Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT delivers a playable experience across most of Lockdown Protocol’s settings presets, though the data reveals a clear scaling pattern that shifts the bottleneck between CPU and GPU depending on resolution. At 1080p, the combination produces high frame rates that suggest strong CPU headroom, while the transition to 4K exposes the limits of the graphics card. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across all twelve data points, interprets the component roles, and contextualizes the combo’s standing against the broader database of tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a consistent and predictable decline as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, but the magnitude of that drop varies significantly by settings preset. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 167 FPS at 1080p to 123 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 44 FPS, and then further to 79 FPS at 4K, representing a cumulative drop of 88 FPS from the baseline. This pattern indicates that at Low settings, the GPU is not the primary constraint at 1080p, as the 167 FPS figure suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the graphics card well beyond typical display refresh rates. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings yields a 26.3% performance decrease, while the step from 1440p to 4K produces a 35.8% decrease, showing that the GPU load becomes progressively more dominant as pixel count rises.

For Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 119 at 1080p to 87 at 1440p (a 26.9% reduction) and then to 56 at 4K (a 35.6% reduction from 1440p). This near-identical percentage drop across both resolution steps suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor even at 1440p Medium, since the CPU’s contribution to the frame rate is relatively constant while the GPU’s pixel throughput scales inversely with resolution. The High preset follows a similar trajectory: 104 FPS at 1080p, 76 FPS at 1440p (26.9% lower), and 49 FPS at 4K (35.5% lower than 1440p). The consistency of these percentage drops across Medium and High settings indicates that the rendering pipeline is well-balanced for this game, with the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity being the primary determinant of performance at resolutions above 1080p.

Ultra settings exhibit the steepest absolute decline: 78 FPS at 1080p drops to 57 FPS at 1440p (26.9% lower) and then to 37 FPS at 4K (35.1% lower than 1440p). The 4K Ultra result of 37 FPS is the only measured point that falls below the 40 FPS threshold, indicating that this preset is only viable at lower resolutions. The data suggests that for this combo, the transition from 1080p to 1440p imposes a nearly uniform 27% penalty regardless of settings, while the transition from 1440p to 4K imposes a slightly larger 35-36% penalty. This asymmetry implies that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute resources become increasingly strained as resolution grows, with the 4K step requiring substantially more processing per frame.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 33 chip manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC, containing 13,300 million transistors across a 204 mm² die. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1980 MHz, a game clock of 2470 MHz, and a boost clock of 2755 MHz, providing a theoretical FP32 performance of 22.57 TFLOPS. The memory subsystem consists of 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). This 16 GB capacity is noteworthy for a card in this segment, and the data shows that it does not appear to be a limiting factor in Lockdown Protocol, as no measured frame rate exhibits the kind of stutter or collapse typically associated with VRAM exhaustion.

The GPU’s raw compute capabilities, including 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, translate to a pixel rate of 176.3 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 352.6 GTexel/s. These figures help explain why the card performs admirably at 1080p but struggles at 4K: the pixel rate must fill four times as many pixels at 3840x2160 compared to 1920x1080, and the arithmetic confirms that the 37 FPS Ultra result at 4K is consistent with the pixel throughput limits. The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 60th percentile of all GPUs, with a PassMark G3D score of 17132 and an average benchmark score of 17083. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, which scores 17208 (0.7% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690, which scores 17037 (0.3% lower), indicating that the RX 7600 XT sits in a competitive performance band.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role becomes dominant at 1440p and especially 4K, where the frame rate scales almost linearly with the number of pixels being processed. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is 42 FPS (79 vs. 37), which is a 53.2% reduction, whereas the same settings difference at 1080p is 89 FPS (167 vs. 78), a 46.7% reduction. This suggests that the GPU’s shading units and texture units are heavily utilized at higher settings, and the 128-bit memory bus becomes a bottleneck when combined with 4K resolution and high-quality textures. The 16 GB VRAM ensures that texture loading is never a constraint, but the 288.0 GB/s bandwidth is modest for a card with this compute capability, which likely contributes to the steeper performance drop at 4K Ultra.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². It operates at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a TDP of 65 W, and supports dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU’s benchmark results show a balanced profile: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380, a single-core score of 1680, and a Geekbench multi-core score of 9472 with a single-core score of 1964. These numbers place the i5-12400F in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is most evident at 1080p Low settings, where the 167 FPS result indicates that the processor can sustain frame rates well above what the GPU can deliver at higher resolutions. The 12 threads and 18 MB of shared L3 cache provide sufficient parallelism for the game’s logic and physics, while the single-core performance of 1680 in Cinebench R23 ensures that the main game thread does not become a bottleneck. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz is critical for maintaining high average frame rates, as the data shows that even at 4K Low (79 FPS), the CPU is not limiting performance — the GPU is still the constraining factor.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS with an average score of 19047 (0% delta), the Intel Core 3 201E at 19056 (-0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-1335U at 18982 (0.3% delta). These comparisons confirm that the i5-12400F is a mid-pack performer in the overall CPU landscape, but its 6-core/12-thread configuration is well-suited for a game like Lockdown Protocol that likely does not scale beyond 8 threads. The measured FPS data shows no evidence of CPU-bound behavior at any resolution or settings combination, as the frame rates consistently improve when moving from Ultra to Low settings, which is a GPU-driven change. At 1080p Ultra, the 78 FPS result is still well above the 60 FPS target, and the fact that 1080p Low reaches 167 FPS suggests that the CPU could push even higher if the GPU were faster.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a full spectrum of performance across all four settings presets. Low settings produce an average of 167 FPS, which is the highest measured result for this combo and indicates that the CPU is the limiting component at this resolution. Medium settings reduce the average to 119 FPS, with a minimum of 101 FPS and a maximum of 136 FPS, providing a 20 FPS range that suggests consistent frame pacing. High settings deliver 104 FPS average, while Ultra settings drop to 78 FPS average, representing a 53.3% reduction from Low to Ultra. The 1080p results demonstrate that this combo can comfortably handle high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p on Medium settings, and even Ultra settings remain playable above 75 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales downward as expected. Low settings yield an average of 123 FPS, which is still smooth for most displays. Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS, showing a 26 FPS range that is slightly wider than at 1080p. High settings produce 76 FPS average, and Ultra settings drop to 57 FPS average. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs the combo between 44 FPS (Low) and 21 FPS (Ultra), with the smaller absolute drop at Ultra settings reflecting the GPU’s diminishing returns at higher quality presets. The 1440p Medium result of 87 FPS is a strong outcome, suggesting that this resolution is the sweet spot for balancing visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. Low settings still manage 79 FPS average, which is surprisingly playable for 4K given the card’s mid-range positioning. Medium settings drop to 56 FPS average, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS, providing a 17 FPS range that indicates some frame-time variance. High settings produce 49 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 37 FPS average, which is below the commonly accepted 40 FPS floor for smooth gameplay. The 4K results show that only Low settings provide a consistently playable experience, while Medium settings hover near the 60 FPS target but may dip into the 40s during demanding scenes. The 37 FPS Ultra result is the only measured point that would likely feel stuttery in a fast-paced FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F + AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT combination ranks 2360 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 36th percentile of all configurations. This ranking reflects the fact that the GPU is a mid-range part (60th percentile of all GPUs) while the CPU is somewhat stronger (73rd percentile of all CPUs), but the overall combo performance is dragged down by the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions. The ranking indicates that there are 1354 combos that perform worse and 2360 that perform better, meaning this setup sits slightly below the median of the tested database.

