Lockdown Protocol

Can Intel Core i5-12600KF + AMD Radeon RX 9070 run Lockdown Protocol? Benchmark results indicate this pairing is exceptionally strong for the 2024 FPS title. Across all three tested resolutions, the combination of the 10-core Alder Lake processor and the RDNA 4.0 graphics card delivers playable frame rates at the highest settings, with headroom to spare at lower resolutions. The data shows that the most demanding preset at 1080p and 1440p clears the 60 FPS threshold by a significant margin, and even 4K remains fluid if settings are slightly adjusted. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the balance of CPU versus GPU workload, and what hardware alternatives might offer similar results.

Best Settings per Resolution

The measured data provides a clear picture of what this system can achieve at each resolution while maintaining an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS. The optimal preset is defined as the most demanding settings level that still clears this threshold.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS is High, which delivers an average of 72 FPS. While the Ultra preset is not playable at this resolution, averaging only 54 FPS, the Medium preset also clears the bar with an average of 82 FPS. However, the High preset offers the best visual quality among the playable options at 4K.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the system has enough headroom to run the Ultra preset at an average of 84 FPS. This is the most demanding setting available, and it stays comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. For context, the High preset runs at 112 FPS, and Medium at 128 FPS, but Ultra remains the optimal choice for maximum fidelity.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset is again the best playable option, averaging 114 FPS. The lower presets provide extreme performance margins—Low hits 245 FPS, Medium hits 174 FPS, and High hits 152 FPS—but the Ultra setting is the most demanding that maintains a 60+ FPS average, making it the recommended choice for 1080p gaming.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data suggests a shifting balance between CPU and GPU influence depending on resolution. At 1080p, the frame rates are extremely high across all presets, with Low reaching 245 FPS. This indicates that the Intel Core i5-12600KF, with its 3.70 GHz base clock and 4.90 GHz boost, is more than capable of feeding the Radeon RX 9070 at this resolution. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop of about 53% (from 245 to 114 FPS), which is primarily driven by GPU load, but the absolute numbers suggest the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution.

Moving to 1440p, the average frame rates scale down proportionally. The Low preset runs at 180 FPS, while Ultra drops to 84 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows compared to 1080p, indicating that the GPU is beginning to take on a larger role. The CPU still maintains high throughput, but the Radeon RX 9070's workload at 2560x1440 is more demanding, reducing the overall FPS ceiling.

At 4K, the CPU's role diminishes significantly. The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 116 FPS, while Ultra drops to 54 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a drop of approximately 53%, similar to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are much lower. This suggests that at 3840x2160, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Radeon RX 9070, with its 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 644.6 GB/s bandwidth, is handling the bulk of the rendering workload, and the CPU's contribution is less critical. The data indicates that the RX 9070 is the dominant component at 4K, while the i5-12600KF provides sufficient headroom at lower resolutions for high-refresh-rate gaming.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12600KF provide context for its performance ceiling. The CPU's average benchmark score of 27799 places it in the 79th percentile of all processors. Its closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which scores 27896, a delta of -0.3%. This means the 12600KF is statistically on par with the 5800X3D, offering nearly identical frame pacing in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core i9-10900K scores 27872 (delta -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 27887 (delta -0.3%), all within a fraction of a percent. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 27712 (delta 0.3%), also essentially equivalent. For Lockdown Protocol, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance, assuming the GPU is the same.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 has an average benchmark score of 23877, placing it in the 69th percentile of all graphics cards. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, scoring 24170 (delta -1.2%). This means the RX 9070 trails the older RTX 2080 SUPER by a tiny margin in synthetic benchmarks, but in real-world gaming, the difference is negligible. The AMD Radeon RX 6800S scores 24063 (delta -0.8%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile scores 23628 (delta 1.1%), meaning the RX 9070 is slightly ahead of that mobile part. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z scores 23736 (delta 0.6%), putting it just behind the RX 9070. For Lockdown Protocol, swapping the RX 9070 for any of these cards would result in nearly identical frame rates, with the RTX 2080 SUPER being the closest match.

The Verdict

The verdict data is unambiguous: this system can run Lockdown Protocol with playable frame rates at every resolution tested. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and the measured results exceed this at all three resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium, with the best being High at 72 FPS average. The Ultra preset is not playable at 4K. At 2560x1440, all four settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with Ultra averaging 84 FPS. At 1920x1080, all settings are also playable, with Ultra averaging 114 FPS.

The data indicates that for a 4K display, the user must avoid the Ultra preset, but High provides a smooth experience. For 1440p and 1080p displays, the user can max out the settings without worrying about frame rate drops below the 60 FPS threshold. The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Radeon RX 9070 is well-balanced for this game, with the GPU being the primary driver at higher resolutions while the CPU keeps up at lower ones.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following are the exact measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings preset. Where available, minimum and maximum FPS values are also provided.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Ultra: 54 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• High: 72 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• Medium: 82 FPS average, with a minimum of 70 FPS and a maximum of 95 FPS
• Low: 116 FPS average (no min/max recorded)

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Ultra: 84 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• High: 112 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• Medium: 128 FPS average, with a minimum of 109 FPS and a maximum of 147 FPS
• Low: 180 FPS average (no min/max recorded)

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Ultra: 114 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• High: 152 FPS average (no min/max recorded)
• Medium: 174 FPS average, with a minimum of 148 FPS and a maximum of 200 FPS
• Low: 245 FPS average (no min/max recorded)

The Medium preset at each resolution is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum values, showing consistent frame pacing. At 4K Medium, the minimum of 70 FPS is above the playable threshold, while the maximum of 95 FPS shows good headroom. At 1440p Medium, the minimum of 109 FPS and maximum of 147 FPS indicate a stable experience. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 148 FPS and maximum of 200 FPS demonstrate the system's ability to maintain high frame rates even during gameplay spikes.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming with this system?

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset is the most demanding option that stays above 60 FPS, averaging 72 FPS. The Ultra preset falls below the threshold at 54 FPS, so it is not recommended for 4K.

Q: Can this system handle 1440p at maximum settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 84 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. All other presets at this resolution also exceed 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival for this game?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF scores 27799 in average benchmarks, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (score 27896). This difference is negligible, meaning the 12600KF offers essentially identical performance to the 5800X3D in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Is the GPU more important than the CPU at 1080p?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, the CPU has enough headroom to push frame rates to 245 FPS on Low settings. The GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase, with Ultra dropping to 114 FPS, suggesting the Radeon RX 9070 is the primary driver of performance at this resolution.

Q: What happens if I use the Ultra preset at 4K?

A: The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This means you would experience noticeable frame rate drops, so it is recommended to use High settings instead.

Q: How does the Radeon RX 9070 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER?

A: The RX 9070 scores 23877 in average benchmarks, which is 1.2% lower than the RTX 2080 SUPER's score of 24170. In practical terms, this means the two cards perform nearly identically in Lockdown Protocol, with the NVIDIA card having a very slight edge in synthetic tests.