Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER pairing delivers a wide range of performance across the three tested resolutions in Lockdown Protocol. The CPU is a top-tier part while the GPU sits firmly in the mid-range, and the recorded frame rates show that the combination is capable of hitting the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution, provided the right settings are selected. The data indicates a steep performance cost as resolution climbs, and the GPU becomes the limiting factor at 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS varies by resolution, and the data shows clear limits for this combo.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings keep the average frame rate above the 60 FPS threshold. The recorded average at Low is 78 FPS, which is comfortably playable. Medium settings drop to 57 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable line, so Low is the highest preset that works at 4K.

At 2560x1440, the combo can push further. High settings produce an average of 70.1 FPS, which clears the threshold. Low runs at 117.4 FPS and Medium at 85.3 FPS, but High is the most demanding preset that still stays at or above 60 FPS, making it the best choice for visual quality without sacrificing playability.

At 1920x1080, the full range of presets is playable. Ultra settings deliver an average of 75.2 FPS, which is above 60 FPS. This makes Ultra the best settings option at 1080p, as it is the most demanding preset that maintains the playable threshold. High runs at 99.2 FPS, Medium at 111.2 FPS, and Low at 156.5 FPS, but none of those are needed since Ultra already clears the bar.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database, this specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 2558 out of 3714 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. That places it in the lower-middle portion of the field, which makes sense given the mix of a very strong processor and a mid-range graphics card.

The CPU itself is a standout part. The Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097, placing it in the 95th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KF, which scores 79371 and is only 0.3 percent ahead, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus at 79574, which is 0.6 percent ahead. The AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041, putting it 1.2 percent ahead, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 trails by 1.7 percent with a score of 77740. This CPU is clearly not the bottleneck in most scenarios.

The GPU tells a different story. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, placing it in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile at 18159, which is 0.4 percent ahead, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 at 18189, which is 0.5 percent ahead. The AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373, a 1.5 percent lead, and the Intel Arc A770M scores 18383, a 1.6 percent lead. The GPU is a solid mid-range part, but it is far behind the CPU in relative standing, which explains the combo's overall rank.

The gap between the CPU's 95th percentile and the GPU's 62nd percentile shows an imbalance, and the measured frame rates reflect that the GPU carries the load at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data covers four settings presets at three resolutions, with average FPS values for each combination.

At 1920x1080, the results are strong across the board. Low settings produce an average of 156.5 FPS. Medium settings run at 111.2 FPS. High settings deliver 99.2 FPS. Ultra settings, the most demanding preset, still manage 75.2 FPS. Every preset at 1080p clears the 60 FPS threshold with room to spare.

At 2560x1440, performance scales down as expected. Low settings average 117.4 FPS. Medium settings drop to 85.3 FPS. High settings come in at 70.1 FPS. Ultra settings fall below the playable threshold with an average of 54.2 FPS. The high preset is the last playable option at this resolution, and it sits just 10.1 FPS above the 60 FPS line.

At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles to keep pace. Low settings average 78 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 57 FPS, just under the threshold. High settings fall further to 45.5 FPS. Ultra settings bottom out at 37.8 FPS. Only the Low preset remains playable at 4K, and the drop from Low to Medium is a 21 FPS loss, showing how quickly the GPU hits its limit as visual fidelity increases.

The scaling pattern is consistent: each step up in settings costs a significant amount of frame rate, and the gap widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 81.3 FPS. At 1440p, that same gap is 63.2 FPS. At 4K, the gap narrows to 40.2 FPS, but that is because even Low is already struggling to maintain high frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Lockdown Protocol at 60 FPS on Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes. The measured average at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 75.2 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 2560x1440?

A: High settings. The recorded average at 1440p with High is 70.1 FPS, which clears the threshold, while Ultra drops to 54.2 FPS and is not playable.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings. The average at 3840x2160 with Low is 78 FPS, but Medium falls to 57 FPS, High to 45.5 FPS, and Ultra to 37.8 FPS.

Q: How much of a performance drop occurs when moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings?

A: The average drops from 99.2 FPS at 1920x1080 to 70.1 FPS at 2560x1440, a loss of 29.1 FPS.

Q: Which component is stronger relative to its peers?

A: The CPU. The Intel Core i9-14900K sits in the 95th percentile among all CPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER sits in the 62nd percentile among all GPUs.

Q: What is the lowest recorded average FPS for this combo in the entire dataset?

A: The lowest average is 37.8 FPS, recorded at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured frame rates show a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU, and that division shifts with resolution.

At 1920x1080, the CPU has more headroom to feed the GPU, and the frame rates are high across all presets. The jump from Ultra at 75.2 FPS to Low at 156.5 FPS shows that the GPU is still the primary constraint, but the CPU is not holding things back. The Intel Core i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, has plenty of compute capacity for this FPS title, and the 1080p results indicate that the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to feel the load more heavily. The drop from High at 70.1 FPS to Ultra at 54.2 FPS is a 15.9 FPS loss, which is a larger relative penalty than the 24 FPS loss seen when moving from High to Ultra at 1080p. The scaling between resolutions confirms the GPU's growing role: at High settings, the move from 1080p to 1440p costs 29.1 FPS, and at Low settings, the same resolution change costs 39.1 FPS. The CPU is still capable, but the GPU is starting to limit performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the dominant constraint. The gap between Low at 78 FPS and Medium at 57 FPS is 21 FPS, and the gap between Medium and High is 11.5 FPS. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are being pushed hard at 4K, and the scaling from 1440p to 4K at Low settings shows a 39.4 FPS drop. The CPU's performance headroom is largely irrelevant at this resolution because the GPU cannot render frames fast enough to use it.

The data shows that the CPU matters most at lower resolutions where frame rates are high, while the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo benefits from the CPU's strength, but at 4K, the GPU's mid-range standing is exposed.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and settings.

At 1920x1080, the combo clears the 60 FPS threshold at every preset. Ultra settings average 75.2 FPS, making this the best playable configuration. High settings run at 99.2 FPS, Medium at 111.2 FPS, and Low at 156.5 FPS. The verdict is a clear yes for 1080p.

At 2560x1440, three of the four presets are playable. High settings average 70.1 FPS, Medium averages 85.3 FPS, and Low averages 117.4 FPS. Ultra falls short at 54.2 FPS, so it should be avoided. The verdict is yes for High, Medium, and Low at 1440p.

At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable, with an average of 78 FPS. Medium drops to 57 FPS, High to 45.5 FPS, and Ultra to 37.8 FPS. The verdict is a conditional yes for 4K, limited to Low settings.

The overall picture is that this combo offers a smooth 1080p experience with maximum settings, a solid 1440p experience with High settings, and a limited but playable 4K experience with Low settings. The CPU is more than capable, but the GPU sets the ceiling. For players who prioritize high frame rates, the 1080p and 1440p results are the strongest, while 4K requires significant visual compromises to stay above 60 FPS.