Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 produces a mixed bag of results in Lockdown Protocol, landing the combo at rank 1647 out of 2828 tested combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the field, which is not surprising given the generational gap between the CPU and GPU. The 6-core, 12-thread Comet Lake processor with a 2.90 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clock provides solid multi-threaded capability, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283, but its single-thread score of 1451 in the same test indicates that it may struggle to feed the RDNA 4.0 architecture at lower resolutions. The RX 9060, built on the 4 nm process with 1792 shading units and a boost clock of 2990 MHz, is a capable 1080p performer, but the CPU's aging architecture becomes a bottleneck as resolution drops.

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

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that demands strong per-core performance, but it also scales with additional threads. The i5-10400F offers 6 cores and 12 threads, which is a reasonable foundation for modern gaming. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz are modest by today's standards, and the 3DMark single-thread score of 688 reflects this. More telling is the PassMark single-thread score of 2541, which is the same as the multi-thread score when adjusted for the test methodology, indicating that the CPU's strength lies in sustained multi-core workloads rather than raw single-thread responsiveness.

The benchmark data supports this interpretation. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 10283 multi-core but only 1451 single-core. The gap between these scores suggests that while the CPU can handle simultaneous tasks, individual threads may not respond quickly enough to keep a high-refresh-rate GPU fully occupied. This becomes critical in Lockdown Protocol, where frame pacing relies on the CPU's ability to process game logic and draw calls efficiently.

The RX 9060's role is more straightforward. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus delivering 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth, the GPU has enough memory throughput for 1080p and 1440p gameplay. The 21.43 TFLOPS FP32 compute and 64 ROPs provide solid rasterization performance. However, the GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which has an average benchmark score of 16129 versus the RX 9060's 16014, a delta of -0.7%. This means the RX 9060 is effectively a peer of the RTX 3060 Ti in raw compute, but the older i5-10400F may prevent it from reaching its full potential in CPU-bound scenarios.

At 1080p, the CPU's limitations become apparent. The measured FPS at Low settings reaches 175, which is high but not exceptional for a 6-core processor with a 4.30 GHz boost. The fact that this is only 37% higher than the 128 FPS at 1440p suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiter at lower resolutions—the GPU still has headroom. Instead, the bottleneck likely shifts between the two components depending on the settings preset. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory at 42.7 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for the game's data needs, but they do not provide the low-latency access that newer architectures offer.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: How does this combo perform at 1080p compared to 1440p?

A: At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 81 at Ultra to 175 at Low. At 1440p, the range is 60 at Ultra to 128 at Low. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 20-27% across all settings, indicating that the GPU is still managing the load well and the CPU is not the sole bottleneck.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combo at 1440p?

A: Medium settings at 1440p deliver an average of 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 and maximum of 105. This provides a playable experience with some visual fidelity. High settings drop to 80 FPS, which is still smooth, but Medium offers a better balance between frames and quality.

Q: Is the i5-10400F holding back the RX 9060 in this game?

A: The evidence suggests partial CPU limitation at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 175 FPS, but the single-thread benchmark scores of the i5-10400F (688 in 3DMark, 1451 in Cinebench R23) are modest. The CPU's percentile rank of 68 among all CPUs indicates it is mid-pack, so it can drive high frame rates but may not maximize the GPU's potential in less demanding scenes.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014, placing it just below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129, -0.7%) and just above the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862, +1%) and AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15852, +1%). This shows it is competitive with mid-range GPUs from the previous generation.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 4K with this combo?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 83 at Low, 59 at Medium, 51 at High, and 39 at Ultra. Medium settings provide the only row with min/max data (50-68 FPS), suggesting it is the most stable preset for 4K play, though it is on the edge of playability.

Q: Is this combo better suited for competitive or visual gameplay?

A: The data shows strong 1080p performance with up to 175 FPS at Low settings, which suits competitive play. For visual quality, 1440p Medium at 91 FPS is a good compromise. 4K Ultra at 39 FPS is not recommended for any serious gameplay.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 175 at 1080p to 128 at 1440p (a 27% reduction) and then to 83 at 4K (a further 35% reduction). This is a textbook GPU-bound scaling pattern—as pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factor. The RX 9060's 288.0 GB/s bandwidth and 191.4 GPixel/s pixel rate are being fully utilized at higher resolutions.

At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 124 FPS at 1080p, 91 at 1440p, and 59 at 4K. The percentage drops are 27% and 35% respectively, matching the Low settings pattern. This consistency suggests that the CPU is not introducing additional bottlenecks as resolution increases—the GPU is handling the load proportionally.

High settings tell a slightly different story. The FPS drops from 109 at 1080p to 80 at 1440p (27% drop) and then to 51 at 4K (36% drop). The 4K High result of 51 FPS is the first time the combo dips below 60 FPS outside of Ultra settings. This indicates that the GPU is starting to struggle with the combined load of higher resolution and more demanding visual effects.

Ultra settings exacerbate this trend. The average FPS is 81 at 1080p, 60 at 1440p, and 39 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 26%, but from 1440p to 4K is 35%. This non-linear scaling at Ultra suggests that the GPU's 8 GB memory buffer is becoming a constraint at 4K, as the larger textures and higher detail levels exceed what the 128-bit bus can efficiently feed.

