Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol presents an interesting test for the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti pairing. The data shows a system where the graphics card, an older Pascal architecture part, is clearly the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions, while the modern Zen 4 CPU ensures the frame rate stays high when the graphical load is reduced. This analysis breaks down the measured results to understand where the bottleneck lies and what settings offer the most playable experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound performance scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 111 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 82 FPS, a reduction of 29 FPS. The jump to 4K (3840x2160) further reduces the average to 53 FPS. This linear decline in performance as pixel count increases is a strong indicator that the GTX 1080 Ti is the limiting component in this configuration for Lockdown Protocol.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K tells a particularly clear story. The 82 FPS at 1440p drops to 53 FPS at 4K, which is a 35% decrease in frame rate for a 125% increase in pixel count. This suggests the GPU is being saturated at these higher resolutions, with its pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth becoming the constraining factors. The GTX 1080 Ti’s 484.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 139.2 GPixel/s pixel rate are being fully utilized, and the data indicates the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU without becoming a bottleneck at these settings.

However, the scaling pattern changes when looking at lower graphical settings. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS jumps to 180. At 1440p Low, it drops to 132 FPS, and at 4K Low, it’s 85 FPS. The relative drop from 1080p to 1440p is 48 FPS, which is a larger absolute drop than the 29 FPS seen when moving from 1080p High to 1440p High. This indicates that at Low settings, the system is becoming less GPU-bound and the CPU’s performance, while excellent with a 5.40 GHz boost clock and 16 threads, starts to play a more significant role in determining the final frame rate. The Ryzen 7 7700X is still strong enough to push over 130 FPS at 1440p Low, but the ceiling is no longer purely set by the GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a Pascal architecture card with 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus. Its 484.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth is a critical specification for Lockdown Protocol, which appears to be a game that scales well with both resolution and texture quality. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 40, while at 4K High, it’s 53 FPS. This 13 FPS difference between High and Ultra highlights how demanding the Ultra preset is on the GPU’s resources.

The card’s compute capabilities are also relevant. With 3584 shading units and a boost clock of 1582 MHz, the GTX 1080 Ti delivers 11.34 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. This is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but shows its age at 4K, where the average FPS at High settings (53) is below the 60 FPS threshold often considered ideal for smooth gameplay. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 58 vs all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 18600, places it as a mid-range performer in the current landscape, which aligns with its measured performance in this game.

The VRAM capacity of 11 GB is another factor. While Lockdown Protocol’s specific VRAM usage isn't in the data, the fact that the GPU has this much memory suggests that texture-heavy settings at 1440p and 4K won't be limited by capacity, but rather by the raw processing power of the GP102 chip. The benchmark results show the GPU performing closest to the AMD Radeon Pro W5500, which is 0.8% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, which is 1.7% slower in average benchmark score. This places the GTX 1080 Ti in a specific performance tier that directly correlates with the FPS numbers seen in the resolution scaling.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a Zen 4 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock of 4.50 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz are high for a desktop part, and the 32 MB of shared L3 cache helps with gaming workloads. The data suggests that this CPU is not a limiting factor for Lockdown Protocol at most settings, as the FPS scaling is primarily tied to resolution. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19088 and single-core score of 1987 indicate strong performance that can handle the game’s logic and physics calculations without holding back the GTX 1080 Ti.

However, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 180. This is a frame rate that requires a capable CPU to feed the GPU. The Ryzen 7 7700X’s performance in 3DMark’s 16-thread test (8859) and single-thread test (1090) suggests it has the headroom to maintain high FPS in less GPU-intensive scenarios. The Passmark single-thread score of 4190 further supports this, showing the CPU’s strength in tasks that rely on fewer cores.

