Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a demanding FPS, and the measured data for the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but which scales impressively at 1080p. The benchmark results indicate a pairing that delivers high frame rates at 1440p and strong performance at 4K, with the GPU acting as the primary limiter across most settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and consistent trend: performance drops significantly as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 160.6 FPS at 1080p to 116.7 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of roughly 27%, and then to 76.3 FPS at 4K, a further 35% drop from the 1440p figure. This steep decline at 4K is typical of a system where the graphics card is the limiting component, as the GPU must render over four times the number of pixels compared to 1080p.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at the Low preset. The RTX 3080 Ti pushes 258.5 FPS at 1080p, but this falls to 190.7 FPS at 1440p and 122.6 FPS at 4K. The fact that the frame rate still drops by over half from 1080p to 4K even at Low settings confirms that the GPU's raw pixel-pushing capabilities, rather than the CPU, are the bottleneck. Conversely, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at 1080p, where the frame rates are so high that the processor's ability to feed the GPU becomes a more significant factor, though the data still shows the GPU scaling as the dominant force. The benchmark results indicate that this combo is best suited for high-refresh 1440p gaming, where it maintains triple-digit averages across most presets, while 4K is playable but requires a compromise on settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, this specific configuration of the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ranks 425th out of 1637 total combinations. This places it in the top 26% of all tested systems, which is a strong result given the breadth of hardware combinations available. The ranking reflects a well-balanced pairing that is capable of high performance in this specific title, though it is far from the top of the charts where more expensive and newer hardware resides.

The percentile data for the individual components supports this ranking. The Core i5-13400F sits in the 82nd percentile for all CPUs, while the RTX 3080 Ti is in the 83rd percentile for all GPUs. This near-identical percentile placement is a strong indicator of a balanced system, where neither component is drastically underpowered relative to the other. The overall combo rank of 425 suggests that while the individual parts are strong, the combination is not exceptional when compared to the most powerful systems, which likely feature higher-end CPUs and newer GPUs. The data shows a system that is firmly in the upper-midrange of performance for this game, capable of excellent frame rates but not the absolute maximum.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the clear performance driver in this pairing. Its specifications show a high-end Ampere architecture chip with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a substantial 912.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This large memory pool and high bandwidth are critical for Lockdown Protocol, as the data shows the GPU's performance scaling directly with resolution. The card's boost clock of 1665 MHz helps it achieve a 34.10 TFLOPS FP32 performance figure, which translates into the high raw frame rates seen in the benchmarks.

The GPU's benchmark scores reinforce its position. With a Passmark G3D score of 26896 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077, it outperforms its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, by 0.5% in the average benchmark score. This marginal lead shows that the 3080 Ti is still a very relevant performer. However, the data also shows that it is closely trailed by the newer NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, which is only 1.1% behind in average score. This indicates that while the 3080 Ti remains capable, its position is being challenged by newer generations. In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is the primary factor in determining frame rates, especially at 4K where the 12 GB VRAM and 384-bit memory interface are fully utilized.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Lockdown Protocol with this combo?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. At High settings, it achieves 116.7 FPS, which is a significant jump from the 76.3 FPS at 4K, while still offering a sharp image.

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

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 59.3, which is borderline for smooth play. Lowering to 4K Medium yields 86.7 FPS, providing a much more comfortable experience.

Q: How much faster is the 1080p Low preset compared to the 4K Ultra preset?

A: The measured data shows a massive difference. The 1080p Low preset delivers 258.5 FPS, while the 4K Ultra preset delivers 59.3 FPS. This represents a performance increase of over 4 times for the lower resolution and settings.

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

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary limiter. The frame rate drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU is less of a factor, especially at higher resolutions.

Q: How does this CPU compare to its closest rival in terms of overall benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25236. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-13620H, has a score of 25201, making the i5-13400F only 0.1% faster.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 135.9 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings. This is a strong result, offering a high frame rate that is well-suited for competitive play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across different configurations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptionally high frame rates. The Low preset achieves 258.5 FPS, which is the highest average recorded in the dataset. The Medium preset follows at 184.8 FPS, High at 160.6 FPS, and Ultra at 122.5 FPS. These figures show that at 1080p, the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors even at the most demanding settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset still delivers a very high 190.7 FPS, while Medium drops to 135.9 FPS. High settings produce 116.7 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to exactly 90 FPS. This resolution provides an excellent balance between image quality and performance, with all presets remaining playable.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly taxed. The Low preset manages 122.6 FPS, which is still a playable frame rate. However, the higher presets show a significant drop. Medium averages 86.7 FPS, High averages 76.3 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the system to its knees with an average of just 59.3 FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K gaming is possible, but only with reduced settings for a consistently smooth experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F provides a solid foundation for the RTX 3080 Ti. With 10 cores and 16 threads, it offers substantial multi-threaded capability, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21279 and Passmark multithread score of 25032. Its boost clock of 4.60 GHz ensures strong single-threaded performance, reflected in a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3004. This combination of high core count and good clock speeds is sufficient to keep the GPU fed, especially at resolutions above 1080p.

The CPU's benchmark performance places it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25236. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13620H, is within 0.1% of its score, showing that the i5-13400F is a very competitive mid-range processor. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role becomes more critical at 1080p where frame rates are at their highest. The data suggests that the 10-core, 16-thread configuration is more than adequate for this game, as the performance scaling is clearly dominated by the GPU's resolution-based limitations. The processor does not appear to be a bottleneck in any of the tested scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the High preset at 2560x1440 is the optimal choice. It delivers an average of 116.7 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth, responsive gameplay on a 144Hz monitor. This setting provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium while only costing about 14% of the frame rate, dropping from 135.9 FPS to 116.7 FPS.

If players prioritize maximum frame rates for competitive play, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the clear winner, offering 258.5 FPS. This is the highest performance level available in the dataset. At 4K, the High preset is not recommended, as the 76.3 FPS average may feel inconsistent. Instead, the Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 86.7 FPS, provides a much better balance of visual fidelity and smoothness, making it the most practical 4K option. For players with a 4K 60Hz display, the Ultra preset's 59.3 FPS average is the only one that does not consistently hit the refresh rate, so it is best avoided in favor of High or Medium.