Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol puts the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combo in a familiar spot: the CPU is ready for far more, but the GPU sets the ceiling. The measured data shows a system that is well-balanced for high-refresh 1080p play, still capable at 1440p, and only comfortable at 4K when settings are turned down. This pairing leans on the 12-core processor to maintain frame pacing while the 8 GB Turing card handles the rasterization load.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly GPU-limited. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 176.8 FPS at 1920x1080 to 127.6 FPS at 2560x1440, then down to 84.1 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 52.4% reduction from 1080p to 4K on Low, which shows the RTX 2070 SUPER is the primary constraint as pixel count rises. The trend holds across every preset: High settings go from 110.1 FPS at 1080p to 80.8 FPS at 1440p and 53.2 FPS at 4K, while Ultra drops from 79.4 FPS to 60.9 FPS and finally 40.3 FPS at 4K.

The scaling pattern indicates that the Ryzen 9 7900X is not the bottleneck at higher resolutions. With 12 cores and 24 threads, the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU; the data confirms this because the frame rate drops almost linearly with resolution, which is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the 176.8 FPS result suggests the CPU can still push well beyond 144 FPS, but the GPU’s 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput and 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth limit the ceiling. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is massive — 84.1 FPS versus 40.3 FPS — which tells you that the 8 GB GDDR6 frame buffer and 256-bit bus are working hard at 3840x2160.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only with compromises. At 3840x2160 High settings, the average is 53.2 FPS, which is playable but not smooth for competitive play. Dropping to Low yields 84.1 FPS, which is much better, but you sacrifice visual fidelity. Ultra at 4K is a poor experience at 40.3 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate monitors?

A: 1920x1080 is the sweet spot. Low settings hit 176.8 FPS, and even High settings reach 110.1 FPS, which is enough for 100 Hz panels. Medium also clears 120 FPS at 125.9 FPS, so you can keep decent visuals and stay above 120 FPS.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 7900X holding back the RTX 2070 SUPER?

A: No. The CPU’s benchmark scores are extremely high, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 43695 and a Passmark multithread score of 51406. The measured FPS scaling is purely resolution-driven, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU sits in the 93rd percentile versus all CPUs, so it is far from a bottleneck.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 22206, which is 0.5% lower than the NVIDIA RTX A400 (22307) and 2.3% lower than the RTX 4060 Mobile (22729). It is 0.9% faster than the GTX TITAN Z and 2.5% faster than the AMD RX 5700. In real terms, it trades blows with these cards, but none of them change the 4K story.

Q: Should I play on Medium or High at 1440p?

A: Medium gives you 90.4 FPS, while High gives you 80.8 FPS. The 9.6 FPS difference is not huge, but if you want a smoother experience for a fast-paced FPS, Medium is the better choice. If you prefer visual quality, High is still above 60 FPS.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM cause issues at 4K?

A: The data suggests it might. The 4K Ultra result of 40.3 FPS is very low, and the gap between Low (84.1 FPS) and Medium (58.5 FPS) is a 25.6 FPS drop, which is larger than the typical scaling you would see purely from GPU compute. The 8 GB frame buffer on the 256-bit bus is likely a contributing factor at 3840x2160.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on Zen 4 (Raphael) architecture, built on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which is more than enough to keep up with a mid-range GPU from the previous generation. Its benchmark results are exceptional: a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 43695 and a single-core score of 6168, along with a Geekbench single-core score of 2952. These numbers place it in the 93rd percentile versus all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors on the market.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is to maintain consistent frame times, especially at 1080p where the GPU is less stressed. The data shows that at 1920x1080 Low, the average FPS is 176.8, which is high enough to expose any CPU weakness. The fact that the framerate scales cleanly with resolution — 176.8 to 127.6 to 84.1 as you move from 1080p to 1440p to 4K — indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any setting. The 64 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (83.2 GB/s bandwidth) also help with game data streaming, but the measured results show this is a GPU-bound title.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 (0.1% slower), AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT (0.4% slower), Intel Core i7-13850HX (0.5% slower), and Intel Core i9-13980HX (0.8% slower). In-game, this means the 7900X is effectively interchangeable with those chips for Lockdown Protocol; the GPU will determine the FPS long before the CPU becomes a factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong results across all presets. Low settings average 176.8 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. Medium drops to 125.9 FPS, still very smooth. High comes in at 110.1 FPS, and Ultra falls to 79.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 97.4 FPS, which shows that the GPU is doing most of the work, but even Ultra clears 60 FPS comfortably.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers become more moderate. Low settings average 127.6 FPS, which is still high enough for most 144 Hz monitors. Medium hits 90.4 FPS, High reaches 80.8 FPS, and Ultra drops to 60.9 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1440p is a 66.7 FPS difference, and Ultra just barely stays above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU starts to struggle. Low settings average 84.1 FPS, which is playable. Medium drops to 58.5 FPS, High falls to 53.2 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 40.3 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 43.8 FPS, and the jump from Low to Medium is a significant 25.6 FPS loss, suggesting the 8 GB VRAM is a bottleneck at this resolution. For a 60 FPS target at 4K, you need to stick to Low settings; everything else will dip below the threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combo ranks 1026 out of 1637 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. That puts it in the lower-middle tier of all tested systems, which makes sense given the GPU’s age. The RTX 2070 SUPER is end-of-life and sits in the 65th percentile versus all GPUs, so it is not a top-tier performer by modern standards. However, the CPU is in the 93rd percentile, which means the combo’s ranking is dragged down almost entirely by the graphics card.

In practical terms, this ranking means the system will outperform any combo with a weaker GPU, but it will fall behind newer mid-range cards like the RTX 4060 Mobile, which is only 2.3% faster in synthetic benchmarks but likely has better driver optimization for newer games. The combo’s position at 1026/1637 indicates that while it is not a high-end rig, it is far from the bottom — it sits in the 62.7th percentile of all tested combos, which is a solidly mainstream result.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p gaming, the best experience is a balance between frame rate and visual quality. Medium at 125.9 FPS is the recommended choice for most players, as it provides a smooth experience well above 120 FPS while keeping the game looking decent. If you have a 144 Hz monitor, Low at 176.8 FPS is the way to go for maximum responsiveness. High at 110.1 FPS is also viable if you prefer visuals over raw speed, but Ultra at 79.4 FPS is not worth the visual gain unless you have a 75 Hz display.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. Medium at 90.4 FPS is the best option, offering a smooth experience that stays above 90 FPS. High at 80.8 FPS is acceptable, but the 9.6 FPS drop is noticeable. Low at 127.6 FPS is for competitive players who prioritize frame rate over everything. Ultra at 60.9 FPS is marginal; it hits 60 FPS but leaves no headroom for dips, so it is not recommended for a fast-paced FPS.

At 4K, the choices are limited. Low at 84.1 FPS is the only preset that provides a consistently playable experience. Medium at 58.5 FPS and High at 53.2 FPS are both below 60 FPS, which is suboptimal. Ultra at 40.3 FPS is not viable for this game. If you want to play at 4K, you must accept Low settings; otherwise, drop to 1440p for a much better experience. The data clearly shows this combo is a 1080p and 1440p machine, not a 4K one.