Lockdown Protocol

This PC configuration, pairing an Intel Core i5-14600K with an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, delivers a performance profile that scales predictably across resolutions in Lockdown Protocol. The data shows a decisive shift from GPU-bound at 4K to a more balanced workload at 1080p, with the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensuring high frame rates are consistently achievable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured average frame rates demonstrate the GPU's limitations at the highest pixel count. The Ultra preset yields an average of 39.5 FPS, which falls well below the playable threshold. Dropping to High raises the average to 55.5 FPS, still short of 60. The Medium preset achieves 66.3 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the playability line. The Low preset produces the highest average at this resolution, reaching 92.5 FPS.

Moving down to 2560x1440, the GPU has more headroom, and all four presets clear the 60 FPS mark. The Ultra preset averages 63.3 FPS, which is just barely playable but leaves little room for demanding scenes. The High preset delivers 86.7 FPS, offering a substantial buffer. Medium reaches 102.2 FPS, and Low averages 138.3 FPS, indicating that even the most demanding settings are viable at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the combination of the Core i5-14600K and RX 6700 XT performs exceptionally well across the board. The Ultra preset averages 88.2 FPS, which is comfortably above the playable threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. High settings produce 120.6 FPS, while Medium reaches 139 FPS. The Low preset generates an average of 192.9 FPS, showing the system's ability to push extremely high frame rates when visual fidelity is minimized. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p shows a 39% increase in average FPS on the Ultra preset, from 63.3 to 88.2, indicating that the GPU still has performance to give at lower resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 66.3 FPS. This provides a playable experience, though the 6.3 FPS margin above the threshold is modest. The High preset at 55.5 FPS is not recommended for consistent gameplay at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the best choice, averaging 63.3 FPS. This allows for maximum visual quality while maintaining playability. The data shows that all settings are playable at this resolution, so users can prioritize visual fidelity without sacrificing performance.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is again the best option, achieving an average of 88.2 FPS. This provides a high-quality experience with ample headroom above the 60 FPS threshold, making it suitable for competitive play or smooth single-player sessions.

CPU and GPU Roles

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The differences between presets are significant, with a 134% increase in FPS from Ultra to Low (39.5 to 92.5). This large scaling indicates that the RX 6700 XT's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor. The CPU's role is less critical here, as the frame rate is primarily determined by pixel throughput and memory bandwidth.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts slightly. The scaling between presets is still substantial, but the Ultra preset at 63.3 FPS shows that the GPU can handle the workload at higher settings. The CPU begins to contribute more, as the higher frame rates at Low (138.3 FPS) require the processor to feed the GPU with enough draw calls and game logic updates.

At 1920x1080, the CPU's importance becomes more pronounced. The gap between Low (192.9 FPS) and Medium (139 FPS) is 39%, while the gap between Medium and Ultra (88.2 FPS) is also 36%. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the Core i5-14600K's 14 cores and 20 threads, along with its 24 MB of L3 cache, are sufficient to keep the GPU well-fed. The CPU's single-thread performance, as indicated by a Geekbench single-core score of 2491, supports high frame rates even in demanding scenarios.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48618. The nearest rivals in terms of performance are the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H with a score of 48698 (0.2% faster) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 with a score of 48995 (0.8% faster). On the slower side, the AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470 (0.3% slower) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287 (0.7% slower). These alternatives would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, with differences well within the margin of error.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has an average benchmark score of 27425. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile matches it exactly at 27435 (0% difference). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 scores 27565 (0.5% faster), while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 scores 27839 (1.5% faster). The NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is 1.1% slower at 27135. Users with any of these GPUs would see very similar performance in this game, with the RTX 3090 providing a marginal advantage that would not be noticeable in practice.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol effectively at all tested resolutions, with some caveats at 4K. At 3840x2160, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on Low and Medium presets, with Medium providing the best balance of visual quality at 66.3 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution are below the playable threshold and should be avoided.

At 2560x1440, the system fully clears the 60 FPS threshold on all presets. The Ultra preset at 63.3 FPS is playable, but users who prefer a higher frame rate buffer can select High at 86.7 FPS or Medium at 102.2 FPS for a smoother experience.

At 1920x1080, the system excels. The Ultra preset averages 88.2 FPS, and even the most demanding settings stay well above the playable threshold. This configuration is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1080p, with the Low preset capable of 192.9 FPS for esports-style play. The data indicates that this combination of CPU and GPU is most effective at 1440p and below, where the Core i5-14600K's processing power and the RX 6700 XT's 12 GB of GDDR6 memory work together to deliver strong results.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 Ultra is 39.5 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is Medium, which averages 66.3 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this PC in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. All presets, including Ultra at 63.3 FPS, clear the 60 FPS threshold, allowing for maximum visual quality without compromising playability.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618 on average. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is 0.2% faster, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% faster, the AMD EPYC 4345P is 0.3% slower, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX is 0.7% slower. These differences are negligible for gaming.

Q: Is the RX 6700 XT a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 88.2 FPS and Low reaches 192.9 FPS. The GPU is not the limiting factor at this resolution; the CPU's ability to process game logic becomes more relevant at higher frame rates.

Q: What settings should be used for a 1440p 144Hz monitor?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 averages 86.7 FPS, which is below 144 FPS. The Low preset averages 138.3 FPS, which is close to but still below 144. For a 144Hz display, the Medium preset at 102.2 FPS is recommended for a balanced experience.

Q: How does this system's performance rank among all tested combos?

A: This configuration ranks 1929 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the upper half of all tested systems. This indicates it performs better than a typical setup for this game.