Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a thoroughly playable experience in Lockdown Protocol across most common configurations, though 4K Ultra remains a notable exception. Benchmark data shows this combination handles the game’s FPS mechanics with ease at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires settings adjustments to stay smooth. The measured FPS figures, drawn directly from testing, reveal a clear hierarchy: the combo excels at lower resolutions, remains competent at medium presets in 4K, and only stumbles at the absolute maximum graphical ceiling.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo produces outstanding frame rates that leave ample headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors. Low settings yield an average of 189 FPS, making the game feel exceptionally fluid. Medium settings drop the average to 134 FPS, with a minimum of 114 FPS and a maximum of 154 FPS, indicating consistent frame pacing. High settings still deliver a strong 117 FPS average, while Ultra, the most demanding preset, maintains an average of 88 FPS. None of these figures approach the playable threshold of 60 FPS, so every preset at 1080p is comfortably above the line.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales predictably but remains robust. Low settings produce a 138 FPS average, retaining the fluidity seen at 1080p. Medium settings average 98 FPS, with a recorded minimum of 83 FPS and a maximum of 113 FPS, showing only modest dips under load. High settings hold at 86 FPS, and Ultra still manages a 64 FPS average. The Ultra figure is the first point where the combo nears the 60 FPS threshold, but it does not cross it, keeping all 1440p presets playable.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes substantially. Low settings average 89 FPS, which is surprisingly strong for 4K and indicates the game scales well with reduced graphical load. Medium settings average 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS—the minimum dips below the playable threshold, but the average stays above it. High settings fall to a 55 FPS average, missing the 60 FPS mark. Ultra drops further to 42 FPS, making it the only preset across all resolutions that is clearly unplayable. The data shows a steep performance cliff between Medium and High at 4K, with a 8 FPS average loss, and another significant drop from High to Ultra.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, with an average of 63 FPS. While Low achieves a higher 89 FPS average, Medium represents the best visual quality that still clears the playable threshold. High and Ultra both fall short, so Medium is the recommended ceiling for 4K.

At 2560x1440, every preset clears 60 FPS, so the best settings are Ultra, which averages 64 FPS. This is a marginal victory over the threshold, but it allows the game to run at maximum visual fidelity. High settings at 86 FPS are a safer choice for consistency, but Ultra remains technically playable.

For 1920x1080, Ultra is the obvious best setting, averaging 88 FPS. This leaves substantial headroom above the 60 FPS line, so players can enjoy the highest preset without sacrificing smoothness. The gap between Ultra and the next preset, High at 117 FPS, is significant, but the Ultra figure is still far from any performance concerns.

How This Combo Ranks

In the global dataset for Lockdown Protocol, this CPU-GPU pairing ranks 2009 out of 3714 tested combinations. This places it in the upper half of all systems, though not in the top tier. The CPU itself sits in the 94th percentile against all processors, with an average benchmark score of 70163. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, scores 69996, a mere 0.2% difference, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX trails by 0.4% at 69875. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.9% behind at 69515, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K leads by 1% with a score of 70879. These margins are negligible in real-world gaming, but they confirm the i7-14700KF is a high-end part.

The GPU, however, ranks lower in its own field. The RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, scores 17666, just 0.2% ahead. The AMD Radeon 780M follows at 17588, 0.3% behind, and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 is 0.5% back at 17551. The AMD Radeon Pro 460 trails by 0.7% at 17509. These scores indicate the RTX 4060 is a mid-range GPU, and the combo’s overall rank of 2009 reflects that the CPU carries more weight than the GPU in this pairing.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K Ultra settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 42, which falls well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. High settings also miss the mark at 55 FPS.

Q: What is the best preset at 1440p for this combo?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 average 64 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. All other presets also clear the threshold, with Low at 138 FPS, Medium at 98 FPS, and High at 86 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems in Lockdown Protocol?

A: It ranks 2009 out of 3714 total combinations, placing it in the upper half of all tested configs. The CPU is in the 94th percentile, while the GPU is in the 61st percentile.

Q: Is the average FPS at 1080p Ultra sufficient for smooth gameplay?

A: Yes, the 88 FPS average at 1920x1080 Ultra is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The minimum FPS is not recorded for this preset, but the average provides ample headroom.

Q: Does the performance drop significantly between 1440p and 4K?

A: The data shows a substantial drop. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 64 FPS, while at 4K Ultra it falls to 42 FPS—a 22 FPS difference. Even at High settings, 4K averages 55 FPS versus 86 FPS at 1440p.

Q: What is the least demanding preset that remains playable at 4K?

A: Low settings at 3840x2160 average 89 FPS, which is the highest frame rate at that resolution. Medium is the most demanding playable preset at 63 FPS, but Low offers the best performance margin.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU’s high single-thread performance—evidenced by its 6235 Cinebench R23 single-core score and 4480 Passmark single-thread score—easily feeds frames. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 101 FPS drop (189 to 88), which is entirely driven by GPU load. The CPU has ample headroom, as even the most demanding preset does not stress it enough to cause a CPU-bound scenario.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on more work, but the CPU still keeps pace. The drop from Low to Ultra is 74 FPS (138 to 64), a slightly smaller absolute decrease than at 1080p, indicating that the GPU is approaching its limits while the CPU remains underutilized. The minimum FPS at Medium (83 FPS) suggests that frame dips are GPU-related, not CPU stalls, since the CPU’s multi-threaded strength—a 44167 Cinebench R23 multi-core score—is more than sufficient for this game’s physics and AI.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the dominant constraint. The difference between Low and Ultra is 47 FPS (89 to 42), but the key indicator is that even Medium settings produce a minimum of 54 FPS, dipping below the playable line. This is a clear GPU limitation, as the CPU’s performance is unchanged across resolutions. The RTX 4060’s 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely strained at 4K, particularly with higher texture loads. The CPU’s role diminishes further at 4K, where the GPU’s raw throughput—15.11 TFLOPS FP32—is simply insufficient for Ultra presets.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol at 1080p and 1440p without compromise. At 1920x1080, all presets clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 88 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra averages 64 FPS, and every other preset is well above the threshold. At 3840x2160, the system is partially capable: Low and Medium settings are playable, with Medium averaging 63 FPS, but High and Ultra fall short at 55 FPS and 42 FPS, respectively. The verdictByResolution data confirms that 1080p and 1440p are fully playable at the highest settings, while 4K requires dropping to Medium for a stable experience. For a mid-range GPU like the RTX 4060, this is a reasonable outcome, and the strong CPU ensures that the GPU is the sole limiting factor at higher resolutions.