Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 to form a combination that delivers a wide range of performance in Lockdown Protocol, from highly playable 1080p framerates to demanding 4K Ultra settings. The data indicates a system where the CPU provides substantial headroom, allowing the GPU to become the primary determinant of performance as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. This analysis examines the measured FPS data to characterize the role of each component and provide actionable settings guidance.

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

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. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, with a 125W TDP. The processor’s substantial multi-threading capability is reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. This places the CPU in the 96th percentile among all tested CPUs, indicating a top-tier part.

In the context of Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title, the CPU's high single-thread performance is often the more critical factor for maintaining high framerates. The single-core benchmark scores—736 in Cinebench R15, 3067 in R20, and 7303 in R23—demonstrate strong per-core efficiency. When paired with a capable GPU, this CPU is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions where the CPU must feed frames quickly.

The processor's nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83807 with a 0.2% delta, and the AMD EPYC 4584PX, which scores 83090 with a 1.1% delta. The 290K Plus's average benchmark score is 84003, positioning it slightly ahead of the 285K and the EPYC parts. The data also shows an average PassMark multi-thread score of 60860 and a single-thread score of 4823, confirming its strength in both parallel and sequential workloads. This CPU performance is sufficient to drive the RTX 5060 to its limits in most scenarios, as evidenced by the FPS data across all tested resolutions.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz, with a 145W TDP. Its 3840 shading units and 30 RT cores render the game's graphics, and its performance is quantified by a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3628 and a PassMark G3D score of 20891. This places the GPU in the 72nd percentile among all tested GPUs.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a key characteristic for this game. At 3840x2160 resolution, the data shows a significant performance drop at Ultra settings (44 FPS) compared to High settings (59 FPS). This suggests that the Ultra preset may be pushing against the limits of the VRAM capacity or memory bandwidth, causing a more than proportional decrease in performance relative to the increase in graphical complexity. The GPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (avgScore 26011, deltaPct 1.2) and the AMD Radeon 860M (avgScore 26401, deltaPct -0.3), show that the RTX 5060 is competitively positioned in the mid-range segment.

At 1080p, the GPU is the primary driver of the high framerates, with a Low preset achieving 201 FPS and a High preset reaching 125 FPS. The GPU's compute performance, with an FP32 rating of 19.18 TFLOPS, is sufficient for the game's demands at these settings. However, the scaling from High to Ultra at 1440p (from 91 FPS to 69 FPS) and 4K (from 59 FPS to 44 FPS) indicates that the Ultra preset introduces a load that the GPU's 8 GB frame buffer and 128-bit memory interface struggle to manage efficiently, resulting in a more substantial FPS penalty than the visual improvements might justify.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which helps identify the limiting component at each stage. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combination achieves 201 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the framerate drops to 148 FPS, a reduction of 53 FPS or approximately 26%. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the framerate falls further to 95 FPS, a 36% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling is consistent with the GPU becoming the bottleneck as the pixel count increases, since the CPU has ample headroom.

For the High preset, the framerate scales from 125 FPS at 1080p to 91 FPS at 1440p (a 27% drop) and then to 59 FPS at 4K (a 35% drop from 1440p). The Medium preset shows similar behavior: 143 FPS at 1080p, 105 FPS at 1440p, and 68 FPS at 4K. These consistent percentage drops across settings indicate that the GPU is the limiting factor at resolutions above 1080p. The CPU's robust single-thread performance ensures it can keep up with the GPU's output at lower resolutions, but as the workload shifts to pixel filling and memory bandwidth, the RTX 5060's capabilities define the performance ceiling.

The most telling data point is the Ultra preset, which shows a severe drop from 94 FPS at 1080p to 69 FPS at 1440p and finally to 44 FPS at 4K. The margin between 1080p and 1440p Ultra (25 FPS drop) is larger than the corresponding margins for other presets, suggesting that the Ultra preset's effects, possibly combined with VRAM limitations, are disproportionately taxing the GPU. The data indicates that at 4K, the RTX 5060 is the definitive limiting component, as even the Low preset cannot achieve 100 FPS, a threshold easily surpassed at 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the database of tested hardware combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 holds a rank of 1226 out of 2828 total combinations. This places it in the 57th percentile of all tested combos, meaning that a significant portion of other pairings deliver higher average framerates in this game. This ranking is a function of the GPU's mid-range positioning, as the CPU is a top-tier part that is not the limiting factor.

