Lockdown Protocol

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread desktop processor built on the Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It carries a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 3 MB of L2 per core. The chip supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, yielding a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and it connects to the platform via PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

For Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title, the CPU's role is primarily to maintain a high frame ceiling and avoid bottlenecking the GPU. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo reaches 235 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all tested configurations. At 1080p Ultra, it still delivers 109 FPS. These numbers indicate that the processor has ample headroom to drive the Radeon RX 7800 XT even at lower resolutions where CPU load is typically more prominent.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra 7 265 scores 42,216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5,960 in single-core. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 49,682, and single-thread is 4,689. The chip sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 64,640. Compared to its nearest rivals, it is 0.3% behind the AMD EPYC 4464P (avg score 64,823) and 0.7% behind the AMD EPYC 7343 (avg score 64,202), but it edges out the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F by 0.3% (avg score 64,438) and the AMD EPYC 9124 by 0.7% (avg score 65,104). These deltas are marginal, suggesting the CPU’s performance profile is closely matched with those server-class parts in general compute, though gaming results depend on the specific workload.

The CPU’s 65 W TDP and 3 nm process node indicate an efficient design that does not require exotic cooling. It has no unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not part of the equation. For Lockdown Protocol, the measured FPS scaling from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows that the CPU keeps pace with the GPU’s demands — the frame rate drops are consistent with graphical load increases, not CPU stalls.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average is 235 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The lowest is 52 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in multi-core performance?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265 scores 42,216 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, has an average benchmark score 0.3% higher, which is a negligible difference in real-world gaming.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution in this game?

A: The data suggests no. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 235 FPS, and at 1440p Low it reaches 172 FPS. The consistent scaling across resolutions implies the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases, not the CPU.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking among all processors?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265 is in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 64,640. This places it well above the median for desktop processors.

Q: How much L3 cache does the CPU have, and does it matter for this game?

A: The CPU has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. While the data does not isolate cache effects, the high FPS at 1080p Low (235) indicates the cache hierarchy is sufficient for the game’s single-threaded and multi-threaded demands.

Q: What is the CPU’s launch MSRP?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has a launch MSRP of $394.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal preset depends on the target display refresh rate. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 235 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh monitors. Medium at 1080p yields 167 FPS, still above 144 Hz. High drops to 146 FPS, and Ultra falls to 109 FPS. For a 144 Hz 1080p panel, Medium provides the best balance of smoothness and visual quality, as it stays above 144 FPS while improving fidelity over Low.

At 2560x1440, Low hits 172 FPS, Medium 122 FPS, High 107 FPS, and Ultra 80 FPS. For a 144 Hz 1440p monitor, Medium is the only preset that comes close to the refresh ceiling, though it does not fully saturate it. For a 120 Hz display, Medium is sufficient, while High dips slightly below 120 FPS. At 4K (3840x2160), the numbers are 111 FPS on Low, 79 FPS on Medium, 69 FPS on High, and 52 FPS on Ultra. There is no preset that reaches 144 Hz at 4K; Low is the only option that clears 100 FPS.

The measured min and max values at Medium settings show the frame time consistency: at 1080p Medium, the range is 142 to 192 FPS, at 1440p Medium it is 104 to 141, and at 4K Medium it is 67 to 91. These ranges indicate that Medium produces narrower fluctuations compared to the average, suggesting a stable experience. For most users, Medium at 1440p or 1080p provides the best compromise between performance and visual detail, given that Ultra at any resolution costs a significant frame rate drop — for example, 109 FPS at 1080p Ultra versus 167 FPS at 1080p Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ranks 897 out of 2,828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the upper third of all configurations, roughly at the 68th percentile (897/2828 ≈ 0.317, meaning it outperforms 68.3% of combos). The ranking reflects a balanced pairing: the CPU is near the top of its class (93rd percentile among all CPUs), while the GPU sits at the 51st percentile among all GPUs. The discrepancy suggests the GPU is the more limiting component in this game, holding the combo back from a higher rank.

The GPU’s average benchmark score is 11,627, with a PassMark G3D score of 24,176. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (avg score 11,680, delta -0.5%), the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M (avg score 11,528, delta 0.9%), the NVIDIA Tesla K20c (avg score 11,479, delta 1.3%), and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT (avg score 11,842, delta -1.8%). These deltas are all within 2%, meaning the RX 7800 XT’s raw compute performance is closely matched with those older or lower-tier cards in synthetic tests. However, in Lockdown Protocol, the measured FPS suggests the GPU’s 16 GB of VRAM and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for the game’s demands, since even at 4K Ultra the combo maintains 52 FPS.