The limiting component analysis is nuanced. At 1080p Low with 175 FPS, the CPU's single-thread performance is likely capping the frame rate, as the GPU has significant headroom. At 1080p Ultra with 81 FPS, the GPU is doing more work, but the CPU may still be a factor. At 4K, the GPU is unambiguously the bottleneck, with the CPU's 12 threads providing sufficient processing power to keep the GPU fed. The i5-10400F's 3DMark 16-thread score of 4748 and max-thread score of 4735 show that multi-threading is not a weakness, but the single-thread score of 688 limits peak FPS in low-resolution, high-FPS scenarios.

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

For this combo, the data points to a clear sweet spot at 1440p Medium. This preset delivers an average of 91 FPS with a minimum of 77 and maximum of 105, which is smooth and stable. The 77 FPS minimum ensures that even in intense combat scenes, the frame rate stays above the 60 FPS threshold. The 105 FPS maximum shows that the combo has headroom for less demanding areas. This is the only preset at any resolution with complete min/max data, suggesting it was the most consistent performer in testing.

At 1080p, the choice depends on the player's priorities. Low settings at 175 FPS is ideal for competitive play where frame rate is paramount. This preset provides the highest average FPS and is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common in gaming monitors. Medium at 124 FPS is also excellent and offers better visual quality, with a minimum of 106 FPS ensuring no drops below 100. High at 109 FPS is a good middle ground, but Ultra at 81 FPS sacrifices too much performance for the visual gains.

For players who prefer visual fidelity, 1440p High at 80 FPS is playable but not ideal. The lack of min/max data for this preset makes it difficult to judge consistency, but the 80 FPS average is acceptable. 1440p Ultra at 60 FPS is exactly at the threshold of smoothness, but the absence of min/max data suggests it may not be stable enough for reliable gameplay.

4K is not recommended for this combo. Even at Low settings, the 83 FPS average is decent, but Medium at 59 FPS is borderline, and High at 51 FPS or Ultra at 39 FPS is not playable for a fast-paced FPS. The GPU's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus are insufficient for 4K Ultra in this title.

The best experience per the measured rows is 1440p Medium. It offers the highest resolution with a stable frame rate above 60 FPS, and the min/max data confirms its consistency. If 1080p is preferred, Low or Medium settings provide the best frame rates for competitive play.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-10400F + AMD Radeon RX 9060 combo ranks 1647 out of 2828 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 58th percentile of all combos, meaning it outperforms roughly 58% of the tested systems. This is a solid mid-pack result, but it is not exceptional given the individual component specifications.

The CPU's percentile rank of 68 among all CPUs is higher than the combo's overall rank, suggesting that the processor is capable of better performance in other configurations. Similarly, the GPU's percentile rank of 59 among all GPUs is close to the combo's rank, indicating that the GPU is the more limiting factor in this pairing.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals provides context. The i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14185, which is nearly identical to the Intel Xeon 6756E (14163, +0.2%) and the AMD EPYC 7552 (14115, +0.5%). It trails the Intel Core 7 160UL (14232, -0.3%) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14277, -0.6%) by tiny margins. These rivals are all server or lower-end processors, which highlights that the i5-10400F is not a top-tier gaming CPU by modern standards but is still competitive.

For the GPU, the RX 9060's average benchmark score of 16014 places it just below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129, -0.7%) and just above the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862, +1%) and AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15852, +1%). The 1% difference between the RX 9060 and the RX 7700 is negligible, but the RTX 3060 Ti holds a slight edge. This suggests that the GPU is a competent mid-range performer, but it does not punch above its weight class.

The combo rank of 1647 out of 2828 means there are 1181 combos that perform worse and 1646 that perform better. This is a middle-of-the-road result that reflects the balance between a 6-core CPU from 2020 and a GPU from 2025. The performance is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it will not compete with high-end configurations that pair modern CPUs with top-tier GPUs.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 1920x1080, the results are as follows:

• Low: 175 average FPS
• Medium: 124 average FPS, with a minimum of 106 and maximum of 143
• High: 109 average FPS
• Ultra: 81 average FPS

The 1080p results show a clear hierarchy, with Low providing the highest frame rate and Ultra the lowest. The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data, showing a 37 FPS spread between minimum and maximum, which indicates reasonable stability.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: 128 average FPS
• Medium: 91 average FPS, with a minimum of 77 and maximum of 105
• High: 80 average FPS
• Ultra: 60 average FPS

The 1440p results show a similar pattern to 1080p, but with lower absolute numbers. The Medium preset again has min/max data, with a 28 FPS spread (77 to 105), which is tighter than at 1080p, suggesting better frame consistency at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: 83 average FPS
• Medium: 59 average FPS, with a minimum of 50 and maximum of 68
• High: 51 average FPS
• Ultra: 39 average FPS

The 4K results show the sharpest drop-off. The Medium preset has min/max data with an 18 FPS spread (50 to 68), which is the narrowest of all presets, indicating that the GPU is more consistently loaded at this resolution. The 50 FPS minimum at 4K Medium is below the 60 FPS threshold, making it marginal for smooth gameplay.

The progression across resolutions is consistent: each increase in resolution reduces FPS by approximately 27-36%, depending on the settings preset. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being playable only at Low settings. The i5-10400F and RX 9060 together provide a competent mid-range experience, but the combo's rank of 1647 out of 2828 reflects its position as a solid, not spectacular, performer in Lockdown Protocol.