Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a wide range of performance in Lockdown Protocol, scaling predictably from high-refresh 1080p gaming to a more demanding 4K experience. The measured data shows this combo handles 1080p and 1440p with ease, while 4K requires a compromise in settings to stay above the 60 FPS playability threshold. This analysis breaks down the exact frame rates, optimal settings per resolution, and the relative standing of this hardware pairing among all tested combos.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers consistently high frame rates across all presets. The Low preset produces an average of 189 FPS, which is the highest measured result for this pairing at any resolution. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 134 FPS, with a minimum of 114 FPS and a maximum of 154 FPS, indicating a smooth experience even during intense scenes. The High preset averages 117 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 88 FPS. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the RTX 4060 is never the limiting factor, and the i5-14400F provides ample headroom for high-refresh monitors.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down from 1080p. The Low preset averages 138 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium averages 98 FPS, with a minimum of 83 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS, showing only a slight dip in the worst-case frames. The High preset averages 86 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs 12 FPS on average, while the jump from High to Ultra costs 22 FPS, highlighting that the Ultra preset imposes a significant load on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops considerably, and the frame rates become more sensitive to settings. The Low preset averages 89 FPS, which is surprisingly close to the 1440p Medium result. Medium averages 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS; the minimum falling below 60 FPS indicates occasional stutters during busy moments. The High preset averages 55 FPS, which is below the playability threshold, and the Ultra preset averages only 42 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 26 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is just 8 FPS, showing that the GPU is hitting a performance wall as settings increase.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as it averages 88 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and the frame rate remains far above the 60 FPS target, leaving room for consistent performance in action-heavy sequences.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also recommended, averaging 64 FPS. This barely clears the 60 FPS threshold, so players who prefer a larger margin might consider High at 86 FPS, but the data shows Ultra is technically playable.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the best option, averaging 63 FPS. While the minimum FPS of 54 dips below 60, the average is sufficient for a playable experience. The Low preset at 89 FPS is also viable, but Medium offers a better visual quality balance without sacrificing the average frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 2009 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 54th percentile of all configurations, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of the tested systems. The CPU itself sits at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 61st percentile among all GPUs. This discrepancy suggests that the processor is a stronger component relative to its peers than the graphics card, which is typical for a mid-range GPU paired with a capable 10-core CPU.

In terms of direct rivals, the CPU’s average benchmark score of 32279 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, which scores 32233, a delta of just 0.1%. The Intel Core i9-11900 is also close at 32226, just 0.2% behind. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS scores 32354, putting it 0.2% ahead of the i5-14400F, while the Intel Core i7-12800H scores 32121, which is 0.5% behind. These differences are negligible in real-world gaming, indicating that the i5-14400F delivers performance on par with several high-end laptop and desktop chips.

The GPU’s benchmark data shows a similar story. The RTX 4060 has an average score of 17639, with the AMD Radeon HD 7790 scoring 17666 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Radeon 780M scoring 17588 (0.3% behind), and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 scoring 17551 (0.5% behind). The AMD Radeon Pro 460 is 0.7% behind at 17509. This clustering indicates that the RTX 4060’s raw compute performance is closely matched by older and integrated solutions, though its feature set and driver optimizations for modern games like Lockdown Protocol may differ.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with stable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, which averages 63 FPS. The minimum FPS of 54 suggests occasional drops below 60, so players seeking a flawless 4K experience might prefer Low settings at 89 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, making it the highest quality setting that stays above the 60 FPS playability threshold. For a more comfortable margin, High averages 86 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The GPU’s benchmark score is within 0.7% of the AMD Radeon Pro 460, AMD Radeon Pro 560, AMD Radeon 780M, and AMD Radeon HD 7790. This means the RTX 4060 provides similar raw performance to those cards, but in-game results may vary due to driver and architecture differences.

Q: Is the i5-14400F a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 189 FPS, and even at Ultra it averages 88 FPS. The CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking suggests it has enough headroom to feed the GPU at this resolution.

Q: What is the playable threshold for this combination?

A: The playable threshold is 60 FPS. At 1080p and 1440p, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) clear this threshold. At 4K, only Low and Medium presets do so.

Q: How many total combos were tested for this ranking?

A: The combination ranks 2009 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, meaning it performs better than most but is not at the top tier.

CPU and GPU Roles

At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary performance driver. The frame rate drops from 189 FPS at Low to 88 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 101 FPS, while the CPU maintains a consistent workload across all presets. The i5-14400F’s 10 cores and 16 threads are sufficient to keep the RTX 4060 fed, as evidenced by the high frame rates even at Low settings where CPU overhead is minimal.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts slightly toward the GPU. The frame rate drops from 138 FPS at Low to 64 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 74 FPS. The CPU still has headroom, as the 64 FPS at Ultra is above the playable threshold, but the GPU is clearly the limiting factor at higher settings. The 86 FPS at High shows that the GPU can handle moderate loads well, but the jump to Ultra costs 22 FPS, indicating a steep performance curve.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the absolute bottleneck. The frame rate drops from 89 FPS at Low to 42 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 47 FPS, but the absolute numbers are much lower. The CPU’s role diminishes as the GPU struggles to fill the pixel count; the i5-14400F is unlikely to be the cause of the sub-60 FPS results at High and Ultra settings. The data shows that scaling from 1440p to 4K at Medium settings reduces the average FPS from 98 to 63, a 36% drop, which is expected given the 2.25x increase in pixel count.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 can run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS or higher in all tested resolutions, but with important caveats. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 88 FPS, making it fully playable at maximum quality. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 64 FPS, which clears the threshold but leaves little margin; the High preset at 86 FPS is a safer choice for competitive play. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 63 FPS, which is technically playable, but the minimum FPS of 54 suggests that players may experience occasional drops during intense scenes. The Low preset at 89 FPS offers a more consistent experience at 4K. Overall, this combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and it can handle 4K with reduced settings, making it a versatile option for a mid-range gaming PC.