Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a fast-paced FPS released in March 2024, shows distinct performance scaling characteristics when paired with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by resolution, with the CPU providing a robust foundation at lower settings while the GPU becomes the primary constraint at higher resolutions and quality presets. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, component roles, and comparative standing of this combo.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K in Lockdown Protocol is significant and reveals the shifting bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 305 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 224 FPS, a reduction of 81 FPS. At 4K Low, the average falls to 144 FPS, which is less than half the 1080p Low result. This steep decline at lower settings indicates that the game is highly scalable with resolution, but also that the GPU is being pushed harder as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern changes when looking at higher settings. At Ultra settings, the frame rate drops from 142 FPS at 1080p to 104 FPS at 1440p, and then to 67 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is roughly 53%, while at Low settings the drop is about 53% as well. This consistency suggests that the RTX 4070 Ti's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor at 4K regardless of preset, as the GPU work scales proportionally with resolution.

The data indicates that at 1080p Low, the system is likely CPU-bound, as the 305 FPS figure is exceptionally high and suggests the Core Ultra 7 265 is feeding frames faster than the GPU can render at higher resolutions. The 1440p results show a balance, with the 224 FPS at Low still being very high, but the gap between Low and Ultra (224 vs 104 FPS) widening. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component, as even Low settings only reach 144 FPS, which is a demanding target for the pixel count.

The frame time consistency also degrades with resolution. At 1080p Medium, the measured min/max is 184 to 249 FPS, a 65 FPS spread. At 1440p Medium, the spread is 135 to 183 FPS, a 48 FPS range. At 4K Medium, the range narrows to 87 to 118 FPS, a 31 FPS spread. This tighter range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU's consistent workload reduces variance, whereas at lower resolutions, CPU-related hitches may cause larger swings.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 139 FPS. This is a smooth experience for a competitive FPS, and it sits between the 1440p Medium result of 159 FPS and the 1440p Ultra result of 104 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 Ti perform at 4K in Lockdown Protocol?

A: At 4K, the GPU delivers 144 FPS on Low, 103 FPS on Medium, 90 FPS on High, and 67 FPS on Ultra settings. The data shows that 4K Ultra is demanding, but 4K Medium offers a playable 103 FPS average.

Q: Is the Core Ultra 7 265 a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at 1080p. With a 305 FPS average at Low settings, the processor is capable of feeding the GPU well beyond typical display refresh rates. The CPU's high single-thread performance and 20 cores support high frame rates.

Q: What is the best resolution for competitive play based on the FPS data?

A: For maximum frame rates, 1080p is the clear choice, with a 305 FPS average at Low settings. If higher visual fidelity is desired, 1440p Low still provides a very high 224 FPS, making it a strong option for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How does the combo's rank in Lockdown Protocol compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 295 out of 2828 tested combinations, placing it in the top 10.4% of all configurations. This indicates a strong overall performance level, with only 294 combos performing better in this specific game.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with recorded min/max values. At 1080p, the min is 184 FPS and max is 249 FPS. At 1440p, the min is 135 FPS and max is 183 FPS. At 4K, the min is 87 FPS and max is 118 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This combination of high core count and high boost clock is well-suited for a modern FPS like Lockdown Protocol, which benefits from both multi-threaded background tasks and strong single-thread performance for game logic. The processor's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a solid platform for feeding data to the GPU.

In benchmark tests, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42216 and a single-core score of 5960. This places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating top-tier processing power. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, scores 64823 on average, a difference of -0.3%, meaning the Core Ultra 7 265 is essentially on par with that server-class chip in general benchmarks. The data suggests that the CPU's performance headroom is not the limiting factor in Lockdown Protocol, especially at 1080p where the high frame rates indicate minimal CPU constraint.

