Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Lockdown Protocol, with 4K remaining playable only at lower presets. Measured data shows this combination clears the 60 FPS threshold at every resolution tested, though the margin narrows considerably at 3840x2160. Across all tested settings, the combo ranks 1709th out of 3714 configurations, placing it in the upper half of the database. The following sections break down the measured frame rates, the balance between CPU and GPU load, and how this pairing compares to nearby alternatives.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the i9-14900K and RX 7700 produce consistently high frame rates. At Low settings, the average sits at 200 FPS, which is the highest measured value for this combo at any resolution. Medium settings yield an average of 142 FPS, with a minimum of 121 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS. High settings drop to 124 FPS average, while Ultra still delivers 93 FPS average. Every preset at 1080p stays well above the 60 FPS playability threshold, with the lowest recorded minimum (Medium) still hitting 121 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings produce 147 FPS average, while Medium delivers 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS. High settings average 91 FPS, and Ultra remains comfortable at 68 FPS average. The 1440p results show a consistent step-down from 1080p, with the Ultra preset retaining a 68 FPS average that just clears the 60 FPS line.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly. Low settings average 95 FPS, which is still strong. Medium settings drop to 67 FPS average, with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS — the only recorded minimum below 60 FPS in the dataset. High settings fall to 59 FPS average, and Ultra bottoms out at 44 FPS average. The 4K results show a clear cliff between Medium and High, with the latter failing to maintain a 60 FPS average.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates that the RX 7700 becomes the primary bottleneck as resolution increases, while the i9-14900K provides ample headroom at lower resolutions. The scaling from 1080p Low to 1440p Low shows a drop from 200 FPS to 147 FPS (a 26.5% reduction), while the jump from 1440p Low to 4K Low goes from 147 FPS to 95 FPS (a 35.4% reduction). This progressive decline with resolution points to the GPU being the limiting factor, since the CPU workload remains constant regardless of pixel count.

The gap between Low and Ultra presets widens at higher resolutions, further confirming GPU dominance. At 1080p, the difference between Low (200 FPS) and Ultra (93 FPS) is 107 FPS. At 1440p, the same comparison shows a 79 FPS gap (147 vs 68). At 4K, the gap narrows to 51 FPS (95 vs 44). This pattern suggests that at 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to push frame rates very high, but the GPU's rendering load at 4K compresses the range of achievable performance.

The i9-14900K's 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with a boost clock of 6.00 GHz, are more than sufficient for Lockdown Protocol's FPS workload. The CPU's benchmark scores — including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39399.5 and a single-core score of 2262.5 — indicate minimal CPU-side constraints at any resolution. The RX 7700's 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are the more likely performance ceiling, particularly at 4K where the Ultra preset's 44 FPS average reflects the GPU's fill rate limits.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific configuration ranks 1709th out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the 54th percentile of all pairings. The rank reflects the balanced nature of this setup: the i9-14900K sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the RX 7700 lands in the 58th percentile among all GPUs. The combination's overall position is dragged down by the GPU's mid-range standing, despite the CPU being near the top of the charts.

The CPU's nearest rivals help contextualize its contribution. The Intel Core i9-14900KF scores 0.3% higher on average, making it virtually identical in real-world terms. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 0.6% ahead, while the AMD EPYC 7413 leads by 1.2%. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 trails by 1.7%. These small deltas (all within ±2%) mean that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would produce nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Lockdown Protocol.

On the GPU side, the RX 7700's nearest rivals show a similarly tight cluster. The AMD Radeon R9 370X is 0.1% behind, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is 1% ahead, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is 1.1% behind. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti leads by 1.7%. All four alternatives fall within a 2.8% spread, so any of them would deliver essentially the same FPS as the RX 7700 in this game.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Lockdown Protocol with playable frame rates at all three tested resolutions, but the definition of "playable" changes with resolution. At 1920x1080, every preset clears the 60 FPS threshold with room to spare — even Ultra averages 93 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combo, offering the full range of visual settings without compromise.

At 2560x1440, all four presets also remain playable, with Ultra averaging 68 FPS. This gives users the ability to max out the game's settings while staying above the 60 FPS line. Medium and High offer even more headroom at 104 and 91 FPS respectively.

At 3840x2160, only Low (95 FPS) and Medium (67 FPS) meet the 60 FPS average threshold. High falls just short at 59 FPS, and Ultra drops to 44 FPS. The verdict data confirms this: the playable settings at 4K are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best choice at 67 FPS average. The 57 FPS minimum at 4K Medium is worth noting — it means occasional dips below 60 FPS are possible even on the recommended preset.

For users targeting a locked 60 FPS experience, 1080p Ultra and 1440p Ultra are the safest choices. At 4K, Medium is the maximum preset that maintains a 60 FPS average, though the 57 FPS minimum suggests some stutter risk in demanding scenes.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The i9-14900K's nearest rivals all fall within a 1.2% performance delta, meaning any of them would behave almost identically in Lockdown Protocol. The Intel Core i9-14900KF (0.3% faster) is the most direct substitute — it lacks the integrated UHD Graphics 770 but otherwise matches the 14900K's specs. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (0.6% faster) and AMD EPYC 7413 (1.2% faster) offer marginal uplifts, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (1.7% slower) would produce slightly lower frame rates.

On the GPU side, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (1% faster) is the closest performance match, followed by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (1.7% faster). The AMD Radeon R9 370X (0.1% slower) and AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (1.1% slower) would deliver nearly identical results. None of these alternatives would change the playability verdict at any resolution — the differences are within single-digit frame rates.

For users considering a CPU upgrade path, the i9-14900K's position in the 95th CPU percentile means there is little headroom for improvement within the same generation. The GPU offers more upgrade potential, as moving to a higher-tier Radeon RX 7000 series card would likely push 4K High and Ultra into playable territory.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average frame rate is 44 FPS, which falls well below the 60 FPS playability threshold. The highest playable preset at 4K is Medium, which averages 67 FPS.

*Q: What is the best resolution for this PC in Lockdown Protocol?*

A: 1920x1080 provides the most comfortable experience, with Ultra settings averaging 93 FPS and Low reaching 200 FPS. 2560x1440 Ultra also works at 68 FPS average, making both resolutions viable.

Q: Does the i9-14900K bottleneck the RX 7700 in this game?

A: No. The CPU's performance (95th percentile among all CPUs) far exceeds the GPU's (58th percentile), and the frame rate scaling with resolution indicates the GPU is the limiting factor.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RTX 3060 Ti pairing?

A: The RX 7700 is 1.7% slower than the RTX 3060 Ti in average benchmark score, so the two GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Is the 4K Medium preset stable enough for competitive play?

A: The average of 67 FPS clears the 60 FPS threshold, but the minimum of 57 FPS means occasional dips below 60 are possible. For competitive play, 1440p or 1080p would provide more consistent frame times.

Q: What is the highest setting that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Ultra settings at 2560x1440 average 68 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that maintains a 60+ FPS average at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which averages 67 FPS (minimum 57, maximum 77). Low settings are also playable at 95 FPS average, but Medium offers better visual quality while still meeting the threshold.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is the best choice, averaging 68 FPS. This provides the highest visual fidelity while maintaining a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS line. Medium (104 FPS) and High (91 FPS) are also playable but leave performance on the table.

At 1920x1080, Ultra again takes the top spot, averaging 93 FPS. This leaves significant headroom over the 60 FPS threshold, making it the recommended setting for the best balance of visuals and performance. Low (200 FPS), Medium (142 FPS), and High (124 FPS) are all playable for users prioritizing frame rate over graphical detail.