Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol places this combination of an Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 in a challenging position. The measured frame rates show a system that can produce playable results at lower resolutions but struggles to maintain smooth performance as graphical demands increase. The data indicates a clear performance ceiling defined primarily by the graphics card, with the processor providing ample headroom.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, revealing the GTX 1650 as the definitive bottleneck. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 76 FPS at 1920x1080 to 56 FPS at 2560x1440, and further down to 36 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 53% reduction in performance from the lowest to the highest resolution tested. The pattern is similar at High settings, where the average drops from 47 FPS at 1080p to 35 FPS at 1440p, and then to 22 FPS at 4K.

The scaling behavior indicates a purely GPU-limited scenario. A CPU-bound system would show a smaller performance delta between resolutions, as the processor's workload would remain relatively constant. Here, the frame rate drops almost proportionally with the increase in pixel count, which is the classic signature of a graphics card operating at maximum capacity. The 14-core Intel Core Ultra 5 245, with its 5.10 GHz boost clock, is not the limiting factor in any of these configurations.

At Medium settings, the only preset with complete minimum and maximum frame data, the trend continues. The average FPS at 1080p is 54, dropping to 40 at 1440p and 26 at 4K. The minimum frame rates also scale downward, from 46 FPS at 1080p to 34 FPS at 1440p and 22 FPS at 4K. This consistency across all measured presets confirms that resolution scaling is entirely dependent on the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth.

The GTX 1650's 128-bit memory bus and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth appear insufficient for 4K workloads, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a 30 FPS average. The 4 GB of GDDR5 memory is also a likely contributor, as higher resolutions demand more frame buffer capacity. The data strongly suggests that this combination is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being borderline for competitive play at lower settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured combination ranks 2737 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the bottom 3.2% of all systems tested. This low ranking is unsurprising given the GPU's age and market position. The GTX 1650 sits at the 40th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 7472. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 8850M, which scores 7447 (0.3% higher), and the Intel UHD Graphics 750, which scores 7441 (0.4% higher). This places the GTX 1650 in the company of integrated and entry-level discrete solutions.

The CPU, in contrast, is a high-performing component. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 48995. Its nearest rivals are all strong desktop processors: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196 (0.4% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228 (0.5% higher), and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618 (0.8% lower). The processor is clearly not the reason for this combination's low rank.

This pairing creates a significant imbalance. The CPU has the potential to drive much higher frame rates, but the GPU cannot keep up. The combination rank reflects the weakest link in the chain, which is the graphics card. In a game like Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title that likely benefits from higher refresh rates, this system would be held back substantially by the GPU's limitations.

The deltaPct values for the GPU's rivals are all within 1% of its score, indicating that the GTX 1650 is performance-parity with several other low-end options. This means that swapping to any of these similar GPUs would yield nearly identical results in this game. The combination rank is therefore representative of an entire class of entry-level graphics solutions paired with a modern, high-core-count CPU.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data shows that the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the only configuration that achieves a consistently playable experience, with an average of 76 FPS. This is the only tested setting that comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, providing headroom for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 54 FPS and a minimum of 46 FPS, is also viable for less demanding play sessions, though it dips closer to the 45 FPS mark during intense scenes.

For players prioritizing visual quality over maximum frame rate, the High preset at 1080p offers an average of 47 FPS. This is borderline playable, but the lack of minimum frame data suggests potential stuttering in busy areas. The Ultra preset at 1080p, with an average of 35 FPS, is not recommended for any scenario, as it falls below the threshold for smooth, responsive gameplay.

At 2560x1440, only the Low preset provides an average above 50 FPS, at 56 FPS. This could be acceptable for players with adaptive sync technology, but the Medium preset at 40 FPS and High at 35 FPS are likely too inconsistent for fast-paced FPS action. The 4K resolution is not viable under any settings, with the best result being 36 FPS at Low.

