Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and this particular pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile produces a wide spread of frame rates depending on where you set the graphical dial. The data shows a system capable of triple-digit frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but one that finally meets its match at 4K with maxed-out settings. The measured results indicate a mobile flagship GPU that is often held back by the processor at lower resolutions, while the tables turn at higher resolutions where the graphics card becomes the primary bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling

The performance curve across resolutions reveals a classic story of component balancing. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 262 FPS. This high frame rate is a clear indicator that the CPU is the limiting factor, as the RTX 4090 Mobile is capable of far more work than the Core Ultra 5 135H can feed it in this scenario. The gap between settings at this resolution is stark: moving from Low to High drops the average from 262 FPS to 162 FPS, a 100 FPS difference that is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload increasing, while the CPU remains the bottleneck.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the data shows a more balanced picture. The Low preset still yields an excellent 192 FPS average, but the scaling is more linear. The jump from Low to Medium (192 to 136 FPS) and then to High (119 FPS) and Ultra (89 FPS) demonstrates that the GPU is beginning to take on a more significant role. The 1440p High result of 119 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this is a sweet spot for high-refresh-rate gaming without compromising on visual fidelity.

At 4K (3840x2160), the GPU is firmly in control. The High preset averages 77 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to just 58 FPS. This is a substantial decline from the 1440p results, showing a 42 FPS drop for High settings and a 31 FPS drop for Ultra. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is not linear, as the pixel count quadruples, putting immense pressure on the RTX 4090 Mobile's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 32.98 TFLOPS of compute power. The Low preset at 4K still manages 124 FPS, which shows that even at this demanding resolution, the GPU has headroom when the visual load is reduced.

The data suggests that the Core Ultra 5 135H, with its 14 cores and 18 threads, is sufficient to drive the RTX 4090 Mobile at 1440p and below without creating a severe bottleneck. However, the 1080p Low result of 262 FPS versus the 1440p Low result of 192 FPS indicates that the CPU is still holding back the GPU at the lowest resolution and settings. The combination of the CPU's 4.60 GHz boost clock and the GPU's 1695 MHz boost clock creates a system where the CPU limits performance in CPU-bound scenarios (low res, low settings), and the GPU limits performance in GPU-bound scenarios (high res, high settings). For competitive play at 1080p, the CPU is the primary constraint, but for immersive 4K gaming, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a 60 FPS average?

A: The data shows that all presets at 1080p and 1440p exceed 60 FPS, with the worst case being 89 FPS at 1440p Ultra. At 4K, the Ultra preset drops to 58 FPS, which is below 60 FPS, while the High preset stays above at 77 FPS. Therefore, 4K High is the highest quality setting that remains above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 4090 Mobile compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 43667, placing it in the 84th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A6000, scores 44075, which is 0.9% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43301, which is 0.8% lower, and the RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268, which is 0.9% lower. This indicates the RTX 4090 Mobile is a top-tier mobile GPU, performing within 1% of its closest competitors.

Q: Is the Core Ultra 5 135H a strong performer compared to other CPUs?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 29093, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, scores 29123, which is only 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i5-13500HX scores 29270, which is 0.6% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT scores 28940, which is 0.5% lower. This shows the CPU is a solid mid-range mobile processor, performing nearly identically to its desktop counterparts.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values recorded for this combo?

A: The data includes minimum FPS values only for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p, the minimum is 158 FPS; at 1440p, it is 116 FPS; and at 4K, it is 75 FPS. No minimum FPS values are provided for the Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile ranks 806 out of 3714 tested combos in the game. This places it in the top 22% of all system configurations, indicating a high-performing setup for this title.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 262 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 122 FPS. This represents a 140 FPS difference, or a 53.4% reduction in frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings. This significant gap highlights the GPU's workload scaling with visual fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured data places this combo at rank 806 out of 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This percentile ranking of roughly 78th (100 - 806/3714) puts the system in the upper quartile of all tested hardware pairings. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU, with the RTX 4090 Mobile being a top-tier GPU (84th percentile) and the Core Ultra 5 135H being a competent mid-range CPU (81st percentile). The system is not in the top echelon because the CPU is not a flagship part, but it is well above the median performer.

