Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and AMD Radeon 760M pairing. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily constrained by its integrated graphics solution, with performance characteristics that shift predictably as resolution and quality settings change. This analysis examines the measured frames per second across the tested spectrum to understand the balance between the CPU and GPU in this specific FPS title.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a classic GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load outpaces the capabilities of the AMD Radeon 760M. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 54 FPS, which provides a playable baseline. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 40 FPS, a 26% decrease. Scaling further to 4K at Low settings yields just 26 FPS, representing a 35% reduction from the 1440p figure and less than half the performance of the 1080p result.

The scaling pattern under High settings is even more pronounced. The average frame rate falls from 34 FPS at 1080p to 25 FPS at 1440p, a 26% drop, and then plummets to 16 FPS at 4K, a 36% reduction from 1440p. This consistent percentage loss with each resolution step indicates that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary limiting factors. The data implies that the integrated Radeon 760M, with its system-shared memory, struggles to manage the increased pixel count, as the 4K results for all settings fall below the 30 FPS threshold generally considered minimum for smooth gameplay.

The performance cliff between 1440p and 4K is particularly steep. For instance, the Medium preset sees a drop from 28 FPS to 18 FPS (a 36% loss), while the Ultra preset drops from 18 FPS to 12 FPS (a 33% loss). These figures suggest that the 4K resolution is simply beyond the practical reach of this hardware for Lockdown Protocol, regardless of the quality preset chosen. The scaling behavior points to the GPU as the definitive bottleneck; the CPU's performance headroom becomes irrelevant as the resolution increases, since the render pipeline cannot keep up with the demand for pixel output.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the optimal experience for this combination is found at 1080p with the Low preset. This setting yields an average of 54 FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset that approaches the 60 FPS target. The data shows a clear trade-off: enabling Medium settings at 1080p reduces the average to 39 FPS, a 28% performance penalty, which may be acceptable for users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate. However, the step to High at 1080p further reduces the average to 34 FPS, and Ultra drops it to 25 FPS.

At 1440p, the Low preset provides a playable 40 FPS average, but this is only a 26% improvement over the High preset's 25 FPS. The decision to use Low at higher resolutions becomes less compelling when considering the 1080p Medium option, which offers similar performance (39 FPS) with better visual quality than 1440p Low. For users with 1440p displays, the Low preset is the only viable option, as the Medium preset's 28 FPS average and the High preset's 25 FPS average both fall into a range where responsiveness may suffer in a fast-paced FPS.

The Ultra preset is not recommended under any resolution. At 1080p, it achieves only 25 FPS, and at 1440p and 4K, it drops to 18 FPS and 12 FPS, respectively. The data indicates that the performance cost of Ultra settings is too high for the visual benefit on this hardware. The measured FPS range for Medium at 1080p (33-44 FPS) suggests some stability, but the Low preset's higher average provides a safer margin for maintaining playable frame rates during intense gameplay moments.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and AMD Radeon 760M ranks 3702 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places the configuration in the bottom 0.3% of all tested systems, indicating that it is among the weakest performers for this title. The rank is a stark illustration of the integrated GPU's limitations, as the CPU itself is not the primary concern.

The CPU's benchmark data shows it performs comparably to its nearest rivals, with an average score of 27507. Its closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, scores 27535, a negligible 0.1% difference. Similarly, the Intel Core i5-12600K and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X both score 27578, placing them a mere 0.3% ahead. This suggests the processor is not a significant weak point in the combo; instead, the Radeon 760M's average benchmark score of 6019, which ranks in the 35th percentile of all GPUs, drags the overall gaming performance down.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6400 with a score of 6001 (0.3% slower) and the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 with a score of 6049 (0.5% faster). The fact that this integrated GPU is comparable to low-end discrete graphics cards from previous generations underscores its modest capabilities. In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the combo's rank reflects the reality that the Radeon 760M is simply not designed for high-refresh-rate or high-resolution gaming, particularly in a genre that demands quick reactions and smooth frame delivery.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this hardware for Lockdown Protocol?

A: The measured data shows 1920x1080 as the optimal resolution. At this setting, the Low preset achieves an average of 54 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset. Higher resolutions like 2560x1440 and 3840x2160 result in significantly lower averages, with even the Low preset dropping to 40 FPS and 26 FPS, respectively.

Q: Can this combo handle the Ultra settings preset?

