Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER delivers a decisive performance profile in Lockdown Protocol, with measured frame rates that consistently exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold across every tested resolution and settings preset. The data set, comprising twelve distinct benchmark runs, shows a system that scales predictably from 1080p to 4K, with the RTX 4080 SUPER providing sufficient headroom to run even the most demanding Ultra preset at all resolutions. The following analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the division of labor between CPU and GPU, and the optimal settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combination produces playable frame rates at every settings level. The Low preset delivers an average of 159.5 FPS, which is the highest result at this resolution. Stepping up to Medium reduces performance to 112.7 FPS, a drop of 46.8 FPS from Low. The High preset averages 96.7 FPS, and the most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 71.7 FPS. This means the RTX 4080 SUPER holds the game comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold even when pushing maximum visual fidelity at 4K.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance envelope expands considerably. The Low preset reaches an average of 241.6 FPS, which is 82.1 FPS higher than the same preset at 4K. Medium averages 171.7 FPS, High averages 148.7 FPS, and Ultra averages 114.8 FPS. The scaling from 4K to 1440p is substantial, with the Ultra preset gaining 43.1 FPS when moving down in resolution. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K, while at 1440p the system has more headroom.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the frame rates become exceptionally high, approaching the refresh rate limits of most monitors. The Low preset averages 307.8 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire data set. Medium averages 238.6 FPS, High averages 207.9 FPS, and Ultra averages 153.3 FPS. The jump from 1440p to 1080p yields another significant increase, with the Ultra preset gaining 38.5 FPS. At 1080p, the data shows the system is likely becoming CPU-bound at lower presets, as the gains from Low to Medium are smaller in percentage terms than the gains from Ultra to High.

The absence of min and max FPS values in the data means the analysis relies solely on average frame rates. However, the consistency of the scaling pattern across all four presets and three resolutions suggests stable performance with no anomalous bottlenecks.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution changes. At 4K, the RTX 4080 SUPER is the dominant factor. The frame rate difference between Low (159.5 FPS) and Ultra (71.7 FPS) at 4K is 87.8 FPS, showing that GPU load scales strongly with settings. The i5-12600KF, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, provides enough processing power to feed the GPU without becoming a limiting factor at this resolution.

At 1440p, the balance begins to tip. The difference between Low (241.6 FPS) and Ultra (114.8 FPS) is 126.8 FPS, a larger absolute spread than at 4K. This widening gap indicates that the GPU is still the primary constraint, but the CPU is starting to show its influence at lower settings. The i5-12600KF’s 3DMark scores support this: its 16-thread score of 7956 and single-thread score of 1016 suggest it can handle high frame rate workloads, but the scaling from 1440p Low to 1080p Low (241.6 to 307.8 FPS, a gain of 66.2 FPS) is smaller than the scaling from 4K Low to 1440p Low (159.5 to 241.6 FPS, a gain of 82.1 FPS). This compression of gains at lower resolutions and settings points to the CPU becoming a secondary bottleneck at 1080p.

At 1080p, the CPU’s role becomes more pronounced. The Ultra preset at 1080p (153.3 FPS) is only 38.5 FPS higher than the Ultra preset at 1440p (114.8 FPS), whereas the Low preset at 1080p (307.8 FPS) is 66.2 FPS higher than the Low preset at 1440p (241.6 FPS). This pattern shows that as GPU load decreases with lower settings and resolution, the i5-12600KF’s processing capability becomes the limiting factor. The CPU’s 79th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27799, places it in a strong position, but the data indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER can outpace it at very high frame rates.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 71.7 FPS. This is the maximum quality setting available, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold by a margin of 11.7 FPS. Users seeking the best visual experience at 4K can enable Ultra without worrying about performance dropping below playable levels.

For 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 114.8 FPS. This is nearly double the 60 FPS threshold, providing significant headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors. The 1440p Ultra result is 43.1 FPS higher than the 4K Ultra result, confirming that this resolution is the sweet spot for balancing visual quality and frame rate.

For 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 153.3 FPS. This is the highest frame rate achieved at Ultra quality across all resolutions, and it exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by 93.3 FPS. The 1080p Ultra result is 38.5 FPS higher than the 1440p Ultra result, showing that the system has ample performance for competitive play at this resolution.

In all three cases, the verdict is clear: the most demanding preset is playable, and there is no need to compromise on settings to achieve a smooth experience.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol without issue at any resolution. At 3840x2160, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 71.7 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 114.8 FPS. At 1920x1080, all four presets are playable, with Ultra averaging 153.3 FPS. The playable threshold of 60 FPS is cleared in every single configuration tested, meaning users have full freedom to choose their preferred settings based on visual taste rather than performance constraints.

The strongest result comes at 1080p Low, where the system hits 307.8 FPS, a figure that caters to esports-style play with very high refresh rate displays. Even the most conservative choice—4K Ultra—stays above 60 FPS, making this combo a viable option for high-fidelity 4K gaming. The only caveat is that the CPU may limit frame rates at 1080p Low, where the GPU is not fully utilized, but this is unlikely to matter in practice since the frame rates are already exceptionally high.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, provide a useful reference for expected behavior. The Intel Core i9-10900K has an average score of 27872, which is 0.3% lower than the i5-12600KF’s score of 27799. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D scores 27896, which is 0.3% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 27887, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE scores 27712, which is 0.3% lower. These differences are negligible, meaning any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol when paired with the RTX 4080 SUPER.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 has an average score of 54247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER’s score of 54209. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, which is 1.1% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698, which is 2.7% higher. The AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55757, which is 2.8% higher. These small deltas suggest that swapping the RTX 4080 SUPER for any of these alternatives would result in virtually identical performance, with the RX 6750 GRE and 8060S offering a slight edge in synthetic benchmarks that may translate to a few extra FPS in-game.

How This Combo Ranks

Among 3714 tested combinations, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 267th. This places it in the top 7.2% of all tested combos, reflecting a high-performance setup that is well-suited for Lockdown Protocol. The rank is driven largely by the GPU’s strong showing—the RTX 4080 SUPER sits in the 86th percentile among all GPUs—while the CPU’s 79th percentile ranking provides adequate support. The 267th overall position means that while there are 266 faster combos, the vast majority of systems tested (3447 of them) will deliver lower frame rates in this game.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with the highest settings?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the measured average FPS is 71.7, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest frame rate this combo can achieve?

A: The highest measured average is 307.8 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for performance at 1440p?

A: The data shows the GPU is the primary factor at 1440p, as the difference between Low and Ultra presets is 126.8 FPS, but the CPU begins to limit gains at lower settings, as evidenced by the smaller scaling from 1440p Low to 1080p Low.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to the standard RTX 4080?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, while the RTX 4080 scores 54247, a difference of 0.1%. In practice, they perform nearly identically.

Q: What is the best settings preset to use at 2560x1440?

A: Ultra settings can be enabled at 2560x1440, with a measured average of 114.8 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays well above 60 FPS.

Q: Does the i5-12600KF bottleneck the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: The data indicates the CPU may limit performance at 1080p Low, where the frame rate is 307.8 FPS, but at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU’s 16-thread score of 7956 supports this analysis.