Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti produces a specific, lopsided performance profile. The data shows a system where the graphics card is the primary constraint at higher resolutions, while the processor’s strengths are partially revealed only at the lowest settings. This analysis walks through the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, interprets the scaling behavior, and places the combo within the broader benchmark database.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol reveals a clear and predictable pattern: as resolution increases, average frame rates fall substantially. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 61 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low settings drops the average to 45 FPS, a reduction of roughly 26%. At 3840x2160, the average falls further to 29 FPS, which is about 36% lower than the 1440p result and 52% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario at lower quality presets.

The pattern holds for High settings as well. At 1920x1080 High, the average is 38 FPS. At 2560x1440 High, it drops to 28 FPS (a 26% decrease), and at 3840x2160 High, it falls to 18 FPS (a 36% decrease from 1440p). The relative percentage drops are nearly identical between Low and High settings, suggesting that the rendering load scales uniformly with pixel count for this particular game and hardware combination.

What does this say about the limiting component? The consistent percentage-based scaling across resolutions strongly indicates that the GTX 1050 Ti is the bottleneck. The GPU’s pixel throughput, texturing rate, and memory bandwidth are fixed, and increasing resolution directly increases the number of pixels the GPU must process. The CPU, the Ryzen 5 7500X3D, has ample headroom to feed frames at these rates, so the FPS ceiling is set by the graphics card’s capability. The 4 GB of VRAM and 112.1 GB/s memory bandwidth on the GTX 1050 Ti are modest by modern standards, and at 4K, the GPU simply cannot keep up with the demand.

However, the scaling is not perfectly linear, which hints at a secondary effect. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system hits 61 FPS, but at 1080p Ultra, it only manages 29 FPS. This shows that within a single resolution, the settings preset also heavily influences the frame rate. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is a factor of about 2.1x, while at 1440p it is also about 2.1x (45 FPS vs 21 FPS), and at 4K it is about 2.1x (29 FPS vs 14 FPS). This consistent multiplier across resolutions suggests that the settings presets impose a similar relative workload increase, regardless of pixel count, which is typical for effects like shadows, post-processing, and texture filtering.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 61, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only configuration in the data that reaches or exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1050 Ti perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 14 on Ultra settings to 29 on Low settings. The Medium preset produces an average of 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 and maximum of 24 FPS. These results are below playable thresholds for a competitive FPS.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 7500X3D or the GTX 1050 Ti the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. Resolution scaling shows FPS dropping consistently as pixel count increases, while the CPU’s Passmark multithread score of 25047 and single-thread score of 3494 suggest it has more than enough capability to drive the frame rates seen here.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings yield an average of 61 FPS, while Ultra settings yield an average of 29 FPS. This is a 32 FPS difference, representing a 52% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Does the combo show any signs of CPU limitation in the measured data?

A: No. The FPS scales almost entirely with resolution and settings, which are GPU-bound factors. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences between 1080p and 1440p, or plateauing at higher settings. Instead, the drops are consistent and pronounced.

Q: Which resolution provides the best balance of FPS and visual quality based on the data?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 44, with a minimum of 37 and maximum of 50. This is the highest average above 40 FPS outside of the Low preset, offering more visual fidelity than Low while staying more fluid than High (38 FPS) or Ultra (29 FPS).

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a Pascal-architecture part from the GeForce 10-series, built on a 14 nm process. It features 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. Its base clock is 1291 MHz with a boost clock of 1392 MHz. The memory subsystem consists of 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s. These specifications are modest, and the GPU’s benchmark scores reflect this. Its Passmark G3D score is 6340, and it sits at the 25th percentile among all GPUs, indicating that it outperforms only a quarter of the database.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role is decisive. The measured FPS values at 4K are particularly telling: 29 FPS on Low, 21 FPS on Medium, 18 FPS on High, and 14 FPS on Ultra. These numbers are all below 30 FPS, which is generally considered the minimum for a playable experience in a fast-paced FPS. The 4 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor, as higher resolutions and settings require more memory for textures and frame buffers, and exceeding 4 GB can cause stuttering or frame drops, although the average FPS data alone does not confirm this. The memory clock of 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective) and 112.1 GB/s bandwidth are also limiting, as 4K rendering demands high bandwidth for texture streaming and post-processing effects.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Radeon R5 M330, which scores 4170 (a 0.6% delta), and the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, scoring 4151 (a 1% delta). The GTX 1050 Ti’s average benchmark score is 4193, placing it slightly above these mobile and workstation parts but far below any modern gaming GPU. For Lockdown Protocol, this means the GPU is the primary constraint, and the data confirms that no settings preset at 1440p or 4K can push the average FPS above 45.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data offers a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 61 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS with a minimum of 37 and maximum of 50, High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. This shows a clear step-down as graphical fidelity increases. The jump from Low to Medium is 17 FPS, from Medium to High is 6 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 9 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 37 FPS means that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above 30, which is a positive sign for playability.

At 2560x1440, the averages drop: Low yields 45 FPS, Medium yields 32 FPS (minimum 27, maximum 37), High yields 28 FPS, and Ultra yields 21 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 27 FPS dips below 30, indicating potential stutter in heavy action. The High and Ultra presets fall further, with averages of 28 and 21 FPS, respectively, making them marginal for a competitive shooter. The 1440p results show that the GTX 1050 Ti is stretched, and only the Low preset maintains an average above 40 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results are uniformly low. Low settings average 29 FPS, Medium averages 21 FPS (minimum 18, maximum 24), High averages 18 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. None of these configurations reach 30 FPS on average, and the Medium preset’s maximum of 24 FPS is still below that threshold. The 4K data confirms that this combo is not viable for smooth gameplay at this resolution, regardless of settings.

