Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol places the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination in the 2630th position out of 3714 tested configurations, a below-median standing that underscores a significant performance ceiling for this pairing. The data indicates that while the GPU holds its own in synthetic benchmarks, the older six-core processor limits frame delivery in this FPS title, creating a bottleneck that becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and higher frame rates. This analysis breaks down the measured results, component roles, and optimal settings based strictly on the provided benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall rank of this CPU and GPU combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: This combination ranks 2630th out of 3714 tested combos in the game, placing it in the lower third of all configurations.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, which is 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (18159) and 0.5% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (18189). It trails the AMD Radeon RX 460 by 1.5% and the Intel Arc A770M by 1.6%.

Q: What is the performance difference between the i5-9400 and its closest CPU competitors?

A: The i5-9400 scores an average of 2254 across benchmarks. It is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259) and 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i3-10305 (2264). Conversely, it is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i7-10710U (2248) and 0.4% faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246).

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded at 1920x1080 for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate at 1080p is 159 FPS, achieved with Low settings. Medium settings deliver 113 FPS, High settings deliver 99 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 74 FPS.

Q: Does the RTX 2060 SUPER have enough VRAM for high resolutions?

A: Yes, the 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the tested resolutions. The data shows playable averages at 2560x1440, though 3840x2160 results are more demanding.

Q: How significant is the performance drop from 1440p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 72 at 2560x1440 to 47 at 3840x2160, a reduction of 25 frames per second. This indicates that 4K High is the edge of playability for this hardware.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the stronger half of this pairing, and the measured frame rates show it scaling predictably with resolution and settings. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 256-bit bus provide 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which supports smooth texture streaming across the tested presets. Its 2176 shading units and 64 ROPs help maintain pixel throughput, evidenced by a pixel rate of 105.6 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 224.4 GTexel/s.

In synthetic testing, the GPU scores an average benchmark of 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18159, a delta of -0.4%, indicating the desktop 2060 SUPER is essentially matched by a mobile part. The data shows this GPU can push 159 FPS at 1080p Low, but the more demanding Ultra preset at the same resolution yields 74 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 85 FPS, while at 1440p it narrows to 63 FPS (117 vs 54), and at 4K it shrinks further to 40 FPS (75 vs 35), demonstrating that the GPU becomes the primary limiter at higher resolutions.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's architecture supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is relevant for an FPS like Lockdown Protocol. The 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores provide hardware features that may be utilized by the game's rendering pipeline, though the measured results do not isolate ray tracing performance. The GPU's 7.181 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is substantial for a card of its generation, but the 175 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest cooling requirements that are manageable for most desktop systems.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 presents a clear bottleneck in this configuration. With 6 cores and 6 threads, it lacks hyper-threading, and its base clock of 2.90 GHz boosts to 4.10 GHz. The processor has 9 MB of shared L3 cache and operates on a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. These specifications are modest by modern standards, and the benchmark data reflects this.

The CPU's average benchmark score is 2254, placing it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Core i7-1068NG7, scores 2259, a delta of -0.2%, showing the i5-9400 is slightly slower than that mobile chip. More telling is the comparison to the Core i3-10305, which scores 2264, meaning the i5-9400 is 0.4% slower than a newer mainstream i3. This places the processor in a performance tier where it competes with low-power laptop parts and entry-level desktop chips.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's limited thread count likely restricts frame pacing, particularly at 1080p where the GPU can render frames faster than the CPU can feed them. The measured data supports this: at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 159 FPS, but this is substantially lower than what the RTX 2060 SUPER alone could theoretically produce, suggesting CPU overhead limits the maximum frame rate. The single-core performance, as measured by Cinebench R23 (935 points), is adequate for gaming but not exceptional, and the multi-core score of 6629 indicates that heavily threaded workloads will stress this chip.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s is another limiting factor. For an FPS title that may require rapid data streaming, this bandwidth is lower than newer platforms, potentially causing stutter in open areas. The 65 W TDP and end-of-life production status confirm this is an older part, and its PCIe Gen 3 interface, while functional, does not offer the bandwidth of newer standards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data reveals a wide performance spread across settings. Low settings produce an average of 159 FPS, which is the highest measured value for this combo. Medium settings yield 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 and a maximum of 130, providing a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors. High settings drop to 99 FPS average, while Ultra settings fall to 74 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 53.5% reduction in average frame rate, indicating that the GPU handles the lower presets with ease but struggles with the highest visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the averages are more moderate. Low settings deliver 117 FPS, Medium settings deliver 83 FPS (minimum 70, maximum 95), High settings deliver 72 FPS, and Ultra settings deliver 54 FPS. The jump from 1080p to 1440p at High settings results in a 27 FPS drop (99 to 72), which is a 27.3% reduction. This suggests that 1440p High is still viable for competitive play, but Ultra at this resolution dips below 60 FPS, making it less desirable.