The rank of 897 out of 2,828 is not exceptional, but it is solid. Combos ranked higher likely pair the RX 7800 XT with a stronger CPU or pair a more powerful GPU with a similar CPU. Since the data shows the CPU is not a bottleneck — evidenced by the high FPS at low resolutions — the rank is primarily a function of the GPU’s mid-tier positioning. The 51st percentile for the GPU indicates it is average among all GPUs, so this combo reflects a mainstream enthusiast setup rather than a top-tier one.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the combo scales from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 235 at 1080p to 172 at 1440p, then to 111 at 4K. That is a drop of 63 FPS (27%) from 1080p to 1440p, and another 61 FPS (35%) from 1440p to 4K. At Medium settings, the progression is 167 → 122 → 79, a drop of 45 FPS (27%) then 43 FPS (35%). At High, it is 146 → 107 → 69, with drops of 39 FPS (27%) and 38 FPS (36%). At Ultra, it is 109 → 80 → 52, with drops of 29 FPS (27%) and 28 FPS (35%).

The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistently around 27% across all settings, and from 1440p to 4K it is consistently around 35%. This uniform scaling pattern is significant. It indicates that the performance is limited by the GPU at all resolutions, because the frame rate falls in proportion to the pixel count increase. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the drop from 1080p to 1440p would be smaller, since the CPU load would not increase as much as the GPU load. The fact that the drops are nearly identical across settings suggests the GPU is the primary constraint.

The absolute FPS numbers reinforce this: at 1080p Low, 235 FPS is well above what most displays can show, implying the CPU has headroom. At 4K Ultra, 52 FPS is a playable but not smooth experience, and the GPU’s compute limits are evident. The 16 GB VRAM is not exhausted, as the game’s Ultra preset at 4K would consume more than 8 GB but likely under 16 GB, so the frame rate drop is due to shader and rasterization load, not memory capacity. The bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s is sufficient for 4K textures, but the 37.32 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is the ceiling.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the four presets produce the following average FPS: Low 235, Medium 167, High 146, Ultra 109. The Medium preset has a measured min of 142 and max of 192, indicating a range of 50 FPS. No min or max values are listed for the other presets at this resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra is 126 FPS, showing that Ultra costs 46% of the Low performance.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low 172, Medium 122, High 107, Ultra 80. The Medium preset shows a min of 104 and max of 141, a range of 37 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 92 FPS, a 53% reduction. Compared to 1080p, every preset loses roughly 27% of its frame rate, consistent with the resolution scaling analysis.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low 111, Medium 79, High 69, Ultra 52. The Medium preset has a min of 67 and max of 91, a range of 24 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 59 FPS, a 53% reduction, which mirrors the 1440p pattern. The frame rate at 4K Ultra is 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. At 4K Low, the 111 FPS is respectable, but the visual quality is minimal.

Across all resolutions, the Medium preset consistently has the tightest min-max range relative to its average: at 1080p, the range is 50 FPS on a 167 average (30%); at 1440p, 37 FPS on a 122 average (30%); at 4K, 24 FPS on a 79 average (30%). This consistency suggests Medium is the most predictable preset in terms of frame pacing, even if Low offers higher averages.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process. It has 3,840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, along with 60 ray tracing cores. The GPU’s base clock is 1295 MHz, with a boost clock of 2430 MHz and a game clock of 2124 MHz. It is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. The card’s FP32 performance is 37.32 TFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 233.3 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 583.2 GTexel/s.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role is dominant, as evidenced by the uniform resolution scaling. The card’s 16 GB VRAM is ample for the game’s highest settings at 4K, as the measured 52 FPS at Ultra suggests the memory capacity is not the limiting factor. The 624.1 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for high-resolution textures, and the 96 ROPs handle pixel output adequately. The GPU’s 51st percentile ranking among all GPUs (average benchmark score 11,627) places it in the mid-range, which aligns with the measured FPS: it can handle 1080p and 1440p at high frame rates, but falls below 60 FPS at 4K Ultra.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are all within 2% of its average score, indicating that the RX 7800 XT is not a standout performer in raw compute. However, in this game, the card’s performance is sufficient for 1440p Medium at 122 FPS, which is a solid experience for most players. The 60 ray tracing cores are present but not heavily utilized in an FPS title like Lockdown Protocol, which likely relies on traditional rasterization.

The GPU’s TDP is 263 W, with a suggested PSU of 600 W, and it uses two 8-pin power connectors. The card’s boost clock of 2430 MHz is 306 MHz above its base clock, indicating a reasonable thermal headroom. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (235) is near the GPU’s practical limit for this game, as pushing beyond that would require a stronger card. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, with all presets below 112 FPS and Ultra at 52 FPS. This reinforces that the RX 7800 XT is a 1440p-class card for this title, with 4K playable only at Low or Medium settings.