Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, released on 2024-03-11, is an FPS title with a strong dependency on both processor and graphics throughput. The tested configuration pairs the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, a combination that produces high frame rates across all tested settings. The data indicates that this system sits at the 86th percentile among all tested combos in this game, delivering a smooth experience that is primarily limited by the graphics card at higher resolutions and by the CPU at lower settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer) using a 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its benchmark results show a strong multi-threaded capability, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 33150 and a Passmark multithread score of 39002. Single-thread performance is also robust, as indicated by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4680 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3469. The processor holds a 90th percentile ranking against all CPUs, placing it among the top decile of processors available.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role becomes evident when analyzing frame rates at 1080p with lower settings. At 1920x1080 Low, the system achieves 275.2 FPS, which is significantly higher than the 144.2 FPS seen at 1080p Ultra. The gap between these settings narrows as resolution increases, suggesting that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data at lower graphical loads. The processor's 64 MB of L3 cache and support for DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus provide sufficient bandwidth for the game's logic, but the data suggests that at 1080p Low, the CPU is nearing its limit, as the frame rate does not scale as aggressively from 1440p to 1080p as it does from 4K to 1440p. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 5900X shows a 0.2% higher average benchmark score than the AMD EPYC 4245P, a 0.9% higher score than the Intel Core i7-13700F, and a 0.7% lower score than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, indicating it is well-matched against contemporary desktop and mobile parts.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 135.4 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700F?

A: The Ryzen 9 5900X has an average benchmark score that is 0.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-13700F, based on the provided nearestRivals data.

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 275.2, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Does the GPU outperform the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti in average benchmark score?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX has an average benchmark score of 44019, which is 2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti's score of 44900, according to the deltaPct value.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combo ranks 231st out of 1637 total tested combos in this game.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p Ultra and 4K Ultra?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra is 144.2, while at 3840x2160 Ultra it drops to 68.8, a reduction of 75.4 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals distinct scaling patterns as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 275.2 FPS at 1080p to 219.2 FPS at 1440p, a 20.4% decrease, and then to 145.2 FPS at 4K, a further 33.8% decrease from 1440p. This scaling suggests that at Low settings, the CPU is a significant factor at 1080p, but the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution climbs, evidenced by the larger relative drop from 1440p to 4K.

For High settings, the pattern is similar but with lower absolute values: 188.3 FPS at 1080p, 135.4 FPS at 1440p, and 92 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28.1%, and from 1440p to 4K is 32.1%. This indicates that the GPU is consistently the limiting component at High settings, as the relative performance loss is more evenly distributed. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 144.2 FPS at 1080p, 103.8 FPS at 1440p, and 68.8 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 28.0%, and from 1440p to 4K is 33.7%.

The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system is likely CPU-bound, as the 275.2 FPS figure is exceptionally high and does not benefit from the GPU's full potential. However, at 4K Ultra, the 68.8 FPS result is heavily dependent on the GPU's rendering power. The RX 7900 XTX, with its 24 GB of GDDR6 memory and 960.0 GB/s bandwidth, handles the increased pixel count effectively, but the frame rate still scales down proportionally with resolution, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In Lockdown Protocol, this specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX achieves a combo rank of 231 out of 1637 tested configurations. This places the system comfortably within the top 14.1% of all combos tested for this game. The rank reflects a balance between the CPU's 90th percentile performance and the GPU's 85th percentile performance, indicating that neither component is a weak link, but the overall ranking is slightly constrained by the GPU's relative standing.

The GPU's nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 580, has an average score that is 0.4% higher, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is 0.8% lower. This suggests that the desktop RX 7900 XTX is positioned between a professional workstation GPU and a high-end mobile part. The CPU's rivals, including the Intel Core i7-13700 and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS, are within a 1% margin of the 5900X's average score, which shows that the processor is not a differentiator in this ranking. The combo's overall rank of 231 is a result of the GPU's strong but not top-tier performance, combined with the CPU's solid multi-threading and single-thread capabilities, which are sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at most settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across twelve distinct scenarios. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 144.2 at Ultra to 275.2 at Low, with Medium at 213 and High at 188.3. The spread of 131 FPS between Low and Ultra at this resolution highlights the significant impact of graphical settings on frame rate, which is typical for a CPU-bound scenario at lower resolutions.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 103.8 at Ultra to 219.2 at Low, with Medium at 156.5 and High at 135.4. The difference between Low and Ultra is 115.4 FPS, slightly less than at 1080p, indicating a gradual shift towards GPU-bound performance. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 68.8 at Ultra to 145.2 at Low, with Medium at 102.4 and High at 92. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 76.4 FPS, which is a direct result of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck.

Notably, the increment from Medium to High at 4K is a drop from 102.4 to 92 FPS, a 10.4 FPS decrease, while the increment from High to Ultra is a drop from 92 to 68.8 FPS, a 23.2 FPS decrease. This suggests that Ultra settings impose a disproportionately higher load on the GPU compared to High. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium reduces FPS by 62.2, and from Medium to High by 24.7, indicating that the Low to Medium transition is the most demanding in relative terms.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, High settings at 188.3 FPS provide a smooth experience that exceeds the refresh rate of most standard monitors, while Ultra at 144.2 FPS still offers high frame rates with additional visual fidelity. For 1440p, High settings at 135.4 FPS are recommended for a balance of visual quality and performance, as Ultra drops to 103.8 FPS, which may be less fluid for competitive play.

At 4K, the data shows that High settings at 92 FPS deliver a playable experience, but Medium at 102.4 FPS offers a better frame rate with only a slight reduction in visual quality. Ultra at 68.8 FPS is the most demanding and may be suitable for slower-paced gameplay or when prioritizing image quality over responsiveness. Low settings at 4K provide 145.2 FPS, but this comes with significant graphical compromises. The best experience per the measured rows is achieved by choosing High settings at 1080p or 1440p, as these provide frame rates above 130 FPS while maintaining a high level of detail. For 4K users, Medium settings are the sweet spot, offering 102.4 FPS without the steep performance cost of High or Ultra.