Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is a high-end combination that delivers strong performance in Lockdown Protocol, ranking 817th out of 3714 tested combos. This places the pairing comfortably within the top quartile of all systems tested, indicating that it is well-suited for demanding gaming workloads. The benchmark data shows that this combo handles the game with significant headroom at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K Ultra pushes the hardware to its limits, falling just short of the 60 FPS playable threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 817 out of 3714 tested systems places it in the top 22% of all hardware pairings evaluated for Lockdown Protocol. This is a strong result that reflects the balance between the 20-core, 28-thread Intel Core i7-14700KF and the 12 GB GDDR6X memory of the RTX 3080 Ti. The CPU sits at the 94th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70163, while the GPU holds the 83rd percentile against all GPUs, with an average score of 41187. The data indicates that this pairing is not bottlenecked by either component in most scenarios, allowing the system to leverage its full potential.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results reveal a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution and settings change. At 1920x1080, the system achieves an average of 258.3 FPS on Low settings, which is 96 FPS higher than the High preset’s 162.2 FPS. This substantial gap indicates that at lower resolutions, the CPU is the primary driver of performance, as the GPU has ample bandwidth to render frames quickly, and the processor’s ability to feed the graphics card becomes the limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-14700KF, with its 5.60 GHz boost clock and strong single-thread performance (6235 in Cinebench R23 single-core), is well-equipped to handle this load.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the scaling becomes more GPU-bound. The difference between Low (192.9 FPS) and High (118.6 FPS) narrows to 74.3 FPS, showing that the graphics card’s rendering workload begins to dominate. At 3840x2160, this trend continues: Low settings yield 126 FPS, while High drops to 78 FPS, a gap of 48 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K produces 58.1 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS playable threshold, demonstrating that the RTX 3080 Ti’s 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is nearly sufficient for the most demanding configuration. The data shows that the GPU’s role grows from secondary at 1080p to the dominant factor at 4K, while the CPU remains capable throughout, never becoming a severe bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

The verdict data identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 119.2 FPS, so it is the recommended setting. This provides a smooth experience with maximum visual quality and significant headroom above the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also remains playable, achieving 91.4 FPS, making it the best choice for that resolution. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset falls to 58.1 FPS, just below the 60 FPS target. Therefore, the High preset is the best playable option at 4K, with an average of 78 FPS. This configuration balances visual fidelity with performance, ensuring a consistent experience without dipping below the playable threshold.

FAQ

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

A: No. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 yields an average of 58.1 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset at 4K is the most demanding playable option, delivering 78 FPS.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 achieves an average of 91.4 FPS, making it the best option that stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70163, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and 0.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX. It is 0.9% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K leads by 1% with a score of 70879.

Q: Is the GPU more powerful than its nearest rival?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has an average score of 41187, which is 2% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070’s 40377. The AMD Radeon Pro 5300 is 0.8% slower, while the NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB is 1.2% faster.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset produces 258.3 FPS, while Ultra produces 119.2 FPS. This represents a 139.1 FPS difference, showing that the Ultra preset is significantly more demanding on the GPU.

Q: Does the system maintain playable frame rates across all tested presets at 1440p?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, all four presets—Low (192.9 FPS), High (118.6 FPS), Medium (133.9 FPS), and Ultra (91.4 FPS)—exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured performance data provides a comprehensive view of how the system scales across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates range from 258.3 FPS on Low to 119.2 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset achieves 186 FPS, and High reaches 162.2 FPS. This represents a 139.1 FPS spread between the lowest and highest settings, indicating that the GPU’s workload increases substantially with visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are lower but still robust. Low settings produce 192.9 FPS, Medium yields 133.9 FPS, High delivers 118.6 FPS, and Ultra drops to 91.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 101.5 FPS, showing that the resolution increase amplifies the impact of settings. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces Low preset performance by 65.4 FPS (from 258.3 to 192.9), while Ultra drops by 27.8 FPS (from 119.2 to 91.4), confirming that lower settings are more sensitive to resolution changes.

At 3840x2160, the system’s limits become apparent. Low settings still deliver 126 FPS, but Medium drops to 89.9 FPS, High to 78 FPS, and Ultra to 58.1 FPS. The 67.9 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is the largest relative drop across all resolutions, demonstrating that the RTX 3080 Ti’s 912.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 10240 shading units are strained by the 4K pixel count. Notably, the High preset at 4K (78 FPS) is only 13.4 FPS slower than the Ultra preset at 1440p (91.4 FPS), showing that resolution scaling has a more significant impact than preset changes at these higher loads.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol effectively at most resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, all four settings—Low (258.3 FPS), Medium (186 FPS), High (162.2 FPS), and Ultra (119.2 FPS)—comfortably exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold, with the Ultra preset providing the best visual experience. At 2560x1440, the same holds true: Low (192.9 FPS), Medium (133.9 FPS), High (118.6 FPS), and Ultra (91.4 FPS) all remain above 60 FPS, making Ultra the recommended setting. At 3840x2160, the system can play the game on Low (126 FPS), Medium (89.9 FPS), and High (78 FPS) settings, but the Ultra preset falls short at 58.1 FPS. For 4K gaming, the High preset is the most demanding option that maintains smooth performance. Overall, this hardware combination is well-suited for the game, offering playable frame rates at all resolutions, with the only exception being 4K Ultra.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals in performance are the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which scores 69996 (0.2% lower), the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX at 69875 (0.4% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X at 69515 (0.9% lower). These processors would behave nearly identically in Lockdown Protocol, given their similar average benchmark scores. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K scores 70879, which is 1% higher, making it a marginally faster option. Users with any of these CPUs should expect comparable frame rates in the game.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 with a score of 40870 (0.8% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 at 40377 (2% lower). The NVIDIA Tesla M40 24 GB scores 41707 (1.2% higher), and the NVIDIA Tesla M40 scores 41897 (1.7% higher). These alternatives would deliver similar performance in Lockdown Protocol, with the Tesla cards offering a slight edge and the Radeon Pro 5300 and RTX 5070 trailing by small margins. For users considering upgrades or replacements, these options would provide a closely matched experience.