Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that stresses both the processor and graphics card. This analysis examines the measured performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090. The data indicates a configuration capable of high frame rates, though the balance between CPU and GPU shifts significantly depending on resolution and quality settings.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is a 14-core, 14-thread mobile processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, with a TDP of 55 W. The chip is unlocked, allowing for user overclocking, and supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 34731 and a single-core score of 4903, placing it in the 91st percentile of all tested CPUs.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is most apparent at lower resolutions and lower graphical settings. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 274 FPS on average. This high frame rate suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to maintain performance well above typical display refresh rates. The processor's strong single-thread performance, indicated by its PassMark single-thread score of 4683, is beneficial for the game's core logic and physics calculations. The 14 cores and 14 threads provide ample multi-threading capability, reflected in a PassMark multithread score of 40849, which helps with background tasks and game engine overhead.

Compared to its closest rivals, the CPU's average benchmark score of 52073 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 8124P, which scores 52121, a delta of -0.1%. It is also on par with the Intel Core i7-14700, which scores 52301, a delta of -0.4%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (51947, +0.2%) and the Intel Core i9-13900F (51730, +0.7%). These results indicate that in synthetic workloads, the processor is competitive with high-end desktop parts from the previous generation. In the context of Lockdown Protocol, this level of CPU performance ensures that the processor is rarely the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU workload increases.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a flagship mobile GPU based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring the GB202 chip. It is manufactured on a 5 nm process and contains a massive 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. The GPU operates with a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. Its memory subsystem is equally formidable, with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. The RTX 5090’s raw compute capability is highlighted by a FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s.

The GPU's role in Lockdown Protocol is dominant, particularly at higher settings and resolutions. At 4K (3840x2160) with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 60 FPS. This is a significant drop from the 80 FPS at High settings, indicating the immense load placed on the GPU by the highest quality preset. The 32 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this title, likely preventing any memory capacity bottlenecks even at 4K Ultra. The GPU's 92nd percentile ranking among all tested GPUs confirms its top-tier status, and its average benchmark score of 79842 places it near the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, which scores 79605 (a delta of 0.3%), and ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which scores 78940 (a delta of 1.1%).

The performance data shows that the RTX 5090 is the primary driver of frame rates in this configuration. For instance, at 1440p, moving from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average FPS from 201 to 93. This 108 FPS swing is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload. The GPU's strong performance in synthetic tests, such as a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 18355 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 376728, aligns with its in-game behavior. The GPU’s high texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s and 176 ROPs ensure it can handle the geometry and pixel shading demands of a modern FPS.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. The most revealing comparison is at High settings, where the average FPS drops from 170 at 1080p to 124 at 1440p, and further to 80 at 4K. This represents a 52.9% drop in performance from 1080p to 4K. This steep decline is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is capable of maintaining high frame rates at 1080p, but as the resolution increases, the GPU must render more pixels, becoming the bottleneck.

This trend is consistent across all settings. At Low settings, the frame rates are 274 FPS at 1080p, 201 FPS at 1440p, and 129 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 52.9%, which is nearly identical to the High settings drop. This similarity suggests that even at the lowest settings, the GPU is still the limiting factor at 4K, as the sheer number of pixels overwhelms the CPU's ability to feed it. At 1080p Low, the 274 FPS figure is likely approaching the CPU's limit, as the GPU has less work to do per frame.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is also informative. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 142 at 1440p to 92 at 4K, a 35.2% reduction. This is a smaller percentage drop than from 1080p to 1440p, where the FPS drops from 194 to 142, a 26.8% reduction. The data suggests that while the GPU is the primary bottleneck at all resolutions, the CPU's influence becomes relatively more significant at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU is working harder to keep up, which is why the frame rate doesn't scale perfectly with the pixel count. The benchmark results indicate that for maximum frame rates on high refresh rate monitors, 1080p or 1440p are the appropriate targets, while 4K is best for visual fidelity at more moderate frame rates.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. The data shows a clear hierarchy of performance across the four presets: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra. The "best experience" is a balance between visual quality and smooth, consistent frame rates.