At 3840x2160, the combo clearly reaches its limits. Low settings average 75 FPS, which is surprisingly playable, but Medium settings drop to 53 FPS (minimum 45, maximum 62), and High settings fall to 47 FPS. Ultra settings bottom out at 35 FPS average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The 4K data shows a 40 FPS difference between Low and Ultra, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at this resolution. The Medium preset at 4K shows a minimum of 45 FPS, indicating that even with adaptive quality, frame drops will occur in intense scenes.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2630 out of 3714 places this configuration in the 29th percentile of all tested systems. This is a below-average standing, and the data suggests that the CPU is the primary drag on performance. The GPU's percentile of 62 is respectable, but the CPU's percentile of 47 pulls the pairing down. Compared to other combos in the database, this system is positioned near entry-level gaming PCs from a few years ago, not modern high-end builds.

The nearest CPU rivals highlight the processor's age. The Core i7-10710U, a mobile part with higher core count, scores within 0.3% of the i5-9400, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, a first-generation Ryzen chip, is 0.4% slower. This clustering around the 2250-point mark indicates that the i5-9400 is not uniquely positioned; it is simply an average performer among older CPUs. For Lockdown Protocol, this means the combo will not be competitive with systems using newer six-core or eight-core processors, which likely rank higher in the 3714-combo list.

The GPU's nearest rivals also provide context. The RTX 3060 Mobile, which scores 0.4% higher, is a laptop part, suggesting that the desktop 2060 SUPER is comparable to mid-range mobile GPUs. The AMD Radeon RX 460, scoring 1.5% higher in synthetic tests, is an older entry-level card, which is surprising but indicates that synthetic scores do not always translate to gaming performance. The Intel Arc A770M's 1.6% higher score suggests that newer Intel GPUs are competitive with this NVIDIA card.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of frame rate and visual quality, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the recommended starting point. The data shows an average of 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 FPS, which ensures that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate stays above 90 FPS. This is ideal for a fast-paced FPS where smoothness is critical. High settings at 1080p offer 99 FPS average, which is still playable, but the 14 FPS drop from Medium may not justify the visual improvements.

At 2560x1440, Medium settings are again the sweet spot, delivering 83 FPS average with a minimum of 70 FPS. This provides a good experience for 1440p monitors, and the 70 FPS minimum is acceptable for most players. High settings at 1440p drop to 72 FPS average, which is playable but may show stutter in crowded areas. Low settings at 1440p, with 117 FPS, are recommended for competitive players who prioritize frame rate over visuals.

For 3840x2160, the data does not strongly recommend any preset for a consistently smooth experience. Low settings average 75 FPS, which is playable, but Medium settings average 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS, indicating potential dips below 60 FPS. High settings at 47 FPS and Ultra at 35 FPS are not recommended for serious play. If 4K is required, Low settings are the only option that maintains a playable frame rate. The Ultra preset is the only one not recommended at any resolution, as it never reaches 60 FPS at 1080p (74 FPS) and falls to 35 FPS at 4K, showing that this combo cannot handle maximum settings without significant compromise.