Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers an exceptionally strong performance profile in Lockdown Protocol, clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested resolution and preset combination. Benchmark data confirms that this combination is not merely playable but overwhelmingly capable, with average frame rates ranging from 73 FPS at 4K Ultra to 313 FPS at 1080p Low. The measured results show a system that provides headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1440p and even maintains playable performance at 4K with maximum settings, making it a top-tier choice for this FPS title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combo demonstrates solid performance across all four presets. The Ultra preset delivers an average of 73 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, while the High preset improves to 98 FPS average. Medium settings produce a measured average of 112 FPS, with a minimum of 95 FPS and a maximum of 129 FPS, showing a stable frame delivery in the most demanding resolution. The Low preset at 4K yields an average of 157 FPS, highlighting the GPU's substantial headroom even at this high resolution. The scaling from Ultra to Low at 4K represents a 115% performance increase, from 73 to 157 FPS, indicating that the RTX 4080's rendering capabilities are the primary factor in this resolution range.

Moving to 2560x1440 (1440p), the performance leaps significantly. The Ultra preset reaches an average of 113 FPS, which is 55% higher than the 4K Ultra result, while the High preset achieves 151 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p produce an average of 173 FPS, with a minimum of 147 FPS and a maximum of 199 FPS, demonstrating exceptional stability and responsiveness. The Low preset delivers an impressive 244 FPS average, making this combination ideal for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming. The jump from 4K to 1440p at each preset is substantial, with the Low preset showing a 55% frame rate increase from 157 to 244 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system exhibits near-extreme performance levels. The Ultra preset averages 155 FPS, which is already far beyond what most displays can showcase, while High settings reach 206 FPS. Medium settings produce a measured average of 236 FPS, with a minimum of 201 FPS and a maximum of 272 FPS, indicating minimal frame drops even under load. The Low preset at 1080p achieves a remarkable 313 FPS average, suggesting that the CPU becomes a more significant factor at this resolution, with the i7-12700KF's 12 cores and 20 threads providing sufficient processing power to feed the RTX 4080. The complete dataset shows a clear progression: from 313 FPS at 1080p Low down to 73 FPS at 4K Ultra, with each resolution and preset step producing consistent, measurable differences.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals distinct roles for the CPU and GPU in Lockdown Protocol. At 4K, the GPU is the dominant component, as evidenced by the dramatic frame rate differences between presets. The RTX 4080's raw rendering power dictates performance here, with the Ultra preset producing 73 FPS versus 157 FPS at Low, a 115% delta that is purely attributable to graphics workload. The CPU's influence at 4K is minimal, as the i7-12700KF's single-thread score of 1043 in 3DMark and multi-thread score of 9983 at max threads are more than sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at this resolution.

At 1440p, the balance shifts slightly. The frame rate scaling from 4K to 1440p shows a 55% improvement at Low settings (157 to 244 FPS), but only a 35% improvement at Ultra (73 to 113 FPS). This nonlinear scaling indicates that while the GPU remains the primary constraint at Ultra settings, the CPU begins to play a more noticeable role at lower presets where the GPU workload is lighter. The i7-12700KF's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 28838 and single-core score of 4071 suggest ample processing capability, and the data supports this: the 1440p Low result of 244 FPS is not far from the 1080p Low result of 313 FPS, showing that the CPU can maintain high frame rates even when the GPU is less burdened.

At 1080p, the CPU's role becomes more prominent. The scaling from 1440p to 1080p at Low settings is only 28% (244 to 313 FPS), which is significantly less than the 55% jump seen from 4K to 1440p. This diminishing return indicates that the CPU is approaching its limits in feeding the RTX 4080 at these extreme frame rates. The i7-12700KF's Geekbench single-core score of 2255 and multi-core score of 14367 place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, shows only a 0.1% difference in average benchmark score. This close competition suggests that CPU performance is adequate for 1080p gaming but not unlimited, which is consistent with the observed 313 FPS ceiling at Low settings.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 73 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The system maintains playability at all four presets at 4K, with High settings reaching 98 FPS and Medium achieving 112 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors?

A: At 2560x1440, the system produces 244 FPS at Low settings and 113 FPS at Ultra. For 240 Hz displays, the Low preset at 1440p provides sufficient frame rates, while the Medium preset at 173 FPS supports 165 Hz monitors with headroom.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest competitors?

A: The RTX 4080's average benchmark score of 54247 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209, a 0.1% difference, meaning performance is virtually identical. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828, which is 1.1% higher.

Q: Is the i7-12700KF a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: The data indicates no significant bottleneck at 4K or 1440p, where GPU scaling dominates. At 1080p Low settings, the 313 FPS result suggests the CPU is nearing its limit, but with a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and max-thread score of 9983, the processor remains capable across all tested configurations.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at Medium settings?

A: Medium settings produce an average of 112 FPS at 4K (95 min, 129 max), 173 FPS at 1440p (147 min, 199 max), and 236 FPS at 1080p (201 min, 272 max). These are the only preset and resolution combinations with complete min/max data, showing consistent frame delivery.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 263rd out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 7% of all systems tested, which aligns with its high percentile rankings for both the CPU (85th) and GPU (86th).

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Lockdown Protocol at the highest level. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: every resolution and preset combination tested clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 3840x2160, even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains 73 FPS, while High settings reach 98 FPS and Low settings soar to 157 FPS. The 2560x1440 results are even more impressive, with Ultra at 113 FPS and Low at 244 FPS, making this resolution the sweet spot for competitive play with high refresh rates. At 1920x1080, the system delivers 155 FPS at Ultra and 313 FPS at Low, which is far beyond any practical display requirement. The data confirms that this combination provides a fully playable experience at 4K with maximum settings, and at 1440p and 1080p, it offers frame rates that support even the most demanding high-refresh-rate monitors. For players prioritizing smoothness over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1440p with 244 FPS or 1080p with 313 FPS provides the best competitive advantage, while those seeking visual quality can run Ultra at 4K and still maintain 73 FPS.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, which achieves an average of 73 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above the 60 FPS threshold, and it is the highest quality option available in the test data. Players can use Ultra without concern, as the 73 FPS average provides a comfortable margin above playability.

At 2560x1440, Ultra settings are also the best choice, delivering an average of 113 FPS. This is a substantial improvement over the 4K result and allows for full visual quality while maintaining frame rates that are smooth on standard 60 Hz displays and even some 120 Hz panels.

At 1920x1080, Ultra settings produce an average of 155 FPS, which is the recommended configuration for this resolution. This frame rate is more than sufficient for any monitor, including 144 Hz and 165 Hz models, and it represents the highest visual quality available. The 155 FPS at 1080p Ultra is more than double the 60 FPS threshold, providing exceptional smoothness and responsiveness in fast-paced FPS gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

This Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination ranks 263rd out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 7.1% of all systems. This strong ranking is consistent with the component-level benchmarks: the CPU sits in the 85th percentile of all processors with an average benchmark score of 35365, while the GPU holds the 86th percentile with an average score of 54247. The CPU's nearest rivals show minimal performance differences, with the Intel Core i7-13700T scoring 35403 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i5-13600T scoring 35305 (0.2% lower), and the Intel Core 5 213PE scoring 35428 (0.2% higher). The GPU's closest competitor, the RTX 4080 SUPER, scores 54209, which is just 0.1% lower, indicating that this system performs on par with the latest 40-series refresh. The high combo rank, combined with the 73 FPS minimum result at 4K Ultra, confirms that this is a top-tier configuration for Lockdown Protocol, capable of delivering playable frame rates at the highest settings across all resolutions, with substantial headroom for future titles or more demanding scenarios.