Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that demands a balanced system, and this pairing of an Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with an AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT delivers a strong performance profile across all common resolutions. The data shows a system that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold at 1080p and 1440p, even at the highest settings, while 4K requires a slight compromise on preset quality to maintain smooth gameplay. This analysis breaks down exactly what to expect from this combination, where it stands relative to similar hardware, and which settings to prioritize.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark data places this specific CPU and GPU combination in a well-defined performance neighborhood, making it easy to identify alternative hardware that would produce comparable results. For the processor, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84003. Its closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83807 on average, a mere 0.2% difference. This means that in CPU-bound scenarios, swapping to the 285K would yield nearly identical frame rates. The AMD EPYC 4584PX and AMD EPYC 9135 are also close, with average scores of 83090 and 82980 respectively, showing a 1.1% and 1.2% gap. On the other side, the AMD EPYC 7F72 scores 85072, which is 1.3% higher, indicating it is a marginally faster alternative. For gaming purposes, these differences are negligible, so any of these processors would behave in a practically identical manner when paired with the RX 7700 XT.

On the graphics side, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT holds the 67th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 22549. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile, which scores 22435, a 0.5% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile is also very close at 22729, showing a -0.8% delta. Interestingly, the desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22895, which is 1.5% higher, while the older AMD Radeon RX 5700 scores 22170, a 1.7% gap. In practical terms, this means that a system with any of these GPUs would produce frame rates within a couple of percentage points of each other in Lockdown Protocol. The data indicates that the RX 7700 XT is a solid mid-range performer, and users with any of these comparable cards should see very similar gameplay experiences, with the RTX 2080 being the most capable of the group.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on the most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally capable. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 102 FPS, which is the highest quality setting available and remains well above the playable threshold. This is the recommended choice for full visual fidelity. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset still holds up, with an average of 75 FPS. This allows for maximum detail settings at 1440p without sacrificing smoothness. However, the margin above 60 FPS is thinner than at 1080p, so users sensitive to frame drops might prefer the High preset, which averages 100 FPS for a more comfortable buffer.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 48 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold and is not recommended for smooth play. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is High, which averages 64 FPS. This is the best choice for 4K gaming, providing a playable experience with a modest reduction in visual quality compared to Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K averages 74 FPS, offering an alternative with a larger safety margin, while the Low preset hits 104 FPS for high-refresh-rate 4K displays, though with significant visual compromises. The data clearly shows that 4K requires a step down from Ultra, but the system is otherwise capable of handling the highest settings at lower resolutions.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a balanced system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings, while the CPU maintains consistent performance across the board. At 1920x1080, the CPU’s strength is evident. The difference between Low and Ultra settings is substantial, with the average FPS dropping from 219 to 102. This scaling shows that at 1080p, the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting, and the powerful Core Ultra 9 290K Plus ensures that frame rates remain high even when the graphics card is stressed. The CPU’s high single-thread and multi-thread scores, such as 7303 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 51731 in multi-core, support this, ensuring no bottleneck at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced. The Ultra preset averages 75 FPS, while Low averages 161 FPS. The gap between settings narrows compared to 1080p, indicating that the RX 7700 XT is starting to become the limiting factor. The CPU still has headroom, as evidenced by the fact that the High preset (100 FPS) is only slightly lower than Medium (114 FPS). At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant component. The Ultra preset averages just 48 FPS, and even High only reaches 64 FPS. The CPU’s performance is largely irrelevant at this resolution, as the RX 7700 XT’s 12 GB of memory and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are the primary constraints. The scaling between 1440p and 4K at Ultra settings shows a drop from 75 to 48 FPS, a 36% reduction, which is a direct result of the GPU’s rendering load increasing with pixel count.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol, and it does so with authority at most settings. According to the verdictByResolution data, at 1920x1080, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 102 FPS. This is a definitive yes for 1080p gaming, and the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at this resolution. At 2560x1440, the same is true: all presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 75 FPS. This makes 1440p the sweet spot for this combination, offering a perfect balance of visual quality and performance. The system can handle the highest settings without any compromises.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is more nuanced. The Ultra preset is not playable, averaging only 48 FPS. However, the High, Medium, and Low presets all clear the 60 FPS threshold, with High being the best playable setting at 64 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is possible, but users must be willing to dial back the preset from Ultra to High. This is a reasonable trade-off, as High still provides a visually rich experience. The overall verdict is that this system is a strong performer for Lockdown Protocol, fully capable of max settings at 1080p and 1440p, and requiring only a single-step reduction in quality for 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 219 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates a CPU-bound scenario. The Medium preset averages 156 FPS, with a minimum of 132 and a maximum of 179. High averages 136 FPS, and Ultra averages 102 FPS. The frame pacing at 1080p is excellent, with no data suggesting any stuttering issues. At 2560x1440, Low averages 161 FPS, Medium averages 114 FPS (min 97, max 131), High averages 100 FPS, and Ultra averages 75 FPS. The minimum frame rates at Medium show that the system maintains a solid floor above 60 FPS even in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the performance scales down as expected. Low averages 104 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS (min 63, max 85), High averages 64 FPS, and Ultra averages 48 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 63 FPS is just above the playable threshold, indicating that this setting is safe for consistent 60 FPS gameplay. The High preset’s average of 64 FPS suggests that it is playable, but the margin is thinner, and users may experience occasional dips below 60 FPS in the most intense moments. The Ultra preset at 4K is clearly not viable for smooth play, as its average of 48 FPS falls well below the threshold. The data overall shows a linear progression of performance as resolution and settings increase, with the system being most comfortable at 1440p and below.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 48, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages 64 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 75 FPS, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality while staying above the 60 FPS threshold. All other presets are also playable at this resolution.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K’s score of 83807. This difference is negligible in real-world gaming performance.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a significant role, as evidenced by the high frame rates. The Low preset averages 219 FPS, indicating the GPU is not the primary bottleneck at this resolution.

Q: What is the lowest playable setting at 4K?

A: The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 104 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the lowest quality setting but remains fully playable for high-refresh-rate 4K displays.

Q: Does this GPU have enough memory for 4K?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 192-bit bus. The benchmark data shows that it can handle 4K at High settings with 64 FPS, but Ultra settings drop to 48 FPS, suggesting that memory capacity and bandwidth are limiting factors at the highest quality preset.