Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, the 2024 FPS title, shows itself to be remarkably forgiving on high-end hardware. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers frame rates that not only clear the 60 FPS playable threshold but do so with significant headroom at every tested resolution. Benchmark data indicates that this pairing is overkill for achieving smooth gameplay, pushing the limits of high-refresh-rate displays even at the most demanding settings. The measured results place this combo in the 205th position out of 3714 tested configurations, a ranking that underscores its position in the upper echelon of gaming performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data reveals that this hardware configuration never struggles to maintain playable frame rates, even when settings are maxed out. The most demanding preset tested, Ultra, remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold at all resolutions, making it the definitive choice for users who prioritize visual fidelity without sacrificing performance.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset yields an average of 73 FPS. This is the only resolution where the frame rate dips below the 100 FPS mark at the highest settings, but it still provides a smooth and immersive experience that is well-suited for slower-paced or visually demanding single-player segments. For those seeking higher refresh rates at 4K, dropping to High increases the average to 98 FPS, while the Medium preset delivers 112 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset achieves a robust 113 FPS average. This is a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors, as the combination of 1440p resolution and high settings provides excellent image quality with frame rates that can fully utilize 120Hz or even 144Hz displays. The High preset scales up to 151 FPS, and the Low preset reaches 244 FPS, showing the game's strong scaling with reduced graphical load.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system is purely CPU-bound at lower settings. The Ultra preset delivers an outstanding 155 FPS average, making it the best setting for users with 1080p displays that support refresh rates up to 155Hz. The data shows that the GPU is so powerful at this resolution that even the most demanding preset leaves significant performance on the table, with the Low preset hitting a staggering 333 FPS average. For all three resolutions, the Ultra preset is the recommended starting point, as it is the highest visual quality setting that remains at or above the 60 FPS target.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide a clear picture of what other hardware would deliver near-identical performance in Lockdown Protocol. For the central processor, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the closest match, with an average benchmark score of 83807 compared to the 290K Plus's 84003, a negligible delta of 0.2%. This means gamers with the 285K should expect essentially the same frame rates, particularly in scenarios where the CPU is the limiting factor.

The AMD EPYC 4584PX and AMD EPYC 9135 also sit within a 1.1% and 1.2% delta respectively, though these are server-class processors that are unlikely to be found in a gaming desktop. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is slightly faster, with a delta of -1.3%, indicating it would be a marginal upgrade in CPU-bound situations. For the graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the direct equivalent, with a delta of just 0.1% from the standard RTX 4080. Users with the SUPER variant would see virtually indistinguishable performance.

Interestingly, the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, and AMD Radeon 8060S are listed as rivals with deltas of -1.1%, -2.6%, and -2.7% respectively. This suggests that, despite being from different generations or market segments, their average benchmark scores are close enough that in a game like Lockdown Protocol, which appears to scale well across hardware, the playable experience would be highly similar. However, the exact frame rates would vary depending on the specific workload.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance scaling across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the frame rate drops from 157 FPS on Low settings to 112 FPS on Medium, further down to 98 FPS on High, and finally to 73 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, showing a range of 95 to 129 FPS, which indicates a variance of about 34 FPS during gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the scaling is similar but with higher absolute numbers. Low settings produce 244 FPS, Medium drops to 173 FPS, High to 151 FPS, and Ultra to 113 FPS. The Medium preset here shows a min of 147 FPS and a max of 199 FPS, a variance of 52 FPS. This wider range suggests that 1440p Medium is more demanding on the CPU, leading to larger frame time spikes.

At 1920x1080, the numbers become extreme. Low settings hit 333 FPS, Medium 236 FPS, High 206 FPS, and Ultra 155 FPS. The Medium preset's min/max is 201 to 272 FPS, a variance of 71 FPS. The performance gap between Low and Medium is substantial (97 FPS), while the gap between High and Ultra is smaller (51 FPS), indicating that the Ultra preset introduces heavier effects that tax the GPU even at 1080p. The overall trend shows that as resolution decreases, the CPU becomes the primary bottleneck, especially at lower settings where the GPU has plenty of headroom.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with all settings maxed out?

A: Yes. The benchmark data shows that at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 73 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest refresh rate monitor this combo can fully support at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 113. This means a 120Hz monitor can be fully utilized, and the frame rate is high enough to provide a smooth experience on a 144Hz display, though it won't hit the absolute maximum refresh rate.

Q: How much performance is lost when going from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate drops from 333 FPS on Low to 155 FPS on Ultra, a reduction of 178 FPS or roughly 53% of the Low setting's performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER a significantly better choice than the RTX 4080 for this game?

A: No. The average benchmark score delta between the two is only 0.1%, so the in-game frame rates would be virtually identical.

Q: At which resolution does the CPU start to limit performance more than the GPU?

A: At 1920x1080, the frame rates at Low (333 FPS) and Medium (236 FPS) are so high that the CPU becomes the limiting factor. The GPU has enough power to render frames faster than the CPU can process them.

Q: Does the game have a large performance variance during gameplay?

A: The data for Medium settings shows a min/max spread of 34 FPS at 4K, 52 FPS at 1440p, and 71 FPS at 1080p. This variance is more pronounced at lower resolutions, suggesting CPU-related frame time spikes.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU. At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant bottleneck. The frame rate drops significantly as settings increase, from 157 FPS on Low to 73 FPS on Ultra, a 54% reduction. This is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance, where the graphics card's rendering capabilities are being fully taxed by the higher pixel count and more complex shaders.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts. The GPU still plays a major role, as evidenced by the drop from 244 FPS on Low to 113 FPS on Ultra (a 54% reduction), but the CPU begins to show its influence. The wider min/max variance at Medium settings (147-199 FPS) compared to 4K (95-129 FPS) suggests that the CPU is having to work harder to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic at the higher frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the CPU becomes the primary bottleneck. The frame rates are extremely high across all settings, with Low hitting 333 FPS and Ultra still at 155 FPS. The fact that even the Ultra preset cannot push the frame rate below 155 FPS indicates that the GPU is not being fully utilized at this resolution. The performance scaling between settings is also less steep than at higher resolutions, confirming that the CPU's processing speed is the limiting factor. The large min/max variance at 1080p Medium (201-272 FPS) further supports this, as CPU thread scheduling and game logic can cause frame time inconsistencies that are less noticeable when the GPU is the bottleneck.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 holds the 205th rank out of 3714 combos. This places it in the top 5.5% of all tested systems, a position that reflects its high-end status. The CPU alone sits in the 96th percentile against all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 86th percentile against all GPUs, meaning the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card in this pairing.

This ranking suggests that while the combo is exceptionally powerful, there are 204 other configurations that deliver even higher frame rates in Lockdown Protocol. These would likely consist of newer or more expensive components, such as a GeForce RTX 4090 or a more specialized CPU. However, the practical difference in gameplay is minimal, as this combo already exceeds the 60 FPS target at all settings and resolutions. The high rank also indicates that the system has no weak links; the CPU and GPU are well-matched, with neither component severely bottlenecking the other in most scenarios. For a game like Lockdown Protocol, which appears to be well-optimized based on the high frame rates, this combo provides an excellent foundation for a high-refresh-rate gaming experience.