Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT

Lockdown Protocol, the 2024 FPS title, shows a pronounced GPU-bound behavior with this combination. The data reveals a clear hierarchy: resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K costs roughly half the frame rate at every preset, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is never the limiting factor in any measured configuration. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, a 16 GB RDNA 2 card, carries the load, and the results show a smooth, predictable curve that makes settings optimization straightforward.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data at three resolutions and four presets tells a consistent story about where this combo's bottleneck sits. At 1080p Low, the system produces 242 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that to 177 FPS, a 27% reduction, and then to 4K Low, which lands at 115 FPS — another 35% cut. This scaling pattern is classic GPU limitation: each pixel count increase translates directly into a nearly proportional frame rate loss, which means the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU at all times.

At Medium settings, the pattern holds. The 1080p result is 172 FPS, 1440p drops to 126 FPS, and 4K falls to 81 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is 46 FPS, while the delta between 1440p and 4K is 45 FPS. That near-identical step-down confirms that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the governing constraints, not the processor's 24 cores or 5.80 GHz boost clock.

The High preset shows the same shape: 150 FPS at 1080p, 110 FPS at 1440p, and 71 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are consistent — roughly 27% from 1080p to 1440p and 35% from 1440p to 4K — which is a textbook signature of a GPU-bound scenario. If the CPU were the bottleneck, you would expect the 1080p numbers to plateau or show diminishing returns as resolution decreases, but instead the scaling is linear and aggressive.

Ultra settings are the most punishing, as expected. At 1080p Ultra, the combo delivers 113 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, that falls to 82 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it bottoms out at 53 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, and it's the only one where the experience would feel compromised on a standard 60 Hz display. The 4K Medium result, at 81 FPS, is the safe zone for 4K gaming.

What this scaling reveals is that the RX 6800 XT is the definitive limiting component in every resolution and preset combination. The Core Ultra 9 290K Plus, with its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and single-core score of 7303, is never starved for work. The data shows no evidence of CPU stalls, frame pacing issues, or any of the telltale signs of processor limitation. The 1080p Low result of 242 FPS is the closest the combo gets to a CPU ceiling, but even that number is far below what this processor can handle in a well-optimized title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 837th out of 2828 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. That places it in the top 30% of all tested systems, which is respectable for a GPU that launched in late 2020 and is now end-of-life. The RX 6800 XT itself sits in the 85th percentile of all GPUs, while the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The gap between those two percentiles is the story: the processor is elite-tier hardware, but the GPU is merely above-average, and it's the GPU that dictates the final ranking.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus edges out the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K by 0.2% in average benchmark score, and it leads the AMD EPYC 4584PX by 1.1% and the AMD EPYC 9135 by 1.2%. It trails the AMD EPYC 7F72 by 1.3%. These are marginal differences that would never manifest as a measurable FPS difference in Lockdown Protocol, given how GPU-bound the game is. The CPU's 24 cores and 24 threads, paired with 36 MB of shared L3 cache, are far more than this game needs.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals show a tighter cluster. The RX 6800 XT is 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile, but 2.5% behind the Intel Arc A550M, 3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, and 3% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64. These deltas are small enough that in-game performance differences would be minimal, but they do indicate that the RX 6800 XT is positioned in a crowded mid-to-high tier. The RTX 5070 Ti being only 3% ahead in average benchmark score is notable, as it suggests that the older card still holds its own in synthetic tests.

The 837th rank out of 2828 combos is the aggregate result of this pairing. In absolute terms, the combo is capable of 4K Medium at 81 FPS and 1440p Ultra at 82 FPS, which puts it in a comfortable zone for high-refresh 1440p gaming and solid 4K gaming with settings adjustments. The rank reflects that this is a very capable system, just not one that competes with the current top-tier GPU flagships.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with acceptable frame rates?

A: Yes, at Medium settings the combo delivers 81 FPS at 4K, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS. At High settings, 4K drops to 71 FPS, and at Ultra it falls to 53 FPS. For a locked 60 FPS experience, 4K Medium is the safe choice.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus holding back the RX 6800 XT?

A: The data shows no evidence of CPU limitation. The 1080p Low result of 242 FPS and the consistent scaling across resolutions indicate the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU's 24 cores and 5.80 GHz boost clock provide ample headroom for this title.

Q: What is the best resolution for high-refresh-rate play?

A: At 1440p Low, the combo produces 177 FPS, which is suitable for a 144 Hz or 165 Hz display. At 1440p High, it maintains 110 FPS. For 240 Hz displays, 1080p Low at 242 FPS is the only measured setting that clears that bar.

Q: How does the RX 6800 XT compare to newer GPUs in this game?

A: The RX 6800 XT's average benchmark score is 3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and 3% behind the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64. It is 2.5% behind the Intel Arc A550M and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile. These are small synthetic deltas that may not translate to large FPS differences.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium?

A: The measured minimum at 1440p Medium is 107 FPS, with an average of 126 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS. This indicates stable performance without severe frame drops.

Q: Is the CPU's high multi-threaded performance useful for this game?

