Lockdown Protocol

Resolution Scaling

Looking at the measured frames per second for Lockdown Protocol, the scaling pattern from 1080p to 4K tells a clear story about where the performance ceiling sits. At High settings, the combo delivers 162.5 FPS at 1920x1080, drops to 120.6 FPS at 2560x1440, and lands at 73.9 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 54.5% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K, which indicates the graphics card is taking on progressively more work as pixel count rises. The RX 9070 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth, so it has the resources to handle 4K, but the data shows the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions.

The Low preset scaling is even more revealing. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 256.7 FPS. At 1440p Low, it manages 187.8 FPS. At 4K Low, it still produces 123.1 FPS. The gap between 1080p and 1440p Low is 68.9 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K Low is 64.7 FPS. That roughly linear drop suggests the GPU is still the bottleneck even at Low settings, where the CPU would normally have more room to shine. The i5-12400F with its 6 cores and 12 threads can push high frame rates, but at 4K the RX 9070 XT’s rendering workload dominates.

Medium settings show a similar pattern: 185.5 FPS at 1080p, 134.3 FPS at 1440p, and 87.4 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops from 1080p to 1440p (27.6%) and from 1440p to 4K (34.9%) are close, reinforcing that resolution scaling is consistent across presets. Ultra settings give 119.8 FPS at 1080p, 92 FPS at 1440p, and 60.1 FPS at 4K. That 4K Ultra result is right at the edge of playability for a fast-paced FPS, while 1080p Ultra remains comfortable.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the CPU starts to matter more. The i5-12400F boosts to 4.40 GHz and has a passmark single-thread score of 3481, which is solid for gaming. However, the RX 9070 XT’s 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 380.2 GPixel/s pixel rate mean it can outpace the CPU at lower resolutions. At 4K, the GPU is unquestionably the limiting component; the frame rate differences between presets at 4K (60.1 to 123.1 FPS) are entirely GPU-driven.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting 4K, the measured rows show that High settings at 73.9 FPS is the sweet spot. Ultra drops to 60.1 FPS, which is borderline for competitive play, while Medium at 87.4 FPS offers a meaningful improvement but at the cost of visual fidelity. High at 4K provides a balanced experience that keeps frame rates above 60 while maintaining good image quality. Low at 4K hits 123.1 FPS, but the visual trade-off is steep for a game where spotting enemies matters.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts. High settings deliver 120.6 FPS, which is excellent for a 120 Hz monitor. Ultra at 92 FPS is still playable and offers the best image quality, but High is the better choice for maintaining headroom above 100 FPS. Medium at 134.3 FPS is the pick for high-refresh 1440p panels, as it clears 130 FPS consistently. Low at 187.8 FPS is only relevant for extreme refresh-rate displays, and the visual downgrade is likely not worth it for most players.

At 1080p, the story changes. Ultra at 119.8 FPS is perfectly playable and gives the best visual experience. High at 162.5 FPS is ideal for 144 Hz monitors, and Medium at 185.5 FPS suits 165 Hz panels. Low at 256.7 FPS is overkill for any current mainstream display, but it shows the combo’s ceiling. Given that the i5-12400F has a 65 W TDP and the RX 9070 XT runs at 304 W, this is a system that can comfortably push high refresh rates at 1080p without breaking a sweat.

The data suggests that High is the most versatile preset across all three resolutions. It delivers 73.9 FPS at 4K, 120.6 FPS at 1440p, and 162.5 FPS at 1080p. That consistency makes High the default recommendation unless a player has a specific refresh-rate target that requires Medium or Ultra.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT ranks 432 out of 1637 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. That places this pairing in the top 26.4% of all configurations tested for this game. The percentile ranking is solid, but it is not elite. The combo’s position reflects a balance where the CPU is mid-range while the GPU is decidedly high-end.

Looking at the CPU’s standalone metrics, the i5-12400F sits at the 77th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19221. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700K at 19210 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U at 19167 (0.3% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS at 19364 (-0.7% delta). The AMD EPYC 7773X trails at 18979 (1.3% delta). This tells us the i5-12400F is competitive with older high-end desktop parts and modern laptop chips, but it is not a top-tier performer.

The RX 9070 XT, meanwhile, ranks at the 82nd percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 39647. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 575 at 39703 (-0.1% delta), the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile at 39568 (0.2% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro 575X at 39836 (-0.5% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 at 39879 (-0.6% delta). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the RX 9070 XT’s average benchmark score is essentially tied with those older or mobile parts.

