Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 pairing produces a distinctive performance profile in Lockdown Protocol, one defined by a high-end CPU carrying a mid-range GPU. The benchmark data shows this combo ranks 2009th out of 3714 tested configurations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. The CPU sits in the 96th percentile of all processors tested, while the GPU ranks in the 61st percentile, indicating a system where the processor has substantial headroom over the graphics card.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU side of this combo has close neighbors that would deliver nearly identical processing performance. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the nearest rival, with an average benchmark score of 83807 against the 290K Plus’s 84003 average — a mere 0.2% difference. In practical terms, swapping between these two processors would produce indistinguishable results in Lockdown Protocol. The AMD EPYC 4584PX trails by 1.1% with a score of 83090, while the AMD EPYC 9135 sits 1.2% behind at 82980. On the opposite side, the AMD EPYC 7F72 actually leads this CPU by 1.3%, scoring 85072. These four rivals represent the performance envelope within which the Ultra 9 290K Plus operates, and all would behave similarly in CPU-bound scenarios.

The GPU comparisons are more striking. The RTX 4060’s nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666 compared to the 4060’s 17639 — a delta of just -0.2%. This is a surprising pairing on paper, given the generational gap, but the benchmark data places them statistically even. The AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics come within 0.3% at 17588, meaning a system relying on that iGPU would produce nearly identical frame rates in GPU-limited situations. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 trail by 0.5% and 0.7% respectively, with scores of 17551 and 17509. For Lockdown Protocol specifically, any of these GPU alternatives would deliver similar average FPS, though the RTX 4060’s 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth may provide advantages in texture-heavy scenes that the synthetic averages do not fully capture.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 4K with this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Medium, which delivers an average of 63 FPS. Low also clears the 60 FPS threshold at 89 FPS average, but High falls short at 55 FPS and Ultra drops to 42 FPS.

Q: Does this system maintain 60 FPS at 1440p on Ultra settings?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings produce an average of 64 FPS, just clearing the playable threshold. All four settings — Low at 138 FPS, Medium at 98 FPS, High at 86 FPS, and Ultra at 64 FPS — are playable at this resolution.

Q: How much performance headroom exists at 1080p?

A: Substantial. At 1920x1080, Low settings hit 189 FPS average, Medium reaches 134 FPS, High manages 117 FPS, and even Ultra holds 88 FPS. This represents more than 46% headroom above the 60 FPS threshold even at the most demanding preset.

Q: What are the minimum frame rates at Medium settings?

A: The data includes min FPS only for Medium settings. At 1080p, the minimum is 114 FPS; at 1440p, it is 83 FPS; at 4K, it drops to 54 FPS. The 4K minimum falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, meaning occasional dips may occur.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: The combination ranks 2009th out of 3714 total configurations tested in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 54th percentile of all tested combos.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the constraint. The CPU ranks in the 96th percentile of all processors, while the GPU sits in the 61st percentile. At 4K Ultra, the system falls to 42 FPS average, indicating the RTX 4060 cannot sustain the rendering load at that resolution and preset.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings levels, with full min/max data available only for the Medium preset. At 3840x2160, the results show a steep drop-off as settings increase. Low settings produce 89 FPS average, which is comfortably playable. Medium settings yield 63 FPS average with a minimum of 54 and maximum of 73 — the minimum dips below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating some frame pacing inconsistency. High settings fall to 55 FPS average, just under the playable line. Ultra settings deliver only 42 FPS average, making this preset unsuitable for smooth gameplay at 4K.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance improves markedly. Low settings reach 138 FPS average, providing significant headroom. Medium settings deliver 98 FPS average with a minimum of 83 and maximum of 113, maintaining a solid frame rate throughout. High settings produce 86 FPS average, still well above the threshold. Ultra settings manage 64 FPS average, barely clearing the 60 FPS mark. The 1440p results demonstrate that this resolution is the sweet spot for the RTX 4060, with all presets remaining playable.

At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably across the board. Low settings hit 189 FPS average, which is excellent for competitive play. Medium settings deliver 134 FPS average with a minimum of 114 and maximum of 154, ensuring smooth performance even during intense scenes. High settings maintain 117 FPS average, and Ultra settings hold 88 FPS average. The 1080p data shows no scenario where this combo struggles, with the lowest minimum FPS recorded being 114 at Medium settings.

The Verdict

This system can run Lockdown Protocol at all three tested resolutions, but with important caveats at 4K. At 3840x2160, the playable settings are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best choice at 63 FPS average. High and Ultra settings do not clear the 60 FPS threshold at this resolution, so those presets should be avoided for consistent gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is more favorable. All four settings — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable. Ultra settings deliver 64 FPS average, which clears the threshold but leaves only 4 FPS of headroom. For a more comfortable margin, High settings at 86 FPS average provide a better balance of visual quality and performance stability.

At 1920x1080, the system excels. Every preset is playable, with Ultra settings delivering 88 FPS average. This resolution provides the best experience, with enough performance headroom to handle demanding scenes without dropping below 60 FPS. The data indicates that 1080p is where this combo truly shines, offering high frame rates even at maximum settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which achieves an average of 63 FPS. This setting provides the best visual quality available while maintaining playability at 4K, though the 54 FPS minimum suggests occasional dips below the threshold during heavy action sequences.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings are the best choice, delivering 64 FPS average. This represents the highest visual fidelity available at this resolution while still clearing the 60 FPS line. The 64 FPS average provides adequate performance, though players seeking more consistent frame rates might prefer High at 86 FPS for additional stability.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 88 FPS average, making this the clear recommendation. The system has enough performance headroom to run the most demanding preset at this resolution with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. This combination of maximum visual quality and high frame rates makes 1080p Ultra the optimal configuration for this hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 2009th out of 3714 tested configurations in Lockdown Protocol, placing it just past the midpoint of all tested systems. This ranking reflects the imbalance between the high-end CPU and mid-range GPU. The processor’s 96th percentile standing among all CPUs indicates it provides ample processing power, while the GPU’s 61st percentile shows it is the limiting factor in this pairing.

In the context of the database, this combo sits in a crowded field. The ranking suggests that many systems with more balanced CPU-GPU pairings achieve better results in this game. The CPU’s nearest rivals all score within 1.3% of each other, confirming that processor choice is not the differentiator here. The GPU’s closest competitors — including the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and Radeon 780M — demonstrate that the RTX 4060 performs at a level comparable to significantly older or integrated solutions in synthetic benchmarks, which translates to its mid-pack positioning in Lockdown Protocol. For players targeting high refresh rates at 1080p, this combo performs adequately, but the data indicates that the GPU holds back the system from reaching higher rankings among the 3714 tested configurations.