Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 presents a classic high-end CPU, older GPU combination. This analysis examines how this specific pairing handles Lockdown Protocol across three resolutions and four quality presets, based on the recorded data in our database. The measurements show a system that is capable of delivering playable frame rates, but the experience varies significantly depending on how much graphical load you place on that older GTX 1070.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, this combination is generally strong. The recorded data shows an average of 131.3 FPS on Low settings, which is a very high level of performance for fast-paced gameplay. Moving up to Medium settings, the average drops to 96.1 FPS. High settings still provide a smooth experience with an average of 82.6 FPS. The most demanding preset at this resolution, Ultra, brings the average down to 59.5 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

The performance picture changes noticeably at 2560x1440. The Low preset yields an average of 94 FPS, which remains excellent for competitive play. Medium settings produce an average of 71 FPS, which is still comfortably above the 60 FPS target. However, the High preset drops the average to 59 FPS, placing it right at the edge of playability. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls to an average of 45.1 FPS, which is a significant step down and not ideal for a smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the GTX 1070 starts to show its age. The Low preset is the only one that clears the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 63.4 FPS. The Medium preset drops to an average of 42.7 FPS, while High settings yield 35.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces the lowest recorded performance for this combo, with an average of only 29.4 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming requires substantial compromises, and even then, the experience is only playable on the lowest settings.

The progression of scores across resolutions and presets shows a clear pattern. The delta between Low and Ultra presets is substantial at every resolution, but it becomes more pronounced as the resolution increases. For example, the jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p costs roughly 72 FPS, while at 4K it costs about 34 FPS. This suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the pixel count overwhelms the Pascal architecture.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database rankings for Lockdown Protocol, this specific combination of the Core i5-14600KF and GTX 1070 holds a rank of 3064 out of 3714 tested combos. This places the pairing in the lower portion of the overall field, which is expected given the age of the graphics card. The CPU, however, is a different story. The i5-14600KF sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs tested, indicating that its processing power is not the bottleneck in this system.

The GPU is the limiting factor here. The GTX 1070 sits at the 47th percentile among all GPUs, which puts it in the middle of the pack. The data shows that the CPU is far more capable than the GPU, and this imbalance is reflected in the overall combo rank. The CPU benchmarks show a score of 32544 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the GPU's Passmark G3D score is 13498. This discrepancy highlights that the graphics card is the component that holds this pairing back in a demanding FPS title.

When comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, the data shows it is closely matched with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which is only 0.3% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which is 0.4% behind. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% behind, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8% ahead. These tight margins indicate that the i5-14600KF is a very competitive processor in terms of raw compute, but that strength does not translate to high FPS when paired with a GPU that ranks in the 47th percentile.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data clearly shows that the GPU is the dominant factor in Lockdown Protocol, particularly as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the system still achieves 82.6 FPS on High settings, which suggests the CPU is feeding the GPU well enough. However, the drop to 59.5 FPS on Ultra at the same resolution indicates that even at 1080p, the GPU's limits are being reached when the settings are maximized.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this assessment. When moving from 1080p High to 1440p High, the average FPS drops from 82.6 to 59, a 28.6% decline. Moving from 1440p High to 4K High drops the average from 59 to 35.9, a 39.2% decline. These substantial drops are characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is a 14-core, 20-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, and it is unlikely to be the limiting factor in a game that scales this poorly with resolution.

The CPU still matters, though. At 1080p Low, the system hits 131.3 FPS, which is high enough that the CPU's single-core strength is likely contributing to maintaining those high frame rates. The i5-14600KF has a Passmark single-thread score of 4273, which is strong. However, the fact that the Ultra preset at 1080p only reaches 59.5 FPS, barely missing the playable threshold, shows that the GPU's 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are the limiting factors in the most demanding scenarios. The CPU has the headroom, but the GPU cannot keep pace when the pixel shaders are pushed hard.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The recorded data shows an average FPS of 82.6 on the High preset at 1080p, which is well above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 2560x1440?

A: No. The average FPS on Ultra at 1440p is 45.1, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Medium preset, at 71 FPS, is the most demanding playable option at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF is within 0.8% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, Intel Core Ultra 5 245, and AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 in average benchmark score. It is effectively in the same performance tier.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck for this game?

A: The data points to the GPU. The GTX 1070 ranks in the 47th percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-14600KF ranks in the 90th percentile among CPUs. The large FPS drops at higher resolutions confirm that the graphics card is the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 3840x2160?

A: The Low preset is the only option at 4K that clears the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 63.4 FPS. All other presets at this resolution fall below the playable threshold.

Q: What is the overall rank of this combo in the database?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF and GTX 1070 combination ranks 3064 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, which delivers an average of 63.4 FPS. This is the only viable option at this resolution, as Medium drops to 42.7 FPS, High to 35.9 FPS, and Ultra to 29.4 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is Medium, with an average of 71 FPS. The Low preset is also playable at 94 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while still remaining comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings at 59 FPS and Ultra at 45.1 FPS are not recommended.

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that maintains 60 FPS or higher is High, with an average of 82.6 FPS. The Medium preset at 96.1 FPS and Low at 131.3 FPS are also playable. The Ultra preset at 59.5 FPS is just below the threshold and should be avoided if you want a consistent 60 FPS experience.

The Verdict

The data shows that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience is heavily dependent on the resolution and settings you choose. The system comfortably handles 1920x1080 with High settings, delivering 82.6 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the sweet spot, offering 71 FPS. At 3840x2160, the only playable option is the Low preset, which hits 63.4 FPS.

The verdict by resolution is clear. At 3840x2160, the playable settings are limited to Low, with an average of 63.4 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low and Medium are playable, with Medium providing the best balance at 71 FPS. At 1920x1080, High, Low, and Medium are all playable, with High offering the best visual experience at 82.6 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it fails to reach 60 FPS even at 1080p, where it averages 59.5 FPS. The Core i5-14600KF is a powerful processor, but the GTX 1070 is the component that dictates the limits of this system in Lockdown Protocol.