Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a competitive FPS that rewards high and consistent frame rates, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a performance profile that is highly dependent on resolution and settings. The data indicates a system capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, but one that requires careful setting adjustments to maintain playability at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and optimal configurations based strictly on the provided benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the clear sweet spot. The average frame rates at this resolution range from 76 FPS on Ultra to 163 FPS on Low, with all settings except Ultra comfortably exceeding the 100 FPS threshold for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the RTX 5060 capable of running Lockdown Protocol at 4K?

A: The data shows it is borderline. At 3840x2160, the average frame rate is 48 FPS on High and 36 FPS on Ultra, which is below the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. The Low preset at 4K yields 77 FPS, so it is playable, but it requires a significant compromise in visual quality.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H has an average benchmark score of 35670. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, scores 35719, which is a negligible -0.1% difference. The Intel Core 7 250H and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 are also extremely close, with -0.2% and -0.4% deltas respectively.

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is the only rival in its list that scores lower, at 26011, making the RTX 5060 1.2% faster. It is statistically tied with the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550, which show a -0.3% delta.

Q: What is the most balanced settings preset for 1440p gameplay?

A: For 2560x1440, the Medium preset appears to be the most balanced. It delivers an average of 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 FPS, which provides a smoother experience than the High preset's 74 FPS average while offering a significant visual upgrade over the Low preset's 120 FPS.

Q: Does the combo rank high among all tested systems for this game?

A: The combo ranks 1878 out of 2828 tested combinations. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, indicating that while it is a competent performer, many other CPU and GPU pairings deliver higher frame rates in Lockdown Protocol.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the primary driver of frame rate in Lockdown Protocol, especially at higher resolutions. Its performance is defined by its 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, which provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU's core clocks are set at a base of 2280 MHz and a boost of 2497 MHz. The benchmark data for the GPU shows a strong synthetic performance profile, with a Passmark G3D score of 20891 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628.

The role of the GPU becomes more pronounced as the resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the frame rate varies significantly with settings (76-163 FPS), but the CPU can keep up. However, when moving to 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The average FPS drops to 48 on High settings, showing that the 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory interface are strained by the demands of 4K rendering. The GPU's overall percentile rank of 72 against all GPUs suggests it is a solid mid-range performer, but in this specific game, the data shows it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, where even the Low preset yields only 77 FPS. The GPU's performance here is consistent with its average benchmark score of 26331, which places it in a tight competitive group. It is 1.2% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, but statistically similar to the AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550, showing its performance class.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H provides the processing foundation for this combo. With 16 cores and 22 threads, it is a highly capable mobile processor. Its base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz, combined with a 24 MB shared L3 cache, ensure that it can handle the game's logic and physics without becoming a bottleneck in most scenarios. The CPU's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17984.5 and a single-core score of 1810.5, positioning it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's role is most critical at lower resolutions where the GPU can render frames quickly. For example, at 1920x1080 on Low settings, the system reaches 163 FPS. The high single-thread performance is essential for maintaining those high frame rates in an FPS game, as it ensures the game's main thread can keep up with the GPU's output. The CPU's multi-core prowess, demonstrated by its Geekbench multi-core score of 11657, also helps maintain frame stability, as seen in the 1080p Medium preset which has a minimum FPS of 99. In terms of its competitive position, the CPU's average benchmark score of 35670 puts it in a dead heat with its nearest rivals. It is a mere -0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 and -0.2% behind the Intel Core 7 250H, showing that for this game, the choice between these CPUs would yield nearly identical performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The combined performance of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 places this system at rank 1878 out of 2828 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This ranking of 66.4% (1878/2828) indicates that the system performs better than a majority of tested configurations, but it is not at the top tier. The ranking is a holistic measure of the system's capability across all settings and resolutions tested.

This middling rank is a direct result of the GPU's performance ceiling. While the CPU is a high-end mobile part, the RTX 5060's performance, as measured by its average benchmark score of 26331, holds the combo back in a game like Lockdown Protocol which benefits greatly from raw GPU horsepower. The data suggests that many combos with more powerful GPUs will outpace this system, particularly at higher resolutions. The system is not a low-end performer, but it sits firmly in the mid-range tier. The data shows that to achieve a higher rank, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in most scenarios.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which settings preset offers the best experience at each resolution. The goal is to balance visual fidelity with a frame rate that is high enough for smooth, competitive gameplay, typically 60 FPS or higher.

• For 1920x1080: The High preset is the recommended choice. It delivers an average of 101 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target and suitable for most high-refresh-rate monitors. While the Low preset offers a higher 163 FPS, the visual quality trade-off is significant. The Ultra preset, at 76 FPS, is also playable, but High offers a better balance of visuals and performance for a competitive edge.
• For 2560x1440: The Medium preset is the best option. It is the only preset at this resolution that provides a solidly playable average frame rate of 85 FPS, with a minimum of 72 FPS ensuring it rarely dips below the target. The High preset's 74 FPS average is playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. The Low preset, at 120 FPS, is very fast but again sacrifices too much visual quality.
• For 3840x2160: The Low preset is the only viable option for a smooth experience. It yields an average of 77 FPS. The Medium preset's 55 FPS average and the High preset's 48 FPS are below the 60 FPS threshold for comfortable gameplay. The Ultra preset, at 36 FPS, is not recommended for competitive play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for Lockdown Protocol with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: The average FPS is 77. This is the only settings preset at this resolution that achieves a playable frame rate above 60 FPS.
• Medium: The average FPS is 55, with a minimum of 47 and a maximum of 63. This shows a significant performance drop from Low and is not ideal for consistent smoothness.
• High: The average FPS drops further to 48. This preset is not suitable for a smooth gameplay experience at this resolution.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 36. This is the lowest measured performance and is not recommended for this game at 4K.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: The average FPS is 120. This provides a very fast and responsive experience but with lower visual quality.
• Medium: The average FPS is 85, with a minimum of 72 and a maximum of 98. This is the sweet spot for 1440p, offering a good balance of speed and visual fidelity.
• High: The average FPS is 74. This is a playable frame rate, but the Medium preset offers a more consistent experience with a higher minimum FPS.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 56. This falls below the 60 FPS target and is not the best choice for competitive play.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: The average FPS is 163. This is the highest measured frame rate and is ideal for high-refresh-rate esports monitors.
• Medium: The average FPS is 116, with a minimum of 99 and a maximum of 133. This provides a very smooth experience with good visual quality.
• High: The average FPS is 101. This is the recommended preset for 1080p, offering a strong balance of performance and visual detail.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 76. This is playable, but the performance hit from High to Ultra is substantial compared to the visual improvement, making it less attractive for competitive play.