Lockdown Protocol

FAQ

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the CPU and GPU in this combination?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has a launch MSRP of $589, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 has a launch MSRP of 379 USD.

Q: How does the Intel Core i9-14900K compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KF?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097, while the Intel Core i9-14900KF scores 79371, which is 0.3% higher. The difference is negligible, placing the two CPUs effectively at parity in the database.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the GTX 1070?

A: The GTX 1070 features 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is listed at 2002 MHz with 8 Gbps effective speed.

Q: Which preset at 4K resolution achieves playable performance above 60 FPS?

A: At 3840x2160, only the Low preset achieves playable performance, with an average of 62 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 44 FPS average, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the combo's rank among tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the GTX 1070 ranks 3068 out of 3714 tested combos in the game, placing it in the lower portion of the database results.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking compared to all CPUs in the database?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900K sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors. In contrast, the GTX 1070 is in the 47th percentile among all GPUs.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU side of this combination is remarkably strong. The Intel Core i9-14900K, with an average benchmark score of 79097, sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are extremely close: the Intel Core i9-14900KF scores 79371, a difference of only 0.3%; the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574 at 0.6% higher; the AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041 at 1.2% higher; and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 77740 at 1.7% lower. For any workload, swapping between these processors would produce nearly identical results, as the recorded deltas all fall within roughly two percentage points.

The GPU tells a different story. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 9780 and sits in the 47th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it sits right around the median. Its nearest rivals are similarly positioned: the AMD FirePro W5000 scores 9803 at 0.2% higher, the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M scores 9832 at 0.5% higher, the NVIDIA Tesla M10 scores 9724 at 0.6% lower, and the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 scores 9716 at 0.7% lower. All four alternatives are within one percentage point of the GTX 1070, so users could expect effectively identical frame rates from any of these cards in Lockdown Protocol.

The stark contrast between the two components is the defining feature of this pairing. The CPU is a top-tier 24-core, 32-thread part from the Core 14th Gen series with a boost clock of 6.00 GHz, while the GPU is an end-of-life Pascal architecture card from 2016 with 1920 shading units. In terms of the database's benchmark percentiles, the CPU outperforms 95% of all processors, while the GPU only outperforms 47% of all GPUs. This imbalance suggests that the GTX 1070 will act as the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, particularly at higher resolutions where GPU load increases.

CPU and GPU Roles

Examining the measured frame rates across resolutions and presets reveals which component dominates in Lockdown Protocol. At 1920x1080, the game appears largely GPU-bound, but the CPU's headroom is still evident. The Low preset reaches 131 FPS average, while the Ultra preset drops to 61 FPS average. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p represents a drop of 70 FPS, a 53% reduction, which points to the GPU struggling with the increased graphical load rather than the CPU holding back performance.

At 2560x1440, the pattern continues. The Low preset averages 96 FPS, Medium averages 68 FPS, High averages 59 FPS, and Ultra drops to 45 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 51 FPS, again a substantial reduction that tracks with GPU workload. The CPU's 24 cores and 32 threads are far beyond what this game requires at this resolution, so the GTX 1070's shading units, TMUs, and ROPs become the deciding factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU constraint becomes even more pronounced. Low averages 62 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS, High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra falls to 29 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is 33 FPS, and the Low preset is the only one that clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. The 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game's demands at lower settings, but the card's raw compute throughput of 6.463 TFLOPS limits its ability to sustain higher presets at this pixel count.

The resolution scaling data indicates that the GTX 1070 is the primary bottleneck across all settings. The CPU, with its 95th percentile ranking, provides more than enough processing power. The measured FPS drops align with the GPU's percentile position near the middle of the database, and the game's performance scales predictably with resolution and preset level.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? The answer depends entirely on the resolution and settings chosen. The database's playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the recorded measurements show clear outcomes for each resolution.

At 3840x2160, the combination is only playable on the Low preset, which averages 62 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 44 FPS, High falls to 38 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 29 FPS. Users targeting 4K must accept Low settings to stay above the 60 FPS line.

At 2560x1440, the system achieves playable performance on both Low and Medium presets. Low averages 96 FPS, and Medium averages 68 FPS. The High preset misses the threshold at 59 FPS, and Ultra falls further to 45 FPS. The best playable option at this resolution is Medium, which delivers 68 FPS average.

At 1920x1080, every preset clears the 60 FPS threshold. Low averages 131 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS, High averages 81 FPS, and Ultra averages 61 FPS. This is the only resolution where the Ultra preset is viable, and it sits just barely above the playable line.

The overall assessment is that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience depends heavily on the display resolution. At 1080p, the system offers full flexibility with all presets playable. At 1440p, users must choose Medium or lower. At 4K, only the Low preset works. The i9-14900K's substantial processing power cannot compensate for the GTX 1070's mid-range position in the GPU percentile rankings.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is listed below, with the exact measured average FPS.

At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is Low, with an average of 62 FPS. No other preset at this resolution reaches the 60 FPS threshold, so users are limited to this single option for 4K play.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Medium, with an average of 68 FPS. The recorded range for this preset spans from 58 FPS minimum to 78 FPS maximum, so there may be occasional dips below 60 FPS during demanding scenes, but the average remains comfortably above the threshold.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 61 FPS. This is the highest preset available in the game, and it clears the 60 FPS line by just one frame per second on average. The Low preset at this resolution offers the highest headroom at 131 FPS average, but for users seeking the best visual quality, Ultra is the answer.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's rankings for Lockdown Protocol, this combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3068 out of 3714 tested combos. This places the system in the bottom 17% of all tested configurations, which aligns with the GPU's 47th percentile position among all GPUs.

The ranking makes sense when considering the component breakdown. The CPU is exceptional, ranking in the 95th percentile, but the GPU is merely average at best. Since Lockdown Protocol is an FPS game that scales heavily with GPU performance at higher resolutions and presets, the GTX 1070 drags the overall combo ranking down significantly.

The measured FPS data reinforces this ranking. While the system can handle 1080p Ultra at 61 FPS average, it struggles at higher resolutions. The 4K Ultra preset produces only 29 FPS average, and the 1440p Ultra preset produces 45 FPS average. These results are consistent with a GPU that sits near the median of all tested graphics cards, despite being paired with one of the fastest consumer CPUs available.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded measurements show a clear hierarchy across presets. The Low preset averages 62 FPS, with no minimum or maximum values recorded. The Medium preset averages 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. The High preset averages 38 FPS, with no range data. The Ultra preset averages 29 FPS, with no range data. The spread from Low to Ultra is 33 FPS, and only the Low preset meets the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the performance improves substantially. The Low preset averages 96 FPS, with no range data. The Medium preset averages 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. The High preset averages 59 FPS, just one frame below the playable threshold, with no range data. The Ultra preset averages 45 FPS, with no range data. The Medium preset is the best playable option, and its minimum of 58 FPS indicates occasional dips just below the threshold during intense scenes.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best. The Low preset averages 131 FPS, with no range data. The Medium preset averages 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. The High preset averages 81 FPS, with no range data. The Ultra preset averages 61 FPS, with no range data. All four presets clear the 60 FPS playable threshold, making 1080p the only resolution where the full range of settings is available.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each step up in resolution reduces average FPS by roughly 30% at equivalent settings, and each step up in preset level adds a similar penalty. The GTX 1070's 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for the game's requirements, but the card's mid-range compute performance limits its ability to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions. The CPU, by contrast, never appears to be the limiting factor in any of the recorded scenarios.