Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER

Lockdown Protocol, a competitive FPS released in March 2024, proves highly responsive to both CPU and GPU headroom in this configuration. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers a wide performance envelope, stretching from a highly playable 73 FPS at 4K Ultra to a blistering 331 FPS at 1080p Low. This pairing ranks 175th out of 2,828 tested combinations in the game's benchmark database, placing it in the top 6% of all systems measured.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic pattern where the GPU becomes increasingly dominant at higher resolutions, while the CPU's 3D V-Cache keeps frame pacing consistent at lower settings. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 205 FPS at 1920x1080 to 151 FPS at 2560x1440, a 26.3% reduction, and then further to 97 FPS at 3840x2160, a 35.8% reduction from the 1440p figure. This scaling curve indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth are being taxed progressively as pixel count rises.

The Low settings preset tells a different story. At 1080p Low, the system hits 331 FPS, which drops to 243 FPS at 1440p and 157 FPS at 4K. The relative drops are 26.6% and 35.4% respectively, very similar percentages to the High preset. This consistency suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU remains the primary bottleneck at 4K, while the CPU's 5.60 GHz boost clock and 96 MB of shared L3 cache are sufficient to feed the graphics card at lower resolutions. The 4K Low result of 157 FPS is still higher than the 1440p Medium result of 172 FPS, showing that resolution scaling is not linear and that settings adjustments can offset resolution penalties.

At Medium settings, where minimum and maximum frame rates were recorded, the data shows a tighter band at 4K. The 3840x2160 Medium result averages 111 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 128 FPS, a spread of 33 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average rises to 172 FPS with a range from 147 to 198 FPS, a 51 FPS spread. At 1920x1080 Medium, the average climbs to 235 FPS with a range of 200 to 270 FPS, a 70 FPS spread. This widening range at lower resolutions indicates that CPU-bound scenarios introduce more frame time variance, while at 4K the GPU maintains more consistent pacing.

The Ultra preset shows the steepest resolution penalty. From 154 FPS at 1080p, the average falls to 113 FPS at 1440p (a 26.6% drop) and then to 73 FPS at 4K (a 35.4% drop). The 4K Ultra result of 73 FPS is the lowest figure in the entire dataset, indicating that this preset pushes the RTX 4080 SUPER to its limits in Lockdown Protocol. The data suggests that 1440p is the sweet spot for high-refresh monitors, as even Ultra settings maintain 113 FPS, while 4K users should consider dropping to High or Medium for smoother gameplay.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D brings substantial processing power to Lockdown Protocol, with 8 cores and 16 threads based on Zen 5 architecture. Its 4.70 GHz base clock and 5.60 GHz boost clock, combined with a massive 96 MB shared L3 cache, position it well for the game's physics and AI calculations. The CPU achieves a 92nd percentile ranking against all processors, with an average benchmark score of 58,386. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M with a score of 58,323 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core i9-14900 with 58,115 (0.5% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 with 58,826 (0.7% higher).

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities are demonstrated in Cinebench R23, where it scores 22,807 in multi-core and 2,228 in single-core tests. PassMark results show a single-thread score of 4,704 and a multi-thread score of 41,318. These figures indicate strong per-core performance that Lockdown Protocol can leverage for its game logic threading. The 120 W TDP and 4 nm process node from TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die, suggest efficient power delivery that sustains boost clocks during extended gaming sessions.

The importance of the CPU in Lockdown Protocol becomes evident when examining the 1080p Low result of 331 FPS. At this resolution and setting, the GPU is far from saturated, and the CPU's ability to feed frames becomes the limiting factor. The 5.60 GHz boost clock and 96 MB L3 cache help maintain high minimum frame rates, as evidenced by the Medium preset's 200 FPS minimum at 1080p. The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals shows a tight grouping, with less than 1% separating the top four processors, indicating that Lockdown Protocol is not exceptionally CPU-sensitive at typical gaming settings.

The Ryzen 7 9850X3D's memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth provides ample data throughput for the game's assets. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 24 lanes ensures the GPU has sufficient bandwidth for texture streaming. The CPU's ECC memory support and unlocked multiplier for overclocking are additional features that may appeal to enthusiasts, though the stock performance already places it in the top 8% of all CPUs tested.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data suggests that High settings provide the best balance of visual fidelity and performance across all three resolutions. At 1920x1080, High delivers 205 FPS, which is 33 FPS higher than Ultra's 154 FPS but only 30 FPS lower than Medium's 235 FPS. The visual difference between High and Ultra in most FPS titles is typically subtle, while the 51 FPS penalty at 1080p is substantial. At 2560x1440, High achieves 151 FPS, which is 38 FPS higher than Ultra's 113 FPS and only 21 FPS lower than Medium's 172 FPS. At 3840x2160, High produces 97 FPS, which is 24 FPS higher than Ultra's 73 FPS and only 14 FPS lower than Medium's 111 FPS.

For competitive play at 1080p, Low settings yield 331 FPS, which exceeds the refresh rate of most high-end monitors. This preset minimizes visual distractions and maximizes frame rate, though the 126 FPS difference between Low and High at 1080p suggests that Low is primarily for esports scenarios where every millisecond counts. The Medium preset offers a compromise with 235 FPS at 1080p, 172 FPS at 1440p, and 111 FPS at 4K, all of which are playable on standard 60 Hz displays and many high-refresh panels.

