Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both the CPU and GPU depending on the resolution and settings you choose. With the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination, the data shows a system that is highly capable of delivering smooth frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but which begins to show its limits at 4K with higher quality presets. This analysis breaks down the measured performance data to help you understand where the bottlenecks are and how to configure the game for the best experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 124 FPS at 1080p to 91 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 59 FPS at 4K. This represents a significant 52% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, which strongly indicates that the rendering load on the GPU is the primary factor limiting frame rates at higher resolutions. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is a 33 FPS drop, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is a 32 FPS drop, showing a consistent scaling penalty as pixel count increases.

The Low settings preset shows a similar but even more dramatic scaling trend. At 1080p, the system achieves 200 FPS, which drops to 147 FPS at 1440p, and then to 95 FPS at 4K. This is a 105 FPS difference between the lowest and highest resolutions. The fact that the system can hit 200 FPS at 1080p Low suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU very quickly, but the 200 FPS ceiling is likely a limitation of the game engine or the CPU's single-thread performance, as the GPU should be able to render even more frames at such low settings. The 4K Low result of 95 FPS still demonstrates the GPU's raw power, but the scaling from 1080p shows that even at Low settings, the 4K resolution demands a massive amount of pixel-pushing power. This pattern confirms that Lockdown Protocol is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's influence is most noticeable at 1080p with lower graphical settings.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is the dominant component in this system for determining frame rates at 1440p and 4K. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s, which is more than sufficient for the textures and data required at 4K resolution. The GPU's boost clock of 2459 MHz and game clock of 2041 MHz give it the compute throughput needed to handle the game's rendering demands. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the average FPS at High settings (59 FPS) and Ultra settings (44 FPS) are below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for a smooth experience.

The RX 7700's position in the market is reflected in its benchmark scores. It holds a 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15852. Its nearest rival is the AMD Radeon R9 370X, which has an average score of 15862, a negligible 0.1% difference. This puts the RX 7700 in a performance class that is competitive with older and newer cards, but not at the top tier. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2865 gives a synthetic indication of its DirectX 12 capabilities, which is relevant for a modern FPS like Lockdown Protocol. The GPU's 40 RT cores suggest it can handle ray tracing, but the performance data provided does not include ray tracing benchmarks, so the impact on frame rates in this specific game cannot be quantified from this dataset.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at a stable 60 FPS in 4K?

A: The data shows it depends on the settings preset. At High settings, the average FPS is 59, which is just below 60. At Medium settings, the average is 67 FPS, but the minimum FPS recorded is 57, indicating frames can dip below the 60 FPS target. For a consistently stable 60 FPS experience at 4K, you would need to use the Low preset, which achieves an average of 95 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. At High settings, the system achieves an average of 91 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. This resolution utilizes the GPU's power effectively without the extreme load of 4K.

Q: How does the CPU's 3D V-Cache benefit this game?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D features 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a key attribute for gaming. While the provided data does not include specific per-component analysis, the CPU's benchmark scores show strong multi-threaded performance, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14317. This large cache helps maintain high frame rates, especially in CPU-bound scenarios like the 1080p Low setting where the system hits 200 FPS.

Q: Is the RX 7700 a significant upgrade over its closest rival, the RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The benchmark data shows they are very close in performance. The RX 7700 has an average benchmark score of 15852, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16129. This represents a 1.7% difference, meaning the RTX 3060 Ti is slightly faster on average, but the difference is negligible in real-world gaming scenarios.

Q: What is the expected performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The data shows a substantial difference. At 1440p High, the average FPS is 91, while at 1440p Ultra, it drops to 68 FPS. This is a 23 FPS reduction for the higher visual quality, representing a 25% performance hit. Players must weigh the visual gains against the significant loss in frame rate.

Q: Should I be concerned about the 1% low frame rates?

A: The data only provides minimum FPS for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 121 FPS, at 1440p Medium it is 88 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 57 FPS. These minimums are all above 30 FPS, which is good, but the 4K Medium minimum of 57 FPS suggests there can be noticeable stutters or drops during intense scenes, making it less ideal for competitive play.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the recommended settings depend heavily on your target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the system is so powerful that you can comfortably use the High preset, which yields 124 FPS, or even the Ultra preset at 93 FPS for maximum visual quality. The Low preset at 1080p produces 200 FPS, which is only beneficial for players with a 200Hz+ monitor who prioritize frame rate above all else. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a solid 142 FPS, providing a good balance, but High is the recommended preset for most users as it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium for a relatively small performance cost.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the sweet spot for this hardware combination. It delivers 91 FPS, which is excellent for a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor. The Medium preset provides 104 FPS, which is slightly faster but comes with reduced visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 68 FPS, which is still playable but may not feel as smooth as High. For competitive play at 1440p, the Low preset at 147 FPS is the best option, but for a single-player or casual experience, High is the recommended choice for its balance of visuals and speed. The data strongly suggests avoiding Ultra at 1440p if you want to maintain a high and stable frame rate.

For 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The High preset hits 59 FPS, which is just shy of the 60 FPS target, making it a marginal choice. The Medium preset offers 67 FPS, but the minimum FPS of 57 indicates that it may not be perfectly stable. The Low preset at 95 FPS is the only option that provides a truly comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 44 FPS is not recommended for a playable experience. Therefore, for 4K gaming, it is recommended to use the Medium or Low presets, depending on your tolerance for frame rate dips. Choosing the Low preset ensures a consistently smooth experience, while Medium offers a better balance if you can accept occasional drops below 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7700 combination is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 200 FPS average
• Medium: 142 FPS average, with a minimum of 121 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS.
• High: 124 FPS average
• Ultra: 93 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 147 FPS average
• Medium: 104 FPS average, with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS.
• High: 91 FPS average
• Ultra: 68 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 95 FPS average
• Medium: 67 FPS average, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS.
• High: 59 FPS average
• Ultra: 44 FPS average

These figures illustrate the performance envelope of this system. The jump from Low to Medium at 1080p costs 58 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 18 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 31 FPS. At 1440p, the incremental costs are 43 FPS, 13 FPS, and 23 FPS, respectively. At 4K, the costs are 28 FPS, 8 FPS, and 15 FPS. The data shows that the performance penalty for each settings tier is not linear and varies by resolution, with the largest relative drops occurring at lower resolutions where the CPU is less of a bottleneck.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D plays a crucial role in ensuring the GPU is fed with enough data to maintain high frame rates, particularly at 1080p. This 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its most distinctive feature is the 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a massive amount compared to standard processors and is designed to reduce memory latency, a key factor for gaming performance. The CPU's benchmark scores show it is a strong performer, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14317 and a single-core score of 1452. Its PassMark multithread score is 28309, and its 3DMark 16-thread score is 7299.

The CPU's performance relative to its rivals is closely matched. Its average benchmark score is 27896, placing it in the 80th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, has a nearly identical average score of 27887, a 0% difference. The Intel Core i9-10900K scores 27872, which is 0.1% lower, and the Intel Core i5-12600KF scores 27799, which is 0.3% higher. This indicates that the 5800X3D's performance is on par with these other high-end processors, despite being based on an older socket (AM4). The data suggests that at lower resolutions like 1080p, the CPU's capability is what allows the system to reach 200 FPS on Low settings, as the GPU is not yet the primary bottleneck. In this scenario, the combination of high core count and the large 3D V-Cache helps to minimize frame time spikes and deliver a smooth, high-FPS experience.