Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that rewards high frame rates, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers a spectrum of performance that shifts dramatically based on your resolution and quality targets. The data indicates a system capable of handling competitive play at high refresh rates, but the path to the smoothest experience requires understanding where the bottleneck lies. This analysis breaks down the measured performance to guide you through the settings that make the most sense for your display.

Resolution Scaling

The measured frames per second (FPS) data reveals a clear and predictable trend: as resolution increases, the performance cost rises significantly. This is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the system is practically untethered, while at 4K, the RTX 5090 D's workload becomes the defining factor.

Looking at the High preset, we see a stark illustration of this scaling. At 1920x1080, the system produces an average of 249 FPS. Moving up to 2560x1440, that average drops to 183 FPS, a reduction of 66 FPS. The jump to 3840x2160 is even more punishing, with the average falling to 118 FPS. This represents a 53% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, clearly showing that the GPU is working considerably harder to render each frame at the higher pixel counts.

The trend holds across all settings. On the Low preset, the frame rate scales from 355 FPS at 1080p down to 190 FPS at 4K. Even on the Medium preset, which has the most complete data with min and max FPS, the average drops from 285 FPS at 1080p to 135 FPS at 4K. This consistent scaling pattern across all quality levels confirms that resolution is the primary lever on performance.

This behavior tells us that while the CPU is more than capable of feeding frames at lower resolutions, the RTX 5090 D becomes the limiting component as pixel count climbs. At 1080p, the extremely high frame rates suggest the CPU is nearing its limit, preventing the GPU from stretching its legs even further. At 4K, the GPU's rendering workload is so immense that it becomes the sole bottleneck, with the CPU having plenty of headroom. For a player with a 1440p or 4K monitor, the GPU will be the defining factor in performance. For those on 1080p, the CPU's capabilities are just as important as the GPU's raw power.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a monster of a graphics card, and its specifications in the data paint a picture of a component built for extreme throughput. Its role in Lockdown Protocol is to handle the heavy lifting of geometry, textures, and shading, and it does so with authority, particularly at higher resolutions where its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus becomes an asset.

The memory configuration is a key part of the story. With 32 GB of VRAM and a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s, the card has an enormous amount of data at its disposal. This is likely why the game can maintain high average FPS at 4K on the High preset (118 FPS) without stuttering; there is no risk of running out of memory or waiting on data transfers. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth ensures that textures and assets can be fed to the GPU cores quickly, which is crucial for maintaining smooth frame pacing in a fast-moving FPS.

Clock speeds also play a role. The base clock of 2017 MHz and boost clock of 2407 MHz are the engine's operating points. While we don't have a direct correlation between clock speed and FPS in the data, the boost behavior is what allows the card to dynamically increase its performance when thermal and power headroom allow. The card's 575 W TDP and suggested 950 W PSU indicate it draws significant power to sustain these clocks under load, which translates to the high frame rates we see in the measurements.

The GPU's compute capabilities are also relevant. With 21,760 shading units and a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s, the card has immense raw throughput. This is reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 14,326 and a Passmark G3D score of 44,065. These scores, while not game-specific, indicate a GPU that is near the top of the performance stack, which is consistent with its 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 D is not a bottleneck until you push to 4K Ultra, where even its immense power is challenged.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the best experience depends entirely on your display's resolution and refresh rate. The goal is to find the preset that either locks to your monitor's refresh rate or provides the highest possible frame rate without dropping below a playable threshold.

For 1080p displays with a 240Hz or higher refresh rate, the High preset is the sweet spot. The data shows an average of 249 FPS, which is well above the 240Hz mark and will provide an exceptionally smooth and responsive experience. The Medium preset pushes this even further to 285 FPS, but the jump to Low at 355 FPS offers diminishing returns for most players. High provides a great balance of visual fidelity and competitive performance. If you are chasing every last frame, the Low preset at 355 FPS is there, but the visual compromise is significant.

For 1440p, the High preset is the clear recommendation. With an average of 183 FPS, it is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, particularly 165Hz or 180Hz panels. This preset offers a significant visual upgrade over Low or Medium while still maintaining frame rates that are more than sufficient for competitive play. The Medium preset at 209 FPS could be used for a 240Hz monitor, but the visual quality loss is noticeable. The Ultra preset at 137 FPS is also viable for a 144Hz display, but it's not the best use of the GPU's headroom.

