Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, presents a demanding workload that scales significantly with resolution. The measured data for this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT reveals a system where the graphics card is the dominant constraint. The performance envelope shifts predictably as pixel count increases, with the most playable experience found at 1080p and the card being pushed to its limits at 4K. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides recommendations based solely on the supplied facts.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear and consistent drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the "High" settings preset, the average frame rate falls from 103 FPS at 1080p to 75 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 49 FPS at 4K. This progression indicates that the rendering load on the GPU is the primary factor limiting performance, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed the graphics card at lower resolutions.

The scaling pattern is more dramatic when comparing the "Low" settings preset. The average FPS at 1080p is 165, which drops to 121 at 1440p and then to 78 at 4K. The 1080p to 1440p reduction is 44 FPS, while the 1440p to 4K reduction is 43 FPS, showing a nearly linear decline in performance with the increase in pixel count. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario where the frame rate is directly tied to the number of pixels the Radeon RX 6650 XT must process.

The "Ultra" preset shows the most severe scaling, with a 77 FPS average at 1080p dropping to 56 FPS at 1440p and a steeper fall to 36 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is a 20 FPS loss, which is proportionally larger than the 21 FPS loss from 1080p to 1440p, suggesting the GPU is running out of memory bandwidth or processing power at the highest resolution and settings. The data points to a system where the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU, as the CPU's performance is not the bottleneck in any resolution tested.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the central figure in this performance analysis, and the measured FPS data reflects its capabilities and limitations. The card is based on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a Navi 23 chip, featuring 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs. Its clock speeds are listed with a base of 2055 MHz, a game clock of 2410 MHz, and a boost clock of 2635 MHz, which are the figures that contribute to its raw compute throughput.

The GPU's memory configuration is a key factor in its 4K performance. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 280.3 GB/s. At 4K resolution with "Ultra" settings, the card averages 36 FPS, which is likely influenced by the memory capacity and bandwidth constraints. The data shows that the card is more comfortable at 1080p, where it achieves a 165 FPS average on "Low" settings and 103 FPS on "High," indicating that the 8 GB buffer is sufficient for these workloads.

The GPU's overall standing is modest, with a percentileVsAllGpus of 65. Its average benchmark score of 19765 places it in the same performance tier as the NVIDIA Tesla K40m, which has a deltaPct of -0.6, and the AMD FirePro W7000, which is -0.7% slower. The Radeon RX 6650 XT is ahead of the AMD FirePro D300 by 0.7% and the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 by 0.8%. These rival comparisons are based on average benchmark scores, not gaming FPS, but they contextualize the card's position in the broader hardware landscape.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, and it is manufactured on a 3 nm process. The CPU's benchmark scores are exceptional, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic. The measured FPS data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution. At 1080p with "Low" settings, the system achieves 165 FPS, and even at 4K with "Ultra" settings, the average is 36 FPS, which is likely a GPU limitation. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 4823, ensures it can handle the game's simulation without limiting the frame rate.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which is 0.2% slower, and the AMD EPYC 4584PX, which is 1.1% slower. The data shows that the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is also 1.2% faster than the AMD EPYC 9135 and 1.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7F72. These scores highlight that the CPU is a top-tier part, but in this specific game, its performance headroom is not fully utilized because the GPU is the limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the "Low" preset delivers the highest average frame rate at 165 FPS. The "High" preset averages 103 FPS, and the "Medium" preset averages 117 FPS with a minimum of 100 FPS and a maximum of 135 FPS. The "Ultra" preset is the most demanding, with an average of 77 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the "Low" preset maintains a high average of 121 FPS. The "High" preset drops to 75 FPS, and the "Medium" preset averages 86 FPS with a minimum of 73 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS. The "Ultra" preset at 1440p has an average of 56 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 77 FPS seen at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the "Low" preset is the only one that remains above 60 FPS, with an average of 78 FPS. The "Medium" preset averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 47 FPS and a maximum of 64 FPS. The "High" preset averages 49 FPS, and the "Ultra" preset drops to 36 FPS. This data shows that 4K gaming is only viable with the "Low" settings preset, and even then, the frame rate is not consistently smooth.

