Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination. The benchmark data reveals a system that is consistently GPU-limited at higher resolutions, yet shows a surprising degree of CPU headroom that allows for high frame rates at 1080p. The measured results indicate that while the combo cannot fully saturate high-refresh-rate displays at 4K, it delivers a smooth and responsive experience at 1440p and above 100 FPS at 1080p on high settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the primary bottleneck in this configuration. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 104 FPS at 1920x1080 to 76 FPS at 2560x1440, a 27% reduction, and then to 49 FPS at 3840x2160, a further 36% drop from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth as the resolution increases.

The trend is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. The system manages 78 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 57 FPS at 1440p, and finally to a playable but less fluid 37 FPS at 4K. The data shows that the gap between 1440p and 4K is consistently around 20 FPS across all settings, suggesting that the RTX 4060's 128-bit memory interface and 8 GB frame buffer become significant limiting factors at the higher resolution. The 4K Ultra result of 37 FPS is the only measured point that falls below the 40 FPS threshold, indicating that this setting is not recommended for this resolution.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less punishing. The Low preset only drops from 168 FPS to 123 FPS, a 27% decrease, while the Medium preset sees a more modest 26% decline from 119 FPS to 88 FPS. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU and GPU are better balanced, but as pixel count increases, the GPU's raw shading and rasterization limits become the dominant factor. The benchmark results make it clear that 4K is the boundary for this combo; it is playable on Medium and High, but the frame rates are not ideal for a competitive FPS title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the deciding component in this system's gaming performance. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s, which is adequate for 1080p and 1440p but becomes a constraint at 4K. The data supports this analysis: the gap between the 1440p and 4K results is far larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p, a classic sign of memory bandwidth saturation. The GPU's 3072 shading units are pushed hard at 4K, as evidenced by the 49 FPS High result, which is only 12 FPS higher than the 37 FPS Ultra result.

The card's boost clock of 2460 MHz helps maintain performance in lighter scenes, but the average frame rates suggest it cannot sustain high output under the load of Lockdown Protocol at 4K. In terms of its standing among other GPUs, the RTX 4060 sits at the 61st percentile, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests are the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and the AMD Radeon 780M, with score deltas of -0.2% and +0.3% respectively. This data indicates that while the RTX 4060 is a competent 1080p performer, its architecture is not designed for the extreme pixel throughput required at 4K, explaining the measured frame rates.

For this game, the GPU's capabilities are the ceiling. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for the High preset at 1440p (76 FPS), but the 57 FPS Ultra result at the same resolution suggests that the extra memory pressure and shading complexity are beginning to impact performance. The GPU is clearly the limiting factor at 4K, where even the Low preset (80 FPS) cannot reach the frame rates achievable at 1440p High (76 FPS). This is a GPU whose performance scales predictably with resolution, and the data shows it is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p for this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide a clear hierarchy for optimizing the experience in Lockdown Protocol. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 104 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a substantial improvement over the Medium preset's 119 FPS while ensuring a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 78 FPS is also viable, but the 26 FPS loss from High to Ultra may not justify the visual gains, especially in a fast-paced FPS where higher refresh rates are beneficial.

At 1440p, the High preset is the clear recommendation. The 76 FPS average is excellent for a competitive shooter, and it is 12 FPS higher than the Medium preset's 88 FPS. The data shows that the Ultra preset at 57 FPS is playable, but it is significantly closer to the 60 FPS minimum, and the 19 FPS drop from High to Ultra suggests a heavy performance penalty for marginal visual improvements. The Low preset at 123 FPS is an option for players who prioritize maximum frame rates, but the High preset offers a better balance of fidelity and performance.

