Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 delivers a playable experience in Lockdown Protocol at multiple resolutions, but the ceiling for visual quality changes drastically as resolution climbs. The data indicates that this combo ranks 2293rd out of 3714 tested configurations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. At 1080p, the system has headroom to run every preset above the 60 FPS playable threshold, while 1440p requires a drop from Ultra, and 4K is limited to Low settings for consistent frame rates.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, which produces an average of 79 FPS. Medium at this resolution drops to 56 FPS average, so it falls below the playable threshold and cannot be recommended. High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra averages 37 FPS, both of which are well below the 60 FPS target.

For 2560x1440, the best preset that maintains at least 60 FPS is High, with an average of 76 FPS. Medium runs at 87 FPS average, but High offers higher visual quality while still clearing the threshold comfortably. Low runs at 123 FPS average, but High is the optimal balance since it remains above 60 FPS. Ultra averages 57 FPS, just missing the playable cutoff.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 78 FPS. High averages 104 FPS, Medium averages 119 FPS, and Low averages 168 FPS. Since Ultra clears the threshold with a 78 FPS average, it is the recommended setting for the full visual experience at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this CPU-GPU pairing in Lockdown Protocol is 2293 out of 3714 tested configurations, placing it in the 61st percentile of all tested combos. This means roughly 38% of tested systems perform worse, while a majority of configurations deliver higher frame rates. The rank reflects a mid-tier standing, which aligns with the GPU's percentile of 66 among all GPUs and the CPU's percentile of 89 among all CPUs. The CPU is clearly the stronger component in this pairing, but the GPU acts as the limiting factor for high-refresh or high-resolution gameplay.

The GPU's average benchmark score is 21035, with a percentile of 66, indicating it outperforms about two-thirds of all tested graphics cards. However, its nearest rivals show that the performance gap to adjacent hardware is narrow. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153, just 0.6% higher, and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237, 1% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713, which is 1.6% lower, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379, 1.6% higher. This clustering suggests that small performance differences separate the RTX 5050 from its closest competitors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured frame rates show a steep drop-off as settings increase. Low settings average 79 FPS, Medium averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 and maximum of 65, High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra averages 37 FPS. The gap from Low to Medium is 23 FPS, while the gap from Medium to High is 7 FPS, and High to Ultra is 12 FPS. This indicates that the 4K resolution heavily taxes the GPU, with only Low settings providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the results are more forgiving. Low averages 123 FPS, Medium averages 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 and maximum of 100, High averages 76 FPS, and Ultra averages 57 FPS. The difference between Low and Medium is 36 FPS, while Medium to High drops 11 FPS, and High to Ultra drops 19 FPS. The minimum FPS at Medium (74) stays above the playable threshold, but the Ultra average of 57 FPS indicates occasional dips below 60 would likely occur.

At 1920x1080, the system shows strong performance across all presets. Low averages 168 FPS, Medium averages 119 FPS with a minimum of 101 and maximum of 137, High averages 104 FPS, and Ultra averages 78 FPS. The scaling from Low to Medium is 49 FPS, Medium to High is 15 FPS, and High to Ultra is 26 FPS. Even at Ultra, the average of 78 FPS provides a 18 FPS buffer above the playable threshold, making this resolution the most versatile for this combo.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores are the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, and Intel Xeon w3-2535. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, which is 0.2% lower than the Core i7-13700K's 46881. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022, 0.3% lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654, 0.5% higher, and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46653, also 0.5% higher. These deltas are all within 1%, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, AMD Radeon HD 8970M, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, and NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153, 0.6% higher than the RTX 5050's 21035. The AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237, 1% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713, 1.6% lower, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile scores 21379, 1.6% higher. These small deltas mean that swapping the RTX 5050 for any of these cards would produce very similar FPS numbers, with differences of only a few frames per second in most scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which average 79 FPS. Medium drops to 56 FPS average, below the 60 FPS playable threshold, so higher presets are not viable at 3840x2160.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gameplay?

A: High settings provide the best visual quality while staying above the threshold, averaging 76 FPS. Ultra averages 57 FPS, so it falls short of the 60 FPS playable mark.

Q: Does the system handle 1080p Ultra settings?

A: Yes, Ultra settings at 1920x1080 average 78 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold with an 18 FPS buffer. All four presets at this resolution are playable.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its closest competitors?

A: The RTX 5050 sits within 1.6% of its nearest rivals. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL is 0.6% faster, the AMD Radeon HD 8970M is 1% faster, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is 1.6% slower, and the NVIDIA RTX A4000 Mobile is 1.6% faster.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile and has a higher average benchmark score of 46881, while the GPU ranks in the 66th percentile with a score of 21035. The GPU is the limiting factor, as evidenced by the steep FPS drops when raising resolution or settings.

Q: What is the frame rate at 1440p Medium settings?

A: Medium settings at 2560x1440 average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and maximum of 100 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the playable settings vary significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS at all four presets, with Ultra averaging 78 FPS, making it fully playable at maximum quality. At 2560x1440, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with High being the recommended choice at 76 FPS average; Ultra misses the threshold at 57 FPS. At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable, averaging 79 FPS, while Medium falls below at 56 FPS.

The verdict by resolution confirms that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, offering the full range of settings. For 1440p, users must compromise on Ultra to maintain playability. For 4K, the experience is limited to Low settings, which still provides a playable frame rate but sacrifices visual fidelity. The system is not suitable for 4K gaming at higher presets, as the GPU cannot maintain 60 FPS at Medium or above.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows that the CPU is the stronger component in this pairing, with a percentile of 89 versus the GPU's 66. The CPU's average benchmark score of 46881 is more than double the GPU's 21035, but this does not translate directly to gaming performance. In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU becomes the bottleneck as resolution increases, which is evident from the FPS scaling across presets.

At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (168 FPS) and Ultra (78 FPS) is 90 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant work to do even at lower resolutions. The CPU can feed frames fast enough to reach 168 FPS at Low, but the GPU limits the Ultra preset to 78 FPS. At 2560x1440, the spread narrows slightly: Low averages 123 FPS and Ultra averages 57 FPS, a 66 FPS difference. The GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the CPU's performance headroom is not fully utilized.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed, with Low averaging 79 FPS and Ultra dropping to 37 FPS. The 42 FPS spread across settings shows that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint. The CPU's role diminishes at higher resolutions, as the GPU struggles to maintain frame rates regardless of the CPU's strength. This pattern indicates that for Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is the dominant factor at all resolutions, but the CPU's high single-thread and multi-thread scores ensure it never becomes the bottleneck, allowing the GPU to be the sole limiting factor.