The data suggests a straightforward recommendation: use the Low preset at 1080p for competitive play, or the Medium preset if visual fidelity is more important than achieving a high frame rate. The step from Low to Medium costs 22 FPS on average, a significant drop that may not be worth the graphical improvement on a 4 GB GPU. The High and Ultra presets should be avoided entirely, as they do not provide a playable experience even at the lowest resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 76 FPS. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. The High preset averages 47 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 35 FPS. This resolution is the only one where the system can maintain an average above 60 FPS, and only on the Low preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably. The Low preset averages 56 FPS. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 46 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. The 1440p resolution is playable only on Low, and even then, the average is below the 60 FPS target.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles across all settings. The Low preset averages 36 FPS. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS. The High preset averages 22 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 17 FPS. None of these results approach playable frame rates for an FPS title.

The progression across resolutions shows a consistent pattern: each step from 1080p to 1440p to 4K reduces the average frame rate by roughly 30-40%. The Medium preset, which has the most complete data, shows the clearest picture. At 1080p, the average is 54 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 40 FPS. At 4K, it falls to 26 FPS. The minimum frame rates follow a similar trajectory, from 46 to 34 to 22 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which achieves an average of 76 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 54 FPS, which falls short of the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 ranks at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the GTX 1650 ranks at the 40th percentile among all GPUs. The frame rate scaling with resolution indicates a GPU-bound workload.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combination?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the only viable resolution. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset exceeds 50 FPS, and at 3840x2160, no preset reaches 40 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1650 scores 7472 in average benchmarks. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 7447 (0.3% higher), the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7441 (0.4% higher), and the Intel Arc A310 scores 7550 (1% higher). Performance is essentially identical across these options.

Q: Should I use Medium or High settings at 1080p?

A: The Medium preset averages 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS, while High averages 47 FPS. The Medium preset provides a better balance, as the High preset does not have documented minimum frame rates and may stutter.

Q: Does the CPU's high core count help in this game?

A: The CPU's 14 cores and 5.10 GHz boost clock provide ample processing power, but the game's performance is restricted by the GPU. The CPU is not the limiting factor in any measured configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This high boost clock is critical for gaming, as most titles rely on single-thread performance. The processor's benchmark results confirm its strength: a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and a multi-core score of 32924.

The CPU's nearest rivals all score within 1% of its average benchmark score of 48995. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618. This places the Ultra 5 245 in the upper echelon of desktop processors, at the 90th percentile overall. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth support fast data access, which benefits game logic and physics calculations.

Despite this processing power, the measured frame rates in Lockdown Protocol do not reflect the CPU's capability. The system's performance is limited by the GPU at every resolution and settings combination. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, and it does so without becoming a bottleneck. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the CPU is not the limiting factor, as the frame rate scales down with resolution in a GPU-bound pattern.

The processor's 65 W TDP and lack of an unlocked multiplier indicate a power-efficient, mainstream design. Its integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU is present but irrelevant for this gaming workload, as the discrete GPU handles all rendering. The CPU's 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide ample bandwidth for the graphics card, though the GTX 1650 only uses PCIe 3.0 x16.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the primary determinant of this system's gaming performance. Based on the TU117 chip and Turing architecture, it is built on a 12 nm process and features 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. Its base clock is 1485 MHz, with a boost clock of 1665 MHz. The GPU has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth.

The GPU's benchmark results place it at the 40th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 7472. Its nearest rivals are all within 1% of its performance: the AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 7447, the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7441, and the Intel Arc A310 scores 7550. This indicates that the GTX 1650 is at the very bottom of the discrete GPU market, performing similarly to integrated graphics solutions.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's limitations are immediately apparent. The 4 GB of VRAM is likely insufficient for higher resolutions and settings, as modern FPS games often exceed this capacity. The 128-bit memory bus and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth cannot feed the GPU's cores fast enough at higher pixel counts, resulting in the steep frame rate drops observed from 1080p to 4K.

The GPU's FP32 performance of 2.984 TFLOPS is modest, and its DirectX 12 support is limited to feature level 12_1. The measured frame rates reflect this: the best result is 76 FPS at 1080p Low, and performance degrades rapidly with any increase in graphical load. The GPU is end-of-life, and its performance class is firmly in the entry-level segment. For Lockdown Protocol, this means players must accept Low settings at 1080p to achieve a smooth experience, or settle for lower frame rates at higher visual fidelity.