Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 presents a stark picture for Lockdown Protocol. The recorded data shows a combination that is heavily constrained by the graphics card, with playable performance only achievable at the lowest settings and standard HD resolution. The benchmark results indicate a system that will require significant compromises to maintain a smooth frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the highest tested resolution, the system struggles across all presets. The average frame rates are 22 FPS at High settings, 26 FPS at Medium, 36 FPS at Low, and 17 FPS at Ultra. The only complete min/max data at this resolution comes from the Medium preset, which records a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 29 FPS. These figures are all far below the playable threshold of 60 FPS, indicating that 4K is not a viable option for this hardware combination.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains insufficient. The High preset yields an average of 35 FPS, Medium produces 40 FPS, and Ultra drops to 26 FPS. The Low preset reaches an average of 56 FPS, which is the closest the system comes to playability at this resolution. The Medium preset shows a range between 34 FPS minimum and 46 FPS maximum, highlighting the variability in frame delivery.

At 1920x1080, the data provides the only playable configuration. The Low preset achieves an average of 76 FPS, which is the sole preset across all resolutions to clear the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset records an average of 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, showing it is close but not consistently smooth. The High preset reaches 47 FPS average, and the Ultra preset falls to 35 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. Every preset at this resolution fails to reach the required 60 FPS average, with the best result being the Low preset at 36 FPS.

Similarly, at 2560x1440, no preset is playable. The highest average frame rate recorded is 56 FPS at Low settings, which still falls short of the 60 FPS threshold.

The only resolution with a playable configuration is 1920x1080. The best settings that maintain a frame rate at or above 60 FPS is the Low preset, which delivers 76 FPS average. This is the only valid choice for this system if the goal is consistent performance above the playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions and presets clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck. Consider the 1920x1080 results: the difference between Low and Ultra settings is a drop from 76 FPS to 35 FPS, a reduction of more than half. This dramatic sensitivity to graphics settings is a hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, is unlikely to be the limiting factor when the GPU is struggling with pixel throughput.

The resolution scaling further confirms this. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 76 FPS at 1920x1080 to 56 FPS at 2560x1440, and then to 36 FPS at 3840x2160. This consistent drop with increasing pixel count is a direct indicator of GPU-bound performance. The GTX 1650, with its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth, is being overwhelmed as the rendering load increases.

At higher settings and resolutions, the CPU role becomes even less significant. For instance, at 3840x2160 Ultra, the frame rate is 17 FPS. At this point, the GPU is so heavily loaded that the CPU is likely idle waiting for the graphics pipeline. The data suggests that upgrading the GPU would yield the most significant performance gains, while the i5-14400F has ample headroom to support a more powerful graphics card.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU provide context for its performance level. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has an average score that is 0.1% higher, while the Intel Core i9-11900 is 0.2% higher. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core i7-12800H is 0.5% lower. These differences are negligible, meaning that any of these CPUs would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in this system, given that the GPU is the bottleneck. The i5-14400F sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, confirming its position as a strong performer.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are equally matched. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 0.3% higher, the Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 0.4% higher, and the AMD Radeon R7 350 scores 0.6% higher. The Intel Arc A310 is the only rival that scores lower, at 1% below. The GTX 1650 sits in the 40th percentile of all GPUs, which is modest. These alternatives would deliver similar performance, meaning none of them would unlock playable settings at higher resolutions either.

The Verdict

This computer can run Lockdown Protocol, but only under strict conditions. The verdict data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only playable configuration, achieving 76 FPS. At 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. So, the system is capable of running the game, but users must be prepared to use Low settings at 1080p for a smooth experience. Any attempt to increase resolution or graphical fidelity will result in frame rates that fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

The Medium preset at 1920x1080, with an average of 54 FPS and a minimum of 46 FPS, is close to playable but will experience noticeable dips during intense scenes. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended, as they produce averages of 47 FPS and 35 FPS respectively.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks 3580 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 4% of all tested systems. The ranking reflects the GPU's age and its position in the 40th percentile of all GPUs. While the CPU is powerful, the system's overall performance is dragged down by the graphics card, making this one of the weaker configurations in the database for this game.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings, where it achieves an average of 76 FPS. No other settings or resolutions reach the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: There is no playable setting at 2560x1440. The best result is 56 FPS at Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How much better is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1920x1080?

A: The Low preset delivers 76 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 35 FPS. This is a 41 FPS difference, representing a significant performance gain from lowering graphical fidelity.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. The frame rate drops consistently as resolution increases, from 76 FPS at 1080p to 36 FPS at 4K on Low settings, indicating the graphics card is the bottleneck.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 1920x1080?

A: The minimum FPS for the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is 46 FPS, with a maximum of 62 FPS and an average of 54 FPS.

Q: How does this system rank compared to other tested combos?

A: This combo ranks 3580 out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the lower portion of the database for Lockdown Protocol performance.