Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and AMD Radeon RX 7800M

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that stresses both processor and graphics solution. This analysis pairs the 16-core AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mobile processor with the AMD Radeon RX 7800M discrete GPU, examining measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets. The data reveals a system capable of high-refresh 1080p play but one that struggles to maintain smooth 4K performance at maximum settings, with a clear bottleneck shifting between CPU and GPU depending on configuration.

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

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, and fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which are substantial figures for a mobile part with a 55 W TDP. The processor features a 64 MB shared L3 cache, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 80 KB of L1 per core, providing ample fast storage for game data. Memory support extends to LPDDR5X over a quad-channel interface, yielding 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for feeding both the CPU and its integrated Radeon 8060S graphics.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is evident in the scaling of frame rates at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 162 FPS, but this drops to 119 FPS at 1440p Low and 77 FPS at 4K Low. This pattern suggests that at lower graphical loads, the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates, but the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor as resolution increases. The processor's single-core performance, indicated by a Geekbench single-core score of 2464 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2044, is robust for gaming workloads that often rely on a few threads. Multi-threaded performance is equally strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35314 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 20992, though most FPS titles do not fully utilize 32 threads.

Comparing to nearest rivals, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 posts an average benchmark score of 77740, which is 1.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX and the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P, both scoring around 76500. It sits 1.7% below the Intel Core i9-14900K, which averages 79097, and 2% above the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX at 76212. This places the processor in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier performance. For Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's high clock speeds and substantial cache likely prevent it from being a bottleneck in most scenarios, particularly at 1080p where frame rates exceed 160 FPS. The data implies that the processor has headroom to handle the game's physics and AI calculations without significantly constraining the GPU.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M is a mobile GPU based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, using the Navi 32 chip manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. It packs 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units, along with 60 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1295 MHz, a game clock of 2145 MHz, and a boost clock of 2335 MHz, with memory running at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). It is equipped with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is ample for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and even at 4K, 12 GB is sufficient for many titles, though the measured frame rates suggest the GPU's compute power is the limiting factor.

The GPU's raw compute capability is rated at 35.87 TFLOPS for FP32, with a pixel rate of 224.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 560.4 GTexel/s. In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's influence is clear when examining the scaling of frame rates across settings at a fixed resolution. At 4K, the average FPS drops from 77 at Low to 54 at Medium, 48 at High, and 36 at Ultra. This steep decline with increasing quality settings indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed by the game's visual effects, such as shadows, reflections, and post-processing. The 73rd percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27883, places it in the upper mid-range tier. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 (0.2% slower), AMD Radeon Pro W5500X (0.3% faster), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (0.5% faster), and AMD FirePro S7150 (0.8% faster), all of which are older or workstation-oriented parts, indicating the RX 7800M is a capable gaming solution.

The 12 GB VRAM is a notable advantage, as it prevents memory capacity from being a bottleneck even at 4K Ultra, where the game may require more than 8 GB. However, the data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system only manages 36 FPS, suggesting that the GPU's compute units, not its memory, are the limiting factor. The GPU's performance in Lockdown Protocol is consistent with its benchmark scores, showing strong 1080p performance but a predictable decline as resolution and settings increase.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Analyzing the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 162 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play on high-refresh monitors. However, the Medium preset at 115 FPS offers a better balance of visual quality and performance, with a minimum FPS of 98 and a maximum of 132, ensuring smooth gameplay without significant frame drops. The High preset at 100 FPS is also viable, but the jump from Medium to High only yields a 15 FPS cost, which is modest, while the visual improvement may be worth it for some players. The Ultra preset at 75 FPS is playable but starts to approach the threshold where some players may notice reduced smoothness, especially in fast-paced FPS action.

At 1440p, the Low preset provides 119 FPS, which is still high, but the Medium preset at 84 FPS (minimum 72, maximum 97) is the recommended sweet spot. It offers a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining frame rates above 60 FPS. The High preset at 74 FPS is also acceptable, but the 10 FPS difference between Medium and High is smaller than the jump from Low to Medium, suggesting diminishing returns. The Ultra preset at 55 FPS is borderline, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making it less ideal for a competitive FPS.

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. The Low preset at 77 FPS is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset at 54 FPS (minimum 46, maximum 63) is playable but may suffer from noticeable frame drops in intense scenes. The High preset at 48 FPS and Ultra at 36 FPS are not recommended for competitive play, as they fall below the 60 FPS target and may feel sluggish. For the best experience at 4K, players should use the Low preset, which still provides a playable frame rate, or consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for higher quality settings. Overall, the data suggests that Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p provide the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and AMD Radeon RX 7800M ranks 1894 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 33rd percentile of all systems tested. This ranking is somewhat surprising given the individual component scores, as the CPU is in the 95th percentile and the GPU is in the 73rd percentile. The discrepancy suggests that the game's performance is heavily influenced by the GPU, and the RX 7800M, while capable, is not a top-tier part in absolute terms. The ranking indicates that there are 1893 other system configurations that achieve higher frame rates in this game, likely featuring more powerful GPUs such as higher-end NVIDIA or AMD parts.

