Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core Ultra 5 245 + AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination delivers a playable but not exceptional experience in Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title. The measured frame rates show a system that is clearly GPU-limited at higher resolutions and settings, while the CPU provides ample headroom at lower settings. With a combo rank of 1864 out of 2828 tested configurations, this pairing sits in the lower-middle tier of the database, meaning users should expect moderate settings at 1440p or high settings at 1080p for smooth gameplay. The data reveals a consistent pattern: the Radeon RX 6650 XT is the primary constraint, with the Core Ultra 5 245 rarely becoming the bottleneck even at 1080p Low, where the average FPS reaches 165.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This processor supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Benchmark data shows the Core Ultra 5 245 performing strongly in synthetic tests: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648, with a PassMark multithread score of 38706 and single-thread score of 4394.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 245 is closely matched. It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G by 0.4% in average benchmark score, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 by 0.5%. Conversely, it leads the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H by 0.6% and the Intel Core i5-14600K by 0.8%. This places the CPU in the 90th percentile of all CPUs tested, indicating strong overall performance that far exceeds what Lockdown Protocol demands. The 14 threads, while not hyperthreaded, are sufficient for modern FPS titles, and the high boost clock of 5.10 GHz ensures responsive single-threaded performance, which is often critical in game logic and physics calculations.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role appears to be largely supportive rather than limiting. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 165 average FPS, which is a typical ceiling for a mid-range GPU in a fast-paced FPS. The fact that the average FPS at 1080p Low is more than double the 4K Ultra average (36 FPS) strongly suggests the GPU is the bottleneck. The Core Ultra 5 245's strong single-core performance, evidenced by its 4648 Cinebench R23 score, means it can easily feed the GPU with draw calls and game state updates. The data shows no scenario where the CPU would cause frame drops; even the minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium (100 FPS) is well above what would indicate CPU stuttering. The processor's 90th percentile ranking supports the conclusion that it is not the limiting factor in this combination.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is a RDNA 2.0 architecture GPU built on the Navi 23 chip, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding 280.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU's clock speeds include a base of 2055 MHz, a boost of 2635 MHz, and a game clock of 2410 MHz, with memory running at 2190 MHz (17.5 Gbps effective). The GPU has 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, along with 32 ray tracing cores. Its compute capabilities include 10.79 TFLOPS FP32 and 21.59 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1 ratio). The pixel rate is 168.6 GPixel/s and texture rate is 337.3 GTexel/s.

The RX 6650 XT's benchmark scores show a mid-range GPU. Its PassMark G3D score is 17166, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1859. It ranks in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, which is notably lower than the CPU's 90th percentile. The nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Tesla K40m (0.6% higher score), AMD FirePro D300 (0.7% lower), AMD FirePro W7000 (0.7% higher), and NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (0.8% lower). The GPU's average benchmark score is 19765, which is a modest figure reflecting its mid-range positioning.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data shows it struggles at 4K. The 128-bit memory bus and 280.3 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for the game's textures at lower settings, but the Ultra preset at 4K yields only 36 FPS, indicating that the GPU's raw compute power, not memory, is the limiting factor. The boost clock of 2635 MHz helps maintain performance at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 165 FPS at 1080p Low. However, the GPU's 65th percentile ranking, compared to the CPU's 90th, clearly identifies the RX 6650 XT as the weaker component in this pairing. The ray tracing capabilities, while present with 32 RT cores, are unlikely to be heavily utilized in a competitive FPS title like Lockdown Protocol, where performance is prioritized over visual fidelity.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a predictable scaling pattern that confirms the GPU as the primary bottleneck. At 1080p High, the system averages 103 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, this drops to 75 FPS, a 27.2% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 49 FPS, which is a 52.4% reduction from 1080p High. This steep decline with resolution strongly indicates that the RX 6650 XT is running out of pixel processing capability, rather than memory bandwidth, as the 8 GB VRAM is not the sole constraint.

The scaling for Low settings is even more pronounced. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 165 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 121 FPS (a 26.7% reduction), and at 4K Low, it falls to 78 FPS (a 52.7% reduction from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across settings suggests that the GPU's fill rate and compute units are the limiting factors, not the CPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in FPS at lower resolutions, but the data shows clear scaling with resolution, even at Low settings.

The Medium settings provide additional insight. At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 117, with a minimum of 100 and maximum of 135. At 1440p Medium, the average is 86, with a minimum of 73 and maximum of 99. At 4K Medium, the average is 56, with a minimum of 47 and maximum of 64. The minimum FPS values at Medium settings show that even the worst-case frame times scale proportionally with resolution, further confirming that the GPU is the performance limiter. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is consistently around 26-27%, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is larger, around 35-36%, which is typical for a GPU with 64 ROPs and 128 TMUs struggling to fill 8.3 million pixels per frame at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset at 165 FPS offers the smoothest experience, well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of most gaming monitors. The High preset at 103 FPS is still very playable and provides better visual quality, but the 60% FPS increase with Low settings may be preferable in a fast-paced FPS. The Medium preset at 117 FPS represents a good balance, offering improved visuals over Low while maintaining high frame rates.

