Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that stresses both the processor and graphics card. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data indicates this combination is capable of delivering smooth, playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with high settings, while 4K requires a compromise on visual fidelity to maintain the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT delivers high frame rates across all presets. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 191, providing an exceptionally fluid experience. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS, indicating consistent performance. At High settings, the average is 118 FPS, and even at the demanding Ultra preset, the system maintains an average of 89 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset yields an average of 140 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 99 FPS, with a minimum of 84 and a maximum of 114 FPS. High settings still comfortably exceed the playability threshold with an average of 87 FPS. The Ultra preset, while more demanding, still manages an average of 65 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS target.

The most demanding scenario is 3840x2160 (4K). Here, the Low preset delivers an average of 90 FPS. Medium settings average 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 and a maximum of 74 FPS, showing some frame dips below the 60 FPS line. High settings average 56 FPS, which is below the preferred threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is the most taxing, producing an average of 42 FPS, which is not suitable for a responsive experience.

The data shows a clear trend: performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. The step from 1080p to 1440p reduces average FPS by roughly 25-35% depending on the preset. The jump to 4K is more severe, with a further reduction of about 35-40% from 1440p figures. This indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific pairing holds a rank of 1950 out of 3714 tested combos. This places it in the 53rd percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of configurations but is outclassed by a substantial number of higher-end setups.

This mid-pack ranking is consistent with the hardware's individual specifications. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a capable desktop processor with 20 cores and 20 threads, achieving a 93rd percentile score in the overall CPU benchmark database. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, while an older architecture, still performs respectably, ranking in the 72nd percentile for all GPUs. The combination of a high-end CPU with a mid-to-high-end GPU results in a system that is well-balanced for 1440p gaming but is not designed to be a top-tier 4K performer.

The combo's rank suggests that while it can handle the game, there are 1,764 other configurations in the database that deliver higher average frame rates. This is not a criticism of the hardware, but rather an indication that for those seeking maximum performance at 4K or with ultra-high refresh rate displays, more powerful components would be necessary.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the workload is distributed between the CPU and GPU across different resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is likely more CPU-bound, as the high frame rates (e.g., 191 FPS on Low) require the processor to feed the GPU with data quickly. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265, with its 20 cores and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, is well-suited for this task.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440 and then 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The rendering workload grows exponentially with pixel count, and the RX 6700 XT's capabilities are taxed more heavily. This is evidenced by the significant drop in average FPS at 4K compared to 1080p, even at the same settings. For instance, the High preset drops from 118 FPS at 1080p to 87 FPS at 1440p and further to 56 FPS at 4K.

The scaling between presets also highlights the GPU's role. At a fixed resolution, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is entirely a GPU workload increase. At 1080p, the gap between Low (191 FPS) and Ultra (89 FPS) is a 102 FPS drop, showing the GPU is still responsible for a large portion of the performance variance. At 4K, the same settings gap results in a 48 FPS drop (90 to 42 FPS), confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor in higher resolution scenarios. The CPU, while important for maintaining high frame rates at lower resolutions, has ample headroom and is not the performance limiter in this game for this combo.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? Yes, with some caveats depending on the target resolution.

• At 1920x1080, the system is fully capable of running the game at all tested presets. The Ultra preset maintains an average of 89 FPS, well above the 60 FPS threshold.
• At 2560x1440, the system also clears the 60 FPS bar on all presets, including Ultra with an average of 65 FPS.
• At 3840x2160, the system can run the game, but only on Low (avg 90 FPS) and Medium (avg 64 FPS) presets. The High preset falls short of the 60 FPS target with an average of 56 FPS, and Ultra is not playable at an average of 42 FPS.

The verdict is clear: this combination is an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming and very capable for smooth 1440p gaming at high settings. For 4K, users will need to adjust settings to Medium or lower to maintain a consistent 60 FPS experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC handle Lockdown Protocol at 1440p on Ultra settings?

A: Yes. Benchmark results show an average FPS of 65 at 2560x1440 with the Ultra preset, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates that the Medium preset is the most demanding setting that achieves an average FPS above 60 at 3840x2160, with an average of 64 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to other processors in the database?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 scores in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, placing it in the top 7% of processors tested. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which is only 0.3% behind in average benchmark score.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the system achieves very high frame rates (up to 191 FPS on Low settings). While the GPU is still the primary renderer, the CPU's strong single-threaded performance ensures it is not the primary limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p on High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with the High preset is 118 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 6700 XT compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has a benchmark score that is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile (0% delta) and is only 0.5% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 in average score.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured data and the 60 FPS playability threshold, the following settings are recommended for the best visual quality while maintaining smooth gameplay:

• 3840x2160: Medium preset. This yields an average FPS of 64, which is just above the 60 FPS target. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended as they fall below the threshold.
• 2560x1440: Ultra preset. This is the most demanding setting and still achieves an average of 65 FPS, providing the best visual experience at this resolution.
• 1920x1080: Ultra preset. With an average of 89 FPS, this setting provides the highest visual fidelity while maintaining a significant margin above the 60 FPS floor.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering this build, the benchmark data shows that several other components would deliver very similar performance levels.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is a near-identical match to the 265, with an average benchmark score only 0.3% higher. This would be a drop-in alternative with virtually no performance difference. On the AMD side, the AMD EPYC 9124 is 0.7% slower, while the AMD EPYC 4464P is 0.3% slower and the AMD EPYC 7343 is 0.7% faster. These are server-class processors, however, and not typical desktop alternatives.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile has an identical average benchmark score (0% delta) to the RX 6700 XT. This is a laptop GPU, so it is not a direct desktop alternative, but it indicates a similar performance tier. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 is only 0.5% faster in average score, and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is 1.1% slower. These comparisons suggest that the RX 6700 XT sits in a performance class where a range of NVIDIA offerings would provide a similar user experience in Lockdown Protocol.