Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with resolution. For this system pairing the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, the measured data shows that 4K gaming is possible but requires compromises, while 1440p and 1080p allow for maximum visual fidelity. The benchmark results indicate a clear performance hierarchy across the three tested resolutions, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at higher pixel counts. The following analysis breaks down the optimal settings, component roles, and measured frame rates to provide a complete picture of what this combination can deliver.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is Medium, which yields an average of 67 FPS. The data shows that High settings drop to 59 FPS, just below the playable threshold, while Ultra falls to 44 FPS. Low settings are also playable at 95 FPS, but Medium offers a better balance of visual quality and performance for this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves substantially. The system can run Ultra settings at an average of 68 FPS, which is the best visual preset available. All four settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with averages ranging from 147 FPS at Low to 68 FPS at Ultra. Since the threshold is 60 FPS, Ultra is the clear recommendation for 1440p gaming.

At 1920x1080, the pairing is more than capable of handling the highest settings. Ultra runs at an average of 93 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows that even the most demanding preset is not a challenge, as Low settings reach 200 FPS and Medium hits 142 FPS. For 1080p, there is no reason to lower settings below Ultra for a smooth experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU. At 1080p, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has ample headroom, as evidenced by the 200 FPS average at Low settings. This suggests the CPU can feed frames quickly, but the GPU is still the limiting factor when moving to higher presets. The drop from 200 FPS at Low to 93 FPS at Ultra at this resolution indicates that the RX 6750 XT is handling the increased graphical load.

At 1440p, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced. Scaling from 1080p Low to 1440p Low shows a reduction from 200 FPS to 147 FPS, a 26.5% decrease that aligns with the higher pixel count. However, the gap between presets narrows compared to 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is becoming the primary constraint. The Ultra preset at 1440p delivers 68 FPS, which is 26.9% lower than the 93 FPS at 1080p Ultra, further confirming the GPU's dominance.

At 4K, the CPU is largely irrelevant for frame rate determination. The RX 6750 XT is the clear bottleneck, as evidenced by the steep drop in performance. The difference between 1440p Ultra (68 FPS) and 4K Ultra (44 FPS) is a 35.3% reduction, while Low settings go from 147 FPS at 1440p to 95 FPS at 4K, a 35.4% decrease. This consistent scaling indicates that the GPU's rendering throughput is the sole limiting factor at 3840x2160, with the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus providing more than enough processing power to avoid becoming a constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high across all presets. Low settings deliver an average of 200 FPS, Medium averages 142 FPS with a minimum of 121 and a maximum of 164, and High averages 124 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 93 FPS, which is the lowest at this resolution but still well above the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings average 147 FPS, while Medium averages 104 FPS with a range of 89 to 120 FPS. High settings deliver 91 FPS on average, and Ultra drops to 68 FPS. All presets remain above the 60 FPS playable threshold, making 1440p a strong option for this combo.

At 3840x2160, the data shows a more limited range of playable options. Low settings average 95 FPS, Medium averages 67 FPS with a minimum of 57 and a maximum of 77, and High averages 59 FPS, just below the threshold. Ultra is the most demanding preset, averaging 44 FPS, which is not playable by the 60 FPS standard. The min and max values for Medium at 4K indicate some frame time variance, but the average remains above 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 1709 out of 3714 combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 46th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it performs better than roughly 46% of combinations but is outclassed by the majority. The rank reflects the mid-range nature of the GPU, which holds back the high-end CPU in this specific game.

The CPU itself is a top-tier performer, sitting in the 96th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 84003. The GPU, however, is in the 71st percentile among all GPUs with an average score of 26011. The disparity between the two components explains the overall combo rank: the 290K Plus has significant headroom, but the RX 6750 XT limits the system's ability to push higher frame rates, particularly at 4K resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals to the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the closest match, with an average score of 83807 and a delta of just 0.2% from the 290K Plus. This means the 285K would deliver nearly identical performance in Lockdown Protocol, making it a direct substitute if available. The AMD EPYC 4584PX (score 83090, delta 1.1%) and AMD EPYC 9135 (score 82980, delta 1.2%) are also within a narrow margin, though these are server-class chips unlikely to be used in a gaming desktop. The AMD EPYC 7F72 scores slightly higher at 85072, a delta of -1.3%, but again is not a typical consumer choice.

For the GPU, the closest rival is the AMD Radeon R9 M395X, which has an average score of 25891 and a delta of 0.5% from the RX 6750 XT's 26011. This suggests that a system with an R9 M395X would produce very similar frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, though it is a much older mobile part. The AMD FirePro W7100 (score 25856, delta 0.6%) and AMD FirePro D700 (score 25842, delta 0.7%) are also within 1% performance, but these are workstation GPUs with different driver optimizations. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile is the final rival, with a score of 25740 and a delta of 1.1%, indicating slightly lower performance than the RX 6750 XT in this benchmark context.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low or Medium settings. The data shows Medium averages 67 FPS and Low averages 95 FPS at 3840x2160. High settings fall to 59 FPS, and Ultra drops to 44 FPS, both below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: Ultra is the best setting at 2560x1440, as it delivers an average of 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. All four presets are playable at this resolution, so there is no need to compromise on visual quality.

Q: How does the frame rate scale from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 93. Moving to 1440p Ultra reduces this to 68 FPS, a 26.9% drop. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to 44 FPS, a 35.3% reduction from 1440p and a 52.7% drop from 1080p.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 200 FPS, indicating the CPU can handle high frame rates. However, as resolution increases, the frame rates drop consistently, showing that the RX 6750 XT's rendering capacity is the primary constraint.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1709 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 46th percentile. The CPU is in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 71st percentile, highlighting the GPU as the performance bottleneck.

Q: What hardware would perform similarly to this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is nearly identical, with a 0.2% difference in average score. For the GPU, the AMD Radeon R9 M395X is the closest rival at 0.5% difference, followed by the AMD FirePro W7100 and D700 at 0.6% and 0.7% respectively.