Lockdown Protocol

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol reveals a predictable but informative scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo of AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT delivers 235 FPS average. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same settings, the average drops to 172 FPS, a reduction of 63 FPS or roughly 27%. At 3840x2160 Low, the average falls further to 111 FPS. This progression indicates that the GPU is the primary scaling bottleneck as pixel count increases, with the CPU's 12 cores and 24 threads providing ample headroom to feed the Radeon RX 7800 XT even at lower resolutions.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens dramatically at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (235 FPS) and Ultra (109 FPS) is 126 FPS, meaning Ultra delivers only about 46% of the Low-setting performance. At 1440p, Low produces 172 FPS while Ultra drops to 80 FPS, a 92 FPS gap. At 4K, Low achieves 111 FPS while Ultra falls to 52 FPS, a 59 FPS difference. This pattern suggests that Ultra settings impose a heavy GPU workload that scales with resolution, while the CPU remains consistently capable of maintaining high frame rates across all tested configurations.

The shape of the scaling curve points to the GPU as the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 235 FPS, which is well beyond typical display refresh rates. The fact that 4K Low still manages 111 FPS indicates the Radeon RX 7800 XT has substantial raw throughput. However, the steep drop from Low to Ultra at each resolution—particularly the 4K Ultra result of 52 FPS—shows that the GPU's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are taxed heavily by the highest quality presets. The CPU's 128 MB L3 cache and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth are unlikely to be the constraint given the strong low-resolution performance.

Intermediate settings tell a similar story. At Medium, the system produces 167 FPS at 1080p, 122 FPS at 1440p, and 79 FPS at 4K. The min FPS values at Medium settings—142 at 1080p, 104 at 1440p, and 67 at 4K—show that even the lower-bound performance remains playable, though the 4K minimum of 67 FPS is the first sign of the GPU struggling to maintain smooth delivery. High settings follow the same trajectory: 146 FPS at 1080p, 107 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 provides the best balance of visual quality and performance. At High settings, the system delivers 107 FPS average, which comfortably exceeds 60 FPS and approaches high-refresh territory. At 1920x1080, High settings reach 146 FPS, but the visual fidelity gain from 1440p is substantial for only a 39 FPS cost.

Q: How does the CPU's core count affect Lockdown Protocol performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D features 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture. Benchmark results show strong multi-threaded capability: Cinebench R23 multicore scores 47737, and 3DMark max threads scores 13795. Given that the system reaches 235 FPS at 1080p Low, the CPU is clearly not limiting frame rates in this game.

Q: Is the Radeon RX 7800 XT sufficient for 4K gaming in Lockdown Protocol?

A: At 4K, the GPU produces 111 FPS on Low, 79 FPS on Medium, and 69 FPS on High settings. Only Ultra drops below 60 FPS with a 52 FPS average. This indicates the 16 GB VRAM and 2430 MHz boost clock are adequate for 4K, but users must adjust settings to maintain high refresh rates.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like across settings?

A: The Medium preset includes min and max FPS data. At 1080p, the range spans from 142 to 192 FPS (a 50 FPS spread). At 1440p, the range is 104 to 141 FPS (37 FPS spread). At 4K, the range narrows to 67 to 91 FPS (24 FPS spread). Tighter ranges at higher resolutions suggest the GPU workload becomes more consistent as it becomes the bottleneck.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This pairing ranks 897th out of 2828 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 31.7% of all configurations. This rank reflects a balanced system where the CPU's strong benchmark scores—91st percentile among all CPUs—complement the GPU's mid-range positioning.

Q: Which setting preset offers the best experience per the measured data?

A: High settings at 1440p deliver 107 FPS, which is 27 FPS higher than the 4K High result and only 39 FPS lower than 1080p High. Given that High at 1440p exceeds 100 FPS while maintaining visual quality, it represents the optimal measured configuration in this dataset.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D brings substantial processing power to this pairing. With 12 cores and 24 threads running at a base clock of 4.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz, the CPU is built for both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, is manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process with 16,630 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design. The 128 MB L3 cache is particularly notable for gaming, as it reduces memory latency and improves hit rates for frequently accessed data.

