Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is a formidable combination for Lockdown Protocol, and the measured frame rates confirm this system is capable of delivering high-refresh-rate gameplay at most settings. The data shows that at 1080p, this combo is overwhelmingly powerful, while 4K presents the only real challenge, demanding a slight reduction from the top-tier preset. This analysis breaks down the measured performance across resolutions, explains the CPU and GPU roles, and provides clear guidance on which settings to use.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured average FPS data for this system in Lockdown Protocol is consistent across all three tested resolutions, with a clear pattern of the "Low" preset delivering the highest frame rates and the "Ultra" preset the lowest. At 1920x1080, the system produces an average of 246.6 FPS on Low settings. This drops to 179.2 FPS on Medium, further to 153 FPS on High, and finally to 114.8 FPS on the Ultra preset. The gap between Low and Ultra is substantial, but even the most demanding setting at 1080p leaves significant headroom.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. The Low preset averages 182.8 FPS, while Medium yields 129.4 FPS and High produces 111.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is still well above the playable threshold, with an average of 87.3 FPS. The performance scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent reduction in frame rates across all presets, typically around a 25-30% decrease.

The 3840x2160 resolution is where the RTX 3080's 10 GB frame buffer and memory bandwidth begin to feel the strain. At 4K, the Low preset still delivers a strong 115.4 FPS average. The Medium preset drops to 86.6 FPS, and High averages 71.2 FPS. However, the Ultra preset falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold, with an average of 54.5 FPS. This is the only configuration in the data that fails to clear the playable threshold. The min and max FPS values are not provided in the data, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this specific CPU-GPU combination at rank 1058 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This ranking in the 28th percentile of all tested systems indicates that while this combo is not at the absolute top of the performance chart, it is positioned in the upper-middle tier of systems capable of running this game. The fact that it ranks higher than roughly 72% of all tested configurations is a strong indicator of its capability.

Given that this combo can achieve an average of 114.8 FPS at 1080p Ultra and 87.3 FPS at 1440p Ultra, the 1058th rank seems conservative. This suggests that many of the combos ranked above it likely feature newer, higher-end GPUs or CPUs that can push even higher frame rates at 4K Ultra, where this system struggles. The rank is a holistic measure across all resolutions and settings, and the system's weaker 4K Ultra performance likely holds it back from a higher overall position. Nevertheless, the data confirms that this is a well-balanced setup that outperforms the majority of tested hardware in this specific title.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a clear shift in the balance between CPU and GPU load. At 1920x1080, the system is heavily CPU-bound, or at least not entirely GPU-limited, as evidenced by the extraordinarily high frame rates. The jump from Low (246.6 FPS) to Ultra (114.8 FPS) is significant, but the fact that the CPU can feed the GPU enough data to exceed 240 FPS on Low suggests that the Intel Core i5-14400F's 10 cores and 16 threads are more than adequate for the game's logic at this resolution.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440 and then to 3840x2160, the load shifts to the GPU. The RTX 3080's Ampere architecture must render more pixels, and the performance drop becomes more pronounced. The frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K on the Low preset is 131.2 FPS (246.6 to 115.4), which is a 53% reduction. This substantial drop indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's role becomes less critical for raw FPS at 4K, but it still needs to maintain a stable frame delivery, which the i5-14400F does without issue.

The scaling between the Medium and High presets also highlights the GPU's dominance. At 1080p, the difference between Medium and High is 26.2 FPS (179.2 vs. 153), but at 4K, the difference is 15.4 FPS (86.6 vs. 71.2). This shows that the GPU's workload increases non-linearly with resolution, and the CPU has ample headroom to keep up even at lower settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearestRivals data provides insight into which other CPUs and GPUs would deliver similar benchmark performance. For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279. The closest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U with a score of 32233, the Intel Core i9-11900 with a score of 32226, and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS with a score of 32354. The deltaPct values are all within 0.5%, meaning these processors are virtually identical in raw compute performance. A system with any of these CPUs would likely produce almost identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, provided the GPU remains the same. The Intel Core i7-12800H, with a score of 32121 and a deltaPct of 0.5, is also a very close match.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has an average score of 23172. Its nearest rivals are surprisingly different in their specifications but numerically close in benchmark score. The NVIDIA P106-100 has a score of 23249 (deltaPct -0.3), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 scores 23250 (deltaPct -0.3), the AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23273 (deltaPct -0.4), and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X scores 23276 (deltaPct -0.4). While these GPUs may have similar synthetic benchmark scores, their real-world gaming performance in a DirectX 12 title like Lockdown Protocol could differ. However, based on the data provided, these are the components that would behave most similarly in terms of overall compute capability.

Best Settings per Resolution

The goal is to identify the most demanding preset that stays at or above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data provides a clear answer for each resolution.

• 1920x1080: The Ultra preset is the most demanding option and delivers an average of 114.8 FPS. This is far above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality at this resolution.
• 2560x1440: The Ultra preset also remains the best option here, with an average of 87.3 FPS. This is still well above the threshold, allowing for the highest settings without any concern for playability.
• 3840x2160: The High preset is the most demanding that stays above 60 FPS, with an average of 71.2 FPS. The Ultra preset dips to 54.5 FPS, so High is the recommended setting for a smooth 4K experience.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Lockdown Protocol, and it does so exceptionally well. The verdictByResolution data confirms that this system clears the 60 FPS playable threshold on the vast majority of settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 114.8 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets are also playable, with Ultra averaging 87.3 FPS.

The only limitation appears at 3840x2160. The High preset is playable at 71.2 FPS, as are Low and Medium. However, the Ultra preset fails to meet the 60 FPS standard, averaging only 54.5 FPS. Therefore, the verdict is that this combo is fully capable of running the game at maximum settings for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and at High settings for 4K gaming. For players who prioritize a locked 60 FPS at 4K, dropping from Ultra to High will provide a comfortable margin.

FAQ

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

A: No, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 on Ultra is 54.5 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is High, which averages 71.2 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset is playable at 2560x1440, with an average FPS of 87.3. This is the most demanding setting available and it clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, scores 32233, a deltaPct of 0.1. The Intel Core i9-11900 scores 32226, also a 0.2 deltaPct. These are all within 0.5% of each other.

Q: Is the RTX 3080 a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, at 1920x1080, the system achieves 246.6 FPS on Low and 153 FPS on High settings. These high frame rates suggest the GPU is not the primary limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: What is the system's overall performance rank for this game?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 1058 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Does the game run smoothly at 4K with High settings?

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 71.2 FPS at 3840x2160 on High settings. This is above the 60 FPS playable threshold, indicating a smooth experience.