Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a compelling 1080p and 1440p experience in Lockdown Protocol, with the data showing this combo ranking at position 407 out of 2,828 tested combinations. The CPU's 24 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 5.80 GHz boost clock, provide ample headroom for this FPS title, while the GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth handle the visual load. This analysis breaks down exactly how each component contributes to the measured frame rates across three resolutions and four quality presets.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is built on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture using a 3 nm process from TSMC, housing 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. Its 24 cores and 24 threads operate at a base clock of 3.70 GHz, boosting up to 5.80 GHz, which places it in the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The core configuration includes a per-core L1 cache of 192 KB, per-core L2 cache of 3 MB, and a shared 36 MB L3 cache, all feeding into a dual-channel DDR5 memory controller with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Benchmark data shows this CPU achieving a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 and a single-core score of 7,303, with PassMark multi-thread performance at 60,860. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K scores 0.2% lower on average, while the AMD EPYC 4584PX trails by 1.1% and the AMD EPYC 9135 is 1.2% behind. Interestingly, the AMD EPYC 7F72 outperforms it by 1.3%, suggesting the 290K Plus sits in a tight cluster of high-end desktop and server processors.

For Lockdown Protocol, a fast-paced FPS, the single-thread performance is critical for game logic, physics calculations, and AI updates. The 5.80 GHz boost clock and strong single-core score of 7,303 in Cinebench R23 suggest the CPU can keep up with the game's simulation demands even at high frame rates. The 24 threads also provide substantial multi-tasking headroom, which matters for background processes, streaming overlays, or Discord running during gameplay. The data shows the CPU's PassMark integer math score of 166,194 and floating-point math score of 214,760, indicating robust computational throughput that can handle complex in-game scenarios without becoming a bottleneck.

At 1080p with Low settings, the measured 290 FPS average suggests the CPU is feeding frames efficiently, as the GPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor at such low graphical load. The CPU's data encryption score of 52,563 and compression score of 698,346 further demonstrate its processing capability, though these are less directly relevant to gaming. The real question is whether the CPU's 24 non-hyperthreaded threads (24 threads for 24 cores) create any scheduling limitations compared to traditional hyperthreading designs. The benchmark results indicate no such penalty, as the multi-core Cinebench R20 score of 21,727 shows strong scaling across all cores.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process from TSMC, housing 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory runs across a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1980 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, and memory runs at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). The 7,168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output processors provide the raw compute power, with 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores for ray tracing and AI workloads.

The GPU's FP32 performance of 35.48 TFLOPS and texture rate of 554.4 GTexel/s indicate substantial rendering capability. In the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, it achieves an average benchmark score of 43,223. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB at 0.1% lower performance, the RTX 5050 Mobile at 0.1% lower, and the Quadro M6000 at 0.2% lower. The RTX 4090 Mobile leads by 1.0%, showing the 4070 SUPER holds its own against a mix of workstation and mobile parts.

For Lockdown Protocol, the GPU's 12 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game's texture and geometry demands at all tested settings. The measured FPS data shows the GPU handling 4K Ultra at 64 FPS average, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. At 1440p Ultra, the GPU delivers 99 FPS, while 1080p Ultra reaches 135 FPS. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4,627 provides a synthetic reference point, while Geekbench scores of 172,795 (OpenCL) and 205,624 (Vulkan) suggest strong compute performance that can benefit physics or particle effects in-game.

The GPU's memory bandwidth becomes more critical at higher resolutions. At 4K, the 504.2 GB/s bandwidth is taxed by the increased pixel throughput, which explains the significant FPS drop from 1080p to 4K. The 192-bit bus width, while smaller than higher-end cards, still provides adequate bandwidth for this game at 1440p and below. The RTX 4070 SUPER's PCIe 4.0 x16 interface ensures sufficient data transfer from the CPU, though the game likely doesn't saturate this connection given the measured performance levels.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested configurations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combo ranks 407th out of 2,828 tested combinations, placing it in the top 14.4% of all tested systems for this game.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX, and 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9135, while trailing the AMD EPYC 7F72 by 1.3%.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile and how does it compare to mobile counterparts?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER sits in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, performing 0.1% better than the RTX 5050 Mobile and 1.0% worse than the RTX 4090 Mobile.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 132, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 1080p Low settings?

A: At 1080p Low, the system achieves 290 FPS average, which is extremely high. Given the CPU's strong single-thread performance and the GPU's capability, the data suggests neither component is severely bottlenecked, but the CPU's 5.80 GHz boost clock likely sustains this frame rate.

Q: How does the GPU's memory configuration impact 4K performance?

A: The 12 GB GDDR6X memory with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth supports 4K gameplay, but the average FPS drops to 64 at Ultra settings and 85 at High, indicating that memory bandwidth and GPU compute become limiting factors at this resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 407 out of 2,828 tested combinations places it in the upper tier of systems for Lockdown Protocol. This ranking reflects the balance between the CPU's 96th percentile performance and the GPU's 83rd percentile standing. The data shows that while neither component is the absolute fastest available, their combination produces consistently high frame rates across all tested settings.