The combo’s ranking is consistent with its component-level benchmarks. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 17083 places it near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (17208, 0.7% higher), and the CPU’s average score of 19039 places it near the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047, 0% delta). In Lockdown Protocol specifically, the combo’s 1080p Low result of 167 FPS suggests that the CPU is not holding back the GPU, and the 4K Low result of 79 FPS indicates that the GPU can still deliver playable frame rates when settings are reduced. The rank of 2360 out of 3714 means that roughly 63.5% of tested combos perform better, which is expected for a mid-range GPU paired with a solid mid-range CPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution with Medium settings provides the best balance, delivering 87 FPS average with a minimum of 74 FPS, which is smooth for competitive play while offering improved visual fidelity over 1080p.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produce 79 FPS average. Medium settings at 4K dip to 56 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 37 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck at resolutions above 1080p. At 1080p Low, the 167 FPS result suggests the CPU could drive higher frame rates, but the GPU limits performance at 1440p and 4K.

Q: How does the RX 7600 XT compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RX 7600 XT has an average benchmark score of 17083, which is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070’s score of 17208, making them effectively equivalent in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like?

A: The only settings with min/max data are Medium presets. At 1080p Medium, the range is 101-136 FPS (35 FPS spread), at 1440p Medium it is 74-100 FPS (26 FPS spread), and at 4K Medium it is 48-65 FPS (17 FPS spread).

Q: Does the 16 GB VRAM help in this game?

A: The 16 GB VRAM ensures that texture memory is never exhausted, but the 288.0 GB/s bandwidth on a 128-bit bus is more likely to be the limiting factor at 4K, where the 37 FPS Ultra result reflects bandwidth constraints.

Settings Recommendations

For competitive play, the 1920x1080 Low preset delivers the highest frame rate at 167 FPS average, which maximizes responsiveness for fast-paced FPS action. This setting is recommended for players who prioritize frame rate over visual quality, as the 167 FPS result ensures that the display refresh rate is rarely the bottleneck. However, the 1080p Medium preset at 119 FPS average with a 101 FPS minimum still provides excellent smoothness while offering improved textures and effects, making it a strong choice for players who want a balance between performance and visuals.

For a more immersive experience at higher resolutions, the 2560x1440 Medium preset is the optimal choice, delivering 87 FPS average with a 74 FPS minimum. This configuration provides a 74.0% improvement over the 4K Medium result of 56 FPS while still maintaining a high level of visual detail. The 1440p High preset at 76 FPS is also viable for players who prefer higher quality settings, though the 11 FPS difference between Medium and High suggests that the Medium preset offers better value in terms of the performance-to-quality trade-off.

At 4K, the only recommended setting is Low, which achieves 79 FPS average. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 56 FPS, which may be acceptable for slower-paced games but is marginal for a fast FPS, and the Ultra preset at 37 FPS is not recommended under any circumstances. The data clearly shows that the 4K High and Ultra presets should be avoided for this combo, as they fall below the 50 FPS threshold that most players consider the minimum for enjoyable gameplay. For players with 4K displays, the 1440p Medium setting upscaled to 4K would likely provide a better experience than native 4K at High or Ultra settings.