Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a competitive FPS released in 2024, presents an interesting scaling profile when paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The measured data shows a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions but begins to expose CPU limitations at 1080p. The combination ranks in the 84th percentile of 1637 tested configurations, indicating that while this pairing is strong, it is not at the absolute top of the hierarchy for this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and reveals the expected shift in bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system produces an average of 212.5 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 reduces that figure to 165.7 FPS, a decline of 46.8 FPS. The step to 3840x2160 is even more pronounced, with average FPS falling to 110.6, a further drop of 55.1 FPS. This trajectory indicates that the demands of higher pixel counts are squarely on the GPU.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all quality presets. For instance, with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops from 169.4 FPS at 1080p to 127.4 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 83.5 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest recorded in the entire dataset, showing that the combination of maximum resolution and maximum quality is the most taxing scenario. The data suggests that the RTX 4090 is the primary driver of performance at 4K, with the Ryzen 5 5600 providing sufficient headroom to keep the GPU fed.

The transition from 1440p to 4K is more costly than the transition from 1080p to 1440p at every preset. At Medium settings, the 1080p to 1440p drop is 33.7 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K drop is 69.5 FPS. This non-linear scaling is typical of a GPU that is being pushed towards its limits, where the sheer pixel count of 4K (3840x2160) creates a workload that dwarfs the 2560x1440 resolution. The CPU's role becomes less relevant as resolution increases, as the frame time is increasingly dominated by the GPU's rendering pipeline.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture. Its benchmark scores place it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 18309 and a single-core score of 2584. In Lockdown Protocol, these metrics are relevant, but the data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The score differences between the Ryzen 5 5600 and its nearest rivals are minimal, with a 0.6% difference compared to the Intel Xeon D-1746TER and a -0.9% difference versus the Intel Core i7-11700F.

At 1080p, the CPU's influence is more apparent. The difference between Low and High settings at 1920x1080 is only 44.8 FPS (257.3 vs 212.5), which is a smaller gap than at 4K where the difference is 64.1 FPS (174.7 vs 110.6). This indicates that at 1080p, the CPU is able to maintain a higher frame rate ceiling, but the GPU is still capable of outpacing it, as evidenced by the 257.3 FPS average on Low settings. The 3.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost clock provide a solid foundation for the game's logic and draw call processing.

The 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset for gaming, as it helps reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data. The processor's single-thread performance, reflected in its 3DMark single-thread score of 882, is adequate for a modern FPS, but it does not match the absolute top-tier CPUs that could push frame rates even higher at 1080p. The data suggests that for this pairing, the CPU is a capable partner that allows the RTX 4090 to express its full potential, particularly when the resolution is increased.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the dominant component in this configuration. With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 384-bit memory bus delivering 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth, it is equipped to handle the most demanding textures and effects that Lockdown Protocol can present. Its 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 128 RT cores provide immense raw processing power. The GPU's benchmark scores are impressive, placing it in the 91st percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 66473 is within 1.3% of its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA Quadro P6000.

The GPU's role is clearly defined by the resolution scaling data. At 4K, the RTX 4090 is the sole bottleneck, as the frame rates drop consistently with increased quality settings. The boost clock of 2520 MHz and the massive 16384 shading units allow it to process the high pixel count, but the workload is substantial. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 91.2 FPS (174.7 vs 83.5), showing how much headroom the GPU has when quality settings are reduced.

The 24 GB VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor in any tested scenario, given that the game is a competitive FPS and not an open-world title with massive texture packs. The memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s ensures that data can be fed to the processing units quickly, preventing stutters. The GPU's performance is consistent with its market position as an end-of-life product, yet it still manages to deliver playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra, with the lowest recorded average being 83.5 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance on how to prioritize settings for different display resolutions. For players with a 1080p display, the High preset is the most balanced choice. It delivers an average of 212.5 FPS, which is only 44.8 FPS less than the Low preset but offers significantly better visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 169.4 FPS, which is still very smooth, but the performance cost from High to Ultra is 43.1 FPS, a substantial drop for potentially marginal visual gains in a fast-paced FPS.

At 1440p, the Medium preset emerges as the sweet spot. It produces an average of 193.6 FPS, which is 27.9 FPS higher than High and 66.2 FPS higher than Ultra. This configuration provides a high refresh rate experience while maintaining a level of detail that is suitable for competitive play. At 4K, the Low preset is the only option that consistently exceeds 170 FPS, with an average of 174.7 FPS. The High preset at 4K still delivers a very playable 110.6 FPS, but the Medium preset at 124.1 FPS offers a better balance between visual fidelity and performance.

The data indicates that for most users, a High preset at 1080p and a Medium or High preset at 1440p will provide the best experience. The Ultra preset is reserved for those who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, as it is the only setting that drops below 100 FPS at 4K. The measured rows show that the RTX 4090 has enough power to handle High settings at 4K, but users with high-refresh-rate monitors will find the Low preset at 4K to be the most competitive option.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for competitive play with this hardware?

A: The data suggests 1920x1080 with High settings yields 212.5 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 2560x1440, the High preset still provides 165.7 FPS, which is also competitive, but the lower frame rate may be a factor for the most demanding players.

Q: Does the RTX 4090's 24 GB of VRAM make a difference in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Based on the measured FPS data, there is no indication of VRAM limitations at any resolution or preset. The game's performance scales consistently with resolution, which would not be the case if the 24 GB buffer was being exhausted.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The CPU's overall benchmark score is within 0.9% of the Intel Core i7-11700F and 0.6% of the Intel Xeon D-1746TER. This indicates that while the Ryzen 5 5600 is a strong performer, it is not uniquely positioned against its direct competitors in terms of raw processing power.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data clearly shows the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drops significantly from 1440p to 4K at all settings, while the CPU's influence is muted. For example, at 4K High, the average FPS is 110.6, which is a substantial drop from the 165.7 FPS at 1440p High.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 257.3 FPS on Low to 169.4 FPS on Ultra. This represents a 87.9 FPS difference, allowing players to choose between maximum visual fidelity and maximum frame rate.

Q: Can this system maintain a consistent frame rate above 144 FPS at 1440p?

A: Yes, on Medium settings the average FPS is 193.6, and on High it is 165.7. Both are above the 144 FPS threshold, but the Ultra preset at 127.4 FPS would fall short.