For 4K displays, the High preset is the only sensible choice for a high-refresh experience. At an average of 118 FPS, it provides a fluid and detailed image that is well-suited for a 120Hz display. The Medium preset offers a slight bump to 135 FPS, which could help if you have a 144Hz panel, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often more noticeable at 4K. The Ultra preset at 88 FPS is playable, but it dips below the 90 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for a premium experience. Stick with High for the definitive 4K experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section provides the complete measured data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination in Lockdown Protocol.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 355 FPS. This is the absolute ceiling for the system, likely limited by the CPU.
• Medium: Average 285 FPS, with a minimum of 243 FPS and a maximum of 328 FPS. This shows a very tight frame time distribution.
• High: Average 249 FPS. A strong result that is ideal for 240Hz monitors.
• Ultra: Average 187 FPS. Still very fast, but a significant drop from High, indicating a heavy load on the GPU.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 295 FPS. The system still has immense headroom, but the GPU is starting to do more work.
• Medium: Average 209 FPS, with a minimum of 178 FPS and a maximum of 241 FPS. The min FPS here is still high enough for smooth gameplay.
• High: Average 183 FPS. The optimal setting for most high-refresh 1440p monitors.
• Ultra: Average 137 FPS. This is a good result for a 144Hz display, but the drop from High is substantial.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 190 FPS. The GPU is now clearly the main driver, but it still delivers excellent performance.
• Medium: Average 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 155 FPS. The min FPS of 115 is still very acceptable.
• High: Average 118 FPS. The recommended setting for 4K, offering a great balance of visuals and speed.
• Ultra: Average 88 FPS. This is the most demanding setting, and while playable, it does not reach the smoothness of the other presets.

FAQ

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D overkill for 1080p gaming in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The data suggests yes. At 1080p Low, the system hits 355 FPS, and at High, it reaches 249 FPS. These extremely high frame rates indicate that the CPU is likely the limiting factor at this resolution. The GPU has so much power that it's not being fully utilized, making it more powerful than necessary for most 1080p displays.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a 240Hz monitor?

A: For a 240Hz monitor, the 1080p Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 285 FPS, which is well above the 240Hz refresh rate and ensures the monitor is always fed with new frames. The 1440p Medium preset at 209 FPS is too low to fully saturate a 240Hz panel.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming smoothly?

A: Yes, it can handle 4K gaming very well. The High preset at 3840x2160 delivers an average of 118 FPS. This is a smooth experience for a 120Hz display. The Ultra preset at 88 FPS is also playable but may not feel as fluid.

Q: How much of a performance hit is the Ultra preset compared to High?

A: The penalty is significant. At 4K, Ultra drops the average FPS from 118 to 88, a reduction of 30 FPS. At 1440p, the drop is from 183 to 137, a reduction of 46 FPS. The visual difference between these presets may not justify the substantial performance cost.

Q: Is the frame rate stable, or does it fluctuate a lot?

A: The most complete data is for the Medium preset, which shows a minimum FPS that is still very high. At 4K Medium, the min is 115 FPS with an average of 135 FPS, showing a tight range. This indicates stable frame pacing. The data for other presets does not include min FPS, so a full stability analysis is not possible.

Q: How does this system compare to other top-tier components?

A: The GPU is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs and its average benchmark score is 77,712, placing it right next to the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT and ahead of the Tesla P100. The CPU is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, performing similarly to the Intel Core i9-13900HX.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. In Lockdown Protocol, its role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, feeding the GPU with instructions. The data shows that while it is a very capable CPU, it can become a limiting factor at lower resolutions where the GPU can render frames faster than the CPU can prepare them.

The 1080p results provide the clearest evidence of this. At 1080p Low, the system averages 355 FPS. This is an astronomically high number, but the fact that it is not significantly higher suggests the CPU is hitting its limit. The CPU's single-threaded performance, as indicated by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,085, is strong, but it is the ceiling for how fast it can process the game's instructions. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed data close at hand, which is beneficial for gaming.

As resolution increases, the CPU's burden eases relative to the GPU. At 4K, the GPU is so busy rendering pixels that the CPU has more than enough headroom to keep up. This is why we see the consistent scaling pattern mentioned earlier. The CPU's multi-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14,769, is also excellent, ensuring that background tasks or more heavily threaded game engines won't cause hitches. The 14 cores and 14 threads are a modern configuration that is well-suited for current titles.

The CPU's 89th percentile ranking and its performance parity with the Intel Core i9-13900HX in average benchmark scores suggest it is a high-end desktop part. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock is the key to its strong single-thread performance. In this specific game, the CPU is a strong partner for the GPU, but it is the component that dictates the absolute maximum frame rate at 1080p, not the GPU. For players targeting the highest possible frame rates on 1080p displays, the CPU is just as important as the graphics card.