Comparing the same settings across resolutions reveals the scaling. For Low settings, the FPS goes from 61 (1080p) to 45 (1440p) to 29 (4K). For Medium, it goes from 44 to 32 to 21. For High, from 38 to 28 to 18. For Ultra, from 29 to 21 to 14. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent at around 26-28% for all settings, and from 1440p to 4K it is around 33-36%. This uniformity reinforces the GPU-bound analysis.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience in Lockdown Protocol comes from the 1920x1080 Medium preset. This configuration delivers an average FPS of 44, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50. The minimum is comfortably above 30 FPS, which ensures that frame pacing remains stable during intense firefights. Compared to Low settings, which average 61 FPS, the Medium preset offers a 17 FPS reduction but provides a substantial visual upgrade in terms of texture quality, shadow detail, and post-processing effects. The High preset at 1080p averages 38 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for drops, and the minimum is not recorded. Ultra at 1080p averages 29 FPS, which is below the playable threshold and not recommended.

If a player prioritizes frame rate over visuals, the 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that reaches 60 FPS average, which is ideal for competitive play. However, the Medium preset’s minimum of 37 FPS suggests it is the sweet spot for balancing fluidity and image quality. At 1440p, the Low preset averages 45 FPS, which is acceptable, but the Medium preset’s average of 32 FPS with a minimum of 27 FPS is risky, as it can drop below 30. The 4K resolution is not recommended for any settings, as the highest average is 29 FPS on Low, which will feel choppy in a fast-paced FPS.

The data suggests that users should stick to 1080p for this combo. Medium is the recommended preset because it stays above 30 FPS at all times (minimum 37) while offering better visuals than Low. High is a viable alternative if the user is willing to accept an average of 38 FPS, but the lack of minimum data makes it harder to assess stability. Ultra should be avoided due to the 29 FPS average.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 7000-series desktop processor featuring 6 cores and 12 threads. Its base clock is 4.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. It is built on a 5 nm process and has a 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is a hallmark of the X3D line designed to improve gaming performance. The CPU’s Passmark multithread score is 25047, and its single-thread score is 3494. It sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong overall performance.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is less prominent than the GPU’s, but it still matters. The game is an FPS, which typically relies on single-thread performance for game logic and physics, but modern titles also use multiple threads for rendering tasks and AI. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D’s 6 cores and 12 threads provide enough parallelism for such workloads. The high L3 cache size of 96 MB is particularly beneficial for gaming, as it reduces memory latency and improves data access patterns.

The measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 61 FPS, which is likely near the GPU’s maximum capability at that setting. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see the FPS plateau at a lower value across different resolutions. Instead, the FPS drops sharply as resolution increases, which is a classic GPU-bound signature. The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (average score 44466, delta 0.2%), the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44342, delta 0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (44309, delta 0.6%). The Ryzen 5 7500X3D’s average benchmark score is 44573, placing it slightly above these mobile and desktop parts.

For Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s high single-thread score of 3494 ensures that game logic and frame scheduling are handled efficiently. The boost clock of 4.50 GHz is relatively high, and the 96 MB L3 cache helps with the game’s asset streaming. However, because the GTX 1050 Ti is so much weaker relative to the CPU, the CPU’s potential is largely untapped. At lower resolutions like 1080p, the CPU could theoretically push higher FPS if paired with a stronger GPU, but with the current combo, the graphics card caps performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti ranks 2797 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 1.1% of all configurations, which is a very poor result. The rank reflects the severe imbalance between the high-end CPU and the low-end GPU. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a modern, high-performance processor (89th percentile among CPUs), but the GTX 1050 Ti is an end-of-life GPU from 2016 that sits at the 25th percentile among GPUs.

The data indicates that this combo is heavily bottlenecked by the GPU. The CPU’s capabilities are wasted in this configuration, as the measured FPS values are all constrained by the graphics card’s limits. For example, at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 61 FPS, but a stronger GPU paired with the same CPU could likely achieve much higher frame rates. The rank of 2797 out of 2828 suggests that almost every other tested combination delivers better performance in this game.

This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s specifications. The GTX 1050 Ti’s 4 GB VRAM, 128-bit memory bus, and 2.138 TFLOPS FP32 performance are simply inadequate for a modern FPS at higher resolutions. Even at 1080p, the Ultra preset only averages 29 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS minimum for playability. The combo’s percentile rank among CPUs (89) and GPUs (25) highlights the mismatch: pairing a top-tier CPU with a bottom-quartile GPU results in a system that cannot leverage its processor’s strengths.

For context, the CPU’s nearest rivals in benchmark scores are the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (0.2% higher score) and the Intel Core i5-14600 (0.7% lower score). The GPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M330 (0.6% higher score) and the NVIDIA Quadro K3000M (1.1% higher score). These comparisons show that the CPU is competitive with high-end mobile and desktop parts, while the GPU is only comparable to low-end mobile parts from several generations ago. The resulting combo rank is therefore predictable: the weakest link dictates the overall performance, and in this case, the GTX 1050 Ti is the limiting factor.

In summary, the data shows that this combo should be used exclusively at 1080p with Medium or Low settings for any semblance of playable frame rates. The 4K and 1440p results are too low for a competitive FPS, and the overall rank reflects the severe GPU bottleneck. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a capable processor, but it is held back by a graphics card that was already entry-level at its release and is now far behind modern standards.