At 1440p, the Medium preset at 86 FPS is the sweet spot for most players, as it provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. The High preset at 75 FPS is also acceptable for less demanding players, but the minimum FPS at Medium (73 FPS) is close to the High average, suggesting that High settings might experience more frame time variability. The Low preset at 121 FPS is excellent for competitive play, but the visual downgrade may be unnecessary unless aiming for maximum refresh rates. The Ultra preset at 56 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

At 4K, none of the settings provide an ideal experience. The Low preset at 78 FPS is the only playable option, but the visual quality is severely compromised. The Medium preset at 56 FPS is borderline, while High (49 FPS) and Ultra (36 FPS) are not recommended. For 4K gaming, users should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p or reducing the render scale, as the RX 6650 XT is not powerful enough to handle Lockdown Protocol at 4K with high visual quality. The data clearly shows that the best overall experience is at 1080p Medium or High, with 1440p Medium as a viable alternative for those with higher-resolution monitors.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 + AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT combination ranks 1864 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 34th percentile of all tested configurations. This is a below-average ranking, reflecting the GPU's mid-range status. The CPU's 90th percentile benchmark score contrasts sharply with the GPU's 65th percentile, and the combo rank of 1864 suggests that the GPU holds the system back significantly. In comparison, a combo with a CPU in the 90th percentile and a GPU in the 80th percentile would likely rank much higher, perhaps in the top 500.

The ranking indicates that while the CPU is more than capable, the RX 6650 XT is the limiting factor in this pairing. The data shows that the GPU's performance in Lockdown Protocol is consistent with its overall benchmark scores, suggesting that the game is representative of the GPU's capabilities. The combo rank of 1864 out of 2828 means that there are 964 tested combinations that perform worse, and 1863 that perform better. This places the system in the lower half of the database, but not at the very bottom, as the GPU can still achieve playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with appropriate settings.

For context, the GPU's nearest rivals in the database, such as the NVIDIA Tesla K40m and AMD FirePro W7000, are professional workstation cards that are not optimized for gaming. The fact that the RX 6650 XT outperforms these cards in 3DMark but ranks in the 65th percentile overall indicates that it is a modest gaming GPU. The combo rank of 1864 suggests that users should not expect high-end performance from this pairing, but rather a mid-range experience that is suitable for 1080p or 1440p gaming with adjusted settings.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS data, 1080p provides the best experience, with the Low preset achieving 165 FPS and the High preset reaching 103 FPS. 1440p is also viable, with Medium settings at 86 FPS, but 4K is only playable at Low settings with 78 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is clearly the bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 65th percentile. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent 50% reduction, indicating that the RX 6650 XT's pixel processing capability is the limiting factor.

Q: What settings should I use for competitive play?

A: For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset at 165 FPS is recommended, as it provides the highest frame rate. At 1440p, the Low preset at 121 FPS is the best option for maximum responsiveness, though Medium at 86 FPS may be preferable for better visuals.

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

A: 4K gaming is only possible at Low settings, with an average FPS of 78. The Medium preset drops to 56 FPS, and High and Ultra settings are below 50 FPS, making them not recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RX 6650 XT has an average benchmark score of 19765, which is 0.6% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla K40m, 0.7% lower than the AMD FirePro W7000, 0.7% higher than the AMD FirePro D300, and 0.8% higher than the NVIDIA Quadro K5200.

Q: What is the frame rate range at Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the FPS ranges from 100 to 135, with an average of 117. At 1440p Medium, it ranges from 73 to 99, with an average of 86. At 4K Medium, it ranges from 47 to 64, with an average of 56.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination in Lockdown Protocol is as follows, organized by resolution and settings:

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 165 average FPS
• Medium: 117 average FPS, 100 minimum FPS, 135 maximum FPS
• High: 103 average FPS
• Ultra: 77 average FPS

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 121 average FPS
• Medium: 86 average FPS, 73 minimum FPS, 99 maximum FPS
• High: 75 average FPS
• Ultra: 56 average FPS

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 78 average FPS
• Medium: 56 average FPS, 47 minimum FPS, 64 maximum FPS
• High: 49 average FPS
• Ultra: 36 average FPS

The data shows that the Medium preset is the only setting with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, providing a useful frame time range. At 1080p Medium, the 100 FPS minimum ensures no significant stuttering, while at 4K Medium, the 47 FPS minimum indicates occasional drops below 50 FPS, which may be noticeable. The Ultra preset at 4K, with 36 average FPS, is the worst-performing configuration, while the 1080p Low preset, with 165 average FPS, is the best. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a 52.7% performance drop, while the scaling from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra shows a 53.2% drop, indicating consistent GPU scaling behavior across all settings.