Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Lockdown Protocol, with performance scaling predictably as resolution increases. The data indicates a clear threshold where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at 4K, while the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance supports high frame rates at lower resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is Low, achieving 76 FPS on average. The Medium preset drops to an average of 54 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold, while High averages 47 FPS and Ultra averages 35 FPS. This indicates that the 8 GB frame buffer and the GPU’s compute resources are heavily taxed at 4K, requiring the lowest settings to sustain smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is High, delivering an average of 73 FPS. The Medium preset runs at 83 FPS and Low at 117 FPS, both comfortably above 60 FPS, but High offers the best visual quality while still clearing the threshold. The Ultra preset, however, averages only 54 FPS, which is below the playable mark, suggesting that the GPU’s 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs cannot handle the highest fidelity at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 74 FPS. This is the only resolution where the full Ultra settings are playable, as the reduced pixel count alleviates pressure on the GPU. High averages 99 FPS, Medium 113 FPS, and Low 160 FPS, indicating ample headroom for high refresh rate displays at 1080p.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 ranks #2577 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 31st percentile of all configurations. This rank reflects a mid-tier position, meaning the combo outperforms roughly 69% of tested systems but sits behind higher-end pairings that feature more powerful GPUs or CPUs.

The CPU itself holds the 89th percentile among all processors, indicating strong overall compute performance, while the GPU sits in the 57th percentile among all graphics cards. This discrepancy suggests the GPU is the limiting factor in the combo’s overall ranking, as the CPU’s percentile score is significantly higher. The combo rank of 2577 is therefore likely constrained by the RX 7600’s mid-range standing rather than the Core Ultra 5 235’s capabilities.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produce an average of 76 FPS at 3840x2160. Medium drops to 54 FPS, High to 47 FPS, and Ultra to 35 FPS, all below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for maximum visual quality?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is playable with an average of 74 FPS, making it the highest fidelity option that clears the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, High is the best choice at 73 FPS average.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235’s average benchmark score of 46062 is within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 4364P, and 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 7303. It trails the Intel Core i9-13900HX by 0.1%, indicating near-identical multi-threaded performance.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance relative to similar cards?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600’s average benchmark score of 15171 is 0.2% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, 0.6% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 560X, 0.7% lower than the AMD Radeon 680M, and 0.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more important for this game at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU’s strong single-threaded performance (PassMark single-thread score of 4516) likely drives the high average FPS, as the GPU’s load is reduced. The gap between Low (160 FPS) and Ultra (74 FPS) shows the GPU’s influence grows with settings, but the CPU remains sufficient.

Q: Does the combo support high refresh rate gaming?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 160 FPS and Medium averages 113 FPS, which can drive 144Hz displays. At 2560x1440, Low averages 117 FPS, also suitable for high refresh. At 3840x2160, only Low (76 FPS) approaches 75Hz territory.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals by average benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (46030, delta 0.1%), Intel Core i9-13900HX (46098, delta -0.1%), AMD EPYC 4364P (45970, delta 0.2%), and AMD EPYC 7303 (45960, delta 0.2%). These processors deliver essentially identical multi-threaded throughput, so users would see no meaningful difference in Lockdown Protocol’s CPU-bound scenarios. The Core i9-13900HX is a mobile part, but its performance parity with the desktop Core Ultra 5 235 means similar frame rates in this game.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, delta -0.2%), AMD Radeon Pro 560X (15082, delta 0.6%), AMD Radeon 680M (15270, delta -0.7%), and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (15063, delta 0.7%). These cards would produce nearly identical average frame rates at each resolution and preset. The RTX 3050 OEM and Radeon 680M are the most relevant modern alternatives, while the Radeon Pro 560X and GTX 660 Ti are older parts that would still match the RX 7600’s performance in this specific game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear shift in bottleneck behavior across resolutions. At 3840x2160, the GPU is overwhelmingly the limiting factor: reducing settings from Ultra to Low raises the average FPS from 35 to 76, a 117% improvement. The CPU’s role is minimal here, as even the Low preset’s 76 FPS is well below what the processor could theoretically sustain.

At 2560x1440, the GPU remains dominant but less so. The jump from Ultra (54 FPS) to High (73 FPS) is a 35% gain, while High to Medium (83 FPS) adds another 14%. The Low preset (117 FPS) shows that the CPU can still push high frame rates when the GPU’s load is reduced, but the GPU’s 8 GB memory and bandwidth (288.0 GB/s) become constraints at higher settings.

At 1920x1080, the CPU’s strength becomes evident. The Low preset averages 160 FPS, indicating the Core Ultra 5 235’s single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085) is not a bottleneck. The GPU takes over as settings rise: Medium (113 FPS) is a 29% drop from Low, High (99 FPS) is 12% lower than Medium, and Ultra (74 FPS) is 25% below High. This scaling pattern shows the RX 7600’s compute units (2048 shading units) and texture units (128 TMUs) are the limiting factor at higher presets, even at 1080p.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol at playable frame rates across all three tested resolutions, but the settings ceiling varies. At 3840x2160, the only playable preset is Low, averaging 76 FPS. At 2560x1440, High is the best playable setting at 73 FPS, with Medium (83 FPS) and Low (117 FPS) also clearing the threshold. At 1920x1080, the full Ultra preset is playable at 74 FPS, alongside High (99 FPS), Medium (113 FPS), and Low (160 FPS).

The verdict is positive for 1080p and 1440p gamers who prioritize frame rate over maximum fidelity. At 4K, the combo is only viable on Low settings, which still delivers a smooth 76 FPS average. For users with 144Hz or 165Hz displays, the 1080p Low and Medium presets provide sufficient headroom, while 1440p Low also reaches 117 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

3840x2160:

• High: 47 FPS average
• Low: 76 FPS average
• Medium: 54 FPS average (min 46, max 62)
• Ultra: 35 FPS average

2560x1440:

• High: 73 FPS average
• Low: 117 FPS average
• Medium: 83 FPS average (min 71, max 96)
• Ultra: 54 FPS average

1920x1080:

• High: 99 FPS average
• Low: 160 FPS average
• Medium: 113 FPS average (min 96, max 130)
• Ultra: 74 FPS average

The Medium preset at each resolution is the only one with recorded min/max values, showing frame time consistency: at 4K the range is 46-62 FPS (a 16 FPS spread), at 1440p it is 71-96 FPS (a 25 FPS spread), and at 1080p it is 96-130 FPS (a 34 FPS spread). This increasing range at lower resolutions reflects the CPU’s ability to push higher peak frame rates while the GPU’s frame pacing becomes more variable under load.