Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core i5-12600KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a playable but resolution-sensitive experience in Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title. Measured data places this combo at rank 2630 out of 3714 tested configurations, indicating it sits in the lower-middle tier of the database. The 10-core, 16-thread Alder Lake processor with its 4.90 GHz boost capability provides strong CPU headroom, while the 8 GB GDDR6 GPU with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes the primary constraint as resolution climbs. The pattern across measured FPS rows reveals a system that excels at 1080p, remains viable at 1440p, but struggles to maintain high refresh rates at 4K, particularly on higher presets.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance cliff as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, with the drop becoming more pronounced at higher settings presets. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 159 FPS at 1080p to 117 FPS at 1440p, a 26.4% reduction, then to 75 FPS at 4K, representing a 52.8% decline from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern suggests the GPU begins to saturate its pixel throughput capabilities as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

Moving to Medium settings, the measured minimum FPS values provide additional insight into the scaling behavior. At 1080p Medium, the average is 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS; at 1440p Medium, the average drops to 83 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS; at 4K Medium, the average falls to 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS. The 1440p-to-4K transition shows a 36.1% average FPS reduction, which is larger than the 26.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p, indicating that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 256-bit memory bus and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth become increasingly inadequate as resolution grows.

High settings reveal a similar but slightly shallower scaling curve. The transition from 1080p High at 99 FPS to 1440p High at 72 FPS represents a 27.3% decline, while moving from 1440p to 4K High drops from 72 FPS to 47 FPS, a 34.7% reduction. Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling penalty: 1080p Ultra averages 74 FPS, 1440p Ultra drops to 54 FPS, and 4K Ultra plummets to 35 FPS. The 4K Ultra result, which represents a 52.7% reduction from 1080p Ultra, strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at this resolution, as the pixel fill rate of 105.6 GPixel/s is overwhelmed by the 8.3 million pixel count at 3840x2160.

The data implies that Lockdown Protocol scales more aggressively with resolution at lower presets, which is counterintuitive but suggests that the game's rendering pipeline becomes pixel-bound earlier when less shading work is being performed per pixel. At higher presets, the additional shading units and texture units remain busier, partially masking the raw pixel throughput limitation. This behavior points to a GPU-bound scenario across all measured resolutions, with the CPU's 20 MB shared L3 cache and 10-core configuration providing sufficient headroom to avoid becoming the bottleneck even at 1080p Low where 159 FPS is achieved.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF brings substantial processing capability to this pairing, with 10 cores, 16 threads, and boost clocks reaching 4.90 GHz on a 10 nm Alder Lake-S architecture. The CPU's benchmark scores demonstrate strong multithreaded performance, with Cinebench R23 multicore reaching 23,391 and Geekbench multicore at 12,137. The 3DMark multi-threaded scores show a scaling pattern from 1,995 at 2 threads to 7,956 at 16 threads, indicating good thread utilization that benefits modern FPS titles.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's single-thread performance of 3,302 in Cinebench R23 and 1,016 in 3DMark single-thread suggests it can handle the game's primary game thread with ease. The PassMark single-thread score of 3,925 places the processor in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the average benchmark score of 27,799 positions it nearly identically to the Intel Core i9-10900K, which scores 27,872 with a -0.3% delta. This near-parity with a previous-generation flagship implies the i5-12600KF is not the limiting factor in this configuration.

The 16-thread capability becomes relevant when considering that Lockdown Protocol, as a modern FPS, likely spawns multiple background threads for physics, audio, and streaming. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 7,956 and max-thread score of 7,952 show only a marginal difference, suggesting the processor reaches its multithreaded ceiling around 16 threads. The PassMark multithread score of 27,575 reinforces this capability, though the game's measured FPS patterns across resolutions indicate the CPU rarely operates at its maximum potential in this title.

