Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a highly capable 1080p experience, with solid 1440p performance and playable 4K only at reduced settings. The data indicates this combo is a versatile pairing where the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates, but the CPU holds its own in synthetic benchmarks. This analysis relies solely on the measured FPS data and benchmark scores provided.

Similar Performance Alternatives

When looking at the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, its average benchmark score of 46062 places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals in the data are remarkably close in overall computed performance. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 46030, which is a negligible 0.1% difference, meaning in most tasks these two processors will feel identical. Similarly, the Intel Core i9-13900HX is a near-perfect match with a score of 46098, just 0.1% higher. For server-class alternatives, the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303 also land within 0.2% of the Ultra 5 235, though their platform characteristics differ significantly from a desktop gaming build.

On the graphics side, the Radeon RX 6650 XT has an average score of 19765, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are professional workstation cards rather than gaming GPUs. The NVIDIA Tesla K40m scores 19885, which is 0.6% higher, while the AMD FirePro W7000 is 0.7% higher at 19905. The AMD FirePro D300 and NVIDIA Quadro K5200 are slightly lower, with scores of 19637 and 19602, respectively. This indicates that in raw compute performance, the RX 6650 XT is in the same ballpark as these older prosumer cards, but its gaming-specific feature set and driver optimization for DirectX 12 Ultimate are what matter for Lockdown Protocol.

CPU and GPU Roles

For this specific game, the measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolution and settings, while the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower settings. At 1920x1080, the frame rate swings dramatically with settings. The Ultra preset averages 77 FPS, but dropping to High yields 103 FPS, and Low delivers 165 FPS. This scaling is strictly due to the GPU's workload; the Core Ultra 5 235 is not holding back the frame rate, as even the Low preset at 1080p does not hit a wall that would suggest a CPU limit.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern continues but the absolute numbers drop. The Low preset averages 121 FPS, High drops to 75 FPS, and Ultra lands at 56 FPS. The delta between Low and High at 1440p is 46 FPS, showing the GPU is heavily taxed by the higher pixel count and settings. At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU is clearly the absolute limit. The Low preset only averages 78 FPS, and the Medium preset drops to 56 FPS. The CPU's overall performance is still relevant, but it is not the limiting factor here. The GPU is the dominant component in this pairing at all resolutions, but the CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread scores (2085 single-core, 14769 multi-core in Cinebench R23) ensure it does not introduce a frame-time bottleneck in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is broken down by resolution and settings. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 36 FPS, the High 46 FPS, the Medium 56 FPS, and the Low 78 FPS. The Medium preset also has a measured min of 47 and max of 64, showing a variance of 17 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 56 FPS, High 75 FPS, Medium 86 FPS, and Low 121 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p has a min of 73 and max of 99, a variance of 26 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra averages 77 FPS, High 103 FPS, Medium 117 FPS, and Low 165 FPS. The 1080p Medium preset is the most stable in the data set with a min of 100 and max of 135, giving a variance of 35 FPS.

The pattern is consistent: dropping from Ultra to Low at each resolution yields a substantial increase in average FPS. At 1080p, the jump from Ultra to Low is 88 FPS. At 1440p, it is 65 FPS. At 4K, it is 42 FPS. This shows the RX 6650 XT can handle the game's settings, but the highest presets are not viable at 4K for smooth play.

The Verdict

The data shows that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the playable settings vary by resolution. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS. At 3840x2160, the only setting that clears 60 FPS is Low, with an average of 78 FPS. The Medium preset averages 56 FPS, which is below the threshold, and High and Ultra are worse. For 2560x1440, the High preset averages 75 FPS, which is solidly playable. The Medium preset also clears the bar at 86 FPS, and Low is at 121 FPS. Ultra at 1440p is not playable, averaging 56 FPS. At 1920x1080, all presets clear 60 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 77 FPS, High 103 FPS, Medium 117 FPS, and Low 165 FPS.

Therefore, the verdict is straightforward: for this PC, 1080p is fully playable at any preset, 1440p is playable up to the High preset, and 4K is only playable at the Low preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ranks 2439 out of 3714 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places the combo in the lower 35th percentile of all tested configurations. This rank is primarily driven by the GPU's score, as the CPU's relative rank is much higher. The GPU's 65th percentile rank among all GPUs suggests that the RX 6650 XT is a mid-range part, and the combo's overall rank is lower than the CPU's individual percentile because the GPU is not a top-tier performer in this game.

The rank indicates that many other combinations will achieve higher frame rates, but it does not mean the experience is poor. The rank is a relative measure of performance among a wide range of hardware; the absolute FPS at a given resolution is the more practical metric. The data shows that this combo is not a high-end setup, but it is a capable one for 1080p and 1440p gaming.

Best Settings per Resolution

Using the measured FPS data, the best setting that stays at or above 60 FPS at each resolution is:

• 3840x2160 (4K): The only playable setting is Low, with an average of 78 FPS. There is no headroom for a higher preset, as the Medium preset drops to 56 FPS.
• 2560x1440 (1440p): The best playable setting is High, with an average of 75 FPS. This is the highest preset that maintains 60+ FPS. The Medium preset offers higher FPS (86), but the High preset is the most demanding that stays above the threshold.
• 1920x1080 (1080p): The best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 77 FPS. This is the highest quality preset available, and it still provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. For a more stable experience with fewer frame drops, the Medium preset (117 FPS) or High (103 FPS) are also excellent choices.