Lockdown Protocol

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 2 architecture (Renoir codename) using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It carries a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 per core. The CPU's 65 W TDP and unlocked multiplier make it a flexible desktop part, though its integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics are irrelevant here since the system pairs it with a discrete GPU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 4600G posts a 3DMark 16-thread score of 4863 and a max-thread score of 4889, while single-thread performance sits at 726 in 3DMark and 1919 in Cinebench R23 single-core. Multi-thread workloads show stronger scaling: Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 13593, and Geekbench multicore hits 6093 versus 1575 single-core. This profile suggests the CPU can feed a mid-range GPU adequately in most scenarios, but its single-thread headroom is modest compared to newer designs.

For a fast-paced FPS like Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's ability to maintain consistent frame pacing matters more than raw core count. The 4600G's 12 threads provide enough parallelism for game logic and physics, but the relatively modest single-thread score (726 in 3DMark single-thread) means the processor may struggle to keep up with very high frame rates when the GPU is not the bottleneck. At lower resolutions and settings, where frame rates climb well above 100 FPS, the CPU becomes a more significant factor in limiting performance.

The CPU's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (17482, 0% delta) and Intel Core i5-12450H (17475, 0.1% delta), placing the 4600G in a tight cluster. It sits slightly behind the Intel Core i3-14100T (17636, -0.8% delta) and Core i3-13100F (17665, -1% delta). This grouping indicates the 4600G's overall compute performance is competitive with those parts, though the i3 chips may have stronger single-thread attributes that matter in gaming.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 5 4600G with the GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 1376 out of 1637 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places the pairing in the lower 16th percentile of all tested systems, suggesting that while it can run the game, it is far from the top tier of configurations. The GTX 1070, with its 8 GB GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus (256.3 GB/s bandwidth), is a capable but aging GPU—it sits at the 51st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12331.

The GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the NVIDIA Quadro K4200 (12241, 0.7% delta), GeForce GTX 880M (12490, -1.3% delta), and GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER (12504, -1.4% delta). The GTX 1070 outperforms the GTX 1650 SUPER by a narrow margin in average score, but the 1650 SUPER is a more modern architecture. The Tesla K20Xm (12547, -1.7% delta) sits just above the GTX 1070, though that is a compute-oriented part.

The low combo rank reflects the age of both components. The CPU, released in 2020, and the GPU, released in 2016, represent a pairing that was mid-range at best when new. In Lockdown Protocol's benchmark data, this combo lands well below the median tested system. However, the data shows the pairing can still deliver playable frame rates at most settings, which suggests the game is not exceptionally demanding—or that the measured rows capture a configuration where the GPU is the primary limiter.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows clear resolution scaling across all settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 131.3 FPS, which drops to 98.4 FPS at 1440p Low (-25%) and further to 62.6 FPS at 4K Low (-52% from 1080p). The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings indicates the GPU is becoming more stressed as pixel count increases, but the CPU still has headroom at the lowest settings.

At Medium settings, the pattern continues: 94.9 FPS at 1080p, 69.8 FPS at 1440p (-26%), and 47.2 FPS at 4K (-50%). High settings show 79.3 FPS at 1080p, 57.9 FPS at 1440p (-27%), and 36.9 FPS at 4K (-53%). Ultra settings yield 60 FPS at 1080p, 45.2 FPS at 1440p (-25%), and 31.2 FPS at 4K (-48%).

The consistent ~25% drop from 1080p to 1440p and ~50% drop from 1080p to 4K across settings suggests the GPU is the dominant limiting factor at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the percentage drops would be smaller because the GPU would be waiting on the processor at all resolutions. The fact that 4K performance is roughly half of 1080p performance at every settings tier points to the GTX 1070's fill rate and memory bandwidth being the constraint.

At 1080p Low, the 131.3 FPS result indicates the CPU can push beyond 130 FPS when the GPU has less work, but the 4600G's single-thread limits may cap performance around that range. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p (131.3 vs 60 FPS) is a 54% reduction, indicating that GPU load scales substantially with settings even at the lowest resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce 131.3 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all configurations. Medium settings drop to 94.9 FPS, High to 79.3 FPS, and Ultra to exactly 60 FPS. The step from Low to Medium is a 28% reduction, while Medium to High is 16%, and High to Ultra is 24%. The 60 FPS at Ultra is notable as a round number—it suggests the game may have a frame cap or the system is hitting a v-sync boundary.