The Ultra preset is only recommended for players with 1440p or 1080p monitors who prioritize image quality over frame rate. At 1080p Ultra, 154 FPS remains smooth on most displays, while at 1440p Ultra, 113 FPS is acceptable for casual play. However, at 4K Ultra, the 73 FPS average falls below the 90 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for responsive aiming in FPS titles. The data indicates that High settings at 1440p, with 151 FPS, offer the best combination of visual quality and performance for most users, while 4K users should stick with High (97 FPS) or Medium (111 FPS) to maintain smooth gameplay.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this CPU-GPU combination in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 331 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 243 FPS at 2560x1440 with Low settings, followed by 235 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings.

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

A: Yes, but settings matter significantly. At 4K High, the system averages 97 FPS, which is smooth. At 4K Medium, it averages 111 FPS with a minimum of 95 FPS. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 73 FPS, which may feel less responsive for competitive play.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9850X3D compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The CPU scores 58,386 on average, ranking 92nd percentile. It is 0.1% faster than the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (58,323), 0.5% faster than the Intel Core i9-14900 (58,115), and 0.7% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (58,826).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 243 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 113 FPS. This is a 130 FPS difference, representing a 53.5% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: Does the RTX 4080 SUPER outperform its closest rival in this configuration?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54,209 on average, ranking 86th percentile. It is 0.1% slower than the RTX 4080 (54,247), 1.1% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54,828 is higher, so the 4080 SUPER is slower), and 2.7% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55,698 is higher, so the 4080 SUPER is slower). The data shows mixed results against these rivals.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this system in the benchmark data?

A: The only minimum FPS values recorded are for Medium settings. At 4K Medium, the minimum is 95 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it is 147 FPS. At 1080p Medium, it is 200 FPS. No minimum values were provided for Low, High, or Ultra presets.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER serves as the primary rendering engine for Lockdown Protocol, with its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus providing 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's 10,240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 raster output processors deliver substantial fill rates, with a pixel rate of 285.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 816.0 GTexel/s. The 52.22 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power handles the game's modern rendering techniques, while 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores provide hardware acceleration for ray tracing and DLSS features.

The GPU's clock speeds of 2,295 MHz base and 2,550 MHz boost are modest by Ada Lovelace standards, but the 320 W TDP ensures sustained performance under load. The RTX 4080 SUPER achieves an 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54,209. Its nearest rivals include the RTX 4080 with a score of 54,247 (0.1% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X with 54,828 (1.1% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB with 55,698 (2.7% higher). These small deltas indicate that the RTX 4080 SUPER is closely matched with its immediate competitors in synthetic tests.

In Lockdown Protocol specifically, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM capacity proves sufficient even at 4K Ultra, as the game does not appear to exceed this budget based on the measured FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 73 FPS suggests the GPU is fully utilized at this setting, while the 1080p Low result of 331 FPS indicates the GPU has significant headroom at lower resolutions. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s is likely a factor in the 4K performance, as texture streaming at high resolutions demands substantial data throughput.

The RTX 4080 SUPER's end-of-life production status and 5 nm process node from TSMC, with 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die, represent mature technology that delivers consistent results. The GPU's triple-slot design and single 16-pin power connector require a 700 W suggested PSU, which is reasonable for its performance class. The PCIe 4.0 x16 interface provides adequate bandwidth, and the display outputs include HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4a connections, supporting high-refresh monitors at 1440p and 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset for Lockdown Protocol with this configuration spans three resolutions and four settings presets, providing 12 measured average frame rates.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance. Low settings produce 331 FPS average, the fastest result in the entire dataset. Medium settings follow with 235 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 200 FPS and maximum of 270 FPS. High settings achieve 205 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 154 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a consistent decline, with each step from Low to Medium (96 FPS drop), Medium to High (30 FPS drop), and High to Ultra (51 FPS drop) representing the cost of increased visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales downward as expected. Low settings yield 243 FPS, a 26.6% reduction from the 1080p result. Medium settings produce 172 FPS, with a minimum of 147 FPS and maximum of 198 FPS. High settings achieve 151 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 113 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a 51 FPS range between minimum and maximum, indicating some frame time variability. The 1440p results suggest that this resolution is well-suited for the RTX 4080 SUPER, with even Ultra settings maintaining 113 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor more prominently. Low settings produce 157 FPS, still a highly playable result. Medium settings average 111 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and maximum of 128 FPS, representing a 33 FPS range that indicates more consistent frame pacing than at lower resolutions. High settings achieve 97 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 73 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only figure below 90 FPS in the entire dataset, suggesting that this preset stretches the GPU's capabilities in Lockdown Protocol.

The data shows that between consecutive resolutions at the same settings, the average FPS drops by roughly 26-36% per step. For example, moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings reduces FPS from 205 to 151, a 26.3% decline. Moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings reduces FPS from 151 to 97, a 35.8% decline. The larger drop at higher resolutions confirms the GPU-bound nature of 4K rendering. Across all settings, the 4K results range from 73 to 157 FPS, while the 1080p results range from 154 to 331 FPS, giving players a wide spectrum of performance options depending on their display capabilities and visual preferences.