The CPU's benchmark performance reinforces its capability in Lockdown Protocol. Cinebench R23 scores of 47737 multicore and 6739 single-core indicate strong sustained performance. Geekbench results show 22884 multicore and 3041 single-core scores. The 3DMark results are equally telling: 12490 for 16 threads, 9002 for 8 threads, 4885 for 4 threads, and 2512 for 2 threads. These results show excellent scaling across thread counts, which suggests the CPU can handle both lightly-threaded game logic and heavily-threaded background tasks without issue.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 91 among all CPUs places it in the top decile of processors. Its nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF with a delta of -0.6%, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K at +1.3%, the Intel Xeon 6505P at +2%, and the Intel Core i7-14700F at +2.1%. This tight grouping indicates the 9900X3D is competitive with leading desktop and even some server processors.

In Lockdown Protocol specifically, the CPU's role appears to be ensuring frame delivery consistency rather than pushing raw frame rates. The 235 FPS result at 1080p Low is likely above what the game's engine can consistently produce, suggesting the CPU is never the bottleneck. Even at 4K Ultra with 52 FPS, the CPU has ample headroom—the constraint is clearly the GPU's ability to process the increased pixel workload and higher-quality effects.

The CPU's 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth supports dual-channel DDR5, and its PCIe Gen 5 interface with 24 lanes ensures the GPU has a high-bandwidth connection. The integrated Radeon Graphics provide a fallback display output, though the discrete RX 7800 XT handles all gaming workloads. The 120 W TDP and unlocked multiplier make this a flexible processor for various system configurations.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT achieves a rank of 897 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places the pairing in the upper third of all configurations tested, which is notable given the wide range of hardware combinations evaluated. The rank reflects the system's ability to deliver high frame rates across most settings and resolutions, with only the most demanding 4K Ultra preset falling below 60 FPS.

The CPU's contribution to this ranking is substantial. With a percentile rank of 91 among all CPUs, the 9900X3D outpaces the vast majority of processors in the database. This high CPU performance helps ensure that the combo never suffers from CPU-side bottlenecks, which can drag down rankings in CPU-intensive titles. The GPU's percentile rank of 51 places it near the median of all GPUs, meaning the RX 7800 XT is a mid-pack performer. The combination of a top-decile CPU with a median GPU creates a system that performs well but does not reach the upper echelons of the rankings.

The deltaPct values for the CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its positioning. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 0.6% lower on average, while the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 1.3% higher. The Intel Xeon 6505P is 2% higher, and the Core i7-14700F is 2.1% higher. These small deltas indicate that the 9900X3D is in a tightly contested performance band, and the choice between these processors would likely have minimal impact on Lockdown Protocol frame rates.

The GPU's nearest rivals show a similar clustering. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 scores 0.5% lower, the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M scores 0.9% higher, the NVIDIA Tesla K20c scores 1.3% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT scores 1.8% lower. This grouping suggests the RX 7800 XT's benchmark average of 11627 is representative of its class, and the actual gaming performance in Lockdown Protocol depends more on the specific workload than on synthetic benchmark deltas.

The rank of 897 out of 2828 means 1931 combos (68.3%) perform worse, while 897 combos (31.7%) perform better. This places the system in a competitive but not dominant position. For a 1080p or 1440p gamer, this rank is more than sufficient—the measured FPS values at these resolutions are well above playable thresholds. For 4K enthusiasts seeking maximum settings, the rank highlights the GPU as the limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset delivers the best experience. At 1920x1080, High settings produce 146 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play and high-refresh displays. However, the jump to Medium (167 FPS) and Low (235 FPS) shows that reducing settings yields diminishing returns—the visual difference between Medium and High is typically smaller than the 21 FPS gap between them. For most players at 1080p, High settings provide the best balance of visual quality and performance.

At 2560x1440, High settings deliver 107 FPS, which is the sweet spot for this resolution. The 1440p Medium preset produces 122 FPS, but the visual quality reduction may not justify the 15 FPS gain. The 1440p Ultra preset drops to 80 FPS, which is still playable but represents a 27 FPS cost versus High. Given that High at 1440p maintains a triple-digit frame rate, it is the recommended preset for this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the choice becomes more nuanced. High settings produce 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold but leaves little headroom for frame time spikes. Medium settings produce 79 FPS, offering a more comfortable margin. Low settings reach 111 FPS but sacrifice significant visual quality. The Ultra preset at 52 FPS is the only measured configuration that falls below 60 FPS, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay. At 4K, Medium settings strike the best balance—79 FPS average with a 67 FPS minimum provides a consistently smooth experience.

