Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title, puts the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination through a rigorous set of performance tests. The measured data reveals a system that delivers exceptionally high frame rates across all tested settings, with the benchmark results indicating a clear headroom for demanding configurations. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and how this specific pairing ranks against other tested hardware combinations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The FPS measurements for this combination show a consistent ability to exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold by a substantial margin at every resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, the performance is exceptionally high, starting with an average of 331 FPS on Low settings. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 235 FPS, with a minimum of 200 FPS and a maximum of 270 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 205 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 154 FPS. This indicates that at 1080p, the hardware is rarely stressed, leaving significant performance on the table.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain impressively high, though the scaling from 1080p is evident. The Low preset produces an average of 243 FPS, while Medium averages 172 FPS, with a minimum of 147 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS. High settings deliver an average of 151 FPS, and the Ultra preset again clears the 60 FPS threshold with ease, achieving an average of 113 FPS. The data shows a predictable performance curve as resolution increases, but the system's power ensures that even the heaviest settings at 1440p are not a challenge.

The 3840x2160 resolution results demonstrate the RTX 4080 SUPER's capabilities. The Low preset achieves an average of 157 FPS, which is a significant drop from the 243 FPS seen at 1440p but still exceptionally fast. Medium settings average 111 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 128 FPS. The High preset produces 97 FPS on average, and even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding configuration tested, maintains an average of 73 FPS. This shows that the combination can handle 4K gaming not just at playable levels, but at high refresh rates for most settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data from the measured FPS suggests a shifting balance between CPU and GPU load as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the extremely high frame rates, particularly the 331 FPS average on Low, indicate that the Intel Core i5-14600KF is likely the primary driver, as the GPU is not being fully utilized. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a performance drop from 331 to 154 FPS, a 177 FPS difference, which is a larger absolute drop than at higher resolutions. This suggests that while the GPU is still handling more work at higher presets, the CPU's capability to feed frames is a limiting factor at lower settings where the GPU's load is lighter.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced. The gap between Low and Ultra presets narrows in absolute terms, from 243 to 113 FPS, a difference of 130 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming the bottleneck, as the pixel fill rate and shading demands increase. The CPU, while still important, is less likely to be the limiting factor at this resolution. The data shows that the RTX 4080 SUPER is capable of handling the increased load, but the performance ceiling is now determined more by the GPU's processing power.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's dominance is clear. The performance difference between Low and Ultra settings is 84 FPS (157 to 73), which is the smallest absolute difference of all three resolutions. This compression of frame rates indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is working near its maximum capacity, and the CPU's performance is less relevant. The measured data implies that for this game, the CPU is the primary performance factor at 1080p, while the GPU takes over as the main constraint at 4K. The 1440p resolution represents a balanced midpoint where both components contribute significantly to the final frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks at position 241 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 6.5% of all configurations in the database, which is a strong showing. The percentile data for the individual components supports this ranking: the CPU is in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. This suggests that while neither component is the absolute top-of-the-line, their pairing creates a synergistic balance that performs exceptionally well in this specific game.

The rank of 241 out of 3714 indicates that there are 240 other combinations that achieve higher average FPS in this game. These are likely to include top-tier CPUs like the Core i9 series or AMD Ryzen 9 variants paired with the RTX 4090. However, the data shows that this combo is far ahead of the majority of systems, making it a high-performance option. The fact that this rank is achieved with a 14-core CPU and a 16 GB GPU shows that the game is not excessively demanding on either resource, but rewards a balanced system.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous: this PC can run Lockdown Protocol exceptionally well. According to the verdict by resolution, all tested settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at every resolution, from 1920x1080 up to 3840x2160. The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and the lowest average FPS measured is 73 FPS at 4K Ultra settings. This means the system does not just meet the minimum requirement; it exceeds it by a significant margin in all scenarios.

For gamers seeking the highest visual fidelity, the data shows that the Ultra preset is viable at all resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 154 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate monitors. At 2560x1440, the average is 113 FPS, still smooth for most displays. At 3840x2160, the average of 73 FPS is playable, though it may not be suitable for 120Hz or 144Hz displays. The data confirms this is a system built for high-performance gaming, capable of delivering a superior experience in Lockdown Protocol.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Examining the nearest rivals for both the CPU and GPU provides context on what other hardware would deliver similar performance. For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is the closest match, with an average benchmark score that is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600KF. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is also very close, with a score 0.4% higher. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8% lower. These processors would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in this game, as the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the most direct rival, with an average score that is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080 SUPER. This means performance in Lockdown Protocol would be virtually indistinguishable. Other close rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, which scores 1.1% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which scores 2.7% lower. The AMD Radeon 8060S is 2.8% lower. These GPUs would offer a slightly lower level of performance, but the differences are small enough that the overall experience in this game would be similar, especially at 1080p and 1440p.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data reveals the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it achieves an average of 154 FPS. This is the highest visual quality setting and provides a frame rate that is more than sufficient for competitive play. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also delivers the best experience, with an average of 113 FPS. This demonstrates that the hardware has the headroom to run the game at maximum settings without compromising smoothness.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset remains the best option, achieving an average of 73 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended setting for 4K. While the frame rate is lower than at other resolutions, it is still perfectly playable. The benchmark data shows that this system is capable of running Lockdown Protocol at its highest visual quality across all standard resolutions, from 1080p to 4K. This reflects the balance and power of the CPU and GPU pairing.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 73 FPS at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 331 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14600KF compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 has an average benchmark score that is 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600KF, making their performance nearly identical.

Q: Is there a significant difference in performance between the RTX 4080 SUPER and the RTX 4080?

A: No. The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score that is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080 SUPER, so the performance difference in this game would be negligible.

Q: At which resolution does the CPU matter most?

A: The CPU appears to be the most significant factor at 1920x1080, where frame rates are extremely high and the GPU is less likely to be the bottleneck.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 2560x1440?

A: The minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is 147 FPS, with an average of 172 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS.