Lockdown Protocol

Opening

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024-released FPS title, presents a demanding workload for the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. The measured data reveals a system that is consistently constrained by the GPU, with performance scaling predictably as resolution and settings increase. This analysis walks through the benchmark results to characterize the experience, identifying where the combo operates within its limits and where it falls short of playable thresholds.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent decline in performance as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, a pattern that firmly identifies the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 76 FPS. Stepping up to 1440p at the same Low preset drops the average to 56 FPS, a reduction of 20 FPS. Moving to 4K at Low further reduces the average to 36 FPS. This scaling trend is not linear, and the percentage drops intensify at higher resolutions, indicating that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated.

Examining the Medium preset provides a more detailed view of this constraint. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 54, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 62. At 1440p Medium, the average falls to 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 46. Finally, at 4K Medium, the average drops to 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 29. The delta between minimum and maximum FPS narrows as resolution increases (from a 16 FPS spread at 1080p to a 7 FPS spread at 4K), suggesting that the system is becoming more consistently GPU-limited and has less headroom for variability.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this scenario. The Ryzen 5 4600G, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but its influence wanes as the pixel count rises. The GPU's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are likely the primary reasons for the severe performance hit at 4K, where the demand for texture memory and bandwidth increases dramatically. The transition from High to Ultra settings at any resolution also shows a significant drop, reinforcing that the GPU is the component that dictates the overall performance ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this combination depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 76, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay in a fast-paced FPS. However, the Medium preset at 54 FPS average offers a better visual experience while still maintaining a playable frame rate, with a minimum of 46 FPS that suggests acceptable frame pacing. The High preset at 47 FPS average is also viable, but the Ultra preset at 35 FPS average dips into a range that may feel less responsive for competitive play.

For 1440p, the situation becomes more restrictive. The Low preset is the only option that maintains an average above 50 FPS, hitting 56. Medium drops to 40 FPS, which is playable but may show noticeable stutter in intense scenes. High and Ultra presets at 1440p, with averages of 35 and 26 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a smooth experience. At 4K, the data shows that no preset achieves a consistently playable frame rate. The Low preset averages 36 FPS, Medium 26 FPS, High 22 FPS, and Ultra 17 FPS. These figures are all below the typical 60 FPS target and fall into a range where gameplay would be noticeably choppy.

The data indicates that for the best balance of visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the most sensible recommendation. It provides a significant improvement over Low settings while maintaining an average FPS that is 8 FPS higher than the High preset. The minimum FPS of 46 at this setting is also the highest among the non-Low presets at 1080p, suggesting it offers the most stable experience. Users who prioritize maximum frame rate should select Low at 1080p, but those seeking a more polished visual presentation will find Medium to be the sweet spot.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13593 and a single-core score of 1919, indicate a solid level of processing power for a mid-range desktop CPU. In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, as evidenced by the FPS scaling patterns.

The fact that FPS drops significantly when going from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU workload would stay constant while the GPU workload increases. Instead, the consistent FPS decline points to the GTX 1650 being the constraint. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at 1080p, where the average FPS of 76 on Low settings is respectable. However, its performance relative to other processors is average, placing in the 71st percentile of all CPUs.

The processor's 8 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are adequate for gaming, but they do not provide any exceptional advantage in this scenario. The benchmark results show that its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE and the Intel Core 7 150U, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with delta percentages of 0.1% and 0.6% respectively. This indicates that the 4600G is a capable but not outstanding processor, and its performance in Lockdown Protocol is likely sufficient to avoid causing major frame rate drops, but it does not boost the system's overall capability.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks 3580 out of 3714 total combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places the combo in the bottom 4% of all tested configurations, indicating that it is a relatively low-performing pairing for this specific game. The rank reflects the significant limitation imposed by the GTX 1650, which sits in the 40th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 7472 is very close to its nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon HD 8850M (7447, deltaPct 0.3%) and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 (7441, deltaPct 0.4%). This proximity in scores suggests that the GTX 1650 is a baseline-level discrete GPU, and its performance in Lockdown Protocol is consistent with that standing. The combo's low rank is not surprising given that the GPU is near the bottom of the performance spectrum, and the CPU, while mid-range, cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations in a graphics-intensive title.

The data shows that this combo is not suitable for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming in Lockdown Protocol. It is positioned at the lower end of the performance scale, and users with this hardware would need to make significant compromises in settings and resolution to achieve playable frame rates. The rank serves as a clear indicator that this is an entry-level configuration for this game, and it will struggle with modern FPS demands.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Lockdown Protocol with this combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that offers a consistently playable experience. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 35 on Ultra to 76 on Low, with Medium at 54 being a good balance. At 1440p and 4K, all presets fall below 60 FPS, with 4K being largely unplayable.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. FPS scales down significantly as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. The Ryzen 5 4600G has enough processing power to keep up at lower resolutions, but the GTX 1650's 4 GB of VRAM and limited bandwidth cannot handle higher pixel counts.

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS is 76. At 1080p Medium, the average is 54 FPS, which is close but not consistently at 60. At any other resolution or higher settings, the average FPS falls well below 60.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 7472. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 8850M, scores 7447, which is a 0.3% difference. The Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7441, a 0.4% difference, and the Intel Arc A310 scores 7550, which is 1% higher.

Q: What is the difference in FPS between Medium and High settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Medium preset averages 54 FPS, while the High preset averages 47 FPS. This represents a 7 FPS drop when moving from Medium to High, which is a modest reduction for potentially better visual quality.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 4600G a high-performance processor?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600G places in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is above average but not top-tier. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 13593, and its single-core score is 1919, which are solid numbers for a mid-range chip, but it is not in the same league as high-end desktop processors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS values measured for each resolution and settings preset combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Minimum FPS | Maximum FPS |

|:--------- |:------- |:---------- |:---------- |:---------- |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 17 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | High | 22 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 26 | 22 | 29 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 36 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 26 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | High | 35 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 40 | 34 | 46 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 56 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 35 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | High | 47 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 54 | 46 | 62 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 76 | - | - |

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the defining component in this combo's performance profile. With a base clock of 1485 MHz and a boost clock of 1665 MHz, the GPU is built on the Turing architecture and features 896 shading units. Its memory configuration, 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 128.1 GB/s. These specifications are modest by modern standards, and the benchmark results confirm that the GPU is a limiting factor.

The GPU's performance in Lockdown Protocol is directly tied to its memory and compute capabilities. The 4 GB VRAM capacity is a significant constraint, particularly at 1440p and 4K where high-resolution textures can exceed this limit, leading to potential stuttering or texture pop-in. The 128.1 GB/s bandwidth also restricts how quickly the GPU can access texture data, which becomes more critical at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data supports this, showing a steep decline from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the GPU can deliver 76 FPS, but at 4K Low, it drops to 36 FPS, a 53% reduction.

The GTX 1650's overall benchmark standing, in the 40th percentile of all GPUs, further solidifies its role as an entry-level component. Its average benchmark score of 7472 is nearly identical to that of the Intel UHD Graphics 750, which is an integrated graphics solution, highlighting how close the GTX 1650 is to the bottom of the discrete GPU market. In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck, and any attempt to improve performance would require a more powerful graphics card. The data shows that the CPU has sufficient headroom, but the GPU's limitations cap the system's overall capability.