At 1080p, the High preset provides an average of 170 FPS. This is a very high frame rate that is ideal for competitive play on a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 127 FPS, which is still very smooth but offers diminishing returns for the performance cost. The Medium preset at 194 FPS is also viable, but the High preset offers a better balance of visual fidelity and performance. For those with a 240Hz monitor, the Low preset at 274 FPS would be the only option to fully utilize the display's refresh rate, but this comes at a significant visual quality cost.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers an average of 124 FPS. This is excellent for a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor, providing smooth gameplay with high visual detail. The Medium preset at 142 FPS is also a strong contender, offering a small performance boost over High for a slight reduction in visual quality. The Ultra preset at 93 FPS is playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced competitive scenarios where higher frame rates are preferred. The Low preset at 201 FPS is overkill for most 1440p monitors, which typically top out at 165Hz or 240Hz, and the visual compromise is too severe.

At 4K, the situation changes. The High preset produces an average of 80 FPS, which is smooth for a single-player experience or less competitive multiplayer. The Medium preset at 92 FPS is arguably the sweet spot for 4K, offering a noticeable improvement over High with a minimal visual impact. The Ultra preset at 60 FPS is exactly at the threshold for a 60Hz display, but any frame drops could result in a sub-optimal experience. The Low preset at 129 FPS is not recommended at 4K, as the visual quality is significantly degraded. The recommendation is to use the High preset for 1080p and 1440p, and the Medium preset for 4K, to maximize the experience based on the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 achieves a rank of 770 out of 3714 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places the configuration in the top 20.7% of all tested systems. This is a strong result, indicating that this pairing is well-suited for the game, though it is not the absolute top-tier configuration.

The rank of 770 suggests that there are 769 other combinations that perform better in this specific title. These higher-ranked combos likely feature more powerful CPUs, such as the top-end desktop processors, which can push even higher frame rates at lower resolutions. However, the data shows that this combo is still a high performer. The GPU's 92nd percentile ranking and the CPU's 91st percentile ranking both contribute to this solid overall position.

The fact that the combo ranks 770th out of 3714, despite having a top-tier GPU, suggests that the CPU is holding the system back slightly in some scenarios. At 1080p Low, where the CPU is more likely to be the bottleneck, the frame rate of 274 FPS is high, but a more powerful CPU could potentially push this figure higher. This is consistent with the CPU's performance, which, while excellent, is not at the very top of the pyramid, as indicated by its rivals being previous-generation desktop parts like the Ryzen 9 5950X and Core i9-13900F. Overall, the rank of 770 indicates that this is a very capable gaming system for Lockdown Protocol, offering high frame rates at all settings, and its position in the rankings reflects a well-balanced, high-end mobile platform.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 274 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: At 4K Ultra settings, what is the average FPS?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings, the combo produces an average of 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has an average benchmark score of 52073, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X's score of 51947.

Q: What is the GPU's memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 has a memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s, utilizing 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 770th out of 3714 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely the limiting factor at 1080p Low settings?

A: The data suggests the CPU is more likely the limiting factor at 1080p Low, as the GPU has less work to do, and the 274 FPS figure is likely near the CPU's maximum capability for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is the complete set of measured average frame rate data for this configuration in Lockdown Protocol.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Ultra: 60 FPS average
• High: 80 FPS average
• Medium: 92 FPS average (min 78, max 106)
• Low: 129 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Ultra: 93 FPS average
• High: 124 FPS average
• Medium: 142 FPS average (min 121, max 164)
• Low: 201 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Ultra: 127 FPS average
• High: 170 FPS average
• Medium: 194 FPS average (min 165, max 223)
• Low: 274 FPS average

The data confirms a consistent performance hierarchy. At every resolution, the Low preset provides the highest frame rate, followed by Medium, High, and finally Ultra. The differences between presets are substantial, with the gap between Low and Ultra widening as resolution decreases. At 1080p, the difference is 147 FPS (274 vs 127), while at 4K, the difference is 69 FPS (129 vs 60). This indicates that the GPU's headroom at lower resolutions allows the CPU to push frame rates much higher, while at 4K, the GPU is consistently saturated, reducing the relative impact of the settings preset changes.