Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX delivers a decisive performance tier for Lockdown Protocol, achieving playable frame rates above the 60 FPS threshold at every tested resolution and preset combination. Benchmark data shows this combination ranks 515th out of 3714 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top 14% of all systems. The measured results indicate that this hardware is not merely adequate but overwhelmingly capable, with even the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K clearing the 60 FPS bar by a narrow margin, while lower resolutions produce frame rates that exceed the needs of high-refresh-rate displays.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 65 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the most demanding configuration tested, and it still delivers a playable experience.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average frame rate is 303.9 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is more than five times the 60 FPS playable threshold, indicating extreme headroom for competitive play.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097, which is 1.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (score 77740) and 0.3% lower than the Intel Core i9-14900KF (score 79371). The difference among the top rivals is within 1.7%, indicating near-identical CPU performance.

Q: How does the GPU rank among all tested graphics cards?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX holds the 64th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19410. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB, scores 19334, a difference of just 0.4%, while the NVIDIA TITAN Xp is 1.2% behind.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces an average of 221.1 FPS, while Ultra produces 100.9 FPS. This represents a 120.2 FPS drop when moving from Low to Ultra, yet both remain far above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the RX 7900 XTX still in production?

A: No. The production status for the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is listed as "End-of-life," with a release date of 2022-11-02. The successor is noted as Navi IV.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, benchmark data places the Intel Core i9-14900K in close company with several other high-end processors. The nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79371, a mere 0.3% higher than the i9-14900K's 79097. This makes the KF variant effectively interchangeable in gaming workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574, 0.6% higher, while the AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041, 1.2% higher. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 77740, trailing by 1.7%. All of these processors are within a narrow performance band, meaning users upgrading from one to another would see negligible differences in Lockdown Protocol frame rates.

For the GPU, the situation is more nuanced. The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX has an average benchmark score of 19410, but its nearest rivals in the database are not modern high-end cards. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB scores 19334 (0.4% lower), the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 scores 19602 (1.0% higher), and the AMD FirePro D300 scores 19637 (1.2% higher). The NVIDIA TITAN Xp scores 19177, which is 1.2% lower. This clustering suggests that in the benchmark database's scoring system, the RX 7900 XTX's average score places it alongside these diverse cards, though real-world gaming performance in Lockdown Protocol is clearly strong given the measured FPS data. The percentile ranking of 64th among all GPUs indicates that while it is above average, it is not in the top tier of the database's GPU rankings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results for Lockdown Protocol reveal a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but the data also shows how the balance shifts. At 3840x2160, moving from Low to Ultra settings reduces the average frame rate from 141.2 FPS to 65 FPS, a drop of 76.2 FPS. This 54% reduction in performance when maxing out settings indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU has enough headroom to feed the graphics card at all preset levels.

At 2560x1440, the same settings progression shows a larger absolute drop: from 221.1 FPS on Low to 100.9 FPS on Ultra, a decrease of 120.2 FPS. The percentage drop is similar, but the absolute numbers are higher, suggesting that the CPU is beginning to contribute more to overall performance as the GPU load decreases. The fact that Ultra still exceeds 100 FPS at this resolution confirms that neither component is severely strained.

At 1920x1080, the CPU's role becomes more prominent. The Low preset achieves 303.9 FPS, while Ultra drops to 141.8 FPS. The 162.1 FPS difference between presets is the largest absolute spread across all resolutions, but the key observation is that even the highest settings produce frame rates that are more than double the playable threshold. The CPU's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by a Geekbench single-core score of 2655 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4697, ensures that it can keep up with the GPU's output at this resolution. The data indicates that for players targeting 1080p, the CPU becomes a more significant factor, but both components are more than sufficient for Lockdown Protocol.

The Verdict

This system can unequivocally run Lockdown Protocol at playable frame rates across all tested configurations. The verdict by resolution is unambiguous: at 3840x2160, all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable, with the best being Ultra at 65 FPS average. At 2560x1440, the same four presets are playable, with Ultra achieving 100.9 FPS average. At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with Ultra delivering 141.8 FPS average.

The data shows that the playable threshold of 60 FPS is cleared by every single measurement in the dataset. The minimum margin is at 4K Ultra, where the average of 65 FPS provides a 5 FPS cushion above the threshold. This means that even in demanding scenes that might cause frame rate dips, the average performance leaves room for the game to remain playable. For players seeking the highest visual fidelity, the 4K Ultra setting is viable, though it is the only configuration where the margin above 60 FPS is relatively slim. At 1440p and 1080p, the margins are substantial, with Ultra presets delivering 40.9 FPS and 81.8 FPS above the threshold, respectively.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 303.9 FPS, Medium produces 214.1 FPS, High produces 184.6 FPS, and Ultra produces 141.8 FPS. The progression shows a 162.1 FPS difference between the lowest and highest settings, with each step up in quality costing a significant number of frames. The Low setting is more than double the Medium setting's frame rate, indicating that the preset scaling has a substantial impact on GPU load.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are: Low at 221.1 FPS, Medium at 159 FPS, High at 136.4 FPS, and Ultra at 100.9 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 120.2 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p but still represents a 54% reduction in performance. The High setting at 136.4 FPS is notable because it stays above 120 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are: Low at 141.2 FPS, Medium at 100.4 FPS, High at 89.5 FPS, and Ultra at 65 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 76.2 FPS, the smallest absolute difference among the three resolutions. This is expected, as the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K, and the setting changes have less relative impact on the already heavy workload. The Ultra setting's 65 FPS average is the only measurement in the entire dataset that falls below 89 FPS, highlighting the demanding nature of 4K Ultra.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the best settings that maintain at least 60 FPS are Ultra, with an average frame rate of 65 FPS. This is the most demanding preset tested at this resolution, and it clears the playable threshold by 5 FPS. Players who prefer a safety margin could opt for High at 89.5 FPS, but the data confirms that Ultra is technically playable.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, achieving an average of 100.9 FPS. This provides a 40.9 FPS margin above the 60 FPS threshold, making it a comfortable choice for players who want maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The High preset at 136.4 FPS and Medium at 159 FPS offer even higher frame rates for those who prioritize performance.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 141.8 FPS. This is more than double the playable threshold, ensuring that even the most demanding scenes in Lockdown Protocol will run smoothly. The High preset at 184.6 FPS and Medium at 214.1 FPS provide additional headroom for competitive play, but the Ultra preset is the clear recommendation for 1080p users seeking the best visual experience without compromising frame rate.