Lockdown Protocol

The data for Lockdown Protocol reveals a significant performance bottleneck when pairing the Intel Core i7-14700KF with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. This combination ranks near the bottom of the database, and the recorded frame rates confirm that the GPU limits the experience. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, the combination's standing, and what settings are viable.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the combination struggles to maintain playable frame rates across all presets. The highest average FPS recorded at this resolution is 35.0 on Low settings. High settings produce an average of 21.6 FPS, Medium drops to 23.8 FPS, and Ultra falls to 17.6 FPS. None of these figures approach the 60 FPS threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the results improve but remain below the playable threshold. Low settings deliver an average of 58.0 FPS, which is close but still not enough. High settings average 34.9 FPS, Medium averages 39.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 25.2 FPS. The pattern is consistent: even at a lower resolution, the GTX 1650 cannot push this game past 60 FPS on any preset.

At 1920x1080, the combination finally achieves a playable result. Low settings reach an average of 79.0 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 54.9 FPS, High averages 47.7 FPS, and Ultra averages 36.1 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium represents a significant drop of 24.1 FPS, indicating that the preset scaling heavily impacts performance. The data shows no min or max FPS values recorded for any resolution or preset, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this specific CPU and GPU pairing at rank 3538 out of 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. That places it within the bottom 5 percent of all tested configurations. The percentile data supports this: the CPU sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 40th percentile among all GPUs. The massive gap between the CPU's high standing and the GPU's mid-range standing explains why the overall combination ranks so low. The processor is far more capable than the graphics card, and in this game, the graphics card dictates the outcome.

The rank of 3538 out of 3714 means that 176 other tested combinations delivered worse results. This is not the worst possible pairing, but it is far from competitive. The i7-14700KF is a top-tier processor by benchmark scores, yet it is paired with a GPU that ranks in the 40th percentile. The result is a system that cannot utilize the CPU's potential in this title.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol at 1920x1080?

A: Yes, but only on Low settings. The recorded average FPS on Low at 1920x1080 is 79.0, which exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings average 54.9 FPS, which falls short.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: There is no playable setting at 2560x1440. The highest average FPS recorded at this resolution is 58.0 on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combination?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 40th percentile among all GPUs. The frame rates across all resolutions and presets reflect the GPU's performance ceiling.

Q: How does the GTX 1650 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The GTX 1650 has an average benchmark score of 7472. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 7447, which is 0.3 percent lower. The Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7441, which is 0.4 percent lower. The AMD Radeon R7 350 scores 7425, which is 0.6 percent lower. The Intel Arc A310 scores 7550, which is 1 percent higher.

Q: What is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1920x1080?

A: Low settings is the only preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1920x1080, with an average of 79.0 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below the threshold.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 3840x2160 on Low settings?

A: The recorded average FPS at 3840x2160 on Low settings is 35.0. This is well below the 60 FPS threshold and indicates a poor experience at 4K resolution.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU's nearest rivals in the database provide context for processor performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score of 69996, which is 0.2 percent lower than the i7-14700KF. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69875, which is 0.4 percent lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, which is 0.9 percent lower. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K scores 70879, which is 1 percent higher. Any of these CPUs would behave nearly identically to the i7-14700KF in this combination, since the GPU is the bottleneck.

The GPU's nearest rivals show what similar graphics performance looks like. The AMD Radeon HD 8850M scores 7447, which is 0.3 percent lower than the GTX 1650's 7472. The Intel UHD Graphics 750 scores 7441, which is 0.4 percent lower. The AMD Radeon R7 350 scores 7425, which is 0.6 percent lower. The Intel Arc A310 scores 7550, which is 1 percent higher. These alternatives would produce frame rates very close to the GTX 1650 in Lockdown Protocol, meaning they would also fail to cross the 60 FPS threshold at higher presets.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, no preset achieves 60 FPS. The best recorded average is 35.0 FPS on Low settings, but this is still far below the playable threshold. There is no recommended setting for 4K.

At 2560x1440, no preset achieves 60 FPS either. The best recorded average is 58.0 FPS on Low settings, which is just 2 FPS short of the threshold. There is no recommended setting for 1440p.

At 1920x1080, Low settings is the only preset that clears the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded average is 79.0 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS, and it is the only viable option for this combination. Medium settings drop to 54.9 FPS, which is not playable by the database's standard.

The Verdict

The verdict is split by resolution. At 3840x2160, the database lists no playable settings. Every preset, from Low at 35.0 FPS to Ultra at 17.6 FPS, falls below the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the same applies: no playable settings exist, with the best result being Low at 58.0 FPS. At 1920x1080, the combination is playable on Low settings only, with an average of 79.0 FPS. The database records this as the only playable preset for this resolution.

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but only under strict conditions. The user must set the resolution to 1920x1080 and the preset to Low. Any higher preset at 1080p, or any preset at 1440p or 4K, will result in frame rates below 60 FPS. The combination is not suitable for high-refresh-rate gaming or high-resolution displays.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates that the GPU plays the dominant role in determining performance for this game. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with a multi-thread score of 52425 in Passmark and a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167. The GPU ranks in the 40th percentile, with a Passmark G3D score of 7880. The frame rates across all resolutions and presets are consistent with the GPU's capabilities, not the CPU's.

The scaling between resolutions confirms this. At 1920x1080 Low, the average is 79.0 FPS. At 2560x1440 Low, it drops to 58.0 FPS. At 3840x2160 Low, it drops to 35.0 FPS. This steep decline as resolution increases is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain more constant across resolutions.

The preset scaling further supports this conclusion. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra is 42.9 FPS, from 79.0 down to 36.1. At 2560x1440, the difference is 32.8 FPS, from 58.0 down to 25.2. At 3840x2160, the difference is 17.4 FPS, from 35.0 down to 17.6. The GPU's limited resources are exhausted quickly as graphical demands increase. The CPU has ample headroom, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's performance ceiling. In this pairing, the GTX 1650 is the component that matters, and it is the reason the combination ranks so low in the database.