For 4K, the options are limited. The Medium preset at 57 FPS is the only setting that provides a reasonably smooth experience, and even then, it is near the edge of playability. The High preset at 49 FPS is less desirable, and the Ultra preset at 37 FPS should be avoided due to its sub-40 FPS average. The Low preset at 80 FPS is surprisingly strong, but it would significantly reduce the visual quality. The benchmark data suggests that 4K is not the intended resolution for this combo, and users should either drop to 1440p or accept the Medium preset's compromise.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks in the 2276th position out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the lower-middle tier of all configurations, which is consistent with the GPU being a mid-range part. The rank reflects that while the CPU is a strong performer, the GPU's limitations cap the overall gaming experience, especially at higher resolutions.

The CPU itself is a top-tier mobile processor, ranking in the 88th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 44466. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, which has a nearly identical average score of 44573, a delta of -0.2%. The Intel Core i9-13950HX is also close, with a score of 44342 and a delta of +0.3%. This indicates that the 388H is not the bottleneck in this system. However, the GPU's 61st percentile ranking and its average score of 17639, which is only slightly above the AMD Radeon HD 7790, drags the combo's overall standing down. The combo rank of 2276 out of 3714 suggests that many other pairings with faster GPUs will outperform this one, even if their CPUs are slower.

The data shows a system that is well-balanced for 1080p gaming but lacks the GPU headroom to compete with higher-end combos at 1440p and 4K. The rank is a direct result of the RTX 4060's position in the market; it is a capable 1080p card, but it does not have the power to push this combo into the upper echelons of the benchmark database. Users seeking higher rankings would need to pair a similarly strong CPU with a more powerful GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a formidable processor that provides ample computational power for Lockdown Protocol. With 16 cores and 16 threads, it has the multi-threading capability to handle the game's background tasks and physics calculations without breaking a sweat. Its boost clock of 5.10 GHz ensures high single-threaded performance, which is crucial for game logic and frame pacing. The CPU's performance is validated by its Cinebench R23 scores: 18911 in multi-core and 2200.5 in single-core, both of which are strong results that far exceed the requirements of most games.

In this game, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU's. The benchmark results show that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU has the least work to do, the system only achieves 168 FPS. This is likely a frame rate cap or an engine limit, not a CPU bottleneck. The CPU's Passmark single-thread score of 4280 places it in a high tier, and its nearest rivals in overall CPU score, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, show that it is not a limiting factor in this combo. The data implies that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at much higher frame rates than what is being measured.

The 18 MB of shared L3 cache and the dual-channel LPDDR5X memory support with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth provide the data throughput necessary for smooth gameplay. While the GPU is the clear performance limiter, the CPU's consistency ensures that frame times remain stable, as seen in the Medium preset's minimum FPS figures (102 FPS at 1080p, 74 FPS at 1440p, 48 FPS at 4K). The CPU is not the reason for the performance drops at higher resolutions; that is entirely attributable to the RTX 4060's memory bandwidth and shading limitations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its best performance. The Low preset achieves an average of 168 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset follows at 119 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 137 FPS, indicating a stable experience. The High preset produces 104 FPS, and the Ultra preset yields 78 FPS. The data shows a consistent step-down of roughly 15 FPS between each preset, with the Ultra setting providing a playable but less responsive experience compared to High.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are noticeable. The Low preset still provides a high average of 123 FPS. The Medium preset offers 88 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS, which is a solid result. The High preset falls to 76 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution is a 54% reduction, highlighting the GPU's struggle with increased pixel count. The Medium preset's minimum of 74 FPS is still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, but the Ultra preset's average of 57 FPS is borderline.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations are fully exposed. The Low preset is the only setting that provides a high frame rate, at 80 FPS. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 48 FPS and a maximum of 65 FPS, which is just playable. The High preset drops to 49 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the worst performer at 37 FPS. The data reveals a steep cliff between Low and Medium, suggesting that the game's higher-quality textures and effects quickly overwhelm the 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Medium preset's minimum of 48 FPS indicates potential stuttering in intense scenes, while the High and Ultra results are not recommended for a smooth experience. The measured FPS breakdown confirms that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for low-fidelity settings.