Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 delivers a mixed bag in Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title. Measured frame-rate data shows the combo is comfortably playable at 1080p and 1440p across all quality presets, but at 4K it only manages a smooth experience on Low settings. The CPU, which sits in the 83rd percentile of all tested processors, and the GPU, which lands in the 59th percentile, together form a mid-pack combination that ranks 2194th out of 3714 tested combos in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS table provides exact averages, and where available, minimum and maximum frame rates for each resolution and settings preset. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong performance across the board. On Low settings, the average is 175 FPS. Medium settings average 124 FPS, with a minimum of 106 and a maximum of 143. High settings average 109 FPS, and Ultra settings average 81 FPS. All of these exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold by a wide margin.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains solid but drops noticeably. Low settings average 128 FPS, Medium averages 91 FPS (minimum 77, maximum 105), High averages 80 FPS, and Ultra averages exactly 60 FPS. The Ultra preset just meets the playable threshold, while the other three settings provide headroom above it.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. Low settings still average 83 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 59 FPS, just one frame below the 60 FPS threshold, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68. High settings average 51 FPS, and Ultra averages 39 FPS. Only Low qualifies as playable at 4K, and even that is not a huge margin above the threshold.

The data shows a clear scaling pattern: as resolution increases, average FPS falls. For example, at High settings, the average drops from 109 FPS at 1080p to 80 FPS at 1440p and then to 51 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, suggesting that the GPU is being pushed hard at the highest resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is a strong performer in absolute terms. The Intel Core i5-14400F scores 21645 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3055 in single-core, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 25470 and a single-thread score of 3701. Its 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs means it outperforms the vast majority of processors. The GPU, meanwhile, scores 17631 in Passmark G3D and 3322 in 3DMark Steel Nomad, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs.

In Lockdown Protocol, the role each component plays becomes evident when looking at FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU's strong single-thread performance likely allows the GPU to stretch its legs; the low preset reaches 175 FPS, which is well above what most games would demand. At 1440p, the FPS drops by roughly a quarter to a third across presets, but the CPU still appears to keep up. At 4K, the FPS collapses, particularly on High and Ultra settings, where averages fall to 51 and 39 FPS respectively. This pattern strongly suggests that the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU remains capable of feeding it frames at 1080p and 1440p.

The fact that the 4K Low preset still manages 83 FPS while 4K Ultra drops to 39 FPS also points to the GPU being the primary constraint. The CPU's performance is consistent regardless of graphics settings, so the wide gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is attributable to the GPU's workload. At 1080p, the gap between Low (175 FPS) and Ultra (81 FPS) is also large, but the absolute numbers are high enough that the CPU is not a bottleneck in either case.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU, based on average benchmark score, are all within 0.5% of the i5-14400F. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is 0.1% ahead, the Intel Core i9-11900 is 0.2% ahead, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is 0.2% behind, and the Intel Core i7-12800H is 0.5% ahead. These processors would deliver nearly identical average benchmark performance, so in Lockdown Protocol they are likely to produce similar frame rates when paired with the same GPU, assuming no other bottlenecks.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 9060's nearest rivals are also close. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is 0.7% ahead in average score, while the AMD Radeon R9 370X and AMD Radeon RX 7700 are each 1% behind, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 2.1% behind. The RX 9060's performance profile is therefore very similar to the RTX 3060 Ti, which is a well-known mid-range card. In this game, any of these GPUs would likely produce frame rates within a few percentage points of the RX 9060, though exact results would depend on driver optimizations and game-specific behavior.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested CPU-GPU combinations, this pairing ranks 2194th out of 3714 combos. That places it in the lower half of all tested systems, but the rank is not a measure of absolute playability—it simply reflects how this combo compares to others on a broad performance scale. Given that the combo achieves playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p on all settings, and at 4K on Low, the rank understates its practical utility for this specific game. Many combos ranked higher may be overkill for Lockdown Protocol, while this one strikes a reasonable balance.

The CPU's high percentile (83rd) and the GPU's mid-range percentile (59th) explain why the combo does not rank higher. The GPU is the weaker link, and at 4K it drags the overall performance down. At lower resolutions, the combo performs better than its rank might suggest, because the CPU is not a limiting factor.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? The answer is yes, but with qualifications depending on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo clears the 60 FPS threshold on every preset: Low averages 175 FPS, Medium 124 FPS, High 109 FPS, and Ultra 81 FPS. At 2560x1440, all settings also stay at or above 60 FPS, with Ultra exactly at 60 FPS, Medium at 91 FPS, High at 80 FPS, and Low at 128 FPS. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset averages above 60 FPS at 83 FPS; Medium falls just short at 59 FPS, and High and Ultra are well below at 51 and 39 FPS respectively.

The verdict by resolution is clear: for 1080p and 1440p, the best playable settings are Ultra, with average FPS of 81 and 60 respectively. For 4K, the best playable setting is Low, with an average of 83 FPS. Players who prioritize visual fidelity at 4K would need to lower expectations, but those targeting 1080p or 1440p can enjoy the game at maximum quality without sacrificing smoothness.

FAQ

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

A: Only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 83. Medium averages 59 FPS, High 51 FPS, and Ultra 39 FPS, all below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p?

A: Ultra settings average exactly 60 FPS, making it playable. Low, Medium, and High all average higher (128, 91, and 80 FPS respectively), so Ultra is the highest quality option that still meets the threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14400F compare to its nearest CPU rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score that is 0.1% higher than the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, meaning the two are essentially equivalent in synthetic performance.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU more limiting in this game at 1080p?

A: The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU's performance is sufficient to allow high frame rates (e.g., 175 FPS on Low), so the GPU is the component that determines the final FPS. The CPU's 83rd percentile ranking supports this interpretation.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to the RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The RX 9060's average benchmark score is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3060 Ti, indicating near-identical performance. In Lockdown Protocol, the two would likely produce very similar frame rates.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations?

A: It ranks 2194th out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the lower half of the database. Despite this, it still achieves playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p on all settings, and at 4K on Low.