Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 lands at rank 2276 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. This positions the combo in the 39th percentile overall, meaning roughly 61% of tested configurations deliver higher average frame rates in this title. The CPU sits in the 91st percentile against all processors, while the GPU holds only the 61st percentile against all graphics cards — a clear imbalance that shapes the performance profile. The data indicates the RTX 4060 is the primary constraint for reaching higher frame rates, particularly at elevated resolutions and quality settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2276 out of 3714 places this configuration slightly below the median tested setup for Lockdown Protocol. This is not a top-tier combination, but it is far from the bottom of the field. The ranking reflects a system capable of smooth 1080p play at most settings, with diminishing returns as resolution and quality increase.

The CPU component is notably stronger relative to its peers. The Core Ultra 5 235HX achieves an average benchmark score of 52073, which places it within 0.4% of the AMD EPYC 8124P (52121) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (51947). It also edges out the Intel Core i9-13900F by 0.7% (51730) while trailing the Intel Core i7-14700 by 0.4% (52301). These margins are effectively negligible in real-world gaming, suggesting the processor is not the bottleneck in most scenarios.

The GPU tells a different story. The RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 sits just 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 780M (17588). The delta against the Radeon Pro 560 is 0.5% (17551) and 0.7% against the Radeon Pro 460 (17509). These rivals are not modern gaming GPUs, which underscores the RTX 4060's modest standing in the current landscape. The 61st percentile ranking for the GPU is the key limiting factor for this combo's overall position.

The discrepancy between CPU and GPU percentiles — 91 versus 61 — explains why the combo ranks below the midpoint despite having a strong processor. In Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title that responds well to graphics horsepower, the RTX 4060's mid-pack performance drags the combined result down. The data shows that upgrading the GPU would yield far larger gains than any CPU change.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide a clear picture of how this combo behaves across the four quality presets at each resolution. The sweet spot for most users is the Medium preset, which delivers the best balance between visual fidelity and frame rate consistency.

At 1920x1080, Medium produces an average of 119 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS. This is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and leaves headroom for demanding scenes. High at 1080p drops to 104 FPS average, which is still playable but with less margin. Low at 1080p hits 168 FPS, but the visual trade-off is severe for a game where visibility matters. Ultra at 1080p falls to 78 FPS, which is acceptable but begins to approach the edge of what competitive FPS players would consider ideal.

At 2560x1440, Medium again represents the best experience. The average of 88 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and maximum of 101 FPS keeps gameplay fluid on high-refresh-rate monitors. High at 1440p averages 76 FPS, which is playable but noticeably less stable. Low jumps to 123 FPS, while Ultra drops to 57 FPS — the latter being borderline for fast-paced shooting.

At 3840x2160, Medium is the only preset that maintains a playable experience. The average of 57 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and maximum of 65 FPS is marginal for an FPS, but it is the only 4K option above the 30 FPS floor. High at 4K averages 49 FPS, Low averages 80 FPS (though with severe visual compromises), and Ultra falls to 37 FPS.

The recommendation is clear: Medium at 1080p or 1440p delivers the best measured experience. The minimum FPS values at Medium — 102 at 1080p and 74 at 1440p — indicate that frame pacing remains stable even in demanding sequences. For users prioritizing frame rate over visuals, Low at 1080p offers a substantial boost, but Medium provides the superior overall package.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Lockdown Protocol with this combo?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 at Medium settings provides an average of 119 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, making it the most consistent experience. 2560x1440 at Medium is also viable at 88 FPS average, while 3840x2160 at Medium drops to 57 FPS average with a 48 FPS minimum.

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

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, where the average FPS is 57 with a minimum of 48. High settings at 4K average 49 FPS, and Ultra drops to 37 FPS. Low settings at 4K reach 80 FPS but with substantial visual quality loss.

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

A: The Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 52073 on average, which is 0.1% behind the AMD EPYC 8124P (52121), 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (51947), 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-14700 (52301), and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900F (51730).

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck for this configuration?

A: Yes. The RTX 4060 ranks in the 61st percentile against all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 91st percentile. The GPU's average benchmark score of 17639 is within 0.7% of several older AMD Radeon cards, indicating it limits frame rates more than the processor.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low averages 168 FPS while Ultra averages 78 FPS — a difference of 90 FPS. Medium sits at 119 FPS and High at 104 FPS, showing a steep drop as quality increases.

Q: Does the combo have enough performance for competitive play?

A: At 1080p Medium, the 119 FPS average with a 102 FPS minimum is sufficient for competitive FPS. At 1440p Medium, the 88 FPS average with a 74 FPS minimum remains playable, though less ideal for high-refresh-rate competitive monitors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full settings range is measured. Low produces an average of 168 FPS, which is the highest figure recorded for this combo. Medium averages 119 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS, providing the most balanced profile. High averages 104 FPS, representing a 15 FPS drop from Medium. Ultra averages 78 FPS, a 41 FPS reduction from Low and 26 FPS below Medium. The spread from Low to Ultra is 90 FPS, indicating that quality settings have a substantial impact at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the pattern holds but with reduced headroom. Low averages 123 FPS, Medium averages 88 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS and maximum of 101 FPS, High averages 76 FPS, and Ultra averages 57 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Medium is 31 FPS (from 119 to 88), a 26% reduction. At Ultra, the drop is 21 FPS (from 78 to 57), a 27% reduction. The relative consistency of these percentage drops suggests the GPU is scaling predictably with pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become pronounced. Low averages 80 FPS — a 43 FPS drop from 1080p Low. Medium averages 57 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS and maximum of 65 FPS. High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra drops to 37 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K at Medium costs 31 FPS (from 88 to 57), a 35% reduction. At Ultra, the 4K figure of 37 FPS is 20 FPS below the 1440p Ultra result, a 35% drop. The consistent percentage losses across settings indicate the GPU is the scaling bottleneck.

