Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a demanding FPS title, and the pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti produces a predictable bottleneck profile. The data shows a system where the GPU is the primary limiting factor across all tested settings and resolutions, with the high-end CPU providing ample headroom. This analysis focuses strictly on the measured performance metrics from the FACT PACK to characterize scaling, settings impact, and overall standing.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep penalty as resolution increases, which is classic behavior for a system constrained by its graphics card. The GTX 1660 Ti, with its 6 GB of VRAM and 192-bit memory bus, is tasked with rendering more pixels, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The most significant scaling shift occurs between 1080p and 1440p, where the GPU's pixel throughput becomes the dominant factor.

At the Low preset, the frame rate scales from 122 FPS at 1920x1080 down to 90 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 32 FPS. Moving to 4K at 3840x2160, the average further drops to 58 FPS. This represents a 52% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K. The trend is consistent across all presets, indicating that the resolution is directly taxing the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth.

The Medium preset shows a similar pattern, with 87 FPS at 1080p, 64 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K. The High preset yields 76 FPS, 56 FPS, and 36 FPS respectively. The Ultra preset is the most punishing, dropping from 57 FPS at 1080p to 42 FPS at 1440p and finally to 27 FPS at 4K. These numbers indicate that the game is highly sensitive to resolution scaling on this hardware, and the GTX 1660 Ti cannot maintain a fluid experience at 4K on any setting above Low.

The data shows that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. The CPU, a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus with a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, is not the bottleneck here; a processor of this caliber would not cause frame rates to halve when pixel count quadruples. The consistent drop across all presets confirms that the GPU's rendering pipeline is saturated. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data suggests 1080p is the target resolution, as even 1440p on the High preset falls short of that mark.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K resolution smoothly?

A: No. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the highest average FPS achieved is 58 on the Low preset. The Medium preset drops to 41 FPS, High to 36 FPS, and Ultra to 27 FPS. None of these averages reach the 60 FPS threshold typically considered smooth for an FPS title.

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this hardware for a competitive edge?

A: The benchmark results indicate that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 122 FPS, and even the High preset achieves 76 FPS. These frame rates are significantly higher than what is possible at 2560x1440 or 3840x2160, offering a clear advantage in a fast-paced FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1660 Ti's performance compare to its closest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 7723. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 540, scores 7673, putting the GTX 1660 Ti 0.7% ahead. It is also 1.9% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 and 2.2% faster than the AMD Radeon R7 250. These are marginal differences, indicating the GTX 1660 Ti sits at the lower end of the performance spectrum.

Q: Does the CPU hold back the GPU in this game?

A: No. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end processor that sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings, which is a clear indication that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU has more than enough headroom to feed the GTX 1660 Ti.

Q: What is the impact of the VRAM size on 4K performance?

A: The GTX 1660 Ti has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory. While the measured data does not provide direct VRAM usage, the significant frame rate drops at 3840x2160 suggest that the memory capacity and bandwidth are insufficient for the higher resolution demands. The drop from 58 FPS on Low to 27 FPS on Ultra at 4K points to the GPU struggling with both memory capacity and processing load.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ranks 2441 out of 2828 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the lower percentile of all tested systems, highlighting that the GPU is the primary performance limiter.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's priority for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For an FPS game, achieving a high and stable frame rate is often more critical than maxing out graphical details.

For competitive play at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the clear winner. It delivers an average of 122 FPS, which is more than double the frame rate of the Ultra preset at 57 FPS. This provides the smoothest and most responsive experience, which is crucial for aiming and tracking targets. The jump from Low to Medium costs 35 FPS on average, a significant hit for a marginal visual improvement.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is also the only option that provides a frame rate above 60 FPS, hitting an average of 90 FPS. While the Medium preset at 64 FPS is playable, it is closer to the edge of the smoothness threshold. Choosing High or Ultra at this resolution results in averages of 56 and 42 FPS respectively, which may feel less fluid.

For those who prioritize visual quality, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a balanced experience with an average of 87 FPS and a minimum of 74 FPS. This ensures that the frame rate rarely dips below the 60 FPS mark. The High preset at 1080p is also a viable option with 76 FPS average, but the Ultra preset's 57 FPS average is a step down in fluidity. At 4K, the data suggests avoiding anything above the Low preset, as the 58 FPS average is the only one that approaches playability.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is positioned in the lower quartile. It holds a rank of 2441 out of 2828 total combos. This is a direct reflection of the GPU's limited capability in this specific title, despite being paired with a top-tier processor.

The CPU's individual performance is exceptional, with an average benchmark score of 84003 and a percentile ranking of 96. It outperforms its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, by a margin of 0.2%. However, this raw CPU power does not translate to a high in-game rank because the GTX 1660 Ti is the bottleneck. The GPU's average benchmark score is 7723, and it sits in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being much weaker cards like the AMD Radeon 540.

This creates a stark contrast: a 96th percentile CPU paired with a 41st percentile GPU results in a combo that ranks in the 86th percentile of all tested combos (2441/2828). The data shows that the overall system performance is dragged down by the graphics card. If the goal is to improve the system's rank in Lockdown Protocol, the first and most impactful upgrade would be the GPU, as the CPU is clearly not the limiting factor.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the decisive component in this system's Lockdown Protocol performance. Its specifications paint a clear picture of a mid-range, older-generation card that struggles with modern, demanding titles. The card has a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and its memory operates at an effective speed of 12 Gbps. It features a 192-bit memory bus with a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s.

The data shows that the GPU's role is to be the primary bottleneck. The benchmark results for the card show a direct correlation between its workload and frame rate. For instance, the Passmark G3D score of 12871 places it in the 41st percentile, confirming its lower-tier status. The measured FPS results align with this, showing that it cannot handle the higher resolutions and settings in Lockdown Protocol.

The 6 GB of GDDR6 memory is a significant limitation. At 3840x2160, the frame rates plummet, suggesting that the card is running out of memory and resorting to slower memory operations. The difference between the Low preset (58 FPS) and the Ultra preset (27 FPS) at 4K is a 31 FPS drop, which is a more severe penalty than at lower resolutions. This indicates that the combination of high resolution and high-detail textures overwhelms the VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth. In contrast, at 1080p, the settings scaling is less punishing, with a 65 FPS difference between Low (122 FPS) and Ultra (57 FPS), showing the card has enough resources to work with at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact average FPS measurements for this hardware configuration in Lockdown Protocol.

1920x1080:

• Ultra: Average 57 FPS.
• High: Average 76 FPS.
• Medium: Average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS.
• Low: Average 122 FPS.

2560x1440:

• Ultra: Average 42 FPS.
• High: Average 56 FPS.
• Medium: Average 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS.
• Low: Average 90 FPS.

3840x2160:

• Ultra: Average 27 FPS.
• High: Average 36 FPS.
• Medium: Average 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS.
• Low: Average 58 FPS.

These numbers show a clear and consistent scaling pattern. The frame rate is highest at the lowest resolution and preset, and it degrades predictably as both are increased. The only preset that provides a consistent 60+ FPS experience is the Low preset at 1080p, which serves as the benchmark for playability on this hardware.