A: The data indicates that Ultra settings are not viable. At 1080p, the average FPS is only 25, which drops to 18 at 1440p and 12 at 4K. These figures are well below the threshold for smooth gameplay, suggesting that the visual enhancements of the Ultra preset come at too great a performance cost for the AMD Radeon 760M to handle.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H has an average benchmark score of 27507. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800, scores 27535, which is only 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i5-12600K and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X both score 27578, a 0.3% difference. This indicates the CPU's performance is competitive with these alternatives.

Q: What is the frame rate stability like for the Medium preset?

A: The measured data includes minimum and maximum FPS for the Medium preset. At 1080p, the range is 33 to 44 FPS with an average of 39. At 1440p, the range is 24 to 32 FPS with an average of 28. At 4K, the range is 15 to 21 FPS with an average of 18. This shows a consistent spread of about 6-8 FPS around the average, indicating moderate frame pacing stability.

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

A: The benchmark results point to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. The AMD Radeon 760M has a passmark G3D score of 5310 and ranks in the 35th percentile of all GPUs. The CPU, by contrast, ranks in the 79th percentile. The resolution scaling data shows significant FPS drops as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-limited system.

Q: How does this combo's overall rank compare to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 3702 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 12 positions of the database, indicating that there are only 12 other configurations that perform worse. This rank is primarily due to the integrated GPU's limitations.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon 760M is the decisive factor in this combo's gaming performance. Its architecture is RDNA 3.0, built on a 4 nm process, and it features 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation pipelines. The GPU has a base clock of 800 MHz and a boost clock of 2599 MHz, but its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the CPU's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM.

This shared memory architecture is a critical limitation. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," which means it varies based on the system's RAM configuration. For a game like Lockdown Protocol, which likely requires frequent texture streaming and high memory bandwidth, this dependency can cause performance to suffer, particularly at higher resolutions where the memory demands increase exponentially. The measured FPS data confirms this, with the 4K results showing a dramatic drop to single-digit and low-teen averages.

The GPU's benchmark scores reflect its modest position. Its Passmark G3D score is 5310, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 400. While these numbers place it in the 35th percentile of all GPUs, they also show it performing similarly to older discrete GPUs like the GTX 770M. The pixel rate of 41.58 GPixel/s and texture rate of 83.17 GTexel/s are the theoretical limits, but the actual performance in Lockdown Protocol is constrained by the shared memory subsystem. The data suggests that even the boost clock of 2599 MHz cannot compensate for the lack of dedicated graphics memory.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H provides a solid foundation, but its contribution to gaming performance is secondary to the GPU. This processor features 14 cores and 18 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its architecture is Meteor Lake, built on a 7 nm process, and it has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's Passmark multithread score is 21100, and its single-thread score is 3399, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The benchmark data for the CPU shows it performing on par with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and Intel Core i5-12600K, with a negligible 0.1-0.3% difference in average scores. This suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo; the GPU's inability to render frames fast enough is what caps the FPS. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1647.5, is sufficient for the game's engine.

The CPU's memory support is DDR5, with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. This memory bandwidth is shared with the GPU, which could create contention in a gaming scenario. However, the measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is adequately provisioned for the task, as the frame rates are consistently limited by the GPU's processing power rather than any apparent CPU bottleneck. The CPU's release date of December 2023 and the GPU's release date of January 2024 indicate a modern pairing, but the integrated nature of the GPU is the defining characteristic of the system's gaming ability.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete dataset provides a clear picture of performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings produce an average of 54 FPS, Medium settings produce 39 FPS (with a range of 33-44), High settings produce 34 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 25 FPS. This shows a 54% performance drop from Low to Ultra at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 40 FPS, Medium at 28 FPS (with a range of 24-32), High at 25 FPS, and Ultra at 18 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 55%, consistent with the 1080p scaling. The Medium preset's minimum of 24 FPS indicates that even this middle-ground setting can dip below playable thresholds during demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 26 FPS, Medium at 18 FPS (with a range of 15-21), High at 16 FPS, and Ultra at 12 FPS. The 4K results show that no preset achieves a playable average, with even the Low setting falling to 26 FPS. The Medium preset's maximum of 21 FPS is lower than the minimum FPS of the 1080p Medium preset, highlighting the severe impact of resolution on this integrated graphics solution.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the Low preset offers the highest frame rates, while the Ultra preset is impractical. The measured FPS values for Medium at each resolution provide the only min/max data points, showing a frame pacing window of roughly 6-8 FPS. This suggests that while the average frame rate is low, the frame delivery is relatively stable when it can render, which might mitigate some perceived stutter. However, the overall low averages, especially at 1440p and 4K, make this combo unsuitable for competitive play in Lockdown Protocol.