Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol presents an unusual hardware pairing: the 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX mobile processor paired with the AMD Radeon 760M integrated graphics. This combination yields a specific performance profile that is heavily skewed toward CPU capability while being constrained by the GPU. The measured data reveals a system that can produce playable frame rates at lower resolutions and settings, but struggles under higher graphical loads.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and can boost up to 5.40 GHz. This is a high-end mobile part, ranking in the 95th percentile among all CPUs tested in the database. Its average benchmark score of 76,212 places it in close competition with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which scores 76,155, a negligible 0.1% difference. The data also shows it is 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 0.4% behind both the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX.

In Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title, the CPU's role is often to manage game logic, physics, and draw calls. With 32 threads and a 5.40 GHz boost clock, the 8945HX has ample headroom for these tasks. The benchmark results suggest that the CPU is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck in most scenarios. For instance, its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42,713 points indicates substantial parallel processing power, which could handle complex scenes with many entities. The single-core performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 score of 6,030, which is critical for games that rely on a few heavily loaded threads. The large 64 MB L3 cache is another asset, potentially reducing memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

However, the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol indicates that the system's overall performance is not being limited by this processor. The low frame rates at 4K Ultra (12 FPS) and even at 1080p Ultra (25 FPS) suggest that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is likely waiting on the GPU to complete its rendering tasks. This is a classic scenario where a powerful CPU is paired with a weak GPU, leading to a CPU that is underutilized in gaming workloads. The Passmark multithread score of 51,405 and the Passmark single-thread score of 3,907 further confirm a processor with high compute capability, but this capability is not being translated into high FPS due to the graphics bottleneck. The data implies that while the CPU is ready to deliver high frame rates, the system's overall performance is capped by the integrated graphics solution.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon 760M is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, codenamed Phoenix. It operates with a base clock of 800 MHz and a boost clock of 2599 MHz. The GPU has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. It also includes 8 ray tracing cores. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's DDR5 RAM, and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This is a significant limitation, as the GPU does not have dedicated VRAM and must contend with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

The GPU's performance percentile is in the 35th percentile among all GPUs, which is relatively low. Its average benchmark score is 6,019. The nearest rival data shows it is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6400 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M, and 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server. It is 0.5% behind the NVIDIA Quadro P2000. These are all older or lower-tier discrete GPUs, which puts the 760M's performance into perspective. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 400 points, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 30,336.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's role is to render the 3D scene, handle textures, and process shaders. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution and settings increase. For example, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 54, which is a playable level. However, at the same resolution on Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 25. This indicates that the GPU is struggling with the increased graphical load. The shared memory architecture is likely a major contributor to this, as the GPU's performance is directly tied to the system's memory bandwidth. The boost clock of 2599 MHz is relatively high, but it cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated memory and the low number of shading units. The data suggests that the Radeon 760M is the primary bottleneck in this system, capping performance well below what the Ryzen 9 8945HX can deliver.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions provides a clear picture of the system's scaling behavior. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 54 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average FPS drops to 40, a 26% decrease. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 26, which is a 52% decrease from the 1080p Low result. This trend is consistent across all settings presets. For High settings, the FPS goes from 34 at 1080p to 25 at 1440p and 16 at 4K. Medium settings show a similar pattern: 39 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with FPS dropping from 25 at 1080p to 18 at 1440p and 12 at 4K.

The proportional drop in FPS as resolution increases is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. When a system is GPU-bound, increasing the resolution increases the pixel count, which directly increases the GPU's workload. The CPU's workload, in contrast, does not scale as dramatically with resolution. The fact that FPS scales down significantly with resolution suggests that the Radeon 760M is struggling to fill the extra pixels. The data shows that even at the lowest settings, the system cannot maintain 60 FPS at 1080p, which is a common target for FPS games. The performance deficit at 4K is particularly pronounced, with all settings presets falling below 30 FPS. This indicates that the system is not suitable for high-resolution gaming in Lockdown Protocol. The scaling pattern confirms that the CPU has plenty of headroom, and the GPU's render throughput is the ceiling for performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across different configurations. At 1920x1080, the system is at its most capable. On Low settings, it achieves an average of 54 FPS. Medium settings yield 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 44 FPS. High settings average 34 FPS. Ultra settings average 25 FPS. This shows a clear progression of decreasing performance as graphical quality increases. The gap between Low and Ultra is 29 FPS, which is substantial.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 40 FPS. Medium settings average 28 FPS, with a minimum of 24 FPS and a maximum of 32 FPS. High settings average 25 FPS. Ultra settings average 18 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra here is 22 FPS. The system is still able to produce playable frame rates at Low settings, but the higher presets are becoming less viable.

At 3840x2160, the system is severely challenged. Low settings average 26 FPS. Medium settings average 18 FPS, with a minimum of 15 FPS and a maximum of 21 FPS. High settings average 16 FPS. Ultra settings average 12 FPS. At this resolution, no setting preset achieves a playable 30 FPS average. The data shows that the system is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being possible only at lower settings. The 4K resolution is not a practical option for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the AMD Radeon 760M ranks 2,820 out of 2,828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 0.3% of all tested configurations. This low rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's performance. While the CPU is a high-end part, the integrated GPU severely limits the system's gaming capability. The data indicates that nearly all other tested combinations, even those with weaker CPUs, outperform this specific pairing in this game.

This ranking underscores the importance of the GPU in gaming performance. The Ryzen 9 8945HX, despite its strong benchmark scores, cannot compensate for the Radeon 760M's limitations. The combo rank of 2,820 out of 2,828 suggests that a user with this hardware would have a very poor experience in Lockdown Protocol compared to the vast majority of other systems. The data implies that for gaming purposes, a discrete GPU is essential, and this integrated solution is not adequate for a modern FPS title. The performance gap between this combo and the top performers is immense, but the data does not provide specific scores for comparison. It is clear from the rank that this combination is among the least capable for this game.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The measured FPS at 1920x1080 ranges from 54 FPS on Low to 25 FPS on Ultra. For a smoother experience, Low or Medium settings are more appropriate.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this setup?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The Radeon 760M's performance drops significantly as resolution and settings increase, while the Ryzen 9 8945HX has high benchmark scores, suggesting it has plenty of headroom.

Q: How does this combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: It performs poorly. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 26 on Low to 12 on Ultra. No settings preset reaches a playable 30 FPS average.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this hardware?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset offers the highest average FPS at 54. The Medium preset provides 39 FPS and is a good balance, but Low is the only preset that approaches a stable 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 9 8945HX compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76,212, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX's score of 76,155. The performance difference is negligible.

Q: Is the Radeon 760M comparable to any discrete GPUs?

A: The data shows it is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6400 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M. This suggests it performs similarly to older or entry-level discrete graphics cards.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience in Lockdown Protocol for this hardware pairing is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset. This configuration yields an average of 54 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all tested resolutions and settings. It provides a playable frame rate that is suitable for an FPS game. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 39 FPS, which is also playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes. The minimum FPS of 33 at this setting is still acceptable, but the average is significantly lower.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the High preset at 1080p provides 34 FPS, but this is a substantial drop from Low. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with 25 FPS, is not recommended for a competitive FPS experience. At 1440p, the Low preset is the only viable option, offering 40 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 28 FPS, which may feel sluggish. All 4K presets are not recommended due to frame rates consistently below 30 FPS. The data strongly suggests that to get the best performance from this system, users should stick to 1080p and use the Low or Medium presets. The Low preset is the best choice for maximizing smoothness and responsiveness.