Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a decisive performance outcome in Lockdown Protocol: it runs the game at 60+ FPS on every preset at every resolution tested. The data shows this combination ranks 685th out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the top 18.5% of all systems for this title. The verdict is clear from the measured FPS — there is no resolution or quality setting in the dataset where this hardware falls below the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions (3840x2160, 2560x1440, 1920x1080) and four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). At 4K (3840x2160), the average frame rates scale from 133 FPS on Low down to 62 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset at 4K delivers an average of 94 FPS, with a minimum of 80 FPS and a maximum of 108 FPS — this is the only configuration in the entire dataset that reports min/max values, indicating the system is particularly stable there. The High preset at 4K averages 82 FPS, while Ultra averages 62 FPS, which exactly matches the playable threshold.

Moving to 1440p (2560x1440), the performance headroom expands considerably. The Low preset averages 206 FPS, Medium averages 146 FPS (with min/max of 124/168), High averages 127 FPS, and Ultra averages 96 FPS. Every single setting at 1440p keeps the average comfortably above 90 FPS, meaning even the most demanding preset leaves a 36 FPS buffer above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 1080p (1920x1080), the numbers become extraordinary. The Low preset averages 280 FPS, Medium averages 199 FPS (min/max 169/229), High averages 174 FPS, and Ultra averages 130 FPS. The minimum FPS recorded at 1080p Medium is 169 FPS — that is nearly three times the playable threshold and represents the lowest frame dip across all 1080p settings. The scaling pattern from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a drop of 150 FPS (from 280 to 130), yet even the worst-case Ultra average is more than double the 60 FPS requirement.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities across resolutions. At 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound: the jump from Low (280 FPS) to Ultra (130 FPS) represents a 54% reduction in average frame rate, which is far larger than the GPU workload increase alone would suggest. The Intel Core i5-14400F's benchmark scores — particularly the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21645 and the single-core score of 3055 — indicate a processor that can feed the RX 7900 XT at high frame rates, but the 1080p ceiling is ultimately set by the CPU's ability to process game logic and draw calls.

As resolution increases to 1440p and then 4K, the GPU becomes the dominant factor. The scaling from 1080p Ultra (130 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (96 FPS) to 4K Ultra (62 FPS) shows a clear pattern: each resolution step reduces the average by roughly 30-35 FPS, which is consistent with a GPU that is increasingly saturated by pixel throughput. The RX 7900 XT's specifications support this — its 5376 shading units and 800.0 GB/s memory bandwidth are ample for 1440p, but at 4K Ultra the GPU is working near its limit, producing exactly 62 FPS.

The preset scaling at each resolution further clarifies the roles. At 4K, moving from Low to Medium increases the average from 133 FPS to 94 FPS (a 39 FPS drop), then to High (82 FPS) and Ultra (62 FPS). This steady decline indicates the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K, as each quality tier adds shading and texture work that directly impacts the Radeon's output. Conversely, at 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium is 81 FPS (280 to 199), but the jump from High to Ultra is only 44 FPS (174 to 130) — the CPU is already maxed out at High, so the extra GPU work in Ultra has a diminishing impact on the final frame rate.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 62 FPS, which is 2 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the tightest margin in the entire dataset, so while it clears the bar, it leaves almost no headroom for frame drops.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 96 FPS, which is 36 FPS above the playable threshold. This is the most demanding preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, making it the optimal choice for 1440p.

Q: How does the RX 7900 XT compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RX 7900 XT's average benchmark score is 13745, placing it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 660M, scores 13812 (0.5% higher), while the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile scores 13821 (0.5% higher) and the AMD Radeon RX 570X scores 13871 (0.9% higher). The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543, which is 1.5% lower.

Q: What is the CPU's performance percentile and how does it compare to similar processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 32279. Its closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U at 32233 (0.1% higher), followed by the Intel Core i9-11900 at 32226 (0.2% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS at 32354 (0.2% lower). The Intel Core i7-12800H scores 32121, which is 0.5% lower.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate drops below 60 FPS?

A: No. Every resolution and preset combination in the measured data reports an average FPS above 60. The lowest average recorded is 62 FPS at 4K Ultra, and the lowest minimum FPS reported is 80 FPS at 4K Medium.

Q: How much performance headroom exists at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, even the most demanding Ultra preset averages 130 FPS, which is 70 FPS above the threshold. The Low preset averages 280 FPS, giving a 220 FPS buffer. This indicates the system is far more capable than needed for 1080p, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

The Verdict

The verdict is unambiguous: this PC can run Lockdown Protocol at every resolution and preset combination tested. The verdictByResolution data confirms that all four settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable at all three resolutions. At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra with an average of 62 FPS — it clears the 60 FPS bar, but only just. At 2560x1440, Ultra delivers 96 FPS on average, which is a comfortable margin. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 130 FPS, making it the best choice for high-refresh gaming.

For users prioritizing visual quality, 4K Ultra is technically playable but leaves no room for error — a single demanding scene could push the frame rate below 60 FPS. The safest high-fidelity option is 1440p Ultra, which offers 96 FPS and a 36 FPS cushion. At 1080p, the system is overkill for this game; even Ultra settings produce frame rates that exceed most 120Hz monitors' refresh rates. The data suggests that the sweet spot for this combination is 1440p, where the GPU is sufficiently loaded to produce excellent visuals without compromising frame times.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals provide a comparable foundation for this game. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has an average score of 32233 (0.1% higher than the i5-14400F), meaning it would behave nearly identically in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core i9-11900 at 32226 (0.2% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS at 32354 (0.2% lower) are also within a fraction of a percent. The Intel Core i7-12800H at 32121 (0.5% lower) is the closest rival that scores slightly below the i5-14400F. Any of these processors would deliver essentially the same frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, assuming the GPU remains constant.

On the GPU side, the RX 7900 XT's nearest rivals are surprisingly modest in synthetic benchmarks. The AMD Radeon 660M scores 13812 (0.5% higher), the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile scores 13821 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 570X scores 13871 (0.9% higher). The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543 (1.5% lower). These deltaPct values are all within 1.5%, suggesting that in the synthetic average benchmark, these GPUs would produce similar overall scores — though the RX 7900 XT's massive 20 GB memory and 800 GB/s bandwidth may give it an advantage in specific game workloads that is not captured by the average score.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, which produces an average of 62 FPS. This is the only resolution where the best setting is within 2 FPS of the playable threshold, so users who want more safety margin should consider High (82 FPS) or Medium (94 FPS). The data shows that at 4K, Medium offers the best balance of visual quality and stability, with a minimum FPS of 80 that never dips below the threshold.

For 2560x1440, Ultra is the clear winner with 96 FPS average. This leaves 36 FPS of headroom, which is sufficient for most gameplay scenarios. The next step down, High at 127 FPS, offers diminishing returns in visual quality for a large increase in frame rate — but Ultra remains the recommended choice since it stays well above 60 FPS.

For 1920x1080, Ultra at 130 FPS is the best setting. The system has so much headroom at this resolution that even the most demanding preset produces more than double the playable threshold. Users with 144Hz or 240Hz monitors could drop to High (174 FPS) or Medium (199 FPS) to fully utilize their refresh rates, but Ultra is the most visually demanding option that still clears 60 FPS by a wide margin. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 169 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra the average is 130 FPS — both are far above the 60 FPS floor, making this resolution the most forgiving for this hardware combination.