Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024-released FPS title, demonstrates a clear dependency on the graphics subsystem for this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is consistently GPU-bound, with the processor providing ample headroom at every configuration. The data indicates that the RTX 4060 is the primary performance arbiter, as scaling from 1080p to 4K produces the expected drop in average FPS, while the CPU's robust multi-core architecture ensures that even the highest frame rates at lower resolutions are not artificially capped. This analysis will break down the measured results, contextualize them against the hardware's theoretical benchmarks, and provide clear recommendations based on the data.

Resolution Scaling

The progression from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 shows a steep and consistent decline in average frame rates, a classic indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 104 at 1080p to 76 at 1440p and further to 49 at 4K. This represents a 53% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, a pattern that is typical for a mid-range graphics card like the RTX 4060 when pushed to higher pixel counts. The data suggests that the GPU’s rendering throughput, not the CPU’s ability to feed it, is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a much smaller performance delta between resolutions, as the workload on the processor would remain relatively constant while the GPU workload increases.

The scaling behavior is even more pronounced at Ultra settings, where the average FPS plummets from 78 at 1080p to 57 at 1440p and finally to 37 at 4K. The gap between High and Ultra at 4K (49 vs 37 FPS) is a 24.5% performance penalty for the highest preset, demonstrating that the extra visual fidelity demands a significant amount of the GPU's resources. This indicates that the RTX 4060's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and its 128-bit memory bus are being saturated at the higher resolutions, particularly with the most demanding settings. The measured data reveals that the transition from 1440p to 4K is the most punishing, with a 35.5% drop in average FPS at High settings, suggesting that the pixel count increase outpaces the GPU's raw compute capacity.

Interestingly, the Low preset shows the most resilience to resolution scaling, with average FPS figures of 168, 123, and 80 across the three resolutions. This suggests that even at 4K, the reduced computational load of the Low preset allows the GPU to maintain a playable frame rate. The data implies that if a user is targeting 4K, they must sacrifice visual quality to achieve fluid motion, as the High and Ultra presets fail to reach the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling pattern across all presets confirms that the RTX 4060, with its 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 performance, is the definitive performance ceiling for this combo, and the Core Ultra 9 185H has no trouble keeping pace.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, with its 16 cores and 22 threads, provides a substantial computational foundation that is not stressed by Lockdown Protocol's requirements. Its multi-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17984.5, is more than sufficient to handle the game's simulation and logic tasks. The processor's single-core capabilities, reflected in a Geekbench single-core score of 1794, are also robust, ensuring that the game's main thread is not a bottleneck. The data strongly suggests that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this configuration, as the FPS drops are almost entirely attributable to the GPU's workload.

The boost clock of 5.10 GHz, combined with a 24 MB shared L3 cache, provides the low-latency access and high-frequency execution that modern FPS titles require. When comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, its average benchmark score of 35670 is practically identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (35719, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core 7 250H (35728, -0.2% delta). This indicates that while the Core Ultra 9 185H is not the absolute fastest mobile chip, it is firmly in the upper echelon of performance, sitting at the 85th percentile of all CPUs. In the context of Lockdown Protocol, this means the CPU is effectively invisible, providing a stable platform for the GPU to operate at its full potential.

The 45W TDP of the processor, while a significant power draw for a mobile part, allows for sustained high clocks under load, which is crucial for maintaining consistent frame times. The processor's architecture, Meteor Lake, is built on a 7 nm process, and the data shows that its passmark multithread score of 29376 is very high. However, in this specific game, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations, and its performance headroom is so vast that it never becomes a constraint. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p (168 vs 78 FPS) is a direct result of GPU load, not CPU capability, reinforcing the conclusion that the processor is a silent partner in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS for this combo at 2560x1440 on Medium settings is 88, with a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 101 frames per second.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H compare to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has an average benchmark score of 35670, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 has an average score of 35802. This places the Intel chip 0.4% behind its AMD rival.

Q: Is the RTX 4060 capable of achieving 60 FPS at 4K in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Based on the measured data, the RTX 4060 does not reach a 60 FPS average at 3840x2160 on any preset. The highest 4K average is 80 FPS on Low settings, but High, Medium, and Ultra presets yield 49, 57, and 37 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1920x1080?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves an average of 168 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves an average of 78 FPS. This represents a 53.6% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, based on its average benchmark score of 17639.

Q: Does the combo's rank in the game suggest it is a high-performing configuration?

A: The combo is ranked 1722 out of 2828 tested configurations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum, suggesting that while it is capable of running the game, there are many other hardware combinations that yield higher frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For users with a 1080p display, the Medium preset offers an excellent balance, providing an average of 119 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS. This ensures a smooth and responsive experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 1080p also delivers a respectable 104 FPS average, but the Medium preset's slightly lower visual fidelity is a fair trade for the increased headroom and consistency, as indicated by its minimum FPS of 102.

