Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-14700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a combination that mixes a high-end modern processor with a mid-range GPU from an older generation. In Lockdown Protocol, an FPS title, the recorded data shows that this pairing delivers a wide range of frame rates depending on the resolution and quality preset selected. The measurements reveal a system that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming comfortably at high settings, while 4K requires a significant reduction in visual fidelity to maintain playable performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination produces its strongest results. With the Low preset, the average frame rate reaches 146.5 FPS, which is the highest recorded across any resolution and settings combination in the database. Moving to Medium drops the average to 104.8 FPS, a still substantial margin above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The High preset yields 88 FPS on average, and the Ultra preset, the most demanding option available in the measurements, holds at 68.2 FPS. This means that even at the maximum quality level, the system maintains a comfortable average above the playable threshold. The spread from Low to Ultra at this resolution is 78.3 FPS, indicating that the GPU has enough headroom to absorb the extra load of higher presets without dropping below playable levels.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales downward as expected. The Low preset records an average of 105.5 FPS, which remains excellent for a higher resolution. Medium drops to 77.8 FPS, and High comes in at 67.5 FPS. All three of these presets stay above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, however, falls to 47.5 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 58 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset places a significantly heavier load on the GPU. The High preset at 1440p, with its 67.5 FPS average, is the best quality option that still clears the playable mark.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes considerably. The Low preset records an average of 66.8 FPS, just barely above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium falls to 49.1 FPS, High drops to 44.3 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 34.6 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 32.2 FPS, a smaller absolute gap than at lower resolutions, but the relative impact is severe since the starting point is already much lower. The data shows that only the Low preset at 4K is playable, and even then, the margin above the threshold is only 6.8 FPS. This leaves little room for demanding scenes or background processes.

Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: higher settings reduce average frame rates, and the impact is most pronounced when moving from Medium to High or from High to Ultra. The measured data does not include minimum or maximum frame rate values, so the analysis relies solely on average performance, which can mask occasional dips. Still, the averages provide a clear picture of what this combination can sustain over time.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU and GPU pairing against all other tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. The combo holds position 2893 out of 3714 total combinations. That places it in the lower-middle portion of the overall ranking, which is notable given the strength of the processor. The i7-14700K ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs in the database, and its average benchmark score of 69355 places it near the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which scores 69515, a difference of 0.2 percent. The CPU is clearly not the limiting factor here. The RTX 2060, on the other hand, sits in the 58th percentile among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 15290 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 at 15283 and the AMD Radeon 680M at 15270. The GPU is a mid-range part, and the ranking reflects that limitation.

Within the game itself, the 2893rd position out of 3714 combinations means that roughly 22 percent of tested combos rank below this pairing. The data indicates that the RTX 2060 anchors the system's overall standing. The CPU's high percentile ranking does not translate into a high in-game ranking because Lockdown Protocol's frame rates at higher presets are constrained by the GPU. The 1440p and 4K results demonstrate this clearly, as the GPU struggles to maintain high averages at Ultra settings despite the CPU having ample headroom. The ranking is a useful summary: this is a capable combination for mainstream gaming, but it is not positioned among the top-tier configs in the database.

The proximity of the RTX 2060's benchmark score to the GTX 580 and the Radeon 680M, with deltas of 0 and 0.1 percent respectively, suggests that the GPU's raw compute performance is comparable to those parts. The RTX 3050 OEM and the RX 7600 are also close, with deltas of 0.6 and 0.8 percent. This tight cluster of scores indicates that the RTX 2060 is not an outlier in either direction; it performs in line with its peers from a similar era.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data shows that the GPU is the dominant factor in Lockdown Protocol for this combination. At every resolution, reducing the preset from Ultra to Low produces a substantial increase in average frame rate. At 1080p, Low to Ultra changes performance by a factor of roughly 2.15, while at 1440p the same shift multiplies performance by about 2.22. At 4K, the factor is about 1.93. These large multipliers indicate that the GPU is being pushed harder at higher settings and that performance scales with GPU workload, not with CPU capability.