A: Lockdown Protocol appears to be GPU-bound, so the CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 is not directly leveraged. However, the 24 threads ensure that any background tasks or streaming overhead will not interfere with frame delivery.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1080p, the full settings sweep shows a wide range of performance. Low settings produce an average of 242 FPS, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. Medium settings reduce that to 172 FPS, with a minimum of 146 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS. High settings deliver 150 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 113 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 129 FPS, which is a 53% performance loss for the highest visual quality. This is a significant trade-off, but even the Ultra result at 113 FPS is smooth on any standard display.

At 1440p, the numbers shift down but remain playable across all presets. Low settings produce 177 FPS, Medium delivers 126 FPS with a minimum of 107 FPS and a maximum of 145 FPS, High yields 110 FPS, and Ultra drops to 82 FPS. The Ultra result at 1440p is notable because it matches the 4K Medium result of 81 FPS almost exactly. This suggests that the visual quality jump from Medium to Ultra at 1440p is equivalent in cost to a full resolution increase at Medium settings. For players who prioritize frame rate, 1440p High at 110 FPS is a strong middle ground.

At 4K, the dataset reveals the combo's limits. Low settings produce 115 FPS, which is still highly playable. Medium settings deliver 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 94 FPS, making it the recommended 4K preset. High settings drop to 71 FPS, which is above 60 FPS but leaves little headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra settings fall to 53 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and would be noticeable on a standard refresh display. The 4K Medium result is the only one in the entire dataset that includes both minimum and maximum values, indicating that the benchmark captured a full frame time distribution for that configuration.

The measured data is complete for all 12 combinations, with no missing values except for minimum and maximum FPS on most rows. The available minimums — 69 FPS at 4K Medium, 107 FPS at 1440p Medium, and 146 FPS at 1080p Medium — all show that the combo maintains a healthy floor above the average, suggesting consistent frame pacing without severe stutters.

Settings Recommendations

For 4K displays, the choice is clear: Medium settings at 81 FPS is the only preset that balances visual quality with a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. High settings at 71 FPS is technically playable, but the 10 FPS drop from Medium to High is a steep cost that may not justify the visual upgrade. Ultra at 53 FPS should be avoided unless the player is willing to accept sub-60 performance. The 4K Medium result, with a minimum of 69 FPS, provides confidence that even the most demanding scenes will stay above the 60 FPS line.

For 1440p, the recommendation depends on the display's refresh rate. Players with a 144 Hz monitor should select High settings at 110 FPS, which provides a large buffer above the refresh rate and ensures smooth gameplay. Players with a 165 Hz or 180 Hz monitor can drop to Medium at 126 FPS to get closer to the display's maximum, though the 16 FPS gain may not be worth the visual downgrade. Ultra at 82 FPS is only suitable for 75 Hz or 60 Hz displays, but it offers the best image quality at this resolution. Low at 177 FPS is excessive for most displays and should only be used by competitive players chasing maximum frame rates.

For 1080p, the data supports a more aggressive approach. High settings at 150 FPS is the sweet spot for 144 Hz displays, providing a solid margin above the refresh rate. Medium at 172 FPS is better for 165 Hz displays, and Low at 242 FPS is the only preset that can feed a 240 Hz display. Ultra at 113 FPS is still smooth on a 60 Hz or 75 Hz display, but it is the least efficient preset in terms of frame rate per visual quality. The 1080p Low result of 242 FPS is the highest measured output, and it indicates that the CPU is not limiting even at the lowest graphical settings.

The data suggests that the combo is best utilized at 1440p with High settings or 4K with Medium settings. Both configurations deliver frame rates in the 80-110 FPS range, which is a comfortable zone for most gaming scenarios. The 1080p results are impressive but only relevant for high-refresh esports play, while the 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that falls below playable thresholds.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and it has a TDP of 125 W. The CPU sits in the 96th percentile of all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 84003.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is supportive rather than central. The measured FPS data shows no scenario where the processor becomes the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lightest, the combo produces 242 FPS, but this is still not a CPU ceiling — the processor's single-core performance, as evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 7303, is more than sufficient for the game's logic and physics. The 24 threads handle any background tasks with ease, but the game itself appears to be lightly threaded, as is typical for FPS titles.

The CPU's nearest rivals show that it is at the top of its class. It leads the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K by 0.2%, the AMD EPYC 4584PX by 1.1%, and the AMD EPYC 9135 by 1.2%, while trailing the AMD EPYC 7F72 by 1.3%. These deltas are negligible for gaming, and the CPU's 96th percentile ranking confirms that it is elite-tier hardware. The 24 cores and 24 threads are overkill for Lockdown Protocol, but they provide future-proofing for more demanding titles.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s and DDR5 support ensure that the RX 6800 XT receives data without bottlenecks. The GPU's own 512.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth is more than sufficient for the game's textures at 4K, and the 16 GB of GDDR6 memory is ample for any preset. The CPU's PCIe Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes provides a high-bandwidth connection to the GPU, though the RX 6800 XT is a PCIe 4.0 card and would not saturate the newer standard.

In summary, the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is not the star of this benchmark — the GPU is. The processor's job is to stay out of the way, and the data shows it does exactly that. The 1080p Low result of 242 FPS is the only measurement that approaches a potential CPU limit, but even that is far from a hard ceiling. For players considering an upgrade path, the CPU is not the component that needs attention; the GPU is.