Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the combination of an Intel Core i5-14600K with an AMD Radeon RX 9060 delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience, while 4K requires more careful settings management. The data shows that this pairing is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at standard resolutions, with performance at 4K being the primary compromise. The CPU sits in the 90th percentile of all tested processors, while the GPU ranks in the 59th percentile, indicating a system where the graphics card is the more likely bottleneck at higher resolutions and detail levels. The measured frame rates confirm that this combo can handle the game's demands across a range of settings, but the user must adjust expectations based on their display's native resolution.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings is 81 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This makes Ultra settings fully viable for a smooth experience at this resolution.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 2560x1440 that maintains at least 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that all four tested presets (Low, Medium, High, and Ultra) achieve an average of 60 FPS or higher at 1440p. The Ultra preset averages exactly 60 FPS, making it the most demanding option that still clears the playable threshold, while Medium and High offer higher frame rates at 91 and 80 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K (3840x2160) with Medium settings?

A: At 4K with Medium settings, the average frame rate is 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS. This is marginally below the 60 FPS target, so while it is close, it does not technically meet the playable threshold on average.

Q: Which component is more likely to limit performance in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. For instance, at 4K, the frame rate drops from 83 FPS on Low settings to 51 FPS on High settings, a 39% reduction. The CPU's strong multi-core performance (24491 in Cinebench R23) suggests it is not the bottleneck in most scenarios, especially at lower resolutions where frame rates are much higher.

Q: Is the Radeon RX 9060's performance comparable to any other well-known GPU?

A: Based on the average benchmark score, the RX 9060 is very closely matched with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. The RX 9060's average score is 16014, while the RTX 3060 Ti's is 16129, a difference of only -0.7%. This means the two cards should deliver very similar frame rates in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14600K provide enough processing power to avoid holding back the GPU?

A: Yes. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The data shows that at 1080p, the system achieves 175 FPS on Low settings, which indicates the CPU is not a limiting factor at that resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which yields an average of 81 FPS. This allows the user to experience the game with all visual features enabled at a frame rate well above the playable threshold. The headroom from the 81 FPS average also provides some buffer for intense in-game moments that may cause frame drops.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the best choice, but it is a closer call. The average frame rate is exactly 60 FPS, which meets the playable threshold but leaves little room for fluctuation. For a more stable experience, the Medium preset at 91 FPS or High at 80 FPS would provide more consistent performance, but the data confirms that Ultra is technically playable.

For 3840x2160, the only preset that maintains an average of 60 FPS or above is Low, which delivers 83 FPS. The Medium preset falls just short at 59 FPS, and High (51 FPS) and Ultra (39 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience. This means that 4K gaming is possible only with significant graphical compromises.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in system bottleneck behavior depending on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are very high across all settings, from 175 FPS on Low to 81 FPS on Ultra. The large gap between Low and Ultra, a 54% reduction in frame rate, suggests that the GPU is still doing most of the work, but the high absolute values indicate that neither component is being fully saturated. The CPU's strong single-threaded performance (2064 in Cinebench R23) ensures that it can feed the GPU with enough data to maintain these high frame rates.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor. The frame rate on Low settings drops from 175 FPS at 1080p to 128 FPS at 1440p, a 27% decrease. This shows that the GPU is starting to be more heavily utilized, as the number of pixels to render increases. However, the CPU still has enough headroom to keep up, as the Ultra preset still manages to hit 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant bottleneck. The frame rate on Low settings falls to 83 FPS, and on Ultra it drops to just 39 FPS. This is a 53% reduction from Low to Ultra, which is a much larger impact than at lower resolutions. The CPU's role becomes less significant here, as the GPU is struggling to process the sheer volume of pixels at 4K. The data shows that the CPU's performance is more than adequate for this game, and the user's choice of resolution and settings will be the primary determinant of the final frame rate.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48618. Its nearest rivals, based on average score, are the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H with a score of 48698 (a 0.2% difference), the AMD EPYC 4345P with a score of 48470 (a 0.3% difference), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX with a score of 48287 (a 0.7% difference). These processors should exhibit very similar behavior in Lockdown Protocol, as their overall computing power is nearly identical. A user with any of these CPUs would expect to see comparable frame rates when paired with the same GPU.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti with a score of 16129 (a -0.7% difference), the AMD Radeon R9 370X with a score of 15862 (a 1% difference), and the AMD Radeon RX 7700 with a score of 15852 (a 1% difference). This indicates that the RX 9060's performance in Lockdown Protocol will be very close to that of an RTX 3060 Ti. The R9 370X and RX 7700 also fall within a 2% performance band, meaning a user would see very similar frame rates with any of these cards.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. On Low settings, the average is 175 FPS. With Medium settings, the average is 124 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 109 FPS. On Ultra settings, the average is 81 FPS. These numbers show a smooth scaling of performance as settings increase, with each preset step providing a playable experience.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong. The Low preset averages 128 FPS. Medium settings deliver an average of 91 FPS, with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 105 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 80 FPS. Finally, the Ultra preset averages exactly 60 FPS. This resolution offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, with all presets meeting the playable threshold.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance is notably lower. The Low preset is the only one that clears the 60 FPS target, averaging 83 FPS. The Medium preset averages 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS and a maximum of 68 FPS, placing it just below the playable threshold. The High preset averages 51 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 39 FPS. This data clearly shows that 4K gaming requires sacrificing graphical fidelity to achieve a smooth frame rate.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can run Lockdown Protocol effectively, but the playable experience is heavily dependent on the chosen resolution. At 1920x1080, the system is more than capable of running the game at the highest settings. The Ultra preset averages 81 FPS, providing a smooth and visually rich experience. Even the most demanding settings are well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the system also passes the playability test at all settings. The Ultra preset averages exactly 60 FPS, which is technically playable but offers no headroom for frame drops. For a more comfortable margin, users can select the High preset at 80 FPS or the Medium preset at 91 FPS, both of which are excellent choices for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance is more limited. The only playable setting is Low, which averages 83 FPS. The Medium preset falls just short of the playable threshold at 59 FPS, meaning users seeking a 4K experience must accept significant graphical compromises. Overall, the data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates with all settings enabled.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested system combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 2194 out of 3714 total combinations. This means the combo sits in the 59th percentile of all tested systems, and its performance is above average but not in the top tier. The ranking reflects the system's strong 1080p and 1440p performance, balanced against its more limited 4K capabilities.

The rank of 2194 indicates that the majority of better-performing combos likely feature more powerful GPUs, as the CPU is already in the 90th percentile of all processors. The GPU's 59th percentile ranking is the more significant factor in determining the overall system ranking. This suggests that while the CPU provides a solid foundation, the GPU is the component that ultimately defines the system's position in the overall performance hierarchy for Lockdown Protocol.