At 1080p, the combo achieves 135 FPS at Ultra settings, which is 65% higher than the 4K Ultra result of 64 FPS. This scaling suggests the system is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, where the 290 FPS Low setting result can fully utilize a 240 Hz or higher display. The 1440p results show the combo maintaining playable frame rates even at Ultra (99 FPS), making it a versatile option for gamers who prioritize resolution over maximum frame rates.

The rank of 407 out of 2,828 indicates that approximately 86% of tested combos perform worse in this game. This positioning is notable given that the RTX 4070 SUPER is marked as end-of-life, yet it still delivers competitive performance. The CPU's 24 cores provide future-proofing for games that may exploit higher thread counts, though Lockdown Protocol's current performance suggests it scales well with the existing configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1080p, Ultra settings deliver 135 FPS average, which is excellent for most gaming scenarios. However, if a player has a 240 Hz monitor, dropping to High (180 FPS) or Medium (206 FPS) would better utilize the display's capabilities. The Low setting at 290 FPS is excessive for all but the most extreme high-refresh-rate displays.

At 1440p, High settings provide 132 FPS, making it the best balance between visual quality and performance for this resolution. Ultra drops to 99 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for competitive play where higher frame rates offer a competitive advantage. Medium at 151 FPS offers a middle ground, while Low at 212 FPS is suitable for players prioritizing maximum responsiveness over visual fidelity.

For 4K gaming, High settings at 85 FPS is the recommended choice, as it provides smooth gameplay while maintaining visual quality. Medium at 97 FPS offers slightly better performance but with reduced visual detail. Ultra at 64 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay, and players may notice occasional stutters. Low at 137 FPS is viable for those who prioritize frame rate over all else, but the visual compromise may not be worth it at this resolution. The Medium setting at 4K shows a min FPS of 83 and max FPS of 112, indicating some frame time variance that could affect the experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are 290 FPS for Low, 206 FPS for Medium, 180 FPS for High, and 135 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 175 FPS and maximum of 237 FPS, providing a variance of 62 FPS. This range indicates that the system can deliver consistent performance, with the average sitting comfortably between the extremes.

At 2560x1440, the results show 212 FPS for Low, 151 FPS for Medium, 132 FPS for High, and 99 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting at this resolution has a minimum of 128 FPS and maximum of 173 FPS, a variance of 45 FPS. The tighter variance compared to 1080p suggests that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor, reducing the impact of CPU-driven frame spikes.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops to 137 FPS for Low, 97 FPS for Medium, 85 FPS for High, and 64 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting here shows a minimum of 83 FPS and maximum of 112 FPS, a variance of 29 FPS. This reduced variance at 4K indicates that the GPU is consistently the bottleneck, with less fluctuation in frame times compared to lower resolutions.

The progression from 1080p to 4K shows a clear pattern: the CPU's influence diminishes as resolution increases, and the GPU's rendering load becomes the primary determinant of performance. At 1080p Low, the 290 FPS result highlights the CPU's ability to feed frames rapidly, while at 4K Ultra, the 64 FPS result demonstrates the GPU's limits under maximum load.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K varies by settings preset. For Low settings, the drop from 290 FPS to 137 FPS represents a 52.8% reduction. Medium settings drop from 206 FPS to 97 FPS, a 52.9% reduction. High settings show a drop from 180 FPS to 85 FPS, a 52.8% reduction. Ultra settings drop from 135 FPS to 64 FPS, a 52.6% reduction.

This consistent ~53% performance reduction across all settings when moving from 1080p to 4K reveals that the scaling is primarily driven by the GPU's pixel throughput capabilities. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 198.0 GPixel/s pixel rate and 554.4 GTexel/s texture rate are the key factors determining how well it handles the 4x increase in pixel count from 1080p to 4K.

The intermediate step from 1080p to 1440p shows smaller reductions: Low drops 26.9% (from 290 to 212 FPS), Medium drops 26.7% (206 to 151 FPS), High drops 26.7% (180 to 132 FPS), and Ultra drops 26.7% (135 to 99 FPS). The consistent scaling pattern suggests that the system is not hitting a hard bottleneck at any resolution, but rather experiencing proportional GPU load increases.

The data implies that the limiting component shifts depending on resolution. At 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance (7,303 in Cinebench R23) allows the GPU to work near its potential, resulting in very high frame rates. As resolution increases, the GPU's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth become more heavily utilized, and the frame rates scale down accordingly. The 4K results, particularly the 64 FPS Ultra average, suggest that players seeking 4K gameplay should consider lowering settings to High (85 FPS) or Medium (97 FPS) to maintain smooth performance, as the GPU's compute resources are the primary constraint at this resolution.