Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and this particular pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 produces a specific performance profile across resolutions and settings. The measured data shows a system that is capable of very high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but which begins to show its limits at 4K with the most demanding presets. The following analysis breaks down the roles of each component, interprets the measured FPS, and provides recommendations based solely on the provided test results.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a TDP of 55 W. This mobile processor features a 30 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The processor’s benchmark scores place it in the 93rd percentile among all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 63,173.

In synthetic tests, the Core Ultra 7 265HX achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40,642 and a single-core score of 5,737. The PassMark multi-thread score is 47,985, while the single-thread score is 4,500. These numbers indicate a strong balance between multi-core throughput and single-core responsiveness, which is relevant for an FPS game like Lockdown Protocol where game logic and physics often rely on a few heavily loaded threads, even if the engine can spread some work across many cores.

Looking at the nearest rivals for this CPU, the data shows that the Intel Core i7-13790F has an average score of 63,080, which is 0.1% higher than the Core Ultra 7 265HX. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G scores 63,331, representing a 0.2% advantage over the Ultra 7. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 scores 62,839, which is 0.5% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX scores 62,738, which is 0.7% lower. These delta percentages are minuscule, meaning that in terms of raw CPU compute performance, the Core Ultra 7 265HX is statistically tied with its closest competitors. The practical impact on gaming frame rates from this CPU is likely to be minimal in GPU-bound scenarios, but it provides enough headroom to avoid being the bottleneck at lower resolutions where frame rates are very high.

The CPU’s 20 threads and high boost clock of 5.30 GHz are the key specifications for Lockdown Protocol. The game’s engine appears to scale reasonably well with thread count, as evidenced by the strong multi-core benchmark results, but the single-core performance is equally important for maintaining consistent frame pacing. In the measured FPS data, at 1080p Low settings, the system reaches an average of 262 FPS. This is an extremely high frame rate, suggesting that the CPU is capable of feeding the RTX 4090 enough data to push well past typical 144 Hz or 240 Hz displays. The fact that the CPU’s benchmark scores are within 1% of its nearest rivals means that swapping this chip for a comparable one would not significantly alter the game’s performance profile.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a flagship graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and the AD102 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, with 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. The card has 16,384 shading units, 512 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs, along with 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores. Its FP32 compute performance is 82.58 TFLOPS. The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 88th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347.

In the nearest rival comparisons, the Intel Arc Pro A60 has an average score of 60,326, which is a 0.0% delta from the RTX 4090. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140, which is 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896, representing a 2.5% advantage, while the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58,657, which is 2.9% lower. These comparisons are notable because they show the RTX 4090’s average benchmark score is comparable to some professional and workstation cards, but these scores do not reflect gaming performance directly. The RTX 4090’s gaming strength lies in its massive memory bandwidth and high shader count, which allow it to handle high resolutions and detailed textures.

For Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s 24 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for any settings preset, even at 4K Ultra, where texture memory demands are highest. The boost clock of 2520 MHz and the 1.01 TB/s bandwidth ensure that the card can move data quickly, which is critical for maintaining high frame rates in a fast-paced shooter. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p, the GPU is not the limiting factor, as frame rates reach up to 262 FPS at Low settings. At 4K Ultra, however, the average FPS drops to 58, indicating that the GPU is heavily loaded by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings. The RTX 4090’s 450 W TDP and triple-slot cooler are indicative of its high power draw, but the performance it delivers in this game is consistent with a top-tier card.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

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

A: The highest average FPS is 262, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13790F?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has an average benchmark score of 63,173, while the Intel Core i7-13790F has an average score of 63,080. The i7-13790F is 0.1% higher, meaning the two are nearly identical in overall CPU performance.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The lowest average FPS is 58, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Does the GPU have more VRAM than what is typically needed for this game?

A: Yes, the RTX 4090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory. The measured FPS data shows that even at 4K Ultra settings, the game runs at an average of 58 FPS, so VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is in the 88th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347.

Q: How much does the average FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 162. At 4K High, the average FPS is 77. This represents a drop of 85 FPS, or roughly 52% lower performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system delivers high frame rates across the board. With Low settings, the average FPS is 262. Moving to Medium settings, the average FPS drops to 186, with a minimum of 158 and a maximum of 214. High settings yield an average of 162 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 122 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, even the most demanding preset produces an average FPS above 120, which is smooth for most displays.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are still very high but show a more significant drop from 1080p. Low settings produce an average of 192 FPS. Medium settings average 136 FPS, with a minimum of 116 and a maximum of 157. High settings average 119 FPS. Ultra settings average 89 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces performance by roughly 27% at Low settings, 27% at Medium, 27% at High, and 27% at Ultra. This consistent percentage drop indicates that the GPU is beginning to become more of a limiting factor at 1440p, but the frame rates remain highly playable.

