Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, with every tested resolution and settings combination clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data set is measured, not estimated, and shows a system that scales from high-refresh 1080p gaming to smooth 4K performance. At 1920x1080, the combo produces a minimum average of 136.8 FPS at Ultra settings, while the Low preset reaches an average of 288.8 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rate at Ultra is 96.7 FPS, and even at 3840x2160, the Ultra preset maintains an average of 63.8 FPS. The performance gap between the highest and lowest presets is substantial, yet the system never drops below the 60 FPS line, making it a versatile option for competitive and visually demanding play.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the benchmark results show a wide performance envelope across the four settings presets. The Low preset delivers an average of 288.8 FPS, which is the highest recorded score in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 208.9 FPS, while the High preset averages 182.4 FPS. The Ultra preset, which places the heaviest load on the hardware, still produces an average of 136.8 FPS. There is a clear 152 FPS difference between the Low and Ultra presets at this resolution, indicating that the GPU is heavily utilized at higher settings. The scaling from Low to Medium shows a drop of 79.9 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra results in a 45.6 FPS reduction.

The 2560x1440 measurements follow a similar pattern but with lower absolute numbers. The Low preset averages 214.8 FPS, which is still far above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings produce an average of 149.4 FPS, and High settings reach 130.8 FPS. At Ultra, the average drops to 96.7 FPS. The performance delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 118.1 FPS. The transition from Medium to High is relatively modest, with only an 18.6 FPS difference, suggesting that the visual fidelity gains from Medium to High come at a smaller performance cost than the jump from Low to Medium.

At 3840x2160, the system remains playable across all presets. The Low preset averages 137.8 FPS, which is remarkable for 4K resolution. Medium settings average 96.3 FPS, and High settings average 87.2 FPS. The Ultra preset produces an average of 63.8 FPS, which is the lowest recorded score in the dataset but still clears the 60 FPS threshold by a margin of 3.8 FPS. The scaling from High to Ultra at 4K shows a 23.4 FPS drop, the largest single-step reduction at this resolution. Comparing the Low preset across resolutions, the 4K score of 137.8 FPS is 77 FPS lower than the 1080p score of 288.8 FPS, illustrating the impact of pixel count on the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination ranks 574th out of 3,714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 15.5% of all configurations. This percentile position reflects a strong pairing that outperforms the vast majority of systems in the database. The CPU alone sits in the 90th percentile among all processors, while the GPU is in the 83rd percentile among all graphics cards, indicating that both components contribute to the high ranking. The combo’s rank is particularly impressive given the game’s recent release, as newer titles often expose bottlenecks in older hardware.

The rank of 574 out of 3,714 means there are 573 configurations that deliver higher average frame rates, but the gap between this combo and the top performers is not extreme. The data shows that this pairing is better suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p and solid 4K performance than for pushing extreme frame rates at 1080p, where more powerful GPUs would take the lead. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (63.8 FPS) and 1440p Ultra (96.7 FPS) suggests that the system is balanced for resolutions where the GPU is the primary bottleneck, rather than being held back by the CPU.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo in Lockdown Protocol?*

A: The highest average frame rate is 288.8 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Can this system run the game at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the 3840x2160 Ultra preset produces an average of 63.8 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1440p to 4K at High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 High, the average is 130.8 FPS, while at 3840x2160 High, the average drops to 87.2 FPS, a difference of 43.6 FPS.

Q: What is the difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The Low preset averages 288.8 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 136.8 FPS, representing a 152 FPS gap.

Q: Does the system maintain playable frame rates at every settings preset?

A: Yes, the lowest recorded average is 63.8 FPS at 4K Ultra, and all other combinations exceed this value.

Q: How does the GPU’s benchmark percentile compare to the CPU’s?

A: The GPU is in the 83rd percentile among all graphics cards, while the CPU is in the 90th percentile among all processors.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, which scores 48698 versus the i5-14600K’s 48618, a delta of -0.2%. The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470, a 0.3% difference, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, a 0.7% difference. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 scores 48995, which is 0.8% higher. These processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Lockdown Protocol, meaning the overall frame rates would be unchanged in GPU-bound scenarios.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070 SUPER’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB, which scores 43262 versus the RTX 4070 SUPER’s 43223, a delta of -0.1%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268, also a -0.1% difference, and the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43301, a -0.2% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667, which is 1% higher. Swapping the RTX 4070 SUPER for any of these would result in frame rates that are within 1% of the measured values, so users with these GPUs can expect nearly identical performance in this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the balance between the Intel Core i5-14600K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER shifts with resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system is heavily GPU-bound at lower presets, as evidenced by the massive frame rate increase from Ultra (136.8 FPS) to Low (288.8 FPS). The CPU’s 90th percentile ranking ensures it can feed the GPU adequately at this resolution, but the GPU’s workload dominates the performance scaling. The 152 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is purely a GPU-side effect, as the CPU has ample headroom to handle the game’s logic at these frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the GPU’s role becomes more pronounced. The Low preset drops to 214.8 FPS, a 74 FPS reduction from 1080p Low, while the Ultra preset drops to 96.7 FPS, a 40.1 FPS reduction. The scaling between presets is more compressed than at 1080p, with a 118.1 FPS gap between Low and Ultra. This indicates that the GPU is still the primary limiter, but the CPU’s contribution is less critical as the frame rate ceiling lowers. At 4K, the GPU is overwhelmingly the bottleneck. The Low preset averages 137.8 FPS, which is only 49.2 FPS higher than Ultra at 63.8 FPS, a much smaller margin than at lower resolutions. The CPU’s performance is essentially irrelevant at 4K, as the GPU is fully saturated even at Low settings.

The data shows that the i5-14600K is more than sufficient for this game, and the RTX 4070 SUPER is the component that determines playability. At 4K Ultra, the system barely clears 60 FPS, indicating that a stronger GPU would be needed for higher frame rates, while a weaker CPU would not significantly alter the results. At 1080p, a faster GPU would push frame rates higher, but the CPU would still handle the workload without becoming a limitation.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER can run Lockdown Protocol at every resolution and settings preset tested, with all combinations exceeding the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, delivering an average of 136.8 FPS, which is more than double the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings produce an average of 96.7 FPS, providing a comfortable margin for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 3840x2160, Ultra settings average 63.8 FPS, which clears the threshold by a small margin of 3.8 FPS. The verdict data lists all four settings presets (High, Low, Medium, Ultra) as playable at each resolution, meaning users have full freedom to choose their preferred visual quality without dropping below 60 FPS. For 4K gaming, sticking with High settings (87.2 FPS) or Medium settings (96.3 FPS) offers a safer buffer, but Ultra remains technically playable. This combination is a strong choice for gamers seeking high frame rates at 1440p and acceptable 4K performance.