The minimum FPS values are only recorded for Medium settings across all resolutions: 102 at 1080p, 74 at 1440p, and 48 at 4K. These figures suggest that Medium offers the most stable frame pacing. The maximum values at Medium — 137, 101, and 65 respectively — show that even the peaks at 4K remain modest.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process at TSMC. The chip, designated AD107, contains 18,900 million transistors on a 159 mm² die. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1830 MHz and boosts to 2460 MHz, with memory running at 2125 MHz (17 Gbps effective). The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 272.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The memory configuration is a notable constraint for Lockdown Protocol at higher resolutions. The 8 GB capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at most settings, but 4K Ultra may approach or exceed this limit, contributing to the sharp FPS drop to 37 at 4K Ultra. The 128-bit bus width and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are modest by modern standards, and the data reflects this — the GPU delivers 168 FPS at 1080p Low but only 37 FPS at 4K Ultra, a 78% reduction.

The RTX 4060 includes 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, 48 ROPs, 24 ray tracing cores, and 96 tensor cores. Its FP32 throughput is 15.11 TFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s. These specifications place it in the mid-range of the GeForce 40-series, and the benchmark scores confirm this positioning. The GPU's percentile rank of 61 against all GPUs, combined with its average score of 17639, shows it outperforms integrated solutions like the Radeon 780M but sits close to much older discrete cards.

The power envelope of 115 W TDP with a suggested 300 W PSU indicates this is a power-efficient design. The dual-slot form factor and 240 mm length make it suitable for most mobile chassis. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring full API compatibility with Lockdown Protocol's requirements.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is a 14-core, 14-thread processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on Arrow Lake architecture at a 3 nm process node by TSMC. It operates at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boosts to 5.10 GHz, with a 55 W TDP. The chip contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die and uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket.

The cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 via a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The processor provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes and includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking on supported platforms.

Benchmark results show a strong single-threaded performance profile: Cinebench R23 single-core scores 4903, R20 single-core scores 2059, and R15 single-core scores 494. Multi-threaded results are equally robust: Cinebench R23 multi-core scores 34731, R20 multi-core scores 14587, and R15 multi-core scores 3500. PassMark tests show 40849 for multithread, 4683 for single-thread, and 426417 for data compression.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 52073 places it in the 91st percentile against all processors. Its nearest rivals — the AMD EPYC 8124P, Ryzen 9 5950X, Core i7-14700, and Core i9-13900F — all score within 0.7% of the Ultra 5 235HX. This indicates the processor is competitive with high-end desktop parts from previous generations, despite being a mobile chip.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The 14 cores and 14 threads — notably without hyperthreading — provide sufficient parallel capacity for modern FPS titles. The 5.10 GHz boost clock ensures strong single-thread performance, which remains critical for game engine main threads. The data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor: at 1080p Low, the combo reaches 168 FPS, which is likely near the engine's practical ceiling for this configuration. The GPU becomes the constraint as settings and resolution increase.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of GPU-limited scaling across resolutions. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 26-27% across all settings. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is approximately 35% at Medium and Ultra. These consistent percentage losses indicate the RTX 4060 is the scaling bottleneck, as a CPU-limited system would show smaller FPS differences at higher resolutions.

At Low settings, the progression is 168 FPS at 1080p, 123 FPS at 1440p, and 80 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p drop is 45 FPS (27%), and the 1440p to 4K drop is 43 FPS (35%). At Medium, the progression is 119, 88, and 57 FPS — drops of 31 FPS (26%) and 31 FPS (35%). At High, the progression is 104, 76, and 49 FPS — drops of 28 FPS (27%) and 27 FPS (36%). At Ultra, the progression is 78, 57, and 37 FPS — drops of 21 FPS (27%) and 20 FPS (35%).

The near-identical percentage drops across all settings strongly suggest the GPU is the limiting component throughout. If the CPU were the constraint, the FPS would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, since the CPU workload is largely resolution-independent. Instead, the consistent 26-27% and 35-36% reductions mirror the pixel count increases: 1440p has 1.78 times the pixels of 1080p, and 4K has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. The FPS scaling is close to inverse-linear with pixel count, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

The practical implication is that users should expect to reduce settings when moving to higher resolutions. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with Ultra at 78 FPS being the minimum viable option. At 1440p, Medium at 88 FPS is the sweet spot, while Ultra at 57 FPS is borderline. At 4K, only Medium at 57 FPS average (48 FPS minimum) provides a playable experience, and even that may struggle in intense firefights. The 4K Ultra figure of 37 FPS is below the 40 FPS threshold that many FPS players consider the minimum for acceptable responsiveness.

The data also shows that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM may contribute to the steep 4K scaling. The memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s, while adequate for 1080p and 1440p, becomes a limiting factor at 4K where texture bandwidth requirements increase dramatically. The combination of modest VRAM capacity and bus width explains why the RTX 4060 scales worse than higher-tier GPUs at 4K, reinforcing the recommendation to target 1080p or 1440p for this combo.