Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that stresses both the CPU and GPU. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti across a range of resolutions and settings. The data reveals a configuration capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K performance requires careful settings management to maintain fluidity.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and expected decline in performance as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo delivers an average of 161 FPS. Moving to 1440p High reduces the average to 118 FPS, a 26.7% drop. At 4K High, the average falls further to 76 FPS, which is 52.8% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern indicates that the system is transitioning from a CPU-bound state at lower resolutions to a GPU-bound state as the pixel count rises.

The trend is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 120 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 88 FPS (a 26.7% decrease), and at 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 57 FPS, a 52.5% reduction from the 1080p figure. The consistent percentage drop between 1080p and 1440p, and then again to 4K, suggests that the scaling is largely linear and driven by the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity.

The low preset data provides the clearest insight into the CPU's role. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 200. At 1440p Low, it is 180, a modest 10% decrease. At 4K Low, the average is 122 FPS, a 39% drop from 1080p. The relatively small delta between 1080p and 1440p Low (10%) compared to the larger delta at higher settings suggests that the Intel Core i5-10400F is nearing its maximum output in this scenario, capping performance below what the GPU could theoretically deliver at lower resolutions.

The data indicates the RTX 3080 Ti is the primary limiting factor at 4K, especially with higher presets. The gap between 4K Low (122 FPS) and 4K High (76 FPS) is substantial, showing that the GPU's workload scales heavily with visual fidelity. Conversely, at 1080p Low, the 200 FPS average indicates a ceiling is being reached, likely due to the CPU's single-thread performance and memory bandwidth, as the GPU has ample headroom at this lower resolution. Benchmark results show the 6-core, 12-thread processor has a single-thread 3DMark score of 688 and a max-thread score of 4735.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience. For users targeting 60 FPS as a minimum, the 4K Ultra preset is not viable, as it averages 57 FPS. Dropping to 4K High yields an average of 76 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The 4K Medium preset, with an average of 87 FPS and a recorded minimum of 74 FPS, offers a more stable experience with only a slight visual downgrade from High.

At 1440p, the system is exceptionally capable. The Ultra preset averages 88 FPS, which is sufficient for high refresh rate monitors. For users with 144Hz displays, the High preset at 118 FPS or the Medium preset at 135 FPS (with a minimum of 115 FPS) are strong choices. The Low preset at 180 FPS is available for competitive play where maximum frame rates are prioritized over visual quality.

At 1080p, all presets are playable. The Ultra preset averages 120 FPS, making it a viable option for a smooth experience. The High preset at 161 FPS and Medium at 176 FPS are ideal for 165Hz displays. The Low preset at 200 FPS maximizes the frame rate, suitable for the highest refresh rate monitors. The data suggests that for a balanced experience, the Medium preset at 1440p is the sweet spot, offering a high average of 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without significant visual compromises.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. In Lockdown Protocol, a fast-paced FPS, the processor's single-thread performance is critical for game logic, physics, and draw call submission. The 3DMark single-thread score is 688, and the Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1451, indicating moderate single-thread capability compared to modern processors.

The data shows that the CPU is a limiting factor at 1080p, particularly at lower settings. The difference between 1080p Low (200 FPS) and 1080p Medium (176 FPS) is 24 FPS, while the difference between 1080p Medium and 1080p High (161 FPS) is 15 FPS. This pattern suggests that as the GPU load increases with higher settings, the CPU has more time to process frames, reducing its bottleneck.

However, the CPU's influence wanes at higher resolutions. At 4K, the difference between Low (122 FPS) and Medium (87 FPS) is 35 FPS, and between Medium and High (76 FPS) is 11 FPS. The larger gap at 4K Low indicates the GPU is now the primary constraint, and the CPU is capable of feeding it frames faster than it can render them. The CPU's multi-threaded performance, as shown by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283, is sufficient to avoid severe bottlenecks in this title. The processor's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support contribute to its overall capability.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, this configuration of Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks at position 1081 out of 3714 tested combinations. This places it in the 71st percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it outperforms a significant majority of other configurations. This ranking confirms the RTX 3080 Ti's raw power, which can compensate for the CPU's age.

The GPU itself ranks in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41187. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, which scores 40377 (a 2% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, which scores 40870 (a 0.8% delta). This indicates the RTX 3080 Ti is a top-tier performer even against newer hardware. The CPU, while less dominant, still holds a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14185. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon 6756E (0.2% delta) and AMD EPYC 7552 (0.5% delta), are professional-grade processors, highlighting the i5-10400F's competitive standing in synthetic benchmarks.

The combo's overall rank of 1081 shows that while the CPU is not the fastest, it is sufficient to allow the RTX 3080 Ti to perform at a high level. The data suggests that this pairing is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where the GPU is the primary driver, and the CPU provides enough headroom to avoid major frame pacing issues.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K High settings, the average FPS is 76, which is playable. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 57 FPS, falling below the 60 FPS standard. Lowering to Medium settings at 4K yields an average of 87 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS, providing a stable experience.

Q: What is the best resolution for this configuration?

A: The data indicates 1440p is the optimal resolution. At High settings, it averages 118 FPS, and at Medium, 135 FPS with a minimum of 115 FPS. This provides a balance between visual fidelity and high refresh rate performance.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F appears to be a limiting factor at 1080p with lower settings. At Low settings, the average FPS is 200, which is likely near the CPU's maximum output. The performance scaling between settings is more pronounced at this resolution, suggesting the CPU is holding back the GPU.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 Ti a stronger component than the CPU?

A: Yes, based on the data. The GPU ranks in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 68th percentile. The GPU's average benchmark score is 41187, significantly higher than the CPU's 14185, indicating the GPU is the more powerful component in this pairing.

Q: How does this combo compare to others in the database?

A: This combo ranks 1081st out of 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This puts it in the top 30% of all tested systems, a strong result driven primarily by the GPU's high performance.

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

A: At 1440p, the Low preset averages 180 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 88 FPS. This is a 92 FPS difference, showing a significant performance cost for maximum visual quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|:--------- |:------- |:------ |

| 3840x2160 | High | 76 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 122 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 87 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 57 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 118 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 180 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 135 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 88 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 161 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 200 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 176 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 120 |

For the Medium preset, additional data is available. At 4K, the minimum FPS is 74 and the maximum is 100. At 1440p, the minimum is 115 and the maximum is 155. At 1080p, the minimum is 149 and the maximum is 202. This data shows that the Medium preset offers the most consistent frame times, with the 1440p configuration providing a tight range between its average and minimum FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the dominant component in this system, and its specifications directly explain the performance observed. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. This high bandwidth is crucial for feeding the GPU's 10240 shading units at high resolutions and texture loads. The GPU's architecture, Ampere, is built on an 8 nm process and includes 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores, which are relevant for games with ray tracing and DLSS features.

The GPU's raw compute power is substantial, with an FP32 performance of 34.10 TFLOPS. This is reflected in its Passmark G3D score of 26896 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077. The data shows that the GPU's performance scales significantly with resolution, indicating that it is the primary bottleneck at 4K.

The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (57 FPS) versus 4K Low (122 FPS) demonstrates the GPU's sensitivity to shading complexity and pixel fill rate. The RTX 3080 Ti, with a boost clock of 1665 MHz and a pixel rate of 186.5 GPixel/s, is capable of high throughput, but the demands of 4K Ultra are immense. The GPU's 12 GB VRAM is sufficient for this title at all tested settings, as the data does not indicate any memory-related stuttering or performance cliffs. The GPU's overall benchmark average is 41187, placing it in the 83rd percentile, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, is only 2% behind, showing that this older card remains highly competitive.