Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a strong performance profile for Lockdown Protocol, placing in the 854th position out of 3,714 tested combos. This places the configuration in the top 23% of all tested systems, indicating a well-balanced setup that handles the game's demands across all tested resolutions and presets. The data shows that every single settings combination tested—from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra—clears the 60 FPS playability threshold, making this a versatile combination for competitive and high-fidelity play alike.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 854 out of 3,714 tested combinations places this system firmly in the upper quartile of performance. This ranking reflects the synergy between the Core i7-14700KF and the RTX 4070, both of which are strong performers in their respective categories. The CPU sits at the 94th percentile among all tested processors, while the GPU achieves the 81st percentile among all tested graphics cards. This combination of a top-tier processor and a high-midrange graphics card creates a system that rarely bottlenecks in either direction, allowing the hardware to push high frame rates even at demanding 4K resolutions.

The benchmark results indicate that this combo is particularly well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming at 1440p, where it produces average frame rates well above 100 FPS at most settings. The rank also suggests that while there are faster systems available, the performance gap to the top is not prohibitive for most gaming scenarios. The data shows a smooth scaling curve from 1080p to 4K, with no sudden drops that would indicate a fundamental hardware limitation.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Core i7-14700KF and the RTX 4070 shifts noticeably across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU's high single-thread performance becomes the primary driver of frame rates. This is evident in the scaling from Low to Ultra settings: the frame rate drops from 257.9 FPS at Low to 119.6 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 54%. This steep drop indicates that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU far more frames than it can render, making the GPU the limiting factor even at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The frame rate at Low settings drops to 192.4 FPS, while Ultra settings yield 86.9 FPS. The percentage drop from Low to Ultra is 55%, which is similar to 1080p, but the absolute numbers are lower across the board. This suggests that while the GPU is becoming more stressed, the CPU still has enough headroom to keep up with the GPU's output at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant constraint. The frame rate at Low settings is 121.6 FPS, which drops to 60 FPS at Ultra settings—a 51% reduction. The fact that 4K Ultra still maintains exactly 60 FPS average indicates that the RTX 4070 is working at its limit, while the CPU has significant spare capacity. The scaling between resolutions at the same settings confirms this: at High settings, moving from 1080p (161.5 FPS) to 1440p (116.5 FPS) to 4K (77 FPS) shows a consistent performance penalty that aligns with the increasing pixel count, a classic GPU-bound behavior.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance across all presets. Low settings produce an average of 257.9 FPS, which is more than enough for the fastest competitive monitors. Medium settings reduce the average to 186.7 FPS, still far above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings yield 161.5 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain a robust 119.6 FPS average. The spread between Low and Ultra is substantial, but even the most demanding preset at 1080p offers a comfortable margin above the playability threshold.

The 2560x1440 results show a similar pattern with slightly lower absolute numbers. Low settings average 192.4 FPS, Medium settings hit 137.7 FPS, and High settings reach 116.5 FPS. Ultra settings at 1440p produce an average of 86.9 FPS, which remains well above the 60 FPS threshold and is suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. The performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, indicating that the GPU is scaling predictably with resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system still delivers playable performance at every preset. Low settings average 121.6 FPS, which is remarkably high for 4K. Medium settings reduce this to 88.5 FPS, and High settings yield 77 FPS. Ultra settings at 4K produce exactly 60 FPS on average, meeting the playability threshold precisely. This makes 4K Ultra the boundary condition for this combination—it is playable, but there is no headroom for frame rate dips without adjusting settings.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol at all tested resolutions and settings, with no configuration falling below the 60 FPS playability threshold. The verdict by resolution confirms that all settings at 1920x1080 are playable, with the best settings being Ultra at an average of 119.6 FPS. At 2560x1440, all settings are also playable, with Ultra averaging 86.9 FPS. Even at 3840x2160, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—clear the 60 FPS bar, with Ultra averaging exactly 60 FPS.

For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the system is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, where it can push frame rates well beyond 100 FPS. At 4K, the system is better suited for 60 Hz displays or for users who prefer visual fidelity over raw frame rates. The data shows that the RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game's demands at 4K Ultra, and the CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample processing power for the game's logic.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals to the Core i7-14700KF in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which is 0.2% faster, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which is 0.4% faster. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.9% faster, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is 1% slower. These processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, as the game is not heavily multi-threaded and the single-thread performance differences are minimal.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA Tesla P4 is 0.1% faster in average benchmark score, making it a nearly identical performer. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 0.4% faster, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% faster. The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% slower. These GPUs would produce comparable frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, with the RTX 4080 Mobile offering a slight edge and the Radeon PRO W6400 trailing slightly.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 60 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which exactly meets the playability threshold of 60 FPS.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest recorded average is 257.9 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings?

A: The average frame rate drops from 161.5 FPS at 1920x1080 to 116.5 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 45 FPS or approximately 28%.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 4K?

A: The GPU is the primary constraint at 3840x2160, as indicated by the consistent frame rate drops across settings and the fact that the CPU has significant spare headroom.

Q: Which settings should be used for a 144 Hz monitor at 1440p?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 116.5 FPS, which is below 144 FPS but still very smooth. Medium settings at 137.7 FPS or Low settings at 192.4 FPS would be needed to more consistently hit 144 FPS.

Q: Does this combination support ray tracing in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The RTX 4070 has 46 RT cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, but the measured FPS data in the fact pack does not include ray tracing results, so no conclusion can be drawn about ray tracing performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 119.6 FPS. This provides the highest visual quality while maintaining a substantial margin above the playability threshold. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings also remain the best choice, averaging 86.9 FPS, which is still comfortable for smooth gameplay. At 3840x2160, Ultra settings produce exactly 60 FPS on average, making it the most demanding playable preset. However, given that the average equals the threshold exactly, users who prefer a safety margin might consider High settings at 4K, which average 77 FPS.