The "Medium" preset stands out as the only one with min and max FPS data across all resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 100 to 135 FPS; at 1440p, it is 73 to 99 FPS; and at 4K, it is 47 to 64 FPS. This indicates that the "Medium" preset has the most stable frame pacing, with the minimum frame rate staying within a reasonable range of the average.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is ranked 1864 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places the system in the lower-middle tier of all tested configurations, which is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range position rather than the CPU's high-end status. The comboRankInGame of 1864 indicates that while the CPU is top-tier, the GPU holds the system back in this specific game.

The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance class. The Radeon RX 6650 XT has a percentileVsAllGpus of 65, meaning it performs better than 65% of all GPUs, but it is not a high-end card. In a game like Lockdown Protocol, which appears to be GPU-intensive based on the resolution scaling data, the combo's rank is primarily determined by the graphics card. The CPU's high benchmark scores do not translate to a higher rank because the game is not CPU-limited in the tested scenarios.

This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. At 4K, the system only achieves a 36 FPS average on "Ultra" settings, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at 1080p, the "Ultra" preset averages 77 FPS, which is playable but not high-refresh-rate territory. The combo's rank suggests that users with this configuration should focus on optimizing settings to achieve their desired frame rate, as the hardware has a clear ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and performance goals. At 1920x1080, the "High" preset offers a good balance with an average of 103 FPS, which is smooth for most players. For those seeking maximum frame rates, the "Low" preset at 165 FPS is the best choice, but it comes with a visual quality trade-off. The "Ultra" preset at 77 FPS is also viable for players who prioritize visual fidelity over raw frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the "Low" preset is the only one that consistently delivers high frame rates, with an average of 121 FPS. The "Medium" preset at 86 FPS is playable and offers better visuals, but the "High" preset at 75 FPS and "Ultra" at 56 FPS may be too low for competitive play. The data suggests that 1440p users should stick with "Low" or "Medium" settings to maintain a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the "Low" preset is the only viable option, with an average of 78 FPS. The "Medium" preset at 56 FPS is borderline, and the "High" and "Ultra" presets at 49 FPS and 36 FPS, respectively, are not recommended for a playable experience. The data indicates that 4K gaming with this combo requires the lowest settings to achieve a playable frame rate.

For the best overall experience, the "Medium" preset is recommended for most users. It provides the most consistent frame pacing, as evidenced by the min and max FPS data, and offers a balance between visual quality and performance. At 1080p, the "Medium" preset averages 117 FPS, which is excellent, and at 1440p, it averages 86 FPS, which is still smooth. At 4K, the "Medium" preset at 56 FPS is a compromise, but it is the best option for those who want better visuals than "Low" without the performance hit of "High."

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution, with all settings presets exceeding 77 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the "Low" preset achieves over 100 FPS, while at 3840x2160, the "Low" preset is the only one above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX. It is also 1.2% faster than the AMD EPYC 9135 and 1.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7F72.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT has a percentileVsAllGpus of 65, meaning it outperforms 65% of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 19765, which is close to the NVIDIA Tesla K40m's score of 19885, a -0.6% difference.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p with "Low" settings, the system achieves 165 FPS, and at 4K with "Ultra" settings, it drops to 36 FPS. The CPU has high benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731, but the game's performance scales with resolution, pointing to the GPU.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo is ranked 1864 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This rank reflects the GPU's mid-range position, as the CPU is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most stable frame rate?

A: The "Medium" preset has the most stable frame pacing, as it is the only one with min and max FPS data. At 1080p, it ranges from 100 to 135 FPS; at 1440p, from 73 to 99 FPS; and at 4K, from 47 to 64 FPS.