At 1080p Low, where the GPU load is minimized, the 159 FPS average likely approaches the CPU's practical frame delivery limit for this game's engine. However, the fact that the FPS continues to scale upward from High to Low settings at every resolution suggests the CPU is not fully saturated even at the highest frame rates measured. The processor's 125 W TDP and dual-channel memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5 provide flexible platform compatibility, though the measured data does not isolate memory bandwidth effects on frame times.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, built on the 12 nm TU106 chip with 10,800 million transistors, serves as the primary determinant of Lockdown Protocol's performance envelope. With 2,176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, 64 ROPs, and 34 RT cores, the GPU offers a Turing architecture feature set that includes DirectX 12 Ultimate support. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which appears to be a critical constraint at higher resolutions.

The GPU's benchmark scores paint a picture of a mid-range performer: the PassMark G3D score of 16,462 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,011 place it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. The average benchmark score of 18,093 shows it operates within 0.4% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile and 0.5% of the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, indicating comparable raw compute capability. The FP32 throughput of 7.181 TFLOPS and texture rate of 224.4 GTexel/s provide context for how the GPU handles Lockdown Protocol's rendering workload.

Examining the measured FPS data through the lens of GPU capabilities reveals that the RTX 2060 SUPER's memory subsystem is likely the bottleneck at 4K. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable for 1080p gaming, becomes strained when the frame buffer demands increase at 2560x1440 and 3840x2160. The 4K Ultra result of 35 FPS average suggests the GPU is rendering at near its theoretical limits, with the 175 W TDP indicating a fully utilized chip. The boost clock of 1650 MHz, while modest by current standards, still delivers consistent performance across the measured rows.

The GPU's ray tracing capabilities, while present with 34 RT cores, do not appear to be heavily exercised based on the performance scaling patterns. The Tensor cores (272) and FP16 throughput of 14.36 TFLOPS suggest DLSS support could potentially improve performance, though no DLSS-enabled measurements appear in the data. The 8 GB VRAM capacity proves sufficient across all measured presets, as no memory-related stuttering or disproportionately large FPS drops occur between Medium and Ultra settings at any resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2630 out of 3714 tested configurations places this Intel and NVIDIA pairing in the 29th percentile of all tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This ranking indicates that approximately 71% of tested systems deliver higher average frame rates in this specific title. The rank reflects the RTX 2060 SUPER's position as a 2019-era mid-range GPU paired with a 2021-era mid-range CPU, creating a system that is neither obsolete nor competitive with modern high-end configurations.

Contextualizing this rank within the component benchmarks provides insight into why this combo performs as it does. The CPU's percentile rank of 79 places it well above the GPU's percentile rank of 62, suggesting that the GPU is the constraining component in most scenarios. The GPU's nearest rivals, including the RTX 3060 Mobile with a -0.4% delta and the Radeon Pro 5700 with a -0.5% delta, all fall within a narrow performance band, indicating the RTX 2060 SUPER is squarely in a competitive tier rather than being an outlier.

The rank's implications for gameplay depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, this combo achieves playable frame rates across all settings, with even Ultra averaging 74 FPS. The 1440p results remain acceptable for 60 Hz displays, with High and Medium presets delivering 72 and 83 FPS respectively. However, 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings, where 75 FPS is achievable, while Medium drops to 53 FPS and Ultra falls to 35 FPS, making the higher presets impractical for competitive play.

The gap between this combo's rank and the top performers in the database likely stems from the GPU's age relative to the game's 2024 release date. The 12 nm process node and 7.181 TFLOPS FP32 performance place it behind modern GPUs that benefit from architectural improvements in rasterization and memory compression. The CPU, by contrast, remains competitive enough that upgrading the GPU alone would likely yield substantial FPS improvements across all resolutions and settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and performance priorities. At 1920x1080, the High preset at 99 FPS average provides an excellent balance for 100 Hz displays, while Medium at 113 FPS and Low at 159 FPS offer progressively higher refresh rates at the cost of visual fidelity. The Ultra preset's 74 FPS average remains playable but delivers diminishing returns given the performance gap to High.

