Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol pairs the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, creating a combination where a 6-core, 12-thread 2018-era CPU meets a 5 nm Ada Lovelace flagship-class GPU. The benchmark data reveals a system that is consistently capable at high refresh rates, yet the performance scaling across resolutions and settings exposes a clear imbalance between the two components. This analysis interprets the measured FPS rows, relative rankings, and hardware characteristics to explain what this pairing means for the game.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured combo ranks 990th out of 3,714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 26th percentile of all possible pairings. This is a modest position for hardware that includes a GPU with an 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs. The discrepancy between the GPU's high individual standing and the combo's mid-tier rank suggests that the CPU is significantly limiting the overall result. Benchmark results indicate that while the RTX 4080 is a top-tier performer on its own, the Ryzen 5 2600 cannot fully feed it in this FPS title, dragging the pairing down from what the GPU alone might suggest.

The data implies that most of the 2,724 combos ranked above this one likely feature more modern processors. The RTX 4080's nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the RTX 4080 SUPER with a delta of just 0.1%, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X at -1.1%. This means the GPU is performing essentially at its expected level relative to its peers. However, the CPU's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V and the Intel Core i9-11900H, have average scores within 0.5% of the Ryzen 5 2600, indicating that the processor is also performing to its expected, albeit older, standard. The rank of 990 is therefore a direct result of pairing a top-tier GPU with a mid-range, older CPU, creating a bottleneck that prevents the combo from entering the top echelon of tested configurations.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this pairing, bringing 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. Its base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and the memory operates at 1400 MHz with an effective data rate of 22.4 Gbps. These specifications are critical for handling the high-resolution textures and geometry that Lockdown Protocol can present. The data shows that this GPU is capable of driving the game to very high frame rates, but its full potential is only realized at lower resolutions where the CPU can keep up.

In the measured results, the GPU's raw power is evident in the 4K High preset, which achieves an average of 98 FPS. This is a demanding scenario that relies heavily on the GPU's shading units (9,728) and texture mapping units (304) to render the scene. The 16 GB VRAM capacity is ample for the game's assets, even at 4K, meaning memory capacity is unlikely to be a limiting factor in these tests. The GPU's percentile rank of 86 confirms its high standing, and its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is virtually identical in performance, underscoring that the RTX 4080 is performing as expected. The GPU's role is to provide the massive headroom for frame rates, but the data suggests it is often waiting on the CPU to provide draw calls and physics calculations.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K provides a clear picture of where the bottleneck lies. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 176 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 Low, the average drops to 158 FPS, a decrease of 10.2%. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls further to 137 FPS, which is a 22.2% drop from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is relatively gentle, which is a classic sign of a CPU limitation at lower resolutions. The CPU is working near its maximum capacity to maintain those high frame rates, so the GPU is not fully utilized until the resolution increases and the rendering load becomes heavier.

The High preset tells a similar story, with 148 FPS at 1080p, 133 FPS at 1440p, and 98 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result shows a 33.8% drop from 1080p High, which is a larger percentage decline than the Low preset. This indicates that as resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows, and the system begins to shift from a CPU-bound state to a more balanced or GPU-bound state. The Ultra preset data shows the steepest drop, from 133 FPS at 1080p to 113 FPS at 1440p and 73 FPS at 4K. This 45.1% reduction from 1080p to 4K Ultra highlights how the GPU becomes the primary limiter at maximum settings and high resolutions, finally allowing the RTX 4080 to stretch its legs. The implication is that at 1080p, the Ryzen 5 2600 is the limiting component, while at 4K Ultra, the RTX 4080's workload becomes the dominant constraint.

FAQ

Q: Why is the combo rank so low when the GPU is so powerful?

A: The combo ranks 990th out of 3,714, but the RTX 4080 has an 86th percentile rank among all GPUs. The Ryzen 5 2600 has a 75th percentile rank among all CPUs, but its average benchmark score of 21,484 is only 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V. The older CPU's lower multithreaded and single-threaded performance prevents it from fully utilizing the RTX 4080's capabilities, especially at lower resolutions, which holds the combo back in the overall rankings.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows that the combo achieves its highest average FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings (176 FPS). However, for a balance of visual quality and performance, the 2560x1440 High preset (133 FPS) offers a strong experience. At 4K, the frame rates are still playable, with High hitting 98 FPS, but the CPU bottleneck is less severe at this resolution, allowing the GPU to work harder.

Q: Is the 16 GB VRAM of the RTX 4080 sufficient for Lockdown Protocol?

