Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol pairs the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, and the measured frame rates show a combination that is clearly capable of high-refresh 1080p gaming, solid for 1440p, and playable at 4K with the right settings. The data indicates this system sits at the 1023rd best combo out of 2828 tested for this game, placing it in the upper-middle tier of configurations. The six-core processor with its large shared L3 cache and the 12 GB RDNA 3 graphics card form a balanced pairing, though the scaling patterns reveal that the GPU becomes the dominant limiter as resolution climbs.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1920x1080 delivers the highest frame rates, with Low settings hitting 219 FPS average and Medium at 156 FPS. At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 75 (Ultra) to 161 (Low), making it a strong choice for high refresh gaming. 3840x2160 is playable but requires lower settings, with Low averaging 104 FPS and Medium at 74 FPS.

Q: How much performance does the RX 7700 XT lose when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 136 at 1080p to 100 at 1440p, a decrease of 36 FPS. At Low settings, the drop is from 219 to 161, a 58 FPS reduction. The scaling is consistent across presets, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5500X3D strong enough for this game?

A: Yes, the processor’s benchmark data supports its capability. It scores 20363 in Passmark multithread and 2941 in single-thread tests, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0.2% faster) and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (0.2% faster), show it is competitive with modern mid-range parts.

Q: What is the difference between Medium and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: Medium settings produce an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS, while Ultra drops to an average of 75 FPS. The 39 FPS gap between these presets is substantial, suggesting that Medium offers a better balance of visual quality and smoothness for competitive play.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160, Low settings average 104 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS, and High averages 64 FPS. Ultra drops to 48 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold many players prefer. For 4K, sticking to Low or Medium presets is advisable.

Q: How does the RX 7700 XT compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The RX 7700 XT has an average benchmark score of 22549, placing it in the 67th percentile of all GPUs. It is 0.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile, 1.7% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5700, and 1.5% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080. The performance is comparable to these older and mobile parts.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the central component for Lockdown Protocol’s frame rate, and its specifications explain the measured results. The GPU has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game’s textures and assets at all tested resolutions, as evidenced by the playable frame rates even at 3840x2160. The core clock operates at a base of 1435 MHz, with a game clock of 2171 MHz and a boost clock of 2544 MHz, allowing the card to scale its performance dynamically under load.

The GPU’s compute capabilities back up its gaming performance. It features 3456 shading units, 216 texture mapping units, and 96 render output units, which translate to a pixel rate of 244.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 549.5 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 35.17 TFLOPS indicates strong raw compute power for modern game engines. In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions; the measured FPS drops consistently from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario.

The 54 ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate suggest the card is prepared for advanced rendering features, though the measured data does not isolate ray tracing performance. The GPU’s overall benchmark score of 22547 in Passmark G3D, with a 67th percentile ranking, confirms it sits above average but not at the top tier. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which is 1.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700, which is 1.7% slower, showing that the RX 7700 XT competes with previous generation high-end cards.

The 12 GB VRAM is a key asset for Lockdown Protocol. At Ultra settings, the game still maintains playable frame rates at 1080p (102 FPS average) and 1440p (75 FPS average), suggesting memory capacity is not a limiting factor. Even at 4K Ultra, the 48 FPS average indicates the GPU’s compute limits are hit before VRAM becomes an issue. The memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s supports high-resolution textures without significant stuttering, as seen in the Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 63 at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how Lockdown Protocol scales across resolutions, and the pattern is clear: higher resolutions bring a proportional drop in frame rate, indicating the GPU is the limiting component. Starting at 1920x1080, the system achieves 219 FPS average on Low, 156 on Medium, 136 on High, and 102 on Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages fall to 161, 114, 100, and 75 respectively. At 3840x2160, the averages drop further to 104, 74, 64, and 48.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at High settings shows a 36 FPS reduction (from 136 to 100), which is a 26.5% decrease. At Low settings, the reduction is 58 FPS (from 219 to 161), a 26.5% decrease as well. This consistent percentage drop across different presets suggests that the GPU’s rendering load scales linearly with pixel count, which is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the constraining factor at these resolutions.

The jump from 1440p to 4K is more dramatic. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 100 to 64, a 36% reduction. At Low settings, it drops from 161 to 104, a 35.4% reduction. This steeper decline indicates that the RX 7700 XT’s pixel throughput is being pushed harder at 4K, and the 12 GB VRAM and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are working near their limits. The minimum FPS data for Medium settings shows 97 FPS at 1440p and 63 FPS at 4K, reinforcing that 4K is playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes.

