Lockdown Protocol

# How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT ranks 2759 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. That places this pairing in the bottom quarter of all configurations measured, which is a sobering starting point for a system built around two components that were both strong mid-range options in their respective generations.

The ranking gap becomes clearer when you look at the individual component percentiles. The CPU sits at the 72nd percentile against all processors, meaning it outperforms roughly seven out of ten CPUs on the market. The GPU, however, lands at only the 59th percentile against all graphics cards. In a game like Lockdown Protocol, where frame pacing and GPU throughput drive the experience, that GPU percentile drags the entire combo down. The data suggests this is a system where the processor has more headroom than the graphics card can exploit, particularly at higher resolutions where the RX 5700 XT's aging architecture shows its limits.

What is more telling is the delta between this combo and others in the database. The CPU's nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, scores nearly identically (a -0.1% difference in average benchmark score), while the Intel Core i3-14100F trails by 0.9%. On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M is within 0.1%, and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is -0.3% behind. These tight margins indicate that the RX 5700 XT is performing right at the expected level for its class — neither overachieving nor underdelivering in synthetic tests. The real story is how that expected performance translates into actual frames in Lockdown Protocol, and the measured data shows a system that is playable but never dominant.

# GPU Role

The Radeon RX 5700 XT brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Those are the headline numbers, and they matter more in Lockdown Protocol than raw compute. The GPU's 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs are arranged around a Navi 10 chip built on TSMC's 7 nm process with 10,300 million transistors on a 251 mm² die. The base clock runs at 1605 MHz, boosting to 1905 MHz, with a game clock of 1755 MHz — those clocks are the practical ceiling during sustained gaming loads.

In Lockdown Protocol, the measured FPS data shows the GPU is the primary bottleneck at every resolution except the lowest tested. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 156 FPS average, which is well above the refresh rate of most monitors. But as settings climb, the frame rate collapses: 111 FPS at Medium, 97 FPS at High, and 72 FPS at Ultra. That drop from Medium to Ultra is a 39 FPS loss (about 35%), which is a steep penalty for visual gains. The pattern repeats at 1440p and 4K, with the Ultra preset falling to 53 FPS and 34 FPS respectively.

The GPU's 9.754 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 121.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are sufficient for esports-style settings, but the card's age shows when the render load increases. The 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is respectable for an 8 GB card, yet the 1750 MHz memory clock (14 Gbps effective) means the card relies on that bus width to feed its shaders. In Lockdown Protocol, the data indicates that the RX 5700 XT can keep pace at lower presets but starts to run out of steam as the pixel and texture workloads grow. The DirectX 12 score of 64 in Passmark and the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2134 both suggest the card handles modern API workloads adequately, but not exceptionally.

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern: Lockdown Protocol scales almost linearly with resolution, which points to a GPU-limited scenario. At High settings, the combo delivers 97 FPS at 1080p, 71 FPS at 1440p, and 46 FPS at 4K. That is a 26 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p (about 27%), and another 25 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K (about 35%). The scaling is consistent and steep, which is the classic signature of a graphics card that is hitting its fill-rate and bandwidth ceiling.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more pronounced: 156 FPS at 1080p, 114 FPS at 1440p, and 74 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 42 FPS (about 27%), and the 1440p to 4K drop is 40 FPS (about 35%). These percentages are nearly identical to the High preset, which tells you the GPU is the limiting factor regardless of how much load you remove from it. Even at Low, where the CPU has the least work to do, the RX 5700 XT cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K — it sits at 74 FPS, which is playable but far from smooth on high-refresh displays.

The Medium preset shows the same trend with more granular data: 111 FPS at 1080p, 81 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K. The minimum FPS at Medium also scales predictably, from 94 FPS at 1080p to 69 FPS at 1440p and 44 FPS at 4K. Those minimums are important because they represent the worst-case frame times. At 4K Medium, a 44 FPS minimum means you will feel stutter during intense firefights. The data strongly suggests that the RX 5700 XT is not a 4K card for this game, and even 1440p requires careful preset selection to stay above 60 FPS consistently.

# FAQ

Q: Is this combo good enough for 1080p gaming in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Yes, at 1080p the combo delivers 156 FPS on Low, 111 FPS on Medium, 97 FPS on High, and 72 FPS on Ultra. All presets are above 60 FPS, so you can choose based on visual preference rather than performance necessity.

Q: Can this system handle 1440p with a high refresh rate monitor?

