Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, a cooperative FPS released in March 2024, presents an interesting test for the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 pairing. The measured data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly capable at standard gaming resolutions, but begins to show its limits when pushed to 4K with maximum graphical fidelity. This combination of a high-end 14th Gen CPU with a mainstream 40-series GPU delivers a performance profile that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, while 4K requires careful settings management to maintain smooth gameplay.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results for this combo show a clear and consistent scaling pattern across resolutions and presets, with the most demanding configuration being 4K Ultra. At 3840x2160, the system averages 53.3 FPS on High settings, which falls just short of the 60 FPS playability threshold. Dropping to Medium settings at this resolution yields an average of 62.2 FPS, providing a playable experience, while the Low preset pushes performance significantly higher to 88.9 FPS. The Ultra preset, however, is the most demanding, producing an average of only 42.9 FPS, which is noticeably below the target for smooth play.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance picture improves substantially. The Ultra preset achieves an average of 62.7 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold and makes it the best playable setting at this resolution. High settings at 1440p deliver a comfortable 88.8 FPS average, while Medium reaches 100.1 FPS. The Low preset is exceptionally fast here, averaging 135.4 FPS, demonstrating that the system has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors when graphical settings are reduced.

At 1920x1080, the combination of the i7-14700F and RTX 4060 becomes a high-performance powerhouse. The Ultra preset averages 86.2 FPS, which is well above the playability threshold and suitable for smooth gameplay on standard 60Hz displays or even entry-level high-refresh monitors. High settings produce an average of 116.7 FPS, Medium jumps to 137 FPS, and the Low preset reaches an impressive 187 FPS. The data shows that at 1080p, the system is rarely constrained, with even the most demanding settings offering a fluid experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-14700F, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Xeon 6505P, which scores 53701 and is 0.2% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores 53288 and is 0.6% behind the i7-14700F. These alternatives would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Lockdown Protocol, meaning users with a Ryzen 9 7900X or a Xeon 6505P would see very similar frame rates in scenarios where the processor is the limiting factor.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has a particularly interesting set of nearest rivals. The AMD Radeon HD 7790, a much older card, scores 17666 and is 0.2% ahead, while the AMD Radeon 780M, an integrated graphics solution, scores 17588 and is 0.3% behind. The Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 are also close, with scores of 17551 and 17509, respectively. This suggests that in pure compute terms, the RTX 4060's performance level is matched by a diverse set of hardware. However, the benchmark scores alone do not capture the feature set differences, such as ray tracing or DLSS, which are not part of the measured FPS data for this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets provides insight into which component is more influential for Lockdown Protocol. The data shows a dramatic drop in performance when moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 at the same settings. For instance, at High settings, the average FPS falls from 88.8 at 1440p to 53.3 at 4K, a reduction of roughly 40%. This significant decline indicates that at 4K, the rendering load on the GPU becomes the dominant factor, and the RTX 4060's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth become a limiting resource.

Conversely, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p is less severe. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 86.2 at 1080p to 62.7 at 1440p. While still a considerable decrease, the system remains playable at both resolutions, suggesting that the CPU has enough headroom to keep up with the GPU's output at these lower pixel counts. The i7-14700F, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, appears well-positioned to feed the RTX 4060 at 1080p and 1440p, as evidenced by the 187 FPS result at 1080p Low.

The data implies that at 1080p and 1440p, the RTX 4060 is the primary bottleneck, as even the Ultra preset at 1440p only yields 62.7 FPS, which is not far from the 4K Medium result of 62.2 FPS. This pattern suggests that the GPU's raw throughput is the limiting factor at higher settings, while the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and settings where frame rates are exceptionally high.

The Verdict

Based on the measured FPS and the playable threshold of 60 FPS, this PC can run Lockdown Protocol successfully at all tested resolutions, but with caveats. At 3840x2160, the system achieves playable performance on Low and Medium settings, with Medium being the best option at an average of 62.2 FPS. The High and Ultra presets at 4K are not recommended for a 60 FPS experience, as they produce averages of 53.3 and 42.9, respectively.

At 2560x1440, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at all settings, including Ultra, which averages 62.7 FPS. This makes 1440p the sweet spot for this combination, as it allows for the highest visual quality while maintaining smooth gameplay. At 1920x1080, every preset is comfortably playable, with the Ultra preset averaging 86.2 FPS, providing a significant margin above the 60 FPS target.

The verdict is clear: for 1080p and 1440p gaming, this hardware is well-suited for Lockdown Protocol, offering a wide range of settings that maintain playable frame rates. For 4K gaming, users will need to compromise on visual fidelity, sticking to Medium or Low settings to stay above 60 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the system averages 42.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The best playable setting at 4K is Medium, which averages 62.2 FPS.

Q: What is the best setting for 1440p gaming with this combo?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 62.7 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. This allows for the highest visual quality at this resolution.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 53620, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X scores 53288, a difference of 0.6%. This indicates nearly identical performance in CPU-bound scenarios.

Q: Is the RTX 4060's performance level similar to any integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Radeon 780M, an integrated GPU, scores 17588, which is 0.3% behind the RTX 4060's average score of 17639. However, the RTX 4060 has dedicated memory and higher power limits, which are not reflected in these aggregate scores.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1080p with High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system averages 116.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combination ranks 2054 out of 3714 tested configurations, placing it in the upper-middle portion of the database for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of the benchmark database, the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 2054 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 55th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that while it is not a top-tier enthusiast setup, it outperforms a majority of configurations. This ranking is consistent with the hardware's positioning: the CPU is a high-end 14th Gen part, but the GPU is a mainstream 60-class card.

The ranking suggests that in a database filled with more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX, the RTX 4060 holds the system back at higher resolutions. However, given that the tested FPS shows playable performance at all resolutions with appropriate settings, the 2054th rank is more a reflection of the GPU's market segment than a statement about the system's ability to run the game. The data indicates that this combo is a well-balanced 1080p and 1440p machine, with the CPU providing enough headroom to avoid being a bottleneck in most scenarios.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured FPS data and the 60 FPS playable threshold, the most demanding preset that maintains smooth performance at each resolution is as follows.

At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Medium, which averages 62.2 FPS. While the Low preset is faster at 88.9 FPS, Medium offers a better balance of visual quality and performance for 4K displays. The High preset at 53.3 FPS and Ultra at 42.9 FPS are not recommended for a 60 FPS experience.

At 2560x1440, the best setting is Ultra, averaging 62.7 FPS. This allows users to experience the game with all graphical features enabled while maintaining a frame rate that is just above the playable threshold. Lower presets at this resolution provide even higher frame rates for those with 144Hz or faster monitors.

At 1920x1080, the best setting is also Ultra, with an average of 86.2 FPS. This provides a significant buffer above the 60 FPS target, ensuring a smooth experience even in demanding scenes. For users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors, dropping to High (116.7 FPS) or Medium (137 FPS) can unlock even higher frame rates.