. On the other side, the Intel Core i7-10710U scores 2248, which is 0.3 percent lower, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 2246, a 0.4 percent deficit. These deltas are all within one percent, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Lockdown Protocol when paired with the same GPU. The practical takeaway is that the i5-9400 sits in a performance tier where swapping to any of these alternatives would not meaningfully change frame rates.

For the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, the nearest rivals are more diverse in their positioning. The AMD Radeon 660M has an average score of 13812, which is 0.5 percent higher than the RX 7900 XT's 13745. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile also scores 13821, a 0.5 percent advantage. The AMD Radeon RX 570X scores 13871, 0.9 percent higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543, which is 1.5 percent lower. Despite the RX 7900 XT being a high-end desktop card, its benchmark average places it in close proximity to these parts, with the RX 9070 XT being the only rival that trails by a noticeable margin. In Lockdown Protocol specifically, the GPU's percentile rank of 55 against all GPUs suggests it is a solid mid-to-upper tier performer, and the measured FPS confirms it can handle the game at high refresh rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT at position 1286 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places the system in the upper third of all configurations, roughly at the 65th percentile of tested hardware. The rank reflects the balance between the capable GPU and the older six-core processor. The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 47, meaning it sits near the median of all processors in the database. The GPU's percentile rank of 55 is slightly higher, indicating the graphics card is the stronger component in this pairing.

The combo's rank of 1286 out of 3714 suggests that while the RX 7900 XT provides excellent raw graphics power, the i5-9400 holds the system back from reaching the top tiers. Many combos with newer, higher-core-count CPUs and similarly powerful GPUs would rank above it. However, the measured FPS data shows that this pairing still delivers a very playable experience across all resolutions and presets, so the rank should not be interpreted as a sign of inadequacy. The system performs well above the minimum playable threshold, and the ranking primarily reflects the CPU's age relative to newer alternatives.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear: this PC can run Lockdown Protocol at every tested setting combination. At 3840x2160, all four presets are listed as playable, with the best settings being Ultra at an average of 60.4 FPS. This is right at the 60 FPS threshold, so users who prefer a strict 60 FPS lock will find it acceptable, though the High preset at 82.4 FPS offers more headroom for dips. At 2560x1440, all presets are also playable, with Ultra delivering 93.8 FPS. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combination, as it allows for the highest visual fidelity while maintaining a comfortable frame rate above 90 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system excels. All presets are playable, and Ultra still produces 120.3 FPS on average. The Low preset reaches 164.2 FPS, which is well into high-refresh-rate territory. For gamers with 144 Hz monitors, the 1080p Ultra setting provides enough headroom to stay above 120 FPS consistently. The verdict is that this system is more than capable of running Lockdown Protocol smoothly, with the only caveat being 4K Ultra, where the average sits just barely above the playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling between resolutions reveals the division of labor between the Intel Core i5-9400 and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant factor. The frame rates vary significantly across presets, from 60.4 FPS at Ultra to 127.5 FPS at Low, demonstrating that the GPU's workload is the primary constraint. The CPU has less influence at this resolution because the rendering pipeline is saturated by the pixel count.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU still carries most of the load, but the CPU begins to show its influence. The Ultra preset improves from 60.4 FPS at 4K to 93.8 FPS at 1440p, a gain of 33.4 FPS. The Low preset only improves from 127.5 to 146.4 FPS, a smaller 18.9 FPS jump. This narrowing gap suggests that the CPU is starting to become a limiting factor at lower settings, where the GPU has more headroom and the processor must feed frames faster.

At 1920x1080, the CPU's role becomes more apparent. The Low preset reaches 164.2 FPS, but the improvement over 1440p is just 17.8 FPS, which is less than the gain seen when moving from 4K to 1440p. The Ultra preset improves from 93.8 to 120.3 FPS, a 26.5 FPS gain. The data indicates that the i5-9400's six cores and six threads are sufficient for this game, but they cap the maximum frame rate. The RX 7900 XT could likely push higher frame rates at 1080p Low if paired with a stronger CPU, but the current pairing still delivers excellent results. Across all resolutions, the GPU matters more at 4K and 1440p, while the CPU becomes a co-limiting factor at 1080p, particularly at the Low preset.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the database shows 3840x2160 Ultra produces an average of 60.4 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combination?

A: The 2560x1440 Ultra preset offers an average of 93.8 FPS, providing a strong balance between visual quality and frame rate. The 1920x1080 Ultra preset reaches 120.3 FPS for higher refresh rates.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-9400 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2254. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is 0.2 percent higher, the Intel Core i3-10305 is 0.4 percent higher, the Intel Core i7-10710U is 0.3 percent lower, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is 0.4 percent lower.

Q: Is the RX 7900 XT the stronger component in this pairing?

A: Yes, the GPU's percentile rank against all GPUs is 55, while the CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 47. The GPU also has a higher average benchmark score relative to its percentile class.

Q: How does this combo rank among tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1286 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the upper third of all configurations.

Q: Does the CPU limit performance at 1080p?

A: The data shows the frame rate gain from 1440p to 1080p is smaller than the gain from 4K to 1440p, particularly at the Low preset, which suggests the i5-9400 begins to limit the GPU at lower resolutions.