A: Only at Low settings, where it hits 114 FPS. Medium drops to 81 FPS, High to 71 FPS, and Ultra to 53 FPS. If your target is 144 Hz, you will need to stick with Low or make compromises on visual quality.

Q: What is the best preset for 4K?

A: The measured data shows 74 FPS at 4K Low, 52 FPS at Medium, 46 FPS at High, and 34 FPS at Ultra. Only Low is consistently above 60 FPS, and even that is marginal. Medium is playable but not smooth.

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

A: The i5-12400's average benchmark score is 18683, which is 0.1% below the AMD EPYC 7643, 0.3% below the Intel Core i7-1355U, 0.7% below the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, and 0.9% above the Intel Core i3-14100F. It is a solid mid-pack performer.

Q: Is the GPU holding back the CPU in this game?

A: The benchmark data indicates yes. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 156 FPS, but at 4K Ultra it falls to 34 FPS. The CPU's 72nd percentile ranking versus the GPU's 59th percentile suggests the processor has more capability than the graphics card can utilize at higher resolutions.

Q: What are the GPU's synthetic benchmark scores compared to its rivals?

A: The RX 5700 XT's average benchmark score is 16361, which is 0.1% above the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, 0.3% below the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, 0.3% below the AMD Radeon PRO W7500, and 0.9% below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2. It is performing exactly at its expected level.

# CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 65 W TDP. It runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.40 GHz, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, which gives builders flexibility, though the game data here does not specify which memory type was used.

The synthetic benchmarks paint a picture of a CPU that is strong in multi-threaded workloads but not exceptional in single-core performance. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 put it in a comfortable mid-range position. The Geekbench multicore score of 8564 and single-core score of 1848 reinforce that. The Passmark multithread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 show a processor that handles parallel tasks well, which is relevant for Lockdown Protocol's physics and AI calculations.

In the context of this game, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 156 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's practical limit for frame generation. At 4K Low, the FPS drops to 74, but that is not a CPU limitation — it is the GPU struggling with resolution. The 3DMark scores of 5873 for 16 threads and 5890 for max threads indicate the CPU scales well with additional threads, but the single-thread score of 910 is modest by modern standards. For a game like Lockdown Protocol, which is an FPS with real-time physics, the single-core performance matters for frame pacing. The 68 Passmark find-prime score (which is a measure of integer throughput) suggests the CPU can handle complex game logic without becoming the bottleneck.

The CPU's 72nd percentile versus all processors means it outperforms the majority of CPUs tested, but its nearest rivals are all within 1% in average score. That tight grouping indicates the i5-12400 is not a standout, but it is also not a weak link. The launch MSRP of $199 makes it a reasonable choice for a mid-range build, though the data here does not factor cost into performance conclusions.

# Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy for optimizing your experience in Lockdown Protocol with this combo. At 1080p, the High preset at 97 FPS is the sweet spot for most players — it is well above 60 FPS and offers a good balance of visual fidelity and performance. If you have a 144 Hz monitor, Medium at 111 FPS is the better choice, though you give up some visual quality. Ultra at 72 FPS is playable but not ideal for competitive play, as the frame rate dips below what most esports players would consider smooth. Low at 156 FPS is the choice for maximum responsiveness, but the visual downgrade is significant.

At 1440p, the recommendations shift. Low at 114 FPS is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, making it the default for competitive play. Medium at 81 FPS is playable and looks noticeably better, but the 69 FPS minimum means you will see occasional dips. High at 71 FPS is borderline — fine for casual play, but risky for ranked matches. Ultra at 53 FPS should be avoided unless you prioritize visuals over everything else.

For 4K, the options are limited. Low at 74 FPS is the only preset that stays above 60 FPS, and even that is marginal. Medium at 52 FPS with a 44 FPS minimum is playable on a 60 Hz display but will feel stuttery in fast-paced firefights. High at 46 FPS and Ultra at 34 FPS are not recommended for anything other than screenshots. The data suggests that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming in Lockdown Protocol unless you are willing to play at Low settings.

The overall best experience, balancing visuals and performance, is 1440p Medium at 81 FPS average. It provides a solid frame rate with decent visual quality, and the 69 FPS minimum keeps the experience mostly smooth. If you prioritize competitive edge, 1080p Low at 156 FPS gives you the highest frame rate and lowest input latency. The choice depends on your display and your tolerance for visual compromises, but the measured data supports these two presets as the standout options for this hardware combination.