Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with AMD Ryzen 5 5500 + AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers a playable Lockdown Protocol experience across most settings, but the data reveals a clear pattern: this combination is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the CPU showing its limits only at 1080p Low. The measured FPS range from 36 at 4K Ultra to 165 at 1080p Low, and the combo ranks 2439 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the lower third of all tested systems. The GPU’s 65th percentile ranking versus all GPUs and the CPU’s 73rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicate a balanced pairing on paper, but in practice, the frame rate deltas between settings reveal where bottlenecks emerge.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking observation in the data is how drastically FPS drops as resolution increases, regardless of settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 165 FPS, but at 4K Low, that number falls to 78 FPS — a 53% reduction. This scaling pattern is consistent across all quality presets, indicating that the GPU’s rendering throughput is the primary limiting factor as pixel count rises.

The gap between 1080p and 1440p is substantial but manageable. At High settings, the system drops from 103 FPS at 1080p to 75 FPS at 1440p, a 27% decline. Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings yields 75 FPS down to 49 FPS, a 35% drop. The scaling is not linear, suggesting that memory bandwidth and pixel fill rate constraints become more pronounced at 4K. The RX 6650 XT’s 280.3 GB/s memory bandwidth and 168.6 GPixel/s pixel rate are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but 4K pushes the GPU past its comfortable operating zone.

At Ultra settings, the resolution scaling is even more punishing. The system produces 77 FPS at 1080p, 56 FPS at 1440p, and only 36 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is below the 40 FPS threshold that most players consider minimum for smooth gameplay, confirming that 4K Ultra is not viable with this hardware. The delta between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra is 53%, nearly identical to the Low preset’s percentage drop, which suggests the GPU is the consistent bottleneck across all quality levels.

The Medium preset, which is the only setting with complete min/max FPS data, shows the same scaling trend. At 1080p Medium, the average is 117 FPS with a minimum of 100 and maximum of 135. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 86 FPS with min/max of 73/99. At 4K Medium, the average is 56 FPS with min/max of 47/64. The minimum FPS values at each resolution are roughly 85% of the average, indicating reasonably stable frame pacing rather than severe stuttering.

The data indicates that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combination, where even Ultra settings maintain 77 FPS. At 1440p, High and Medium presets are playable, but Ultra dips to 56 FPS. At 4K, only the Low preset reaches 78 FPS, with Medium at 56 FPS and High at 49 FPS. The resolution scaling behavior points to a GPU that is well-suited for 1080p and capable at 1440p, but the 4K results suggest the RX 6650 XT is out of its depth at that resolution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 provides six cores and twelve threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19593. Its nearest rivals in the database — the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 at 19617 (0.1% faster), the Intel Core i5-12500 at 19668 (0.4% faster), and the Intel Core i5-11600KF at 19723 (0.7% faster) — all perform within 1% of the Ryzen 5 5500, confirming that this processor is competitive with mid-range options from recent generations.

In Lockdown Protocol specifically, the CPU’s role becomes evident when examining the 1080p Low preset. At 165 FPS, the system is likely approaching the CPU’s frame generation ceiling; the 3DMark single-thread score of 836 and the multi-thread score of 5386 suggest that the processor can sustain high frame rates but may struggle to push beyond this level. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and single-core score of 2319 provide additional context: the CPU is capable of handling modern game workloads, but it is not a top-tier performer.

The delta between 1080p Low (165 FPS) and 1080p High (103 FPS) is 38%, which is purely a GPU workload difference. However, the fact that 1080p Low yields 165 FPS while 1080p Medium yields 117 FPS (29% lower) suggests that the GPU is still the limiting factor even at lower settings. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain flat across settings at 1080p. Instead, the consistent scaling across all quality presets at every resolution confirms that the Ryzen 5 5500 is not the primary constraint in this game.

The CPU’s 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are modest by modern standards, but they are sufficient for this game’s demands. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5386 and max-thread score of 5411 indicate that the processor’s multi-threading capabilities are well-utilized, but Lockdown Protocol’s frame rates do not show signs of CPU starvation. The PassMark multi-thread score of 19330 and single-thread score of 3058 place the CPU in a solid mid-range position, and the benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 5 5500 can feed the RX 6650 XT adequately at 1080p and 1440p.

The CPU’s 65W TDP and 7nm process node from TSMC mean it runs efficiently, but the performance data shows that it is neither a bottleneck nor a standout performer in this pairing. The 0.5% delta to the Intel Core i7-10700F (19499 average score) suggests that the Ryzen 5 5500 sits in a narrow performance band with its rivals, and the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol reflect this mid-pack positioning.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the dominant factor in this system’s Lockdown Protocol performance. Built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with the Navi 23 chip, this GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 280.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The boost clock of 2635 MHz and game clock of 2410 MHz are high for the RX 6000 series, and the GPU’s 10.79 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is substantial for a mid-range card.

The GPU’s benchmark scores tell an interesting story. Its average benchmark score of 19765 places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, but its nearest rivals in the database are workstation and professional cards: the AMD FirePro W7000 (19905, 0.7% faster), the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (19885, 0.6% faster), and the AMD FirePro D300 (19637, 0.7% slower). This comparison is somewhat misleading because those professional cards are not designed for gaming, but the percentile ranking confirms that the RX 6650 XT is a solid mid-range gaming GPU.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K results suggest that memory capacity or bandwidth becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 36 FPS is particularly telling, as it represents a 53% drop from 1080p Ultra’s 77 FPS. The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 128 TMUs are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K pixel workload overwhelms these units.