A: The measured data does not indicate any VRAM-related performance issues. The RTX 4080's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory with a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s appears to be more than adequate for the game at all tested settings and resolutions, as frame rates scale predictably with settings changes rather than showing sudden drops due to memory capacity limits.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 2600 affect performance compared to newer CPUs?

A: The Ryzen 5 2600 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, with 6 cores and 12 threads. Its average benchmark score of 21,484 is within 0.5% of several rivals, but its single-thread performance, indicated by a Geekbench single-core score of 1,154, is a limiting factor in a CPU-intensive FPS like Lockdown Protocol. The measured FPS scaling suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the primary bottleneck, preventing the GPU from achieving its maximum potential frame rates.

Q: What does the FPS gap between Low and Ultra settings at 4K indicate?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 137 on Low to 73 on Ultra, a 46.7% reduction. This significant gap indicates that the RTX 4080 is being fully utilized at this resolution, and the settings are having a major impact on the GPU's workload. The larger percentage drop at 4K compared to 1080p confirms that the system transitions from a CPU-bound state at lower resolutions to a GPU-bound state at higher resolutions and higher settings.

Q: Should I use Medium settings for a competitive advantage?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 yields an average of 155 FPS with a minimum of 131 FPS. This provides a very high and stable frame rate, which is beneficial for competitive play. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average is 139 FPS with a minimum of 119 FPS. The data suggests that Medium settings offer a strong balance of visual fidelity and performance, with frame rates that are well above the 100 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 176 FPS.
• Medium: Average 155 FPS, with a minimum of 131 FPS and a maximum of 178 FPS.
• High: Average 148 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 133 FPS.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 158 FPS.
• Medium: Average 139 FPS, with a minimum of 119 FPS and a maximum of 160 FPS.
• High: Average 133 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 113 FPS.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 137 FPS.
• Medium: Average 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS.
• High: Average 98 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 73 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern across all resolutions: frame rates decrease as settings increase. The Medium preset is the only one with min and max FPS data, showing that the variance is relatively tight, with a spread of 47 FPS at 1080p, 41 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K. This indicates stable performance without severe frame time spikes. The transition from High to Ultra at any resolution costs approximately 15-25 FPS, which is a significant trade-off for the extra visual effects. The 4K Ultra result of 73 FPS is the only average below 90 FPS, suggesting that this setting is the most demanding on the GPU.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 2000 series, based on the Zen+ architecture (Pinnacle Ridge) and manufactured on a 12 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Its memory support is dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. In the context of Lockdown Protocol, an FPS game that often relies heavily on single-thread performance for game logic and draw calls, this CPU's capabilities are a significant factor.

The CPU's benchmark scores paint a picture of its performance. It has a Passmark single-thread score of 2,239 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1,154. Its multithreaded scores are more robust, with a Passmark multithread score of 13,160 and a Geekbench multicore score of 5,648. While these scores place it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, its single-thread performance is modest by modern standards. The measured FPS data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is the limiting factor, as shown by the relatively small FPS gains from lowering settings. For example, at 1080p, moving from High (148 FPS) to Low (176 FPS) only yields a 28 FPS increase, while at 4K, the same settings change yields a 39 FPS increase. This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is unable to process the game fast enough to fully saturate the GPU, while at 4K, the GPU's workload becomes the primary constraint. The CPU's 12 nm process node and 65 W TDP also indicate its age relative to the GPU's 5 nm process, further highlighting the generational gap between the two components.

Settings Recommendations

For players prioritizing maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the clear choice, delivering an average of 176 FPS. This setting minimizes the CPU's workload and allows the GPU to render frames as fast as the processor can feed it. However, this comes at the cost of visual fidelity.

The Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers the best balance for most players. It achieves an average of 139 FPS with a minimum of 119 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in intense firefights. The visual upgrade from Low to Medium is substantial, and the frame rate remains well above the typical 144 Hz refresh rate target. This preset also shows tight frame time consistency, with a max of 160 FPS.

For a more visually rich experience, the High preset at 2560x1440 is recommended, providing an average of 133 FPS. This is still a very playable frame rate, and the increased graphical detail enhances the game's atmosphere. At 4K, the High preset is the highest setting that maintains an average above 90 FPS (98 FPS), making it the best choice for players with 4K displays who want high detail without dipping below 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 73 FPS, is only suitable for players who prioritize maximum visual quality over frame rate stability, as it falls below the 90 FPS threshold that many consider optimal for FPS games. The data suggests avoiding 4K Ultra unless a lower frame rate is acceptable, as the performance drop from High is significant.