At 1440p, the High preset appears to be the sweet spot, delivering an average of 76 FPS. While the Medium preset offers a higher average of 88 FPS, the High preset’s improved visual quality is likely worth the 12 FPS cost for most users, as it still maintains a playable frame rate. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls to 57 FPS, which is below the ideal 60 FPS target, making it a less desirable choice for competitive play. The data suggests that stepping down from Ultra to High is a more prudent choice at this resolution to ensure a consistent frame rate.

For 4K gaming, the options are more constrained. The Low preset is the only setting that achieves a high average FPS (80), but it comes with a significant sacrifice in visual quality. The Medium preset provides an average of 57 FPS, which is right on the edge of playability, but its minimum FPS of 48 may cause noticeable stutters in intense action sequences. Given these numbers, the Medium preset at 4K appears to be the best compromise, offering a playable experience with moderate visual fidelity. The High and Ultra presets at 4K, with averages of 49 and 37 FPS respectively, are not recommended for a smooth experience, as they fall well below the 60 FPS target.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is placed at rank 1722 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This position indicates that while the configuration is functional and can run the game, it is not a top-tier performer. The rank suggests that a significant number of other hardware pairings are capable of delivering higher average frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs. The CPU's high percentile ranking (85th) is not enough to compensate for the GPU's mid-range standing (61st percentile), underscoring the fact that the graphics card is the primary determinant of this combo's overall performance in a GPU-bound title.

The combo's rank of 1722 places it in the 39th percentile of all tested combinations (calculated as 1722/2828), meaning that roughly 61% of the tested combos perform better in this specific game. This is a direct consequence of the RTX 4060's performance class, which is not designed for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming or ultra-high settings at lower resolutions. The data indicates that this pairing is better suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming at medium to high settings, where it can deliver a satisfying experience. The rank serves as a warning to users expecting flagship-level performance, as the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are limiting factors in more demanding scenarios.

Looking at the GPU's nearest rivals, the RTX 4060's average benchmark score of 17639 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon 780M (17588, +0.3% delta) and the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17666, -0.2% delta). This suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4060 is not significantly ahead of older or integrated solutions, which explains its modest ranking in the game. The combo's rank is thus a reflection of the GPU's position in the market, and it is clear that to improve the ranking in Lockdown Protocol, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the CPU has ample headroom.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 168 on Low to 78 on Ultra, with Medium at 119 and High at 104. The Medium preset also shows a minimum FPS of 102 and a maximum of 137, indicating a stable frame time distribution. This resolution is clearly where the combo is most comfortable, offering high frame rates across all settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS figures drop to 123 (Low), 88 (Medium), 76 (High), and 57 (Ultra). The Medium preset at this resolution has a minimum of 74 and a maximum of 101, showing a wider variance than at 1080p, which suggests the GPU is working harder. At 3840x2160, the averages fall further to 80 (Low), 57 (Medium), 49 (High), and 37 (Ultra). The Medium preset at 4K has a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 65, indicating significant frame time spikes that could be noticeable during gameplay.

The data reveals that the scaling from Medium to High to Ultra is not linear, with the performance cost of Ultra being particularly high at all resolutions. For instance, at 1440p, the jump from High (76 FPS) to Ultra (57 FPS) is a 25% reduction, while the jump from Medium (88 FPS) to High (76 FPS) is a 13.6% reduction. This suggests that the Ultra preset includes effects that are disproportionately expensive for the RTX 4060, likely related to ray tracing or high-resolution shadows, which tax its 24 RT cores and memory bandwidth.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, is the definitive performance driver for this combo in Lockdown Protocol. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming but becomes a constraint at 4K with higher settings. The GPU's boost clock of 2460 MHz, combined with its 3072 shading units, delivers a theoretical FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS, which is the ceiling for this system's frame rates. The measured data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck in all scenarios, as the average FPS scales predictably with resolution and settings, a hallmark of a graphics-limited workload.

The GPU’s role is underscored by its benchmark scores, including a Passmark G3D score of 19545 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302. These scores, while indicating a capable mid-range card, place it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. This explains why the combo does not rank higher in the game, as more powerful GPUs with higher VRAM and bandwidth can handle the 4K Ultra settings that this card cannot. The 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores are present, but the data suggests that their performance impact is limited by the card's overall memory bandwidth and pixel throughput (118.1 GPixel/s).

The RTX 4060's performance in Lockdown Protocol is also contextualized by its nearest rivals. Its average benchmark score of 17639 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551, +0.5% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (17509, +0.7% delta). This indicates that while the RTX 4060 is a modern card, its raw computational power is not vastly superior to older or professional-grade parts in synthetic tests. However, in gaming, its feature set, such as support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, likely provides a more modern rendering pipeline. Ultimately, the GPU's role is to define the performance envelope, and the data shows that it is the component that users should upgrade to achieve higher frame rates in this title.