The DirectX 12 benchmark scores provide context for the GPU’s gaming performance. The PassMark DirectX 12 score of 62 is low, but the DirectX 11 score of 169 and DirectX 9 score of 215 indicate that the GPU performs better with older APIs. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1859 is a more modern indicator, and the Geekbench Vulkan score of 81306 confirms that the GPU is capable in modern APIs. The PassMark G3D score of 17166 and GPU compute score of 7532 round out the picture of a GPU that is solid for its class.

The RX 6650 XT’s 32 ray tracing cores are present but not heavily utilized in this game, as the measured FPS values do not show signs of RT-specific bottlenecks. The GPU’s 176W TDP and PCIe 4.0 x8 interface are standard for this class, and the 450W suggested PSU indicates that the card draws a moderate amount of power.

The data shows that the GPU is the limiting component at every resolution and setting combination. The FPS scaling from Low to Ultra at any given resolution is consistent, with the GPU’s rendering capabilities determining the ceiling. At 1080p, the GPU can deliver 165 FPS at Low settings, but at 4K, even Low settings only reach 78 FPS. This confirms that the RX 6650 XT is a 1080p-focused GPU that can handle 1440p with settings compromises, but 4K gaming is only possible at the lowest quality preset.

FAQ

Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, where it achieves 78 FPS. At Medium settings, the average drops to 56 FPS, and at High settings, it falls to 49 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K produce only 36 FPS, which is below smooth gameplay thresholds.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combination?

A: The data shows that 1080p is the optimal resolution, with all settings delivering above 77 FPS. At 1440p, High and Medium presets are playable at 75 FPS and 86 FPS respectively, but Ultra drops to 56 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593, which is within 1% of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (19617, -0.1%), Intel Core i5-12500 (19668, -0.4%), Intel Core i5-11600KF (19723, -0.7%), and Intel Core i7-10700F (19499, +0.5%). It is effectively tied with all four rivals.

Q: Is the RX 6650 XT a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the GPU is the limiting factor at all settings, but it is sufficient for 1080p gaming. The FPS ranges from 77 at Ultra to 165 at Low, indicating that the GPU can handle the workload at this resolution across all quality presets.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset has complete min/max data. At 1080p, the average is 117 FPS with a minimum of 100 and maximum of 135. At 1440p, the average is 86 FPS with 73/99 min/max. At 4K, the average is 56 FPS with 47/64 min/max. The minimum FPS values are consistently around 85% of the average, indicating stable frame pacing.

Q: How does this system rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2439 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the lower third of all tested systems. The GPU ranks in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this system’s performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1080p, the system delivers 165 FPS at Low, 117 FPS at Medium, 103 FPS at High, and 77 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset at 1080p has a minimum of 100 FPS and maximum of 135 FPS, indicating smooth gameplay throughout. The 1080p results show that this resolution is well within the system’s capabilities, with even Ultra settings maintaining 77 FPS.

At 1440p, the performance drops noticeably but remains playable. The Low preset delivers 121 FPS, Medium reaches 86 FPS, High achieves 75 FPS, and Ultra falls to 56 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 73 FPS and maximum of 99 FPS, which is a tighter range than the 1080p Medium results. The 1440p Ultra result of 56 FPS is playable but on the edge of what most gamers would consider smooth, while the Low and Medium presets are clearly comfortable.

At 4K, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset is the only one that exceeds 60 FPS, delivering 78 FPS. Medium drops to 56 FPS, High falls to 49 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 36 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 47 FPS and maximum of 64 FPS, showing that even the average 56 FPS has significant dips. The 4K results clearly indicate that this resolution is not ideal for this hardware, with only the Low preset providing a consistently smooth experience.

The progression across resolutions shows a consistent pattern: each step from 1080p to 1440p to 4K reduces FPS by roughly 25-35% at each quality level. The Low preset shows the smallest absolute drops (from 165 to 121 to 78), while the Ultra preset shows the most severe degradation (from 77 to 56 to 36). This data confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at all resolutions, with the CPU playing a secondary role.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset at 103 FPS provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, as it delivers well above the 60 FPS threshold while maintaining high-quality visuals. Players who prioritize maximum frame rates can use the Low preset at 165 FPS, while those who want the best visuals can use Ultra at 77 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 86 FPS is the recommended choice. It offers a substantial visual upgrade over Low (121 FPS) while maintaining a comfortable frame rate above 60. The High preset at 75 FPS is also viable, but the Medium preset’s tighter minimum FPS of 73 (versus the unknown minimum for High) suggests better frame consistency. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and is not recommended for competitive play.

At 4K, the Low preset at 78 FPS is the only viable option for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 56 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive, and the High preset at 49 FPS and Ultra at 36 FPS are too slow for a first-person shooter. Players who want to play Lockdown Protocol at 4K with this system must accept the visual compromises of the Low preset.

For the best overall experience, the data points to 1080p High as the sweet spot. It delivers 103 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS standard, and the High preset provides good visual quality without the performance hit of Ultra. At 1440p, the Medium preset at 86 FPS is the recommended compromise for users with 1440p monitors, offering a 26% FPS improvement over High while maintaining a smooth experience. The system is not recommended for 4K gaming beyond Low settings, as the performance penalties at higher presets are severe.