The combo's rank is primarily driven by the RTX 5060's performance, which sits in the 72nd percentile for all GPUs. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking is effectively neutralized by the GPU's lower standing, resulting in a combined rank that reflects the weaker link in the chain. While the CPU provides excellent headroom, the RTX 5060 cannot fully utilize it to push the combo to the top of the charts. This is evident when comparing the combo's performance to systems with higher-ranked GPUs, which would achieve better FPS despite potentially having slower CPUs.

The data suggests that this combination is balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the GPU can produce respectable framerates. However, its overall rank of 1226 indicates that it is not a top-tier combo for Lockdown Protocol when considering all hardware pairings. The ranking is a holistic measure of the system's gameplay capability, and the sub-60 FPS performance at 4K Ultra is a significant factor pulling the rank down from what the CPU alone might suggest.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combination delivers an average of 201 FPS on Low, 143 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 121 FPS and maximum of 164 FPS), 125 FPS on High, and 94 FPS on Ultra. This shows that at 1080p, the system is capable of high refresh-rate gaming on all presets, with even the Ultra preset maintaining an average above 90 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the average framerates are 148 FPS on Low, 105 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 89 FPS and maximum of 120 FPS), 91 FPS on High, and 69 FPS on Ultra. The transition from 1080p to 1440p results in a notable performance hit, but the system remains playable on all presets. The Medium preset provides a solid 105 FPS average, while the Ultra preset still manages to stay above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. The average framerates are 95 FPS on Low, 68 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 57 FPS and maximum of 78 FPS), 59 FPS on High, and 44 FPS on Ultra. This is the only resolution where the system fails to maintain a 60 FPS average on the High and Ultra presets. The Low preset remains playable at 95 FPS, but the Ultra preset's 44 FPS average is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The data shows a clear pattern: 1080p is the sweet spot for high performance, 1440p offers a balanced experience, and 4K requires lowering settings to achieve playable framerates.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and desired framerate. For users with a 1080p display, the High preset (125 FPS) offers a strong balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset (94 FPS) is also viable, providing the highest visual fidelity while still maintaining an average framerate that is suitable for most displays. The Medium preset (143 FPS) is the better choice for users with high refresh rate monitors (144Hz or above), as it allows the system to push beyond 140 FPS.

At 1440p, the Medium preset (105 FPS) provides the best overall experience. It delivers a smooth framerate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold, while offering a significant visual improvement over the Low preset. The High preset (91 FPS) is also a strong option for users who prioritize visual quality, as it remains comfortably playable. The Ultra preset (69 FPS) is acceptable for users who prefer maximum detail, but the 69 FPS average is close to the 60 FPS minimum for smooth gameplay, and the minimum FPS data is not available to confirm stability.

For 4K displays, the Low preset (95 FPS) is the only setting that provides a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset (68 FPS) is borderline, with a minimum FPS of 57, which may result in occasional stutters. The High and Ultra presets (59 FPS and 44 FPS respectively) are not recommended for competitive play, as they fall below the 60 FPS threshold. The data suggests that 4K gaming requires significant settings compromises with this GPU, making 1440p the practical maximum resolution for a high-quality experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average framerate achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average framerate recorded is 201 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution with High settings?

A: No. The measured average framerate at 3840x2160 with High settings is 59 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1080p and 4K on the Medium preset?

A: The average framerate on the Medium preset drops from 143 FPS at 1920x1080 to 68 FPS at 3840x2160, a reduction of 75 FPS.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Ultra preset at 1440p?

A: The data for the Ultra preset at 2560x1440 does not include a minimum FPS value. Only the Medium preset has recorded minimum FPS values, which are 121 FPS at 1080p, 89 FPS at 1440p, and 57 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K?

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's score of 83807.

Q: Is this combo better than a system with an AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331, which is 1.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT's score of 26011. This indicates the RTX 5060 is marginally faster in synthetic benchmarks, but actual game performance may vary.