Lockdown Protocol

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 122 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops that to 90 FPS, a reduction of 32 FPS or roughly 26%. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls further to 58 FPS. This progression from 1080p to 1440p to 4K represents a consistent decline that tracks closely with the pixel-count increase, suggesting the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The scaling pattern becomes more pronounced at higher quality settings. At High settings, the transition from 1080p (76 FPS) to 1440p (56 FPS) costs 20 FPS, while moving from 1440p to 4K (36 FPS) costs another 20 FPS. This is a steeper drop than what the raw pixel counts would predict, indicating that the combination of higher resolution and higher settings pushes the GTX 1660 Ti well beyond its comfortable operating range. The 4K High result of 36 FPS sits right at the edge of playability for a fast-paced FPS title.

Ultra settings tell the most telling story regarding the limiting component. At 1080p Ultra, the combo manages 57 FPS, which drops to 42 FPS at 1440p and then to 27 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure of 27 FPS is barely above slideshow territory for a competitive shooter. The delta between Low and Ultra at the same resolution is substantial — at 1080p, the gap is 65 FPS (122 versus 57), at 1440p it is 48 FPS (90 versus 42), and at 4K it is 31 FPS (58 versus 27). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions reinforces that the GPU's rendering throughput, not the CPU's ability to feed frames, is what caps performance.

The data indicates that the Ryzen 9 5900X is never the bottleneck in this configuration. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would typically be most stressed, the 122 FPS average suggests the processor has ample headroom. The 12-core, 24-thread CPU with a 4.80 GHz boost clock is more than capable of keeping up with the GTX 1660 Ti's output. The measured pattern — where FPS falls consistently as resolution rises — is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is built on the Turing architecture using a 12 nm process at TSMC, packing 6,600 million transistors into a 284 mm² die. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, with memory running at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective). These specifications place the card in the 41st percentile of all GPUs based on its average benchmark score of 7723.

The memory configuration is particularly relevant for Lockdown Protocol. With 6 GB of VRAM, the card has enough capacity for 1080p and 1440p gaming at most settings, but the 4K results suggest that texture data and frame buffers at ultra-high resolutions strain the available memory. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (27 FPS) versus 4K Low (58 FPS) demonstrates a 31 FPS swing, which is more than just a raw compute limitation — it points to memory bandwidth and capacity pressures when higher-quality assets are loaded at 3840x2160.

The GTX 1660 Ti's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Radeon 540 (0.7% ahead), AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 (1.9% ahead), AMD Radeon R7 250 (2.2% ahead), and Intel Arc A310 (2.3% ahead). These are all cards with significantly lower performance profiles, which underscores that the GTX 1660 Ti, while not a high-end part, sits above a large swath of the GPU market. The 2.3% delta to the Intel Arc A310 is the largest gap among these nearest rivals, indicating that the 1660 Ti's closest competitors are all within a very tight performance band.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol specifically, the GPU's 5.437 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 169.9 GTexel/s texture rate are the raw throughput figures that determine how quickly the renderer can process geometry and fill pixels. The 48 ROPs deliver a pixel rate of 84.96 GPixel/s, which becomes more critical at higher resolutions where more pixels must be written each frame. The measured data shows that at 4K, even Low settings only reach 58 FPS, suggesting the pixel throughput is a genuine constraint at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 60+ FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, all settings except Ultra (57 FPS) deliver an average above 60 FPS — Low hits 122 FPS, Medium 87 FPS, and High 76 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low (90 FPS) and Medium (64 FPS) exceed 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti compare to its closest rivals in raw benchmarks?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti's average benchmark score is 7723. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 540, scores 7673 (0.7% behind), while the Intel Arc A310 scores 7550 (2.3% behind). The card sits in the 41st percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 5900X holding back the GTX 1660 Ti in this game?

A: The FPS scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K shows consistent drops as resolution increases, which indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's 12 cores, 24 threads, and 4.80 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom for this workload.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows 64 FPS average at 2560x1440 with Medium settings, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. This is the only 1440p Medium result that stays above 60 FPS average.

Q: How much performance is lost going from 1080p to 4K at the same settings?

A: At Low settings, the drop is from 122 FPS (1080p) to 58 FPS (4K), a 64 FPS reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 76 FPS to 36 FPS, a 40 FPS reduction. At Ultra, it falls from 57 FPS to 27 FPS, a 30 FPS reduction.

Q: Does the 6 GB VRAM cause problems at 4K?

A: The 4K results show significant performance degradation, with Ultra settings producing only 27 FPS. The memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s and 6 GB capacity appear insufficient for smooth 4K operation, as even Low settings only reach 58 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance. Low settings produce an average of 122 FPS, representing the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and maximum of 100 FPS. High settings drop to 76 FPS average, while Ultra settings fall to 57 FPS. The 1080p results show a clear progression where each quality tier costs roughly 10-35 FPS, with the largest single drop occurring between Low and Medium.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance envelope tightens considerably. Low settings average 90 FPS, still comfortably above 60 FPS. Medium settings average 64 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS and maximum of 73 FPS, placing it right at the threshold of smooth playability. High settings drop to 56 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 42 FPS. The 1440p data reveals that only Low and Medium settings consistently maintain playable frame rates, with High and Ultra requiring compromises.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1660 Ti struggles to maintain playable performance. Low settings average 58 FPS, which is the only 4K result above 60 FPS territory, though it still falls short. Medium settings average 41 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS and maximum of 47 FPS. High settings drop to 36 FPS, and Ultra falls to 27 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly below the 60 FPS target, indicating that this resolution is not viable for competitive play with this hardware combination.