The min FPS data at Medium settings further informs the recommendation. At 1080p, the 142 FPS minimum ensures no perceptible stuttering. At 1440p, the 104 FPS minimum keeps frame delivery smooth. At 4K, the 67 FPS minimum stays above the 60 FPS line. These minimums suggest that Medium settings provide consistent performance across all resolutions, making it the safest choice for players who prioritize smoothness over maximum visual fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance across all settings. Low settings produce 235 FPS average, representing the maximum throughput of the combo. Medium settings reduce this to 167 FPS, with a minimum of 142 FPS and maximum of 192 FPS. High settings achieve 146 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 109 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 126 FPS reduction, indicating that Ultra settings impose a significant GPU workload even at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings maintain 172 FPS, which is still excellent for high-refresh gaming. Medium settings produce 122 FPS with a 104 FPS minimum and 141 FPS maximum. High settings achieve 107 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 80 FPS. The 1440p results show that the system can handle this resolution comfortably at all settings except possibly Ultra for players who demand the highest visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. Low settings produce 111 FPS, which is respectable for 4K gaming. Medium settings achieve 79 FPS with a 67 FPS minimum and 91 FPS maximum. High settings deliver 69 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 52 FPS. The 4K results demonstrate that the RX 7800 XT's 16 GB VRAM and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for Low through High settings, but Ultra exceeds the GPU's comfortable operating range.

The complete dataset shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step from 1080p to 1440p to 4K reduces FPS by roughly 30-40% at equivalent settings. The 1080p to 1440p transition costs 63 FPS at Low (235 to 172), 45 FPS at Medium (167 to 122), 39 FPS at High (146 to 107), and 29 FPS at Ultra (109 to 80). The 1440p to 4K transition costs 61 FPS at Low (172 to 111), 43 FPS at Medium (122 to 79), 38 FPS at High (107 to 69), and 28 FPS at Ultra (80 to 52). The smaller absolute drops at Ultra settings indicate the GPU is already saturated, so resolution changes have less relative impact.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. The GPU features 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 render output units, along with 60 ray tracing cores. The 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 624.1 GB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for high-resolution textures and effects in Lockdown Protocol.

The GPU's clock speeds are configured with a base of 1295 MHz, a game clock of 2124 MHz, and a boost clock of 2430 MHz. The memory runs at 2438 MHz, delivering 19.5 Gbps effective throughput. These specifications translate to a pixel rate of 233.3 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 583.2 GTexel/s, with FP32 performance of 37.32 TFLOPS. The 263 W TDP and 600 W suggested PSU requirement indicate this is a power-hungry card, but the dual-slot design and 2x 8-pin power connectors are standard for this performance class.

Benchmark results for the RX 7800 XT show a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4157, Geekbench OpenCL score of 18290, and Geekbench Vulkan score of 54228. PassMark results include a G3D score of 24176 and GPU compute score of 13473. The GPU's percentile rank of 51 places it near the median of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 11627. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (0.5% lower), AMD Radeon Pro 5500M (0.9% higher), NVIDIA Tesla K20c (1.3% higher), and AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT (1.8% lower).

The GPU's 16 GB VRAM capacity is a significant asset for Lockdown Protocol. The measured FPS data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the system manages 52 FPS, suggesting the VRAM is not exhausted at these settings. The 256-bit memory bus and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth provide sufficient throughput for the game's texture streaming and effect rendering. The RDNA 3.0 architecture's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6 ensures compatibility with modern rendering APIs.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is clearly the performance limiter at higher resolutions and settings. The 1080p Low result of 235 FPS shows the GPU can deliver very high frame rates when the workload is light. The 4K Ultra result of 52 FPS reveals the GPU's limits under heavy load. The gap between these extremes—183 FPS—demonstrates that the RX 7800 XT has a wide operating range but is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with High settings, where it consistently exceeds 100 FPS.