Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a 2024-released FPS, presents an interesting scaling challenge for the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT combination. The data indicates that this pairing is exceptionally capable, delivering well above the 60 FPS playable threshold across nearly all tested settings and resolutions. The only exception is at 4K with the Ultra preset, where average frame rates dip below the target. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, component roles, and how this specific configuration stacks up against other tested hardware.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is identified. The data shows a clear hierarchy of performance scaling from 1080p to 4K.

At 1920x1080, the system is never challenged. The highest settings, Ultra, produce an average of 109 FPS. This is the best possible visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate that is nearly double the playable threshold. The headroom here is substantial, suggesting that the combination is heavily overqualified for 1080p gaming.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains stellar. The Ultra preset is again the most demanding playable option, with an average of 80 FPS. This comfortably exceeds the 60 FPS target and offers a 27% performance buffer, ensuring smooth gameplay even in demanding scenes. The step down to High yields 107 FPS, but Ultra is the clear choice for maximizing visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the landscape changes. The High preset is the most demanding that stays above the 60 FPS line, with an average of 69 FPS. While this is above the threshold, it is a narrower margin than at lower resolutions. The Medium preset runs at 79 FPS, but High offers a significant visual upgrade for a 10 FPS cost. The Ultra preset, with an average of 52 FPS, falls below the playable threshold and should be avoided for a consistently smooth experience.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate a classic resolution-dependent shift in workload between the CPU and GPU. At lower resolutions, the CPU's capability is the limiting factor, while at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck.

The evidence lies in the scaling of frame rates across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves 235 FPS. When moving to 2560x1440, the same preset drops to 172 FPS, a 27% reduction. This significant drop suggests that the GPU is beginning to take on more work, but the CPU is still feeding it enough data to maintain high frame rates. The jump from 1080p to 1440p represents a 78% increase in pixel count, yet the frame rate only falls by 27%, indicating that the CPU is still a significant contributor to performance.

The scaling from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 tells a different story. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 172 FPS to 111 FPS, a 35% reduction, while the pixel count increases by 125%. This much steeper decline in performance relative to the pixel increase shows that the GPU is now the dominant constraint. The CPU, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, has enough headroom to process the game logic, but the Radeon RX 7800 XT's rendering capabilities are being maxed out.

The same trend is visible across all presets. For instance, at Medium settings, frame rates scale from 167 FPS at 1080p to 122 FPS at 1440p and then 79 FPS at 4K. The diminishing returns at 4K are a clear indicator that the GPU is the limiting factor there. In summary, the Core i7-14700F is more than sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the RX 7800 XT's performance ceiling defines the playable settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured frame rates provides a detailed look at performance across all resolution and settings combinations.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high across the board. The Low preset averages 235 FPS, with no minimum or maximum reported. The Medium preset sees an average of 167 FPS, with a minimum of 142 FPS and a maximum of 192 FPS. The High preset delivers 146 FPS, and the Ultra preset, while the most demanding, still averages a very smooth 109 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 126 FPS, showing a wide range of performance scaling.

For 2560x1440, the performance remains robust. The Low preset averages 172 FPS. The Medium preset provides an average of 122 FPS, with a minimum of 104 FPS and a maximum of 141 FPS. The High preset runs at 107 FPS, and the Ultra preset maintains an average of 80 FPS. The minimum frame rate for Medium is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating consistent performance.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more variable and is where the system’s limits are tested. The Low preset still manages a strong 111 FPS average. The Medium preset averages 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 69 FPS. The Ultra preset is the only configuration that fails to hit the 60 FPS target, with an average of 52 FPS. The data shows that while the system can handle 4K, the highest settings are not viable for a smooth experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific configuration of the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT holds a rank of 1235 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top third of all systems tested, indicating a strong overall performance level.

This rank is a holistic measure that accounts for performance across all settings and resolutions. While the combo excels at 1080p and 1440p, its performance at 4K Ultra, which falls below the playable threshold, likely prevents it from ranking higher. The high rank confirms the balanced nature of the pairing; the CPU is powerful enough to avoid bottlenecking the GPU at mainstream resolutions, and the GPU provides excellent rasterization performance for its class. The data suggests that for most users, this combination will deliver a high-performance experience in Lockdown Protocol.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the individual components provide insight into what other hardware would perform similarly. These are based on average benchmark scores, not in-game FPS, but they offer a good approximation of comparable tiers.

For the Intel Core i7-14700F, its average benchmark score of 53620 places it near several other high-end processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a direct competitor, with an average score of 53288, a mere 0.6% difference. This indicates that a system with a Ryzen 9 7900X would likely deliver nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol. The AMD EPYC 7313P is also close, with a score of 53206 and a 0.8% delta. Even the Intel Xeon 6505P (score 53701, delta -0.2%) and Intel Xeon Phi 7290 (score 53469, delta 0.3%) are within a 1% performance band, though these are server-class parts not typically used for gaming.

For the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, the situation is more nuanced. Its average benchmark score is 11627, but the nearest rivals listed are from a different performance tier. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 has a score of 11680 and a delta of -0.5%, while the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT scores 11842 with a -1.8% delta. These are significantly less powerful GPUs in real-world gaming scenarios. This discrepancy suggests that the average benchmark score may not reflect the RX 7800 XT's relative strength in a game like Lockdown Protocol, or the benchmark data is skewed. However, based strictly on the provided figures, these are the listed nearest rivals. The AMD Radeon Pro 5500M (score 11528, 0.9%) and NVIDIA Tesla K20c (score 11479, 1.3%) are also listed as comparable by average score.

The Verdict

The question of whether the Intel Core i7-14700F and AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT can run Lockdown Protocol has a clear answer based on the measured data: yes, for the vast majority of scenarios.

At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally powerful. Every single preset, including Ultra, averages above 60 FPS. The verdict confirms that Ultra is playable, with an average of 109 FPS. This resolution is a non-issue for the hardware.

At 2560x1440, performance is similarly excellent. The verdict lists High, Low, Medium, and Ultra as all playable settings. The best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 80 FPS. This is the sweet spot for the combination, offering high visual fidelity and a smooth, fluid frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the system remains capable, but with caveats. The verdict lists High, Low, and Medium as playable. The best setting is High, with an average of 69 FPS. While this clears the 60 FPS threshold, it is not a massive margin. The Ultra preset is explicitly not playable, averaging 52 FPS and failing to meet the playable threshold. For 4K gaming, users should stick to High settings for a reliable experience.

Ultimately, this PC combination is a strong performer in Lockdown Protocol. It delivers high refresh rate gaming at 1080p and 1440p with all settings maxed out. At 4K, it provides a smooth experience at High settings, but the Ultra preset is beyond its reach. The data confirms that this is a well-balanced system for this game, with the CPU providing ample headroom and the GPU being the primary determinant of performance at higher resolutions.