Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that demands both strong GPU throughput and a CPU capable of feeding it frames. This analysis covers the Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, using measured data to show exactly what this combo delivers at three resolutions and four quality presets. The results show a pairing that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the CPU starts to become a more significant factor.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60+ FPS experience?

A: All tested resolutions achieve over 60 FPS on average. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average is 57 FPS, which dips below the 60 FPS threshold, but High settings at 4K deliver 76 FPS. For the most consistent 60+ FPS at 4K, use High settings; at 2560x1440 and 1920x1080, even Ultra settings stay above 89 FPS and 121 FPS, respectively.

Q: How much of a performance jump is there from Low to Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 260 FPS on Low to 121 FPS on Ultra. This represents a performance reduction of over half when maxing out the visual quality, showing that the Ultra preset is quite demanding on the GPU even at the lowest resolution.

Q: Is the RX 9070 XT the main performance bottleneck for this combo?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter, especially at higher resolutions. At 4K, the frame rates scale significantly with settings, indicating the RX 9070 XT's rendering load is the key factor. The CPU's role becomes more apparent at 1080p where the frame rates are very high, making it harder for the i5-12400's six cores to keep up with the GPU's output.

Q: How does the Core i5-12400 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-12400's average benchmark score of 18683 is nearly identical to its listed rivals. It is 0.1% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7643 and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i3-14100F, while sitting 0.3% behind the Intel Core i7-1355U and 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330. These differences are marginal, indicating the i5-12400 is in a very tight competitive cluster.

Q: What is the frame rate range for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 135, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 156 FPS. This shows a fairly tight frame time distribution, suggesting a stable experience without major hitches.

Q: Does the RX 9070 XT's performance in this game reflect its overall benchmark standing?

A: The RX 9070 XT has a percentile rank of 55 against all GPUs in the database. However, its nearest rivals in the overall benchmark list (like the AMD Radeon HD 7770M and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570) have average scores that are 0.1% to 1% different, which is a very tight grouping. This indicates the card's synthetic score is highly sensitive to the test, but the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol shows it is a very capable card for this specific title.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the dominant component in this pairing for Lockdown Protocol. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 644.6 GB/s, which is ample for the textures and assets at all tested resolutions. The GPU's clock speeds are high, with a base of 1660 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, and a boost clock of 2970 MHz. These clocks allow the card's 4096 shading units to do the heavy lifting.

The measured FPS data clearly shows the GPU's influence. At 3840x2160, the difference between Low and High settings is 47 FPS (from 123 to 76). This scaling is the signature of a GPU-bound scenario where the rendering resolution and quality settings directly dictate the workload. The 4K results show that the card can handle the resolution, but not at the highest quality preset, where the average drops to 57 FPS.

At 2560x1440 and 1920x1080, the same pattern holds, but with higher absolute numbers. The GPU has more headroom at these resolutions, allowing for higher frame rates. For instance, at 1080p Low, the card produces an average of 260 FPS. This indicates the RX 9070 XT is more than capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at 1440p, with an average of 191 FPS on Low settings. The data shows that the GPU's performance is the primary determinant of the final frame rate across all settings, particularly at 4K where the workload is most intensive.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT ranks 874th out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top quarter of all tested systems, indicating a strong performance level. The rank reflects the combined capabilities of the CPU and GPU working together in this specific game.

The ranking is a holistic measure. While the GPU is clearly the workhorse, the CPU's ability to process game logic and feed draw calls is also a factor. Being in the top 23.5% of all combos suggests that this pairing is well-balanced for the game's demands. It is not the absolute top-tier setup, but it is significantly ahead of the majority of systems in the database. The high rank is consistent with the measured FPS, which shows excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, and playable performance at 4K with adjusted settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the recommended settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate.

For 3840x2160 (4K), the High preset is the optimal choice. It delivers an average of 76 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is not advisable, as it drops the average to 57 FPS, which can feel less fluid. The Medium preset offers a comfortable 87 FPS, but the visual jump to High is worth the small performance cost.

For 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset is the best option. It provides an average of 89 FPS, which is sufficient for 60Hz and even 75Hz monitors. If you have a 144Hz monitor, the High preset at 118 FPS is a better fit for taking advantage of the higher refresh rate. The Medium preset is also viable, but the Ultra and High presets offer the best balance of visual quality and performance for this resolution.

For 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset is the clear winner. With an average of 121 FPS, it easily clears the 60 FPS mark and is suitable for 120Hz or 144Hz displays. The High preset at 161 FPS is also an excellent choice for those seeking maximum frame rates. This resolution is where the combo shines, offering high frame rates even with all settings maxed out.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for this combo across all tested resolutions and settings.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

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

| 3840x2160 | High | 76 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 123 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 87 | 74 | 100 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 57 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 118 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 191 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 135 | 115 | 156 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 89 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 161 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 260 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 185 | 157 | 212 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 121 | N/A | N/A |

The data shows a consistent and predictable scaling of performance. At each resolution, moving from Low to Ultra reduces the average frame rate by roughly half. The only preset with min and max data is Medium, which shows a narrow range (e.g., 115-156 at 1440p), indicating stable performance. The 1080p Low result of 260 FPS is the highest measured, while the 4K Ultra result of 57 FPS is the most demanding scenario.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 provides the processing foundation for this combo. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The CPU has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Its synthetic benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and a single-core score of 2257, indicate a solid level of performance for a mid-range desktop processor.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, feeding the GPU with work. The data suggests that at 4K, the CPU is not the bottleneck, as frame rates scale primarily with GPU settings. However, at 1080p, the CPU's limits become more apparent. The jump from 1440p Low (191 FPS) to 1080p Low (260 FPS) shows the GPU still has headroom, but the 1080p Ultra score of 121 FPS is only slightly higher than the 1440p Ultra score of 89 FPS.

This suggests that at 1080p, the i5-12400's six cores are working harder to maintain those high frame rates. The CPU's 72nd percentile ranking against all CPUs and its close benchmark scores to rivals like the Intel Core i3-14100F (0.9% ahead) and AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 (0.7% behind) show it is a competitive part. For this game, the i5-12400 is a capable partner for the RX 9070 XT, but it is the GPU that sets the performance ceiling at higher resolutions. The combo's rank of 874 out of 3714 reflects the overall balance of these two components for this title.