Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that demands high frame rates, and the Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers exactly that. The measured data shows this combination consistently exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution and preset tested, making it a top-tier option for high-refresh-rate monitors. The following analysis breaks down the performance figures, ranking, component roles, and alternatives based strictly on the benchmark data.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results for this combo are extensive, covering three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast. On Low settings, the average frame rate hits 335 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 285 FPS, with a minimum of 243 FPS and a maximum of 328 FPS. High settings yield an average of 249 FPS. At Ultra, the most demanding preset, the average is 187 FPS. In all cases at 1080p, the frame rates are far beyond what even the fastest displays can show.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, performance remains stellar. The Low preset averages 295 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 209 FPS, with a minimum of 178 FPS and a maximum of 241 FPS. High settings stay locked at 183 FPS average. Ultra is still very fluid, with an average of 137 FPS. The scaling between presets is consistent, showing a clear performance drop as visual fidelity increases, but never dropping below a level that would be considered anything other than smooth.

The most demanding test is at 3840x2160 (4K). Here, the combo still excels. Low settings produce an average of 190 FPS. Medium averages 135 FPS, with the lowest recorded minimum of 115 FPS and a maximum of 155 FPS. High settings still manage an average of 118 FPS. Ultra, the most demanding preset, delivers an average of 88 FPS. Even at 4K Ultra, the system maintains a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows a consistent pattern where the average frame rate at 4K Ultra is roughly half of what it is at 1080p Ultra, but it never falls below a playable range.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's standing in the game's benchmark database is exceptionally strong. Out of 3,714 tested combinations, this specific CPU and GPU pairing achieves rank 22. This places it in the top percentile of all systems tested for Lockdown Protocol, indicating that the hardware is matched to handle the game's demands with significant headroom. The high ranking confirms the raw power of the RTX 5090 D, as the i7-14700F is a strong but not absolute top-tier processor.

This rank of 22 out of 3,714 means the system is positioned above the vast majority of builds. The data shows that the i7-14700F and RTX 5090 D combination is near the top of the performance hierarchy for this game. It indicates that for a user with a high-refresh-rate monitor, this pairing will not be the bottleneck in most scenarios. The score relative to other tested combos suggests that only a handful of enthusiast-grade configurationsict will offer more performance, and the differences would be marginal in actual gameplay.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a dynamic relationship between the CPU and GPU across different settings. The RTX 5090 D is a monstrous GPU, and its role is most apparent at higher resolutions. When moving from 1080p to 4K with the same settings, the frame rate drops significantly. For example, on High settings, the average frame rate falls from 249 FPS at 1080p to 118 FPS at 4K. This scale shows the GPU becoming the primary workload as pixel count increases. The performance drop is a direct result of the GPU's render load, not the CPU.

In contrast, the CPU's role is more visible at lower resolutions and lower presets. The 1080p Low preset shows an average of 335 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. This scenario is often where a CPU can hold back a powerful GPU. However, the fact that the system achieves such a high score at 1080p Low indicates that the i7-14700F is powerful enough to feed the RTX 5090 D even in a CPU-light scenario. The difference between 1080p Low and 1440p Low is a drop from 335 to 295 FPS, a smaller relative drop than between 1440p and 4K, showing the GPU is still the main scaling driver.

The data suggests that for this game, the GPU is the dominant factor in determining overall performance, especially at 1440p and above. The CPU is capable enough to avoid becoming a significant bottleneck, but the scaling between resolutions is primarily dictated by the GPU's rendering capabilities. The 4K Ultra result of 88 FPS is a good example of the GPU's load, as it is the lowest average score in the pack. The CPU's role is less about topping the frame rate and more about ensuring that even the lowest 1% or minimum frames do not cause visible stuttering, though these specific values are only recorded for Medium settings.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? The data provides a definitive yes. The benchmark verdict lists every resolution and preset combination as playable, with the threshold set at 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average frame rate of 187 FPS. At 2560x1440, the system still runs Ultra as the best setting, delivering an average of 137 FPS. Even at 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 88 FPS.

The verdict by resolution confirms that this combo clears 60 FPS in all scenarios. Specifically, at 4K, the lowest average frame rate recorded is 88 FPS on Ultra, which is well above the playable threshold. The system is not just playable; it is overkill for high refresh-rate gaming. For a 144Hz monitor, the system will hit the refresh ceiling in most situations at 1080p and 1440p, and it will still hold up at 4K. The only scenario where a frame rate might dip below the refresh rate of a very fast display is 4K Ultra, but the 88 FPS average is smooth for standard 60-90Hz displays. This is a system built for maximum fidelity and frame rates.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The benchmark database provides details on hardware with similar average scores to the components in this build. For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700F has an average score of 53,620. The closest rival is the Intel Xeon 6505P, with an average score of 53,701, which is just 0.2% higher. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is also very close, with an average score of 53,288, a 0.6% difference. The AMD EPYC 7313P is another similar performer, scoring 53,206, which is 0.8% lower. Choosing any of these CPUs would result in very similar gameplay performance in this title.

On the GPU front, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D has a very high average benchmark score of 77,712. The closest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which has a score of 78,940, making it 1.6% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT is also in the same ballpark, with a score of 76,904, which is 1.1% slower. Interestingly, the NVIDIA Tesla P100 cards, in both 12 GB and 16 GB configurations, also show up as close rivals, with scores of 79,396 and 79,605, respectively. These are 2.1% and 2.4% faster, but they are professional-grade cards, not consumer gaming GPUs. In a gaming context, the RTX 5090 D would be better suited than a Tesla for software support and features like DirectX 12 Ultimate.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC handle Lockdown Protocol at 4K resolution?

A: Yes. The data shows all presets are playable at 3840x2160, with the best setting being Ultra, which achieves an average of 88 FPS, well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate is 335 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Which component is more important for performance in this game at 4K?

A: The GPU is the dominant component at 4K. The frame rate drops significantly from 249 FPS at 1080p High to 118 FPS at 4K High, showing the GPU's workload is the main scaling factor.

Q: Are there other CPUs that would perform similarly to the i7-14700F?

A: Yes, the nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6505P, which is 0.2% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which is 0.6% slower, based on average benchmark scores.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D the only GPU that will work well with this CPU?

A: No. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT is a close rival, with an average score 1.6% higher, and the Radeon RX 6650M XT is 1.1% slower. These would provide similar performance levels.

Q: What are the exact minimum and maximum frame rates for Medium settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum frame rate is 178 FPS and the maximum is 241 FPS, with an average of 209 FPS.