Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents an interesting stress test for the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but the CPU’s architecture plays a supporting role in maintaining playable performance. This analysis breaks down the data to show exactly where this combination stands.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate data shows a predictable, yet steep, decline as resolution increases, confirming that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the limiting component in this configuration. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 145 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops by 39 FPS to 106, a 27% reduction. The jump to 4K is even more severe, with the average falling to 69 FPS, a 35% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated by the pixel count; the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the graphics card's rendering throughput becomes the wall as resolution increases.

This trend is consistent across all settings presets. For example, at High settings, the average FPS goes from 90 at 1080p, to 66 at 1440p, and finally to 43 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is consistently over 50% for each preset, underscoring that the RTX 2060's fillrate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The data indicates that the transition from 1080p to 1440p is the most impactful single step for performance, while the move to 4K pushes the system into a range that is often below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

The fact that the CPU is not the main bottleneck is further evidenced by the scaling efficiency. If the CPU were limiting, we would expect to see a smaller performance delta between resolutions, as the frame rate would be capped by the processor's ability to issue draw calls. Instead, the frame rate scales almost inversely with the number of pixels, a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The RTX 2060, with its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus, is simply overwhelmed by the 4K resolution, regardless of the quality preset. The measured data suggests that for a consistently smooth experience, users should target 1080p or 1440p, where the GPU can maintain higher frame rates.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. Its role in Lockdown Protocol is to feed the GPU with data and handle game logic, a task it appears to manage adequately based on the frame rate scaling. With a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, the CPU has sufficient single-thread performance to handle the core game simulation. The benchmark results support this, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2085 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4516, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs.

In this game, the CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache likely helps with keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores, reducing latency. The processor's performance is competitive, sitting within 0.2% of rivals like the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and AMD EPYC 4364P in average benchmark scores. This suggests that in CPU-bound scenarios, the Core Ultra 5 235 would perform on par with those chips. However, the measured FPS data in Lockdown Protocol shows that CPU-bound scenarios are rare, as the frame rate drops significantly with resolution, which is a GPU-side effect.

The CPU's 14 threads are a notable point. While modern games can use more than 14 threads, Lockdown Protocol appears to scale well with the available cores, as there is no evidence of a CPU bottleneck at 1080p, where the GPU has to work the hardest to produce a high frame rate. At 1080p Low, the system hits 145 FPS average, which is a high enough number that a weaker CPU would likely start to show limitations. The data implies the Core Ultra 5 235 provides a stable platform, allowing the RTX 2060 to perform to its full potential without being held back by the processor.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 places this system in the 2234th position out of 2828 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This puts it in the bottom 21% of all tested systems, a ranking that is heavily influenced by the GPU's age and performance tier. The CPU itself is a strong component, but the RTX 2060, which sits in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, drags the overall combo ranking down.

This ranking is a direct reflection of the measured frame rates. While the combo can achieve playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, it struggles at 4K, and its overall average performance across all settings is lower than what more modern components would deliver. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 7600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, have similar average benchmark scores with a deltaPct of 0.8% and 0.6% respectively, indicating that the RTX 2060 is still competitive with entry-level current-generation cards. However, in a game like Lockdown Protocol, which appears to be demanding, the combo's rank is a clear indicator that it is not a high-end performer.

The high rank number (2234) means there are over 2,200 other combinations that perform better. This is not a judgment on the CPU, which is a modern part, but rather a commentary on the GPU's limitations. The data suggests that if a user were to upgrade the GPU, the combo's rank would improve substantially, as the CPU has the headroom to support a more powerful graphics card. As it stands, the system is a mid-range performer overall, capable of running the game but not at the highest settings or resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed picture of performance across all presets. At 1080p, the system is capable of smooth gameplay. The Low preset yields an average of 145 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 103 FPS, with a minimum of 88 and a maximum of 119 FPS, indicating a stable experience. High settings average 90 FPS, while Ultra drops to an average of 67 FPS. All of these figures are playable, though the 67 FPS average at Ultra suggests that users chasing maximum visual fidelity will be near the edge of a 60 FPS monitor's refresh rate.

Moving to 1440p, performance remains acceptable but requires more careful settings management. The Low preset delivers an average of 106 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium averages 76 FPS, with a variance of 64 to 87 FPS, which is generally a good experience. High settings average 66 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target but may see occasional dips. Ultra settings drop to an average of 49 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for many users, especially in a fast-paced FPS.

At 4K, the RTX 2060 is clearly overmatched. The Low preset is the only one that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, averaging 69 FPS. Medium averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56, which will result in noticeable stuttering. High settings average 43 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 32 FPS, making the game feel slow and unresponsive. The data shows that 4K gaming is not viable with this GPU unless the user is willing to accept significant visual compromises and frame rates below 60 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, all presets achieve an average FPS above 67, with the Low preset reaching 145 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low and Medium presets maintain averages above 76 FPS, while 4K struggles to stay above 69 FPS even on Low.

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

A: Technically yes, but the experience is subpar. The highest average FPS at 4K is 69 on Low settings. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, and the High and Ultra presets average 43 and 32 FPS, respectively. These figures are below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46062. This puts it 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and 0.1% behind the Intel Core i9-13900HX. It is also 0.2% ahead of both the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, based on its average benchmark score of 15290. This places it in the mid-range tier of graphics cards.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck?

A: The GPU is the main bottleneck. The evidence is the significant frame rate drop as resolution increases. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would stay more constant across resolutions. The CPU is powerful enough to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions.

Q: What is the frame rate variance at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 76 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS. This indicates a moderate level of variance, which is typical for a mid-range GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For users with a 1080p 144Hz monitor, the Medium preset is the best balance, offering an average of 103 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience. The High preset is also viable at 90 FPS average, but the Medium preset provides more headroom to prevent drops below 60 FPS during intense action. The Low preset at 145 FPS is only necessary for competitive players who prioritize maximum frame rates over visual quality.

For 1440p users, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, delivering an average of 76 FPS. This is the only preset that offers both a high average and a reasonable minimum (64 FPS) at this resolution. The Low preset at 106 FPS is also an option for those who want a higher refresh rate experience, but it comes with significant visual downgrades. The High preset at 66 FPS average is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 49 FPS should be avoided.

At 4K, the data does not support any preset for a smooth experience. The Low preset at 69 FPS is the only one that is playable, but it is not recommended for a game that relies on visual clarity. Users with a 4K display should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p for a better experience. The data clearly shows that the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p provides the best overall balance of visual quality and frame rate stability for this hardware combination.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the defining component in this system's gaming performance. Based on the Turing architecture, it features 1920 shading units, 30 RT cores, and 240 tensor cores. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. These specifications place it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. The GPU's role in Lockdown Protocol is to render the scene, and the data shows it is overwhelmed at higher resolutions.

The GPU's clock speeds are 1365 MHz base and 1680 MHz boost, which are modest by modern standards. Its FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS is a key indicator of its raw compute power, which is limited when compared to newer cards. This is reflected in the measured FPS, where the card's performance drops off dramatically as the workload increases. The 6 GB of VRAM is also a potential limiting factor at 4K, as the game may require more memory for high-resolution textures, though the data does not specify a direct VRAM limitation.

The RTX 2060's benchmark rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 7600 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, have average scores that are within 0.8% of the RTX 2060. This indicates that the RTX 2060 is still a relevant performer in its class, but it is not a high-end card. The data shows that the GPU is the primary reason the combo ranks in the 2234th position, as its performance is not sufficient to drive Lockdown Protocol at high resolutions and settings. The GPU is the clear bottleneck in this system, and any performance upgrade would require replacing it.