The data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo. At Medium settings, the 114 FPS average with a 97 FPS minimum provides smooth gameplay, while High settings at 100 FPS average are still highly playable. For competitive players, 1080p Low at 219 FPS average maximizes refresh rate potential, but the visual compromise may not be worth it for most. The 4K results are respectable for a mid-range GPU, but the 48 FPS average at Ultra and 64 FPS at High show that 4K gaming requires accepting lower presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the recommended preset depends on the target resolution and the player’s priority for smoothness versus visual fidelity. For 1080p, High settings at 136 FPS average offer a good balance, while Medium at 156 FPS provides extra headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra at 102 FPS is still above 100 FPS, so it is viable for players who want maximum visuals without sacrificing too much performance. Low at 219 FPS is excessive for most displays, unless using a 240 Hz monitor.

At 1440p, Medium settings stand out as the best choice. The 114 FPS average with a minimum of 97 FPS ensures consistent frame pacing, and the visual upgrade over Low is significant. High settings at 100 FPS average are also acceptable, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, so there is less certainty about frame dips. Ultra at 75 FPS average is playable but borders on the edge for fast-paced FPS games, where higher frame rates provide a competitive advantage. Low at 161 FPS is an option for esports-focused players, but the graphical downgrade is noticeable.

For 4K, the choice is more restricted. Low settings at 104 FPS average are the only preset that comfortably exceeds 100 FPS, making it the recommended choice for smooth 4K gameplay. Medium at 74 FPS average with a 63 FPS minimum is playable and offers better visuals, but the minimum frame rate suggests occasional dips below 60 FPS. High at 64 FPS average is borderline, and Ultra at 48 FPS average is not recommended for a competitive FPS. The data indicates that 4K players should prioritize frame rate over settings, as the GPU’s limits are clear.

The Medium preset at 1440p provides the best overall experience when considering the measured averages and minimums. It delivers 114 FPS average, which is smooth on most high-refresh displays, and the 97 FPS minimum indicates stability. The gap between Medium and Ultra at 1440p is 39 FPS, showing that the visual gains from Ultra come at a steep performance cost. For players with 144 Hz monitors, Medium or High at 1440p are the optimal choices, while those with 240 Hz monitors should stick to 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol with this hardware configuration is detailed, covering four resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 219 FPS, Medium averages 156 FPS with a minimum of 132 and a maximum of 179, High averages 136 FPS, and Ultra averages 102 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p shows a variance of 47 FPS between its minimum and maximum, indicating some scene-dependent fluctuation, but the average remains strong.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down predictably. Low averages 161 FPS, Medium averages 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 and a maximum of 131, High averages 100 FPS, and Ultra averages 75 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 97 FPS is notable, as it stays above 90 FPS even during demanding moments, making it a reliable choice for 1440p gaming. The 34 FPS gap between the minimum and maximum at Medium shows less variance than at 1080p, suggesting more consistent performance at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly working harder. Low averages 104 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 and a maximum of 85, High averages 64 FPS, and Ultra averages 48 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K shows a 22 FPS variance, which is tighter than at lower resolutions, indicating the GPU is consistently near its limits. The 48 FPS average at Ultra confirms that this resolution is not suitable for maximum settings.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution reduces the average FPS by roughly 25-35%, depending on the settings. The Medium preset is the only one with full minimum and maximum data across all resolutions, providing the most complete picture of performance stability. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 132 FPS is well above typical refresh rates, while at 4K Medium, the minimum of 63 FPS is just above the 60 FPS threshold. This makes Medium the most predictable preset for maintaining playable frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and built on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a 96 MB shared L3 cache that is the defining feature of the X3D series. The processor’s benchmark results show a Passmark multithread score of 20363 and a single-thread score of 2941, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 37018 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36945 (0.2% slower) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0.2% slower).

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain high frame rates. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (219 FPS average) suggests the CPU is capable of supporting very high frame rates, as this is a scenario where the GPU is not heavily taxed. The single-thread score of 2941 indicates strong per-core performance, which is crucial for game logic and physics. The multithread score of 20363 ensures that background tasks and multi-threaded game systems do not cause bottlenecks.

The processor’s memory support is DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This is adequate for the Zen 3 architecture, and the large L3 cache helps mitigate memory latency in games. The 96 MB shared L3 cache is particularly beneficial for gaming, as it allows more data to be stored on-chip, reducing the need to access system memory. This is evident in the consistent frame rates across different settings at 1080p, where the CPU is not the limiting factor.

The nearest rival comparisons show the 5500X3D is well-positioned. It is 0.2% faster than the Ryzen 5 5600F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225, and 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i9-12900T. The deltaPct values are small, indicating these processors are nearly identical in average benchmark scores. However, the X3D’s cache advantage may provide benefits in specific gaming workloads that are not fully captured by synthetic benchmarks. The CPU’s TDP of 105 W is manageable for most cooling solutions, and the Socket AM4 platform offers broad compatibility.

The data indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this configuration. The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K follows a pattern consistent with GPU limitation, and even at 1080p Low, the 219 FPS average suggests the CPU can handle the game’s demands without issue. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for Lockdown Protocol, and its high single-thread performance ensures responsive gameplay. For this game, the CPU’s role is supportive, providing a stable platform for the RX 7700 XT to deliver its full performance.