For 2560x1440 users, the High preset at 72 FPS is the strongest recommendation for 60 Hz monitors, as it provides near-60 FPS minimums without the visual quality sacrifice of Medium's 83 FPS or the significant visual downgrade of Low's 117 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 70 FPS offers a safer margin for variable refresh rate displays, while Ultra at 54 FPS may cause noticeable frame pacing issues on standard 60 Hz panels.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that only the Low preset at 75 FPS average delivers a consistently smooth experience. Medium at 53 FPS average with a 45 FPS minimum falls below the 60 FPS threshold, and High at 47 FPS or Ultra at 35 FPS will result in noticeable judder during fast-paced FPS gameplay. For 4K users, the visual quality difference between Low and Medium may not justify the 29.3% FPS reduction, making Low the pragmatic choice.

The measured rows also indicate that the Medium preset offers the most consistent frame delivery across resolutions, with minimum FPS values of 96 at 1080p, 70 at 1440p, and 45 at 4K. This consistency suggests Medium is the most stable preset for this hardware combination, providing predictable performance regardless of scene complexity. Users prioritizing maximum visual quality should select High at 1080p or 1440p, as the step to Ultra yields only marginal improvements while costing 25.3% of the average FPS at 1080p and 25.0% at 1440p.

FAQ

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

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 provides the most comfortable performance margins, with all four settings presets achieving at least 74 FPS average. At 2560x1440, High and Medium presets remain viable at 72 and 83 FPS respectively, while 3840x2160 only becomes playable at Low settings with 75 FPS average.

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

A: The benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The Core i5-12600KF ranks in the 79th percentile of all CPUs with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23,391, while the RTX 2060 SUPER ranks in the 62nd percentile of GPUs. The FPS scaling patterns across resolutions, particularly the steep drops at 4K, confirm the GPU constrains performance.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RTX 2060 SUPER's nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 18,093 places it within 0.4% of the RTX 3060 Mobile (18,159) and 0.5% of the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18,189). All rivals fall within a 1.6% performance band, indicating the RTX 2060 SUPER performs as expected for its tier.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings in Lockdown Protocol?

A: At 1080p, Ultra averages 74 FPS and is playable. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 54 FPS, which may be acceptable on 60 Hz displays but leaves little headroom. At 4K, Ultra averages only 35 FPS, making it unsuitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the expected performance at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 83 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS and maximum of 95 FPS at 2560x1440 Medium. This provides a consistent experience suitable for 60 Hz monitors and most 75 Hz displays.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance affect this game?

A: The Core i5-12600KF achieves a 3DMark single-thread score of 1,016 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3,925. These results, combined with the 79th percentile ranking, indicate the CPU provides sufficient single-thread performance for Lockdown Protocol's primary game thread, as evidenced by the GPU-bound scaling patterns.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates span from 35 FPS at Ultra settings to 75 FPS at Low settings. The Medium preset averages 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS and maximum of 62 FPS, while High averages 47 FPS. This 40 FPS spread between Ultra and Low demonstrates the significant impact of settings on 4K performance, with the Low preset being the only configuration to exceed 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance envelope improves considerably. Low settings average 117 FPS, Medium averages 83 FPS with a 70 FPS minimum and 95 FPS maximum, High averages 72 FPS, and Ultra averages 54 FPS. The 63 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution highlights how settings selection can dramatically affect the gameplay experience, with High and Medium offering the best balance of visual quality and frame rate.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings achieve 159 FPS average, Medium averages 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS and maximum of 130 FPS, High averages 99 FPS, and Ultra averages 74 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 96 FPS ensures frame times remain consistently low, while even Ultra maintains an average above 70 FPS, making 1080p the only resolution where all settings presets deliver competitive frame rates for fast-paced FPS gameplay.