Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 presents a stark imbalance in Lockdown Protocol. The CPU is a high-end 16-core processor with a strong multithreaded score, while the GPU is a modest entry-level part from a previous generation. The recorded data shows that the graphics card is the limiting factor at every resolution, resulting in a combination that can only achieve smooth, playable frame rates at the lowest settings on a 1080p display. The benchmark results indicate a system that is fundamentally held back by its GPU, despite the CPU's clear headroom.

Best Settings per Resolution

The database's playable threshold for Lockdown Protocol is 60 FPS. The measured data shows that this system only crosses that line at one specific configuration.

At 1920x1080, the only setting preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS is Low. The average frame rate at this setting is 76.8 FPS. Every other preset at this resolution falls short of the target, with Medium averaging 53 FPS, High averaging 46.5 FPS, and Ultra averaging 39.2 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the verdict is clear: no setting preset is playable. The best result is achieved at Low settings, but the average frame rate drops to 54.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. The other presets are significantly lower, with Medium averaging 37.3 FPS, High averaging 34.8 FPS, and Ultra averaging 27.6 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the situation is even more demanding. No preset reaches a playable level. The highest average frame rate is 35.3 FPS at Low settings, followed by 28.2 FPS at Medium, 21.2 FPS at High, and 19.7 FPS at Ultra. None of these meet the 60 FPS target.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor for this specific combination. The Intel Core i7-13700K is a powerful processor, evidenced by its strong benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a Passmark multithread score of 45887. However, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a much weaker component, with a Passmark G3D score of 7880. The performance in Lockdown Protocol is dictated almost entirely by the GPU's capabilities.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. When moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 76.8 FPS to 54.1 FPS, a significant 29.5% reduction. This steep drop is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics card is struggling to fill the additional pixels. The CPU is not the bottleneck here; it is the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth that are being stressed.

The pattern continues at 3840x2160, where the same Low setting yields only 35.3 FPS. The frame rate nearly halves again from 1440p, further underscoring the GPU's inability to handle higher resolutions. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU with data, and given its high benchmark scores, it is doing so without constraint. The performance ceiling is the GTX 1650, and the CPU's power is largely untapped in this title, as the frame rate is consistently limited by the graphics card's rendering prowess.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the exact average frame rates recorded for this combination in Lockdown Protocol. The database did not record minimum or maximum frame rates for these tests.

3840x2160

• Ultra: 19.7 FPS
• High: 21.2 FPS
• Medium: 28.2 FPS
• Low: 35.3 FPS

2560x1440

• Ultra: 27.6 FPS
• High: 34.8 FPS
• Medium: 37.3 FPS
• Low: 54.1 FPS

1920x1080

• Ultra: 39.2 FPS
• High: 46.5 FPS
• Medium: 53 FPS
• Low: 76.8 FPS

The data shows a consistent scaling factor. At each resolution, dropping from Ultra to Low settings yields a substantial improvement. For example, at 1920x1080, the jump from Ultra to Low represents an increase of 37.6 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same drop yields a gain of 26.5 FPS. This indicates that the game's visual settings have a pronounced effect on the GPU load, but even the most aggressive reduction in quality cannot overcome the hardware limitations at higher resolutions.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database provides a list of hardware with similar benchmark scores to the components in this combination. For the CPU, the nearest rivals are all within a very tight margin of performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 is 0.2% slower, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 is 0.3% slower. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535 are both 0.5% faster. These differences are negligible, meaning any of these processors would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in this game, as the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

For the GPU, the situation is similar but with slightly more variance. The Intel Arc A310 is 1% faster, while the AMD Radeon HD 8850M is 0.3% slower, and the Intel UHD Graphics 750 is 0.4% slower. The AMD Radeon R7 350 is 0.6% slower. These are all very close in performance, suggesting that swapping the GTX 1650 for any of these alternatives would not meaningfully change the gaming experience in Lockdown Protocol. The system would still be limited to Low settings at 1080p for a playable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's overall rankings for Lockdown Protocol, this specific combination of an Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is positioned very low. It holds a rank of 3536 out of 3714 total tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 5% of all systems tested for this game. The high rank number indicates that the vast majority of other hardware configurations are capable of achieving higher performance.

This low ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations. While the CPU is ranked in the 89th percentile compared to all CPUs, the GPU is only in the 40th percentile compared to all GPUs. The pairing of a top-tier processor with a bottom-tier graphics card creates a significant bottleneck, and the overall combo rank reflects the weakest link in the chain. The data suggests that for Lockdown Protocol, the GPU is the determining factor for overall system performance.

The Verdict

The question is whether the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 can run Lockdown Protocol. The answer from the recorded data is a qualified yes, but only under very specific conditions.

At 3840x2160, the system cannot run the game at a playable level with any settings preset. The highest average frame rate is 35.3 FPS, which is well below the 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440, the result is the same. No settings preset achieves the 60 FPS threshold, with the best being 54.1 FPS at Low settings.

At 1920x1080, the system can run the game. The only playable configuration is with Low settings, which produces an average frame rate of 76.8 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold with a reasonable margin. All other presets at this resolution fall below the playable mark.

In summary, this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience is severely constrained. It offers a smooth experience only at 1080p with the lowest graphical fidelity. For any higher resolution or more demanding visual settings, the frame rate drops below the playable threshold, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive. The system is capable, but the GTX 1650 is simply not powerful enough to unlock the potential of the i7-13700K in this title.