At 2560x1440, performance falls into a playable range for most settings. Low yields 98.4 FPS, which remains above 90 FPS for smooth gameplay. Medium produces 69.8 FPS, High drops to 57.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45.2 FPS. The 1440p results show that Medium is the sweet spot for maintaining a 60+ FPS average, while High hovers just below that threshold.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings produce 62.6 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS mark. Medium drops to 47.2 FPS, High to 36.9 FPS, and Ultra to 31.2 FPS. Only Low settings at 4K achieve a playable average frame rate, and even that is marginal. The 31.2 FPS at Ultra is the lowest measured result, nearly 24% below the 4K High result.

The data shows a clear pattern: the GTX 1070 can handle 1080p at any settings with playable results, 1440p at Low through High with acceptable performance, and 4K only at Low settings. The 4600G's role becomes more apparent at 1080p Low, where the 131.3 FPS result may be CPU-limited, but at higher resolutions the GPU takes over as the limiting factor.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The data shows 1080p is the only resolution where all settings maintain at least 60 FPS. At 1440p, only Low and Medium exceed 60 FPS, while at 4K, only Low reaches above 60 FPS.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: Across all settings, 4K performance is roughly half of 1080p performance. Low drops from 131.3 to 62.6 FPS (-52%), Medium from 94.9 to 47.2 FPS (-50%), High from 79.3 to 36.9 FPS (-53%), and Ultra from 60 to 31.2 FPS (-48%).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p Low?

A: The 131.3 FPS result at 1080p Low is the highest measured, and the CPU's single-thread score of 726 in 3DMark suggests it may cap performance near that range. At higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck.

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, but only at Low (98.4 FPS) and Medium (69.8 FPS) settings. High settings fall slightly below at 57.9 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45.2 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 12331, which is 0.7% higher than the Quadro K4200, 1.3% higher than the GTX 880M, and 1.4% higher than the GTX 1650 SUPER. It sits 1.7% below the Tesla K20Xm.

Q: What is the lowest measured FPS across all configurations?

A: The lowest average FPS is 31.2 at 4K Ultra settings. The next lowest is 36.9 at 4K High, and 45.2 at 1440p Ultra.

Settings Recommendations

For this combo, the measured data supports a clear hierarchy of playable configurations. At 1080p, all settings are playable, but Ultra delivers exactly 60 FPS—the minimum acceptable for smooth gameplay in an FPS. If a higher frame rate is preferred, High at 79.3 FPS offers a 32% improvement over Ultra with presumably minor visual differences. Medium at 94.9 FPS provides an even smoother experience, and Low at 131.3 FPS is the best choice for competitive play where frame rate matters most.

At 1440p, Medium is the recommended setting because it delivers 69.8 FPS, staying above the 60 FPS threshold with headroom. High at 57.9 FPS is close but falls below 60, which may cause noticeable stutter in a fast-paced FPS. Low at 98.4 FPS offers the smoothest experience but sacrifices visual quality. Ultra at 45.2 FPS is not recommended for gameplay.

At 4K, only Low settings (62.6 FPS) are viable for acceptable gameplay. Medium at 47.2 FPS and High at 36.9 FPS will feel sluggish, and Ultra at 31.2 FPS is effectively unplayable. Users who prioritize resolution over frame rate may tolerate Low at 4K, but the data suggests 1440p Medium or 1080p High/Ultra are better compromises.

The overall best experience per the measured rows is 1080p High, which balances visual quality (High settings) with a 79.3 FPS average—well above the 60 FPS minimum and 32% faster than Ultra. For players who demand the highest visual fidelity, 1080p Ultra at exactly 60 FPS is the ceiling. For competitive play, 1080p Low at 131.3 FPS maximizes responsiveness, though the visual downgrade is substantial. The data does not support 4K as a serious option beyond Low, and 1440p Medium appears to be the most balanced compromise between resolution, visuals, and frame rate.