The CPU's role becomes clearer when examining resolution scaling across the same preset. Moving from 1080p Ultra to 1440p High, the average drops from 88 FPS to 67.5 FPS, a reduction of 23.6 percent of the 1080p value. Going from 1440p High to 4K Low, the average falls from 67.5 FPS to 66.8 FPS, a reduction of roughly 10 percent of the 1440p High value. The 4K results at Low and the 1440p results at High are close in absolute terms, with the difference being only 0.7 FPS, which is within 1 percent of the 1440p High average. The data suggests that at lower resolutions, the GPU has enough bandwidth to feed frames quickly, and the CPU can keep up easily. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, and the CPU has plenty of spare capacity.

The i7-14700K, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is far more powerful than needed for this game at these settings. Its benchmark results, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 33440.5 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2569, are excellent. The nearest CPU rivals in the database include the AMD EPYC 9115 with an average score of 69288 and a delta of 0.1 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X at 69515 with a delta of negative 0.2 percent. These figures show that the CPU is not a limiting factor in any measured scenario. The GPU, by contrast, shows its age in the 4K Ultra result of 34.6 FPS and the 1440p Ultra result of 47.5 FPS. The data points to a system where the RTX 2060 defines the performance ceiling.

FAQ

Q: Can this combination run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The recorded average frame rate at 1920x1080 with the Ultra preset is 68.2 FPS, which is above the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 1440p?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 produces an average of 67.5 FPS, making it the most demanding setting that stays above the 60 FPS threshold at that resolution.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: Only with the Low preset. The average at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 66.8 FPS. All other presets at 4K fall below 60 FPS, with Medium at 49.1 FPS, High at 44.3 FPS, and Ultra at 34.6 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 scores 15283, a difference of 0 percent, and the AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, a difference of 0.1 percent. The RTX 3050 OEM and AMD Radeon RX 7600 are also within 0.6 and 0.8 percent respectively.

Q: How does the i7-14700K compare to other CPUs in the database?

A: The i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355 and ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, scores 69515, a difference of negative 0.2 percent, and the AMD EPYC 9115 scores 69288, a difference of 0.1 percent.

Q: How many total combinations does this pairing rank among in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The combination ranks 2893 out of 3714 tested combinations in the database.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS varies by resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 68.2 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available in the measurements, and it clears the threshold with a margin of 8.2 FPS. At 2560x1440, the High preset is the maximum playable option, with an average of 67.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 47.5 FPS, which is not playable, so High is the clear choice for the best balance of quality and performance. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only playable option, averaging 66.8 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra at 4K all fall below the threshold, so Low is the sole recommendation.

These settings represent the highest quality that can be sustained without dropping below the 60 FPS average. The data does not include minimum frame rates, so users who are sensitive to frame time spikes may prefer a lower preset than the ones listed here to add headroom. For example, at 1080p, the Medium preset at 104.8 FPS provides a much larger margin over the threshold than Ultra at 68.2 FPS, and at 1440p, Medium at 77.8 FPS offers more safety than High at 67.5 FPS.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at every preset, including Ultra at 68.2 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combination, offering smooth gameplay at maximum quality. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High, Low, and Medium presets, with High at 67.5 FPS being the best quality option. The Ultra preset at 1440p falls short at 47.5 FPS, so users should avoid it. At 3840x2160, only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 66.8 FPS. The other 4K presets are all below 60 FPS, with Medium at 49.1 FPS, High at 44.3 FPS, and Ultra at 34.6 FPS.

The verdict by resolution is clear: 1080p Ultra is fully playable, 1440p High is playable, and 4K Low is barely playable. The i7-14700K provides more than enough processing power, ranking in the 94th percentile of CPUs, while the RTX 2060, ranking in the 58th percentile of GPUs, is the limiting component. Users targeting 4K should consider lowering resolution or settings, while those at 1080p can enjoy the game at its highest quality preset. The data shows a system that is well suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K available only at reduced visual fidelity.