The rank of 1894 out of 2828 means that roughly two-thirds of tested combos outperform this setup. This does not imply the system is weak, but rather that Lockdown Protocol is a demanding title that favors GPUs with higher raw compute. The CPU's strong performance is somewhat wasted at lower settings and resolutions where the GPU is the bottleneck, but it ensures that the system does not experience CPU-related frame drops. The data suggests that for this game, investing in a more powerful GPU would yield greater performance gains than upgrading the CPU. The combo's ranking is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range positioning, and users should temper expectations for 4K gaming, where the system only manages 36 FPS at Ultra settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for competitive play with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1080p with Medium settings provides 115 FPS (minimum 98, maximum 132), which is ideal for competitive play. For even higher frame rates, 1080p Low delivers 162 FPS, but the visual quality is significantly reduced.

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

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K Low, the system achieves 77 FPS, which is playable. However, at 4K Ultra, performance drops to 36 FPS, which is not smooth enough for most players. The Medium preset at 54 FPS is the highest quality that remains somewhat playable.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has an average benchmark score of 77740, which is 1.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX and AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P, 1.7% lower than the Intel Core i9-14900K, and 2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.

Q: Is the GPU's 12 GB VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: Yes, the 12 GB VRAM is adequate for Lockdown Protocol at all tested settings and resolutions. The performance drops at 4K Ultra are due to the GPU's compute limitations, not memory capacity, as the system still runs without memory-related stuttering.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the Low preset delivers 119 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 55 FPS. This represents a 64 FPS difference, or roughly a 54% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 1894 out of 2828 tested combos, meaning it outperforms about 33% of systems and is slower than 67%. This places it in the lower-mid range for Lockdown Protocol performance.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low setting achieves 162 FPS average, which is the fastest measured in this dataset. The Medium setting provides 115 FPS, with a minimum of 98 and a maximum of 132 FPS, showing a stable frame time distribution. The High setting yields 100 FPS average, while the Ultra setting drops to 75 FPS. This progression shows a linear decline as settings increase, with a total drop of 87 FPS (54%) from Low to Ultra.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are lower but still playable for most settings. The Low setting achieves 119 FPS, a 43 FPS reduction from 1080p Low. The Medium setting delivers 84 FPS, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 97 FPS. The High setting provides 74 FPS, which is a 26 FPS drop from 1080p High. The Ultra setting yields 55 FPS, which is 20 FPS lower than 1080p Ultra. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p results in a 27% to 30% reduction in frame rate across all settings.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low setting achieves 77 FPS, which is the only setting above 60 FPS. The Medium setting delivers 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 63 FPS, showing significant variance. The High setting provides 48 FPS, and the Ultra setting drops to 36 FPS. The 4K results represent a 52% to 53% reduction from 1440p and a 62% to 63% reduction from 1080p for corresponding settings. The Ultra setting at 4K is particularly demanding, as the system only manages 36 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

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

The scaling of frame rates from 1080p to 4K reveals critical insights about the system's bottleneck. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 162 FPS at 1080p to 119 FPS at 1440p (a 43 FPS or 27% reduction), and then to 77 FPS at 4K (a 42 FPS or 35% reduction from 1440p). The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is smaller than from 1440p to 4K, indicating that the GPU is becoming increasingly stressed as resolution increases. This pattern is consistent across all settings, with the total reduction from 1080p to 4K being 85 FPS (52%) at Low, 61 FPS (53%) at Medium, 52 FPS (52%) at High, and 39 FPS (52%) at Ultra.

The consistent 52-53% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K across all settings suggests that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect a smaller reduction at lower settings where the GPU is less stressed, but the similar percentage drops indicate that the GPU is consistently saturated. The absolute frame rates at 4K are low, with only the Low preset exceeding 60 FPS, which further confirms that the RX 7800M's compute power is insufficient for high-quality 4K gaming in Lockdown Protocol.

The data also shows that the CPU has significant headroom at 1080p, as the frame rates exceed 160 FPS, which is well above what most CPUs can sustain in FPS titles. The processor's high boost clock and 64 MB L3 cache likely contribute to this performance. However, as resolution increases, the CPU's workload remains relatively constant, while the GPU's workload increases quadratically with pixel count. This means that the system transitions from a balanced configuration at 1080p to a GPU-bound configuration at 4K, where the GPU's 35.87 TFLOPS of compute power is the limiting factor. The measured data clearly indicates that for Lockdown Protocol, the RX 7800M is the component that determines the system's playability at higher resolutions, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 provides ample processing power to avoid CPU-induced frame drops.