Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, the 2024 FPS title, shows a clear performance hierarchy when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The measured data indicates a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, while the CPU's capabilities become more apparent at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings, contextualizing the results against the component's benchmark scores and its standing among 2,828 tested combos.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a predictable but steep performance drop, characteristic of a system where the graphics card is the primary bottleneck. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 189 at 1920x1080 to 139 at 2560x1440, a 26% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160, the average plummets further to 90 FPS. This represents a 52% decrease from the 1080p High result, highlighting the immense pixel-pushing demand of 4K.

This scaling behavior is a classic indicator of GPU limitation. The RTX 4070 Ti, which sits at the 84th percentile of all GPUs and averages a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5,024, is being tasked with rendering four times the pixels of 1080p. The data suggests that while the GPU is powerful, it is not strong enough to maintain high refresh rates at 4K with this title's High preset.

The pattern is consistent across all settings. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 217 at 1080p to 159 at 1440p, and then to 103 at 4K. Even at Low settings, where the CPU has more influence, the 4K average of 144 FPS is a significant 53% lower than the 305 FPS seen at 1080p. The fact that even the lowest graphical preset cannot mitigate the 4K performance hit strongly suggests that raw pixel throughput is the limiting factor, not shader complexity or texture memory bandwidth.

The gap between 1440p and 4K is consistently larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p. For instance, on Ultra settings, the FPS goes from 142 (1080p) to 104 (1440p), a 27% drop, and then to 67 (4K), a further 36% drop. This non-linear scaling is typical for a GPU nearing its memory bandwidth or compute limits at higher resolutions, as the RTX 4070 Ti’s 504.2 GB/s bandwidth and 12 GB of GDDR6X memory are stretched thinner with each pixel increase.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245, with its 14 cores and 14 threads, appears to be a capable partner for the RTX 4070 Ti in this title. Its benchmark results are solid, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32,924 and a single-core score of 4,648. The data indicates that the CPU is not the primary constraint at higher resolutions, but its performance at 1080p Low settings reveals its potential to push high frame rates.

At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 305 FPS. This is a substantial 61% increase over the 189 FPS at High settings, suggesting that when the GPU load is lightened, the CPU has the headroom to feed frames at a very high rate. The boost clock of 5.10 GHz likely plays a role here, allowing for strong single-threaded performance which is often critical in FPS games. While the core count of 14 is beneficial for background tasks and modern game engines, the 14 threads (no hyper-threading) are still sufficient to avoid bottlenecking at these frame rates.

The CPU's benchmark standing reinforces this view. It scores at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with a Passmark multithread score of 38,706. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G and the Intel Core i5-14600K, have average benchmark scores within 0.8% of the Ultra 5 245. This indicates that in this performance tier, the CPU is a strong, balanced component that is unlikely to be the weakest link in a gaming system, particularly at 1440p and 4K where the GPU's workload dominates.

However, the CPU does have its limits. The lack of hyper-threading (14 threads for 14 cores) is a notable architectural choice. While it doesn't appear to hurt in Lockdown Protocol, the data cannot confirm how it would handle heavily threaded scenarios in other titles. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache also seems adequate for gaming, as the high 1080p frame rates suggest the CPU can efficiently access and process game data without excessive stalling.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 compare to its listed rivals in terms of overall CPU benchmark score?

A: The data shows the Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48,995. This places it virtually neck-and-neck with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which scores 49,196 (a -0.4% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which scores 49,228 (a -0.5% delta). It is marginally ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and the Intel Core i5-14600K, with deltas of 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively.

Q: What is the best performance result for the RTX 4070 Ti in this game's benchmarks?

A: The highest average FPS achieved is 305, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only measured configuration that exceeds 300 FPS, indicating a scenario where the GPU is under minimal load and the CPU is able to push frame rates to their maximum.

Q: Does the RTX 4070 Ti outperform its nearest rival, the RTX 5090 Mobile?

A: According to the average benchmark scores, the RTX 4070 Ti is slightly behind the RTX 5090 Mobile. The RTX 4070 Ti has an average score of 44,795, while the RTX 5090 Mobile scores 45,152, showing a delta of -0.8% for the desktop card. This suggests they are in the same performance tier, despite the mobile designation of the rival.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured data shows an average FPS of 159, with a minimum FPS of 135 and a maximum of 183. This minimum value provides insight into potential frame dips during intense gameplay.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested CPU-GPU combinations?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti combination is ranked 295th out of 2,828 total tested combos. This places it in the top 11% of all configurations tested for this game, indicating strong overall performance.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 Ti's 4K Ultra performance compare to its 4K Low performance?

A: The difference is stark. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 67, while at 4K Low, it jumps to 144. This represents a 115% performance increase from Ultra to Low, showcasing the massive impact of graphical settings on the GPU at high resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti holds a rank of 295 out of 2,828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 10.4% of all configurations, which is a strong showing for this pairing. The data indicates that this system is well-balanced for the game, offering high performance without being at the absolute top tier.