The processor's 20 threads are likely utilized effectively by the game engine for tasks like physics, AI, and asset streaming. The high boost clock of 5.30 GHz ensures that single-threaded game logic is processed with minimal latency, which is crucial for maintaining consistent frame times. The Passmark single-thread score of 4689 further confirms strong per-core performance. While the CPU is capable, the FPS data shows that the GPU becomes the bottleneck as resolution increases, highlighting that the Core Ultra 7 265 provides a balanced foundation that does not hold back the RTX 4070 Ti in most scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptional across all settings. The Low preset achieves an average of 305 FPS, which is the highest measured in the dataset. Medium settings yield 217 FPS, High settings 189 FPS, and Ultra settings 142 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 163 FPS, showing that the preset has a massive impact at this resolution. The Medium preset records a min of 184 FPS and a max of 249 FPS, indicating that even the lowest frame rate is well above the 144 FPS threshold for high-refresh displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS drops but remains high. Low settings produce 224 FPS, Medium 159 FPS, High 139 FPS, and Ultra 104 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant but consistent, with a reduction of about 26% across all presets. The Medium preset's min/max range of 135 to 183 FPS shows that frame pacing is still solid, though the lower minimums suggest the GPU is working harder. At 1440p Ultra, the 104 FPS average is still playable for most gamers, but it is below the 144 FPS target for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is under significant load. Low settings average 144 FPS, which is exactly the 1440p Medium result, showing the dramatic cost of 4K resolution. Medium settings average 103 FPS, High settings 90 FPS, and Ultra settings 67 FPS. The data indicates that 4K Ultra is demanding, with a 67 FPS average that may not be suitable for fast-paced competitive play. The Medium preset at 4K, with an 87 FPS minimum, offers a more stable experience, but the overall trend shows that 4K is best reserved for less demanding presets or for players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti ranks 295th out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 10.4% of all systems, indicating a strong performance level. The rank is based on the measured FPS data, which shows the combo is capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, with playable results at 4K. The 295th rank suggests that while this is a high-end system, there are 294 other configurations that achieve higher average FPS in this specific game.

The GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs is 84%, and its average benchmark score of 44795 places it near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which scores 45152 (-0.8% delta). This proximity suggests the RTX 4070 Ti is a capable card, but not the absolute top tier. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking is higher, indicating that the processor is relatively stronger than the GPU in synthetic benchmarks. In Lockdown Protocol, this translates to a system that is well-balanced at lower resolutions but is limited by the GPU at higher resolutions.

The combo's rank of 295 out of 2828 means it outperforms 2533 other combinations. This is a strong result, but it also highlights that there is room for improvement. Systems with more powerful GPUs, such as those in the top 10%, likely achieve higher frame rates at 4K or maintain higher averages at 1440p. For a competitive FPS, this rank indicates that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but may not be the absolute best for 4K Ultra settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and frame rate. For 1080p, the Low preset's 305 FPS average is overkill for most monitors, but the High preset's 189 FPS is still excellent. The Medium preset, with a 217 FPS average and 184 FPS minimum, provides a good balance of visual quality and performance, making it the recommended choice for 1080p gaming.

At 1440p, the Low preset's 224 FPS is ideal for 240Hz monitors, while the Medium preset's 159 FPS is suitable for 165Hz displays. The High preset at 139 FPS is also viable for high-refresh gaming, but the Ultra preset's 104 FPS may be too low for competitive play, though it is still playable. For a smooth experience at 1440p, the Medium preset is recommended, as it offers a substantial visual upgrade over Low while maintaining a high frame rate.

For 4K, the data shows that the Ultra preset is too demanding, with a 67 FPS average. The High preset at 90 FPS and Medium preset at 103 FPS are more reasonable, but the Low preset's 144 FPS is the only option that matches the performance of lower resolutions. Given that 4K is typically used for visual fidelity, the Medium preset is recommended, as it provides a 103 FPS average with a minimum of 87 FPS, which is a stable and playable experience for most users. The High preset is a viable alternative for those who prefer better visuals over frame rate, but the Medium preset offers the best balance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2310 MHz and a boost clock of 2610 MHz. These specifications make it a strong performer for 1440p gaming, and the measured data confirms this, with high frame rates at that resolution. The 12 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Lockdown Protocol at all tested settings, as the game does not appear to exceed this capacity based on the FPS consistency.

The GPU's benchmark scores show a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5024 and a Passmark G3D score of 31624. Its percentile ranking of 84% places it in the upper echelon of GPUs, but its nearest rivals include the RTX 5090 Mobile and RTX A6000, which score similarly. This indicates that the RTX 4070 Ti is a capable card, but it is not a top-of-the-line model. The GPU's performance in Lockdown Protocol reflects this, as it delivers excellent results at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra.

The data shows that the RTX 4070 Ti is the limiting factor at 4K, as the FPS drops significantly regardless of CPU performance. At 1080p Low, the GPU is able to render 305 FPS, but at 4K Low, it only manages 144 FPS. This is a clear indication that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated at higher resolutions. The 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is high, but the demands of 4K rendering push the card to its limits. For players aiming for 4K gaming, the RTX 4070 Ti requires lower settings to achieve playable frame rates, making it a better fit for 1440p where it delivers top-tier performance.