At 3840x2160, the highest resolution tested, the performance decreases substantially. Low settings produce an average of 124 FPS. Medium settings average 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 101. High settings average 77 FPS. Ultra settings average 58 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced: Low settings fall from 192 to 124 FPS, a 35% reduction. Medium settings fall from 136 to 88 FPS, a 35% reduction. High settings fall from 119 to 77 FPS, a 35% reduction. Ultra settings fall from 89 to 58 FPS, a 35% reduction. This consistent 35% penalty across all settings at 4K suggests that the GPU’s rendering workload scales directly with pixel count, and the RTX 4090 is the primary bottleneck at this resolution.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling pattern in the measured data is remarkably consistent. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 27% across all settings. From 1440p to 4K, the average FPS drops by approximately 35% across all settings. The total drop from 1080p to 4K is roughly 52% for Low, 53% for Medium, 52% for High, and 52% for Ultra. This uniformity indicates that the performance scaling is driven almost entirely by the GPU’s pixel processing capabilities, not by the CPU.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a smaller FPS drop at higher resolutions, because the CPU’s workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) remains constant regardless of resolution, while the GPU’s workload increases with pixel count. The fact that the FPS drops in near-perfect proportion to the pixel count (4K has exactly four times the pixels of 1080p, and the FPS drops by roughly half, not by four times) shows that the RTX 4090 has enough raw power to handle the increased load, but it is still the component that determines the final frame rate. The CPU, with its high single-thread score of 4,500 in PassMark and a 5.30 GHz boost clock, is not holding the system back at any resolution.

At 1080p Low, the 262 FPS average suggests that the CPU is still capable of pushing the GPU to its limits, but the GPU is not fully saturated. At 4K Ultra, the 58 FPS average shows that the GPU is working at maximum capacity. The data clearly indicates that for this game, the RTX 4090 is the performance limiter at 4K and becomes increasingly important as resolution rises, while the Core Ultra 7 265HX provides sufficient headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck even at the lowest resolution tested.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the best settings preset depends on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all four presets produce average FPS above 120, so the choice comes down to visual quality versus frame rate. Ultra settings at 1080p yield an average of 122 FPS, which is smooth for most players and offers the highest visual fidelity. For players with 240 Hz monitors, Medium settings at 186 FPS or Low settings at 262 FPS would be preferable, as they provide higher frame rates with reduced visual quality. High settings at 162 FPS is a good middle ground for those who want both quality and speed.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings average 89 FPS, which is playable but may not be ideal for competitive play where higher frame rates are beneficial. High settings average 119 FPS, which is a better choice for a 144 Hz monitor, offering a good balance between visual quality and responsiveness. Medium settings at 136 FPS provide an even smoother experience, and Low settings at 192 FPS are optimal for high-refresh-rate displays. For most players at 1440p, High settings at 119 FPS is the recommended preset, as it maintains a high frame rate while still delivering good graphics.

At 3840x2160, the situation changes. Ultra settings average 58 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for a smooth experience. High settings average 77 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and provides a playable experience with good visual quality. Medium settings average 88 FPS, offering a smoother experience with a slight reduction in visual fidelity. Low settings average 124 FPS, which is very smooth but sacrifices significant visual quality. For 4K gaming, High settings at 77 FPS is the best overall choice, as it provides a playable frame rate while retaining most of the game’s graphical features. If a higher frame rate is desired, Medium settings at 88 FPS is a solid alternative, and for competitive play, Low settings at 124 FPS would be the most responsive option.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 806th out of 3,714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 22% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result given the sheer number of possible CPU and GPU pairings in the database. The rank is based on the measured FPS data across all resolutions and settings, and it reflects the overall performance of this specific combo.

The fact that this combo ranks 806th out of 3,714 does not mean it is a weak performer. On the contrary, the measured FPS data shows that it can achieve 262 FPS at 1080p Low and 124 FPS at 4K Low, which are excellent numbers. The rank is relative to other combos, many of which may include desktop-class CPUs or even more powerful GPUs (though the RTX 4090 is already the flagship of its generation). The 806th rank suggests that while this combo is very fast, there are 805 other configurations that deliver higher overall frame rates in this game. This is likely due to the CPU being a mobile processor, which, despite its high benchmark scores, may have slightly lower sustained performance compared to top desktop CPUs in certain gaming workloads.

The combo’s rank also indicates that the RTX 4090 is being paired with a CPU that is not the absolute fastest available. The CPU’s nearest rivals are all within 1% of its average benchmark score, so the performance difference between this combo and one using a slightly faster CPU would be minimal. The 806th rank out of 3,714 places this configuration in the upper quartile of all tested combos, meaning it outperforms roughly 78% of all other CPU and GPU pairings tested in this game. For a mobile CPU paired with a flagship desktop GPU, this is a very strong showing, and the measured FPS data confirms that this combo is more than capable of delivering a high-refresh-rate experience at 1080p and 1440p, and a solid 4K experience at High settings or lower.