Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT presents a compelling mid-range analysis case for Lockdown Protocol, a 2024 FPS title. The measured data indicates this combination delivers a wide range of performance across resolutions and presets, with the GPU often becoming the limiting factor at higher settings. The benchmark results show a system capable of high refresh rate gaming at 1080p, but one that requires careful settings management to maintain playable frame rates at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming with this combo?

A: The data shows that the Ultra preset at 1920x1080 yields an average FPS of 93.8. This is the most demanding preset that stays above the 60 FPS playable threshold, making it the best choice for maximum visual quality at this resolution.

Q: Can this system handle 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The benchmark results show playable settings at 3840x2160 include Low, Medium, and High, with average FPS of 96.4, 68.8, and 61.1 respectively. The Ultra preset at this resolution falls below the playable threshold at 43.4 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance jump is there between Medium and Ultra at 1440p?

A: The scaling is substantial. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers an average of 106.5 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 68.2 FPS. This represents a significant performance cost for the highest visual settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more influential on performance?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and presets. For instance, at 4K the frame rate drops drastically when moving from Low to Ultra, indicating heavy reliance on the GPU. The CPU's strong benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745, are less likely to be the limiting factor in this title.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo is ranked 1686 out of 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the upper half of all tested systems, indicating solid performance relative to the broader database.

Q: What is the most demanding preset that maintains 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 is the most demanding playable setting, achieving an average FPS of 68.2. This clears the 60 FPS threshold with a small margin.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Intel Core i7-13700K and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT becomes clear when analyzing frame rates across resolution and preset scaling. At 1920x1080, the system shows immense headroom, with the Low preset hitting 197.8 FPS and Ultra still producing 93.8 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU is not fully saturated, allowing the CPU's strong single-thread performance—evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1136—to drive high frame rates. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a performance cost of 104 FPS, which is a 52.5% reduction, indicating the GPU's workload increases significantly with visual fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance curve steepens. The Low preset delivers 146.1 FPS, while Ultra drops to 68.2 FPS. This 77.9 FPS difference highlights the GPU's growing role as the resolution increases. The gap between Medium (106.5 FPS) and Ultra (68.2 FPS) is particularly notable, suggesting that the Ultra preset introduces effects that heavily tax the Radeon RX 6750 XT's 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 2560 shading units.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. The Low preset still achieves a robust 96.4 FPS, but the Ultra preset collapses to 43.4 FPS, a drop of 53 FPS from Low. This steep decline indicates that 4K Ultra exceeds the comfortable workload for the GPU. The CPU's capabilities, with a PassMark multi-thread score of 45887, are unlikely to be the constraint here; instead, the data points to the GPU's 432.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 13.31 TFLOPS FP32 performance being the limiting factors. The evidence strongly suggests that for this game, the GPU dictates performance at higher resolutions and presets, while the CPU provides sufficient headroom at lower settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of this combo's performance spectrum. At 1920x1080, the system excels across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 197.8 FPS, which is a remarkable figure for a 1080p gaming scenario. Medium produces 141.8 FPS, High reaches 124.7 FPS, and even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains a smooth 93.8 FPS. This resolution shows the combo's ability to drive high-refresh-rate monitors without compromise.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limits. The Low preset averages 146.1 FPS, providing an excellent experience for competitive play. Medium settings yield 106.5 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings produce 90.4 FPS, offering a good balance of visual quality and speed. The Ultra preset drops to 68.2 FPS, which is playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes.

The 3840x2160 results reveal a clear stratification of playability. The Low preset is surprisingly capable, maintaining an average of 96.4 FPS, which suggests the game is well-optimized for lower settings at 4K. Medium settings drop to 68.8 FPS, still playable but with a noticeable reduction from Low. High settings barely clear the playable threshold at 61.1 FPS, indicating that this is the edge of the GPU's capability. The Ultra preset at 43.4 FPS is not playable by the 60 FPS standard. The lack of min and max FPS data in the measurements means the analysis relies solely on average frame rates, but the trend is consistent: higher resolutions and presets progressively shift the workload onto the GPU, with predictable performance degradation.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol at all three tested resolutions, but the playable settings vary significantly. At 1920x1080, the verdict is clear: every preset is playable, including Ultra at 93.8 FPS. This is the ideal resolution for this combo, offering maximum visual fidelity without compromising frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the system also delivers a fully playable experience across all presets. The Ultra setting achieves 68.2 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. This makes 1440p a viable option for gamers who want higher resolution with the best settings.

The 3840x2160 verdict is more nuanced. The system can run the game at 4K, but only with settings at High or below. The High preset averages 61.1 FPS, which is just above the playable threshold, while Medium and Low provide more comfortable margins at 68.8 and 96.4 FPS respectively. The Ultra preset at 43.4 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. In summary, this combo is a strong 1080p and 1440p performer, and a capable but settings-constrained 4K machine.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals show that the Intel Core i7-13700K sits in a tight performance band. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 is a close match with an average score of 46971, a negligible -0.2% delta. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 is similarly matched at 47022, also -0.2% from the i7-13700K's score. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535 are both just 0.5% ahead, with scores of 46654 and 46653 respectively. These rivals would behave nearly identically in Lockdown Protocol, suggesting that the CPU is not a differentiating factor among these options.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals present a more varied picture. The AMD Radeon R9 M395X has an average score of 25891, just 0.5% behind the RX 6750 XT. The AMD FirePro W7100 and FirePro D700 are also close, at 25856 and 25842 respectively, with deltas of 0.6% and 0.7%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile is 1.1% ahead with a score of 25740. This indicates that these GPUs would deliver very similar frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, although the desktop RX 6750 XT's performance characteristics, such as its 12 GB memory buffer, might offer different results in specific scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 1686 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 54.6th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than half of the configurations in the database. The rank reflects a balanced pairing where the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance, demonstrated by a 3DMark max-threads score of 12412, complements the GPU's solid mid-range capabilities. The rank suggests that while this is not a top-tier enthusiast setup, it is a highly capable combination that will handle the game well at most settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, achieving 93.8 FPS. This preset provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The data shows no need to compromise on settings at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 68.2 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold by a margin of 8.2 FPS, offering a playable experience with maximum visual features. The performance headroom is smaller than at 1080p, but it remains sufficient for consistent gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are High, achieving 61.1 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays above the 60 FPS threshold, but the margin is slim. Gamers seeking more stability might prefer Medium at 68.8 FPS, which offers a more comfortable buffer. The Ultra preset is not recommended at this resolution due to its 43.4 FPS average, which falls below the playable standard.