This rank is a holistic measure of the combo's capability, likely factoring in performance across all settings and resolutions. Given that the GPU sits at the 84th percentile and the CPU at the 90th percentile, a rank of 295 seems consistent. It suggests that while both components are individually strong, the overall system performance is slightly limited by the GPU, which has a lower percentile ranking than the CPU. A higher-ranked combo would likely feature a more powerful GPU to better complement the CPU's capabilities.

The delta between this combo and the top 1% is not directly listed, but the rank itself implies that there are 294 combinations that deliver higher average frame rates. These are likely to include top-tier GPUs like the RTX 4090 or newer 50-series cards paired with flagship processors. For the vast majority of users, a top-300 finish indicates a highly capable gaming machine for this title, capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1440p and playable 4K.

It's also importantly the GPU rivals listed, such as the RTX 5090 Mobile and the Intel Arc A730M, have average benchmark scores very close to the RTX 4070 Ti. However, their performance in this specific game could vary. The combo rank takes into account the actual measured FPS, providing a more accurate picture of real-world performance than synthetic benchmarks alone.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is demonstrably the primary driver of performance in Lockdown Protocol, especially as resolution increases. Its role is defined by its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The data shows that this bandwidth is sufficient for 1440p gaming at high settings, but is a limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 67.

The card's high boost clock of 2610 MHz and its Ada Lovelace architecture contribute to its strong raw compute power, evidenced by its 40.09 TFLOPS FP32 performance. This allows it to handle the game's High settings at 1440p with a 139 FPS average, which is excellent for a competitive FPS. The GPU's 60 RT cores and 240 Tensor cores are not directly measured in this data, but their presence suggests the card is future-proofed for games with ray tracing and DLSS features.

The performance scaling from Low to Ultra settings reinforces the GPU's central role. At 1080p, the difference between Low (305 FPS) and Ultra (142 FPS) is a 115% drop, showing how much headroom is available when graphical effects are reduced. This headroom is a direct result of the GPU having spare compute and bandwidth when not processing complex shaders and high-resolution textures.

The GPU's 84th percentile standing among all GPUs, with a Passmark G3D score of 31,624, confirms its position as a high-end card. Its nearest rival, the RTX 5090 Mobile, is only 0.8% faster in synthetic benchmarks, yet the actual in-game performance at 4K suggests the desktop card is well-optimized for this title. The fact that the 4070 Ti is end-of-life and has been succeeded by the GeForce 50 series does not diminish its measured capabilities in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across twelve distinct configurations.

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS of 305, representing the peak performance of this combo. This is the only setting that breaks the 300 FPS barrier, indicating a CPU-limited scenario.
• Medium: Average FPS of 217, with a minimum of 184 and a maximum of 249. This shows a 29% drop from Low, highlighting the impact of medium-tier graphical effects.
• High: Average FPS of 189, a further 13% reduction from Medium. This is a strong result for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 142, a 25% drop from High. This is still very playable but shows the significant cost of the Ultra preset.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS of 224, a 27% decrease from the 1080p Low result. The GPU is beginning to become more of a factor.
• Medium: Average FPS of 159, with a minimum of 135 and a maximum of 183. This is a 27% drop from the 1080p Medium score.
• High: Average FPS of 139, a 26% drop from the 1080p High score. This remains an excellent result for 1440p gaming.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 104, a 27% drop from the 1080p Ultra score. This is a very playable frame rate for a demanding preset.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS of 144, a 36% drop from the 1440p Low result. This is a playable 4K experience.
• Medium: Average FPS of 103, with a minimum of 87 and a maximum of 118. The minimum FPS here is the lowest recorded across all Medium settings, indicating potential for stutter.
• High: Average FPS of 90, a 35% drop from the 1440p High result. This is at the edge of what is considered smooth for a competitive FPS.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 67, a 36% drop from the 1440p Ultra result. This is the lowest average FPS recorded and is not ideal for a fast-paced game like Lockdown Protocol.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and refresh rate goals.

For 1920x1080 users, the High preset at an average of 189 FPS is the recommended balance. It provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium while still delivering frame rates well above 144 Hz. The Ultra preset at 142 FPS is viable for those with 144 Hz monitors, but the 25% performance hit compared to High may not justify the visual gains. The Low preset at 305 FPS is only necessary for esports-level competitive play where maximum frame rates are prioritized over visuals.

For 2560x1440 users, the High preset at an average of 139 FPS is the standout choice. It offers a high-quality image at frame rates that will satisfy most gamers, including those with 144 Hz displays (though they may experience slight dips). The Medium preset at 159 FPS provides a 14% performance boost over High and is a good alternative for those who prefer a higher frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset at 104 FPS is smooth enough for many, but the drop below 120 FPS may be noticeable.

For 3840x2160 users, the Low preset at an average of 144 FPS is the only configuration that delivers a high-refresh-rate experience. However, the visual compromise is substantial. The Medium preset at 103 FPS is the best balance for 4K, offering a decent visual quality while maintaining a playable frame rate above 100 FPS. The High preset at 90 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced gameplay, but the Ultra preset at 67 FPS should be avoided for a competitive FPS due to potential input latency and reduced fluidity.

In summary, the data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1440p with High settings, offering a superior balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 4K, users must make significant compromises to achieve playable frame rates, while at 1080p, the GPU has ample headroom to max out most high-refresh-rate displays.