The ranking suggests that for most users, this combo will deliver an excellent gaming experience. The fact that it sits 806th out of 3714 means there are 805 other combinations that perform better, likely featuring higher-end desktop CPUs or even more powerful mobile GPUs. However, this pairing's strength lies in its consistency; it can handle 1080p and 1440p with high frame rates, and 4K with playable frame rates on all but the most demanding preset. The data indicates that this combo is a high-end mobile solution that outperforms the vast majority of systems, but it is not the absolute best due to the CPU's limitations in extremely CPU-bound scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's capabilities across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 262 FPS, which is the highest score recorded for this combo. The Medium preset averages 186 FPS, with a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 214 FPS. The High preset averages 162 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 122 FPS. This shows a clear linear progression, with each step up in quality costing roughly 40-60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 192 FPS, which is 70 FPS lower than the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset averages 136 FPS, with a minimum of 116 FPS and a maximum of 157 FPS. The High preset averages 119 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 89 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows an average FPS reduction of about 33% across all presets, which is expected given the higher pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 124 FPS, which is a 68 FPS drop from 1440p Low. The Medium preset averages 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS. The High preset averages 77 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 58 FPS. The 4K results show a more pronounced drop-off, with the Ultra preset being the only one that falls below the 60 FPS threshold. The data reveals that the Medium preset at 4K, with a minimum FPS of 75, offers a smooth experience, while the High preset at 4K, with an average of 77 FPS, is also viable for most users.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications directly correlate with the measured performance. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 576.0 GB/s. This memory capacity and bandwidth are crucial for 4K gaming, as the data shows the GPU is the primary bottleneck at that resolution. The GPU's base clock is 1335 MHz, with a boost clock of 1695 MHz, and its 9728 shading units are responsible for the raw pixel-pushing power.

The GPU's compute capabilities, rated at 32.98 TFLOPS FP32, are substantial, but the data shows they are not always fully utilized. At 1080p Low, the CPU limits the system, so the GPU is likely underutilized. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU is working at its maximum, as evidenced by the 58 FPS average. The GPU's 84th percentile ranking in general benchmarks is reflected in its ability to maintain high frame rates in this game. The nearest rival, the RTX A6000, scores only 0.9% higher on average, indicating that this mobile GPU is not far behind a professional workstation card. The 16 GB VRAM is a significant asset, as it prevents memory-related stutters at 4K, which is a common issue with 8 GB cards. The data suggests that the RTX 4090 Mobile is the star of this show, providing the majority of the gaming performance, especially at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and performance target. For 1080p gamers with a 240 Hz monitor, the Low preset's 262 FPS average is the only way to fully utilize the display's refresh rate. However, for those with a 144 Hz monitor, the Medium preset at 186 FPS is a better choice, as it balances high frame rates with improved visual quality. The High preset at 162 FPS is also viable for 144 Hz displays, but the Ultra preset at 122 FPS is best suited for 120 Hz monitors.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 136 FPS is the recommended starting point, as it provides a smooth experience on 144 Hz displays. The High preset at 119 FPS is also excellent, offering better visuals with only a 17 FPS penalty. The Ultra preset at 89 FPS is suitable for 90 Hz or 100 Hz displays, but it may feel less responsive on higher refresh rate panels. For 1440p users, the data suggests that Medium or High are the sweet spots, as they provide high frame rates without requiring a significant compromise on visual fidelity.

For 4K gaming, the data shows that the High preset at 77 FPS is the best option for a 60 Hz display, as it delivers a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 88 FPS is also excellent, providing even more headroom for VRR displays. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is playable, but it sits below the 60 FPS threshold, which may result in noticeable stuttering on non-VRR monitors. The Low preset at 124 FPS is not recommended for 4K, as it defeats the purpose of high-resolution gaming by reducing visual quality so drastically. In summary, the data recommends Medium or High settings for most users, as they offer the best balance of performance and visual quality across all resolutions, with Low reserved for competitive play and Ultra for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate.