Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti delivers a highly capable 1080p experience in Lockdown Protocol, with performance scaling predictably as resolution increases. Measured data shows this combo handles the game’s most demanding preset at 1920x1080, but struggles to maintain playability at 4K Ultra settings. The following analysis breaks down the exact frame rates, comparative standings, and component roles based solely on the provided test results.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo produces its strongest results. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 157.8. Moving to Medium drops the average to 111.8, while High settings yield 100.6 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset still maintains an average of 76.5 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This resolution shows a clear gradient where even the heaviest settings remain fluid.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, performance remains solid but the gap between presets widens. Low settings deliver 115.2 FPS on average, which is a significant drop from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 83 FPS, and High settings average 69.7 FPS. However, Ultra at 1440p falls to 56.3 FPS, dipping just below the 60 FPS playability line. The data indicates that 1440p Ultra is the first major compromise point for this hardware.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the RTX 3060 Ti begins to show its limits. Low settings produce an average of 74.7 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 56.3 FPS, below the threshold. High settings average 46.2 FPS, and Ultra falls to 33.2 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steep, with the Ultra preset losing over 40% of its average frame rate when moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160. No min or max FPS values were recorded in the data, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

Among all tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 2626th out of 3714 combos. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the overall distribution, which is somewhat surprising given its strong 1080p performance. The ranking suggests that while this combo excels at lower resolutions, many other hardware configurations achieve higher average frame rates across the full test matrix, likely due to more powerful GPUs handling 4K workloads better.

The combo’s rank relative to all tested combos indicates it is not a top-tier performer for this game. However, the ranking must be interpreted alongside the resolution-specific results. At 1080p, the combo outperforms a significant portion of the field, but at 4K, its standing drops considerably. The data implies that this hardware is optimized for 1440p and below, with the 4K results dragging down its overall rank. Users targeting 4K would need to look at higher-ranked combos, while those sticking to 1080p or 1440p will find this pairing more than adequate.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the CPU’s nearest rivals, the Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287. The closest alternatives are the Intel Core i5-13600T with an average score of 35305, a mere -0.1% difference, and the Intel Core i7-12700KF at 35365, also -0.2% from the 12700K. Slightly further off are the Intel Core i7-13700T at 35403 (-0.3%) and the Intel Core 5 213PE at 35428 (-0.4%). For gaming performance, swapping the 12700K for any of these would result in nearly identical CPU-bound behavior, as the benchmark deltas are negligible.

On the GPU side, the RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 9060 at 16014 (0.7% faster), the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M at 16351 (-1.4% slower), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT at 16361 (-1.4% slower). The AMD Radeon R9 370X at 15862 (1.7% faster) is also nearby. In practice, any of these GPUs would deliver frame rates within a couple of percentage points of the RTX 3060 Ti in Lockdown Protocol. The RX 5700 XT, despite being older, offers nearly identical average performance, making it a viable alternative for matching the measured FPS numbers.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol at playable frame rates in most scenarios, but the definition of playable varies by resolution. At 1920x1080, all four presets — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — clear the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset averages 76.5 FPS, providing a fully smooth experience at the highest settings. At 2560x1440, the combo maintains 60+ FPS on Low (115.2), Medium (83), and High (69.7) presets. However, Ultra at 1440p falls to 56.3 FPS, which is below the playable line. At 3840x2160, only Low settings (74.7 FPS) achieve playability; Medium, High, and Ultra all fail to reach 60 FPS.

The verdict is clear: for 1080p gaming, this is a strong performer capable of max settings. For 1440p, it handles everything except Ultra. For 4K, users must drop to Low settings to maintain smooth gameplay. The data shows no scenario where the combo exceeds 60 FPS at 4K with Medium or higher settings, making 4K a significant compromise for this hardware.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals which component dominates in Lockdown Protocol. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (157.8 FPS) and Ultra (76.5 FPS) is substantial, indicating that the GPU is heavily taxed by increasing graphical fidelity. The CPU, with its strong multi-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19784), is likely not the bottleneck at this resolution, as even Low settings produce very high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the same preset-to-preset spread persists, with Low at 115.2 FPS and Ultra at 56.3 FPS. The drop from 1080p Low to 1440p Low is 42.6 FPS, which is a larger absolute reduction than the drop from 1440p Low to 4K Low (40.5 FPS). This suggests that the GPU’s pixel throughput is the primary limiter as resolution increases. At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor, as even Low settings (74.7 FPS) require significant rendering resources, and Ultra (33.2 FPS) shows the GPU struggling to keep up.

The CPU’s role becomes more apparent when examining the delta between presets at a fixed resolution. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 81.3 FPS, while at 4K, the same gap is 41.5 FPS. This narrowing indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU’s rendering workload limits frame rates more than the CPU’s ability to feed it. For this game, the RTX 3060 Ti is the deciding factor at 1440p and above, while the i7-12700K provides ample headroom at 1080p.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 76.5 FPS. This is the recommended setting for maximum visual quality without sacrificing playability. At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is High, averaging 69.7 FPS. While Medium (83 FPS) and Low (115.2 FPS) also meet the threshold, High offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve 60+ FPS, with an average of 74.7 FPS. Medium falls short at 56.3 FPS, so Low is the sole viable option for 4K.

These recommendations are based strictly on the average FPS data. Users who prioritize frame rate stability over visual quality could opt for lower presets, but the data indicates that the listed settings are the highest that maintain an average above 60 FPS at each resolution.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 33.2, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 provide an average of 69.7 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS. Ultra at this resolution drops to 56.3 FPS.

Q: How does the i7-12700K compare to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287, nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-13600T at 35305 (-0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-12700KF at 35365 (-0.2% delta).

Q: Which GPU is closest in performance to the RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has an average score of 16014, which is 0.7% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti’s 16129. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT at 16361 is -1.4% slower.

Q: Does the game run at 60 FPS on Low settings at 4K?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 74.7, which comfortably clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the highest setting that maintains 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Ultra settings at 1920x1080 average 76.5 FPS, so all presets, including Ultra, are playable at this resolution.