The Medium settings row is the only one with full min/max data across all three resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 74-100 FPS (26 FPS spread). At 1440p, the range narrows to 54-73 FPS (19 FPS spread). At 4K, the range tightens further to 35-47 FPS (12 FPS spread). This narrowing of the frame time variance at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is becoming more consistently saturated, leaving less headroom for frame rate fluctuations.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) using TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a TDP of 105 W. The CPU features 64 MB of L3 cache, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 64 KB of L1 cache per core. It supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4.

In benchmark comparisons, the Ryzen 9 5900X sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 41376. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (0.3% ahead with a score of 41263), Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (0.4% ahead at 41215), AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (0.4% ahead at 41208), and Intel Core i7-14650HX (0.5% behind at 41576). These deltas are remarkably small — the largest gap to any nearest rival is just 0.5% — indicating that the 5900X is positioned in an extremely dense performance cluster.

For Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics calculations, and game logic. The 12-core configuration provides substantial multi-threaded headroom, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16262 and Passmark multithread score of 39002. The single-thread performance, measured at 1527 in Cinebench R23 and 3469 in Passmark single-thread, is what matters most for frame pacing in an FPS title. The 4.80 GHz boost clock ensures that single-threaded workloads receive maximum clock speed when needed.

The measured FPS data shows no signs of CPU limitation. At 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most likely to bottleneck due to high frame rates, the combo still achieves 122 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions at the same settings. Instead, the data shows a consistent decline from 1080p to 1440p to 4K across all settings, which is the definitive signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The Ryzen 9 5900X is performing its role without becoming a constraint.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's frame rate priorities. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 76 FPS average offers the best balance of visual quality and performance, provided the user does not demand 100+ FPS. For competitive play where higher frame rates are paramount, the Low preset at 122 FPS is the clear choice, though Medium at 87 FPS also provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while improving visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 64 FPS average is the recommended starting point. It is the only 1440p Medium result that averages above 60 FPS, and the minimum of 54 FPS ensures that most of the session remains smooth. The Low preset at 90 FPS is the better option for players who prioritize frame rate stability, while High at 56 FPS and Ultra at 42 FPS should be avoided for serious gameplay due to their sub-60 FPS averages.

At 3840x2160, no settings preset achieves a 60 FPS average. The Low preset at 58 FPS is the closest, and it is the only 4K option that approaches playability. Medium at 41 FPS, High at 36 FPS, and Ultra at 27 FPS are all below the threshold for smooth FPS gameplay. Users who insist on 4K output should be prepared to accept frame rates in the 27-58 FPS range depending on quality settings, which is marginal for a fast-paced shooter.

The data suggests that the best overall experience is achieved at 2560x1440 with Medium settings. This configuration delivers 64 FPS average with a minimum of 54 FPS, providing a playable frame rate while maintaining a reasonable level of visual detail. For users with 1080p displays, the High preset at 76 FPS offers the most visually rich experience that still maintains a solid frame rate. The 4K resolution should be considered only for casual play or screenshots, as no preset delivers competitive frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti combination ranks 3199 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places the combo in the bottom 14% of all tested configurations, reflecting the GTX 1660 Ti's position as a mid-range GPU from 2019 paired with a high-end CPU from 2020. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU's performance ceiling, as the CPU is more than capable of supporting much faster graphics cards.

The combo's ranking relative to its position in the overall GPU distribution is consistent — the GTX 1660 Ti sits in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, and the combo's 3199th place out of 3714 puts it in a similar lower-middle tier. The Ryzen 9 5900X, by contrast, is in the 87th percentile of CPUs, which means the CPU is performing at a level far above what the GPU can utilize in this game. This is a classic imbalance where the processor's potential is left untapped due to the graphics card's limitations.

In practical terms, the rank of 3199 means there are 515 tested combos that perform worse than this configuration in Lockdown Protocol. The GPU's nearest rivals — AMD Radeon 540, AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100, AMD Radeon R7 250, and Intel Arc A310 — are all significantly slower cards, and combos using those GPUs would likely rank below this one. However, the large number of combos ahead of this pairing (3198) reflects the broad availability of faster GPUs that can leverage the Ryzen 9 5900X's substantial multi-threading and single-thread performance.

The ranking data, combined with the measured FPS results, paints a clear picture: this combo is suitable for 1080p gaming at medium-to-high settings and 1440p at low-to-medium settings, but it is not competitive for high-refresh-rate or 4K gaming. Users with this hardware should focus on optimizing settings for their specific display resolution, as the GPU is the definitive bottleneck in Lockdown Protocol. The Ryzen 9 5900X provides a strong foundation for future GPU upgrades, should the user choose to invest in a faster graphics card later.