Lockdown Protocol

Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is a pairing that pits a mid-range 2018 processor against a flagship 2021 graphics card. In Lockdown Protocol, the recorded data shows that this combination delivers high frame rates at every tested resolution, though the CPU becomes a limiting factor at lower resolutions and higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the balance of component responsibility, and the optimal settings for each display resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places the Intel Core i5-9400 at the 47th percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. Its nearest rivals in the recorded data are a cluster of processors with very similar aggregate scores. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 scores 2259, a delta of -0.2% from the i5-9400, meaning it is effectively identical in overall CPU performance. The Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2264, which is 0.4% higher, while the Intel Core i7-10710U and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 score 2248 and 2246 respectively, placing them 0.3% and 0.4% lower. In practical terms, these four processors would behave nearly indistinguishably in Lockdown Protocol, and any frame rate differences between them would likely fall within measurement noise.

For the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti sits at the 83rd percentile of all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41187. Its nearest rivals present a more varied picture. The AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 40870, which is 0.8% lower, meaning it would perform almost identically in this game. The NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707, a delta of -1.2%, and the standard NVIDIA Tesla M40 scores 41897, a delta of -1.7%, putting both slightly ahead in raw compute benchmarks. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 scores 40377, which is 2% lower than the RTX 3080 Ti, making it a close competitor as well. These rivals suggest that the RTX 3080 Ti's performance in Lockdown Protocol is representative of a broad tier of GPUs, and any of these alternatives would deliver similar frame rates.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals which component dominates in Lockdown Protocol. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 57 FPS, while the Low preset averages 122 FPS, a spread of 65 FPS. This large gap indicates that the GPU is heavily loaded at 4K, and reducing settings directly relieves that pressure. At 2560x1440, the spread narrows: Low averages 147 FPS and Ultra averages 88 FPS, a difference of 59 FPS. At 1920x1080, the spread narrows further: Low averages 163 FPS and Ultra averages 120 FPS, a difference of 43 FPS. The shrinking gap at lower resolutions suggests that the CPU begins to impose a ceiling on performance, as even the Low preset at 1080p cannot reach far beyond 163 FPS.

The scaling between resolutions at the same preset reinforces this interpretation. For the High preset, moving from 1080p (137 FPS) to 1440p (118 FPS) loses 19 FPS, and moving to 4K (76 FPS) loses another 42 FPS. This progressive decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario at 4K. However, the Ultra preset at 1080p (120 FPS) and 1440p (88 FPS) shows a smaller relative drop than the High preset, and at 4K Ultra drops to 57 FPS. The CPU, with 6 cores and 6 threads, is likely the limiting factor at 1080p Ultra, where the GPU has enough headroom to push much higher but is constrained by the processor's single-thread performance. The data implies that at 4K, the RTX 3080 Ti is the primary determinant of frame rate, while at 1080p, the i5-9400 becomes a more significant bottleneck, especially on the Ultra preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest tested resolution, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 163 FPS, with no recorded minimum or maximum. The Medium preset averages 144 FPS, with a minimum of 122 and a maximum of 165. The High preset averages 137 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 120 FPS. These numbers indicate that all four presets clear the 60 FPS threshold by a wide margin, and even the most demanding setting nearly doubles that target.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows a clear tiering. The Low preset averages 147 FPS. The Medium preset averages 129 FPS, with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 149. The High preset averages 118 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 88 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is 30 FPS, which is the largest jump between adjacent presets at this resolution, suggesting that Ultra introduces a significant increase in GPU workload.

At 3840x2160, the highest tested resolution, the RTX 3080 Ti's capabilities are stretched. The Low preset averages 122 FPS, which is still very high for 4K. The Medium preset averages 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 100. The High preset averages 76 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the only tested configuration that fails to maintain 60 FPS on average, and it represents the limit of this hardware combination in Lockdown Protocol.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 120 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable, with Ultra averaging 88 FPS. At 3840x2160, the Low, Medium, and High presets are playable, but the Ultra preset falls short, averaging only 57 FPS. Therefore, this PC can run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p and 1440p with every setting maxed out, and at 4K with High settings or lower. The only configuration that fails the 60 FPS test is 4K Ultra, where the average dips to 57 FPS. For users with a 4K display who desire Ultra quality, the data suggests they would need to accept a frame rate below the playable threshold or reduce the resolution to 1440p.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra is 120 FPS, which is double the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 1440p, with an average of 88 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS.

Q: Is 4K Ultra playable on this hardware?

A: No, the average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The highest playable preset at 4K is High, averaging 76 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-9400 affect performance at lower resolutions?

A: At 1920x1080, the gap between Low (163 FPS) and Ultra (120 FPS) is 43 FPS, which is smaller than the 65 FPS gap at 4K. This indicates the CPU becomes a limiting factor at 1080p, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded for Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 122 FPS and the maximum is 165 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 110 FPS and the maximum is 149 FPS. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 74 FPS and the maximum is 100 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combo ranks 1322 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the upper portion of the database's results.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the best setting is Ultra, which averages 120 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that remains at or above the 60 FPS threshold, and it delivers a frame rate that is still highly fluid. For 2560x1440, the best setting is also Ultra, averaging 88 FPS, which provides a comfortable margin above the threshold. For 3840x2160, the best setting is High, averaging 76 FPS. While Ultra fails at 57 FPS, High offers a playable experience with a significant visual uplift over Medium (87 FPS) and Low (122 FPS). The data shows that users at 4K should select High to balance visual fidelity with the 60 FPS requirement.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 1322 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 35th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly two-thirds of the combinations in the database perform better. Given that the GPU is at the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, the ranking is dragged down by the CPU, which sits at the 47th percentile. The measured frame rates at 1080p and 1440p are strong, but the CPU's 6-thread limitation likely prevents the RTX 3080 Ti from achieving its full potential in CPU-bound scenarios. The data suggests that pairing this GPU with a higher-performing CPU would yield better results, particularly at 1080p Ultra, where the gap between the 120 FPS recorded and the GPU's headroom is most apparent.