The CPU’s percentile ranking of 85 vs all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35909, places it well above the GTX 1080 Ti’s 58th percentile. This disparity in relative performance is a key takeaway. The data indicates a system that is unbalanced in favor of the CPU, which is a good thing for longevity, as the GPU can be upgraded later without needing to change the processor. The nearest rivals to the Ryzen 7 7700X, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 (0.3% slower) and the Intel Core 7 250H (0.5% slower), all have similar average benchmark scores, confirming that the 7700X sits in a competitive performance tier.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks at 2099 out of 3714 total combinations. This places it in the 57th percentile of all tested systems, which is a surprising result given the CPU’s high individual ranking. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, dragging the overall combo ranking down. The GTX 1080 Ti’s performance, while respectable, is not enough to push this system into the upper echelons of the rankings.

The gap between the CPU’s individual percentile (85) and the combo’s percentile (57) is significant. It implies that many other tested combos feature more powerful GPUs paired with less capable CPUs, and they still outperform this setup. The combo’s rank of 2099 suggests that for Lockdown Protocol, the GTX 1080 Ti is holding back the Ryzen 7 7700X. If the GPU were upgraded to a more modern part, the combo’s rank would likely improve substantially, as the CPU has proven it can deliver high frame rates when the GPU allows it, such as the 180 FPS at 1080p Low.

This ranking also provides context for the measured FPS. Being in the lower-middle half of all combos means that players with this hardware will have a playable experience, but they won’t be at the top of the performance curve. The data suggests that a system with a stronger GPU would be better suited for 4K Ultra settings, as this combo’s 40 FPS average at that configuration is below the smoothness threshold most players prefer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 84 on Ultra to 180 on Low. The Medium preset delivers 128 FPS, with a minimum of 108 and a maximum of 147. High settings at 1080p yield 111 FPS. This shows that 1080p is well within the capabilities of this hardware, with even Ultra settings maintaining an average above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 61 FPS on Ultra, 82 on High, 94 on Medium, and 132 on Low. The Medium preset shows a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108, indicating some frame time variance but still a playable experience. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 27-30 FPS on the High and Ultra presets, which is a significant drop but expected given the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more challenging. The Ultra preset drops to an average of 40 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. High settings average 53 FPS, Medium averages 60 FPS with a minimum of 51 and maximum of 69, and Low settings average 85 FPS. The 4K data clearly shows that this GPU is not designed for ultra-quality gaming at this resolution, but it can manage playable frame rates at Medium and Low settings. The 60 FPS average at 4K Medium is the only configuration at 4K that hits the 60 FPS mark, and it does so with some dips to 51 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 84 FPS is a solid choice, offering the best visual quality while maintaining a frame rate well above 60 FPS. For players with 144Hz or higher refresh rate monitors, the High preset at 111 FPS or even Medium at 128 FPS would be better choices to maximize smoothness, as the difference between High and Ultra is 27 FPS.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 82 FPS is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The Ultra preset at 61 FPS is also playable, but the 21 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not be worth the visual gains for all players. The Medium preset at 94 FPS offers a smoother experience if competitive play is the priority. The data shows that 1440p High is the sweet spot for this hardware, providing a high-quality image with a frame rate that is still responsive.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 60 FPS is the only configuration that hits the 60 FPS target, making it the recommended choice for 4K gaming. The High preset at 53 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth, and the Ultra preset at 40 FPS is likely to feel sluggish. For players with a 4K display, using Medium settings is the way to go, as it offers the best playable experience. The Low preset at 85 FPS is also an option for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual compromise is substantial.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 128 FPS, with a minimum of 108 FPS and a maximum of 147 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra settings in Lockdown Protocol?

A: No, the data shows an average FPS of 40 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the GTX 1080 Ti compare to its nearest rival in average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 15548, which is 0.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 and 1.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems for Lockdown Protocol?

A: This combo ranks 2099 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum.

Q: What is the best resolution for this hardware to maintain a 60+ FPS average on High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 82, and at 1920x1080 with High settings, it’s 111 FPS. Both are above 60 FPS, but 1080p offers a higher frame rate.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The minimum FPS recorded at 2560x1440 with Medium settings is 80 FPS, with an average of 94 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS.