Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, demands a balanced blend of CPU and GPU muscle, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers a performance profile that is both high-tier and clearly defined by resolution. The data indicates a system that is overwhelmingly capable at mainstream resolutions, with a predictable and manageable drop-off at 4K Ultra. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes it against similar hardware, and provides a definitive verdict on what settings will keep you above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Benchmark data positions the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus in a tight cluster of high-end processors. Its average benchmark score of 84,003 places it just 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83,807. This effectively means that in CPU-bound scenarios, swapping between these two processors would yield nearly imperceptible differences in frame pacing. The AMD EPYC 4584PX is also a close competitor, trailing by a mere 1.1% with a score of 83,090. Further down the list, the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% behind, and the AMD EPYC 7F72 is actually 1.3% ahead of the 290K Plus, scoring 85,072. For a gamer building a system, these rival chips represent alternative paths to similar CPU performance, though the EPYC models are primarily aimed at workstation and server markets.

On the graphics side, the Radeon RX 6800 XT, with an average benchmark score of 48,477, finds itself in a competitive mid-to-high tier. The NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile is a close neighbor, scoring 47,743, which is 1.5% lower. This suggests that in GPU-bound scenarios at higher resolutions, the RX 6800 XT would hold a slight edge over that mobile workstation part. Interestingly, the data shows the RX 6800 XT is positioned just behind a couple of other cards. The Intel Arc A550M scores 49,737, which is 2.5% higher, and both the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 score 49,957 and 50,001 respectively, placing them 3% ahead. While the RTX 5070 Ti is a much newer generation, its presence here indicates that in this specific game's benchmark, the older RX 6800 XT is not far off in raw output. For users considering alternatives, these four GPUs represent the closest performance envelope, with the RX 6800 XT serving as a robust baseline for 1440p and entry-level 4K gaming.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the system is heavily CPU-bound. The jump from Low to Ultra settings shows a performance delta, but the absolute frame rates—242 FPS on Low and 113 FPS on Ultra—are so high that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is clearly feeding the GPU more than enough data. The GPU's role is secondary at this resolution, as even the most demanding preset is handled with massive headroom.

Moving to 2560x1440, the balance begins to tip. The GPU starts to take on a more significant role, but the data suggests the CPU is still pulling its weight. The scaling from Low (177 FPS) to Ultra (82 FPS) is pronounced, indicating that the graphical load is increasing. However, the fact that even Ultra settings maintain an average above 80 FPS demonstrates that the combination is well-matched. The RX 6800 XT is being tasked with more work, but the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has enough single-threaded and multi-threaded performance to avoid creating a bottleneck.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive limiting factor. The average FPS at Ultra settings drops to 53, a significant 35% decrease from the 82 FPS at 1440p Ultra. Meanwhile, the CPU's workload does not increase with resolution, meaning its performance headroom remains constant. The data shows that the RX 6800 XT's rendering capabilities are saturated at 4K, making the graphics card the sole determinant of performance. The CPU's high scores in benchmarks like Cinebench R23 (51,731 multi-core) and Passmark (60,860 multi-thread) are irrelevant here, as the bottleneck is entirely on the GPU's 20.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data provides clear guidance on the optimal settings for maintaining a playable experience above the 60 FPS threshold at each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally powerful. Every preset, from Low to Ultra, clears the 60 FPS target with ease. The most demanding preset that achieves this is Ultra, which delivers an average of 113 FPS. This is the best possible visual experience at this resolution without sacrificing smoothness, and it leaves considerable headroom for future, more demanding updates or background tasks.

For 2560x1440, the system again has no trouble. All four presets are playable, with Ultra providing an average of 82 FPS. This is the recommended setting for 1440p, as it offers the highest visual fidelity while still maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The 82 FPS average ensures that even demanding scenes are unlikely to cause stutter or drops below the target.

At 3840x2160, the system's limits become apparent. The Ultra preset, with an average of 53 FPS, fails to meet the 60 FPS threshold and is therefore not playable. The most demanding playable preset at this resolution is High, which delivers an average of 71 FPS. While this is above the threshold, it is a smaller margin than at lower resolutions. The Medium preset is also playable at 81 FPS, but High offers a better visual experience for the performance cost.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can definitively run Lockdown Protocol, but the quality of that experience is entirely resolution-dependent.

• 1920x1080: A flawless performance profile. All presets, including Ultra, run far above the 60 FPS threshold. The verdict is a resounding yes.
• 2560x1440: Excellent performance. The system handles all presets, with Ultra hitting 82 FPS. This is a highly enjoyable gaming experience with no compromises.
• 3840x2160: A conditional pass. The system cannot handle the Ultra preset, which dips to 53 FPS. However, it runs High settings at a solid 71 FPS. Users seeking 4K gaming must accept a reduction in graphical fidelity to High or Medium to maintain smooth gameplay.

Ultimately, the data shows this combo is a superb 1440p and 1080p machine. For 4K, it is a capable performer, but only when settings are moderated.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data is derived directly from measured benchmarks.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average 242 FPS.
• Medium: Average 172 FPS, with a minimum of 146 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS.
• High: Average 150 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 113 FPS.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average 177 FPS.
• Medium: Average 126 FPS, with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS.
• High: Average 110 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 82 FPS.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average 115 FPS.
• Medium: Average 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS.
• High: Average 71 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 53 FPS.

These numbers illustrate a consistent scaling pattern. The transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a roughly 30% reduction in average FPS across most presets, which is typical. The step from 1440p to 4K is much more severe, with the Ultra preset losing 35% of its performance and the Low preset dropping by 35% as well. The frame time variance, visible in the min/max figures at Medium settings, also expands with resolution, indicating that 4K places more stress on the system's ability to maintain consistent frame pacing.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware configurations for Lockdown Protocol, this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ranks at 1161 out of 3714 tested combos. This places it in the top 31% of all systems benchmarked for this game.

This ranking is a strong indicator of overall capability. While it is not at the absolute pinnacle of performance—where combinations of top-tier CPUs and GPUs like the RTX 5070 Ti likely reside—it is well within the upper echelon. The ranking reflects the balance of the system. The CPU's 96th percentile standing among all CPUs is dragged down slightly by the GPU's 85th percentile standing, resulting in a combined performance that is high but not elite. For the vast majority of players, a rank of 1161 out of 3714 means this system will provide a high-end experience, particularly at 1080p and 1440p, where it will outperform a significant majority of other configurations.