The combo rank of 432 out of 1637 suggests that while the GPU is strong, the CPU holds the pairing back from the top tier. In a game like Lockdown Protocol, which is an FPS and likely benefits from high single-thread performance, the i5-12400F’s 3dmark single-thread score of 909 and cinebench R23 single-core score of 2332 are decent but not exceptional. The GPU’s passmark g3d score of 26795 is excellent, but the overall combo rank indicates that other pairings with stronger CPUs achieve better results.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: Yes. The measured data shows 73.9 FPS at 4K High settings and 60.1 FPS at 4K Ultra. Both are playable, though High is the safer choice for maintaining frame rates above 60.

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

A: High settings at 1440p deliver 120.6 FPS, which is ideal for 120 Hz monitors. Medium at 134.3 FPS is better for 144 Hz displays, while Ultra at 92 FPS is acceptable if image quality takes priority.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. At 1080p, the i5-12400F’s performance becomes more relevant, but the frame rates remain high across all presets, indicating the CPU handles the workload adequately.

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

A: This pairing ranks 432 out of 1637 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. The GPU sits at the 82nd percentile while the CPU is at the 77th percentile, so the GPU is the stronger component.

Q: Is 16 GB of VRAM enough for this game?

A: The RX 9070 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. At 4K Ultra settings, the combo still produces 60.1 FPS, so VRAM capacity does not appear to be a limiting factor in the measured results.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured 1080p Ultra average is 119.8 FPS. This is comfortably above 60 FPS and suitable for most high-refresh-rate monitors.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the dominant component in this pairing. Its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for Lockdown Protocol at any resolution tested. The GPU’s boost clock reaches 2970 MHz, with a game clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 1660 MHz. Memory runs at 2518 MHz, effectively 20.1 Gbps, which supports the high bandwidth figure.

The RX 9070 XT’s compute capabilities are substantial: 4096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs. It delivers 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a pixel rate of 380.2 GPixel/s. These specifications translate directly to the measured frame rates. At 4K Ultra, the GPU produces 60.1 FPS, while at 4K Low it hits 123.1 FPS. The difference between these two settings is entirely due to the GPU’s workload, as the CPU is not the bottleneck at 4K.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its strength. The 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 7260, and the passmark g3d score is 26795. Its percentile ranking of 82 against all GPUs places it well above average. The nearest rival deltas are all within 0.6%, which means the RX 9070 XT sits in a tight performance cluster with the Radeon Pro 575, RTX A500 Mobile, Radeon Pro 575X, and RX Vega 64. However, those rivals are older or mobile parts, so the RX 9070 XT’s position is respectable.

The GPU’s 304 W TDP and dual-slot cooler mean it requires adequate power delivery, but the performance data justifies the power draw. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 256.7 FPS, showing the GPU can outpace typical display refresh rates when settings are lowered.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F plays a supporting role in this combo, and the data shows it is adequate but not exceptional. This 6-core, 12-thread processor from Alder Lake has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, though the measured FPS results do not specify which memory type was used.

The CPU’s benchmark scores indicate solid mid-range performance. Its 3dmark single-thread score is 909, and the 3dmark max-threads score is 5912. Cinebench R23 multicore produces 16518, while single-core scores 2332. These numbers place the i5-12400F at the 77th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19221. The nearest rivals are all within 1.3% delta, showing this CPU is competitive with the i7-8700K, i5-1335U, Ryzen 5 7533HS, and EPYC 7773X.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 256.7 FPS, which is high enough that the CPU’s single-thread performance likely becomes a factor. The i5-12400F’s passmark single-thread score of 3481 and 3dmark single-thread score of 909 are decent for gaming, but they are not top-tier. The combo rank of 432 out of 1637 suggests that a stronger CPU would push this pairing higher in the rankings.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP is modest, and its 18 MB of shared L3 cache plus 1.25 MB L2 per core provide adequate memory hierarchy for game workloads. The 10 nm process node from Intel keeps power efficiency reasonable, but the CPU does not have integrated graphics, so the RX 9070 XT handles all display output. At 4K, the CPU’s impact is minimal, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. At 1080p, the CPU allows high frame rates but does not boost the combo to the top tier of the rankings.