Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the AMD Radeon RX 580 is a combination that sits near the bottom of the database’s tested configurations for Lockdown Protocol. Out of all 3,714 recorded combos, this pairing ranks 3,422nd, placing it in the lower 8% of tested systems. This rank is not a reflection of the CPU, which is a strong performer, but rather a direct consequence of the GPU’s age and limited throughput in this FPS title. The recorded data shows that the system is capable of hitting the 60 FPS playable threshold, but only at specific resolutions and settings, and never at maximum quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 3,422 out of 3,714 tested combinations places this system in the bottom percentile of all recorded configurations for Lockdown Protocol. This poor standing is almost entirely attributable to the AMD Radeon RX 580, which sits at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs in the database. The CPU, on the other hand, is a different story. The Intel Core i5-14600KF ranks in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49,394. The disparity between the two components is stark: the CPU is a top-tier part, while the GPU is a mid-range part from an older generation.

In practical terms, this rank means that the vast majority of tested systems can outperform this combination, especially at higher resolutions and settings. However, the rank is not an absolute verdict on playability. The measured FPS data shows that the combo can still clear the 60 FPS threshold, but only under constrained conditions. The system’s overall rank is dragged down by the GPU’s inability to maintain high frame rates at 4K and at ultra settings across all resolutions. If the CPU were paired with a stronger GPU, the rank would improve dramatically, but as configured, this combo is a bottlenecked setup.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the CPU and GPU each have close performance equivalents. The Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49,394, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 at 49,228, a difference of only 0.3%. The Ryzen 9 7900 would behave almost exactly like the i5-14600KF in this game, meaning that swapping the CPU would yield no meaningful change in FPS. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is also within 0.4% of the i5-14600KF’s score, as is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 at 0.8% difference. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 49,796, which is 0.8% higher, so it would be marginally faster, but the difference is negligible in real-world gameplay.

For the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 12,928. Its closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile at 12,940, which is only 0.1% faster. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12,986, a 0.4% advantage, and would provide a similarly small FPS bump. The AMD Radeon 740M is 0.5% slower, and the AMD FirePro W5100 is 0.6% slower. In practice, any of these GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, meaning that users with any of these cards should expect the same general performance profile: playable at 1080p Low and Medium, but struggling at higher resolutions and settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear picture of which component is the limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU is heavily overwhelmed. The measured FPS at 3840x2160 ranges from 17.5 FPS at Ultra to 39.4 FPS at Low. The gap between Low and Ultra is 21.9 FPS, which is a 125% performance swing entirely driven by GPU load. The CPU is not the bottleneck here, because even at Low settings, where the GPU has less work to do, the system only reaches 39.4 FPS. This indicates that the RX 580 cannot push enough frames at 4K regardless of settings.

At 1440p, the situation improves slightly. The FPS ranges from 28.4 at Ultra to 61.1 at Low. The jump from 42.7 at Medium to 61.1 at Low is a 43% increase, showing that settings have a major impact. Still, only Low clears 60 FPS, which suggests the GPU is still the primary constraint. The CPU’s role becomes more apparent at 1080p. At 1920x1080, the system reaches 82.3 FPS at Low, 60.2 FPS at Medium, 54.6 FPS at High, and 38.9 FPS at Ultra. The scaling from Low to Medium is a 27% drop, and from Medium to High an additional 9% drop. This pattern shows that at 1080p, the CPU can feed the GPU enough data, but the GPU’s raw throughput limits higher settings. The CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution; the RX 580 is always the bottleneck.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but with significant caveats. At 3840x2160, there is no playable setting. The highest average FPS at 4K is 39.4 at Low, which is far below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the system is playable only at Low settings, which averages 61.1 FPS. At 1920x1080, the system is playable at both Low and Medium settings, with Medium averaging 60.2 FPS, just barely clearing the threshold. The verdict is clear: this combo is a 1080p gaming system for Lockdown Protocol. It cannot handle 4K at any quality level, and it can only manage 1440p at the lowest preset. For users targeting 60 FPS, the only viable path is 1080p with Medium settings or lower, or 1440p with Low settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the system delivers 25.9 FPS on High, 39.4 FPS on Low, 30.3 FPS on Medium, and 17.5 FPS on Ultra. None of these come close to the 60 FPS threshold. The gap between Low and Ultra is 21.9 FPS, with Ultra being less than half the speed of Low.

At 2560x1440, the results are 38.7 FPS on High, 61.1 FPS on Low, 42.7 FPS on Medium, and 28.4 FPS on Ultra. The Low preset is the only one that reaches playable levels, and it does so by a narrow margin. The Medium preset is 18.4 FPS behind Low, and Ultra is 32.7 FPS behind.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. High averages 54.6 FPS, Low averages 82.3 FPS, Medium averages 60.2 FPS, and Ultra averages 38.9 FPS. The Low preset is the fastest, followed by Medium, which just clears 60 FPS. High is 5.6 FPS below the threshold, and Ultra is 21.3 FPS below. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 53% drop, showing that the GPU’s performance degrades sharply with increased graphical demands.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is as follows. At 3840x2160, no settings achieve the target, so there is no recommended preset. At 2560x1440, the only playable setting is Low, which averages 61.1 FPS. This is the best possible setting for that resolution, and it is a marginal pass. At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Medium, which averages 60.2 FPS. Low is also playable at 82.3 FPS, but Medium is the highest quality that still meets the threshold. High and Ultra are not recommended, as they fall to 54.6 FPS and 38.9 FPS respectively.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS is 39.4 at Low settings, and Ultra drops to 17.5 FPS. None of the presets reach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for 60 FPS?

A: The system can achieve 60 FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, averaging 60.2 FPS. It can also run at 2560x1440 with Low settings, averaging 61.1 FPS.

Q: How much faster is the CPU compared to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF scores 49,394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 at 49,228. The difference is negligible in gameplay.

Q: Is the GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 580 has a GPU benchmark score of 12,928, ranking at the 53rd percentile, while the CPU ranks at the 90th percentile. The FPS scaling across resolutions and settings shows the GPU limits performance.

Q: What GPU is most similar in performance to the RX 580?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile is the closest, with a score of 12,940, which is 0.1% faster. The GTX 1660 SUPER is 0.4% faster, and the Radeon 740M is 0.5% slower.

Q: Is 1440p playable on this system?

A: Only at Low settings. The average FPS at 2560x1440 Low is 61.1, which barely clears the threshold. Medium drops to 42.7 FPS, and High falls to 38.7 FPS.