Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol, an FPS released on 2024-03-11, presents a demanding workload for the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti combination. The benchmark data indicates this pairing is a robust performer, capable of delivering smooth frame rates across most modern resolutions, though the heaviest settings at 4K will require some compromise. The measured results show a clear relationship between resolution, graphical preset, and performance, with the system's high-end CPU ensuring that the GPU remains the primary bottleneck in almost every scenario tested.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and preset combination for this PC in Lockdown Protocol?

A: At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 106.5 FPS on average. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also remains playable at 79.5 FPS. For 3840x2160, the highest playable preset is High, which produces an average of 64.5 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 Ti strong enough to handle 4K gaming in this title?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The data shows that at 3840x2160, the system can achieve playable frame rates above the 60 FPS threshold on Low (109.3 FPS), Medium (77 FPS), and High (64.5 FPS) presets. However, the Ultra preset drops below the threshold at 52.8 FPS.

Q: How does the i9-14900K compare to its closest rivals in general processing power?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 79097, which is within 0.6% of the Intel Core i9-14900KF (79371) and within 1.2% of the AMD EPYC 7413 (80041). It is 1.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (77740), making it a highly competitive processor.

Q: Which component is more critical for performance at 1080p, the CPU or the GPU?

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. The data shows a significant drop in frame rates as resolution increases, from 226.1 FPS at 1080p Low to 109.3 FPS at 4K Low. This scaling pattern indicates the graphics card's workload is the main constraint, as the CPU is powerful enough to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions.

Q: What is the performance delta between the RTX 3070 Ti and its nearest rival, the RTX 2080 Ti?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti has an average benchmark score of 29945, which is 0.5% higher than the RTX 2080 Ti's score of 29783. This indicates that while the newer card has a slight edge, their overall performance levels are very close.

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 1440p with maximum graphical settings?

A: Yes. The benchmark results show that at 2560x1440 with the Ultra preset, the system produces an average of 79.5 FPS. This comfortably clears the 60 FPS playable threshold, confirming that the Ultra preset is viable at this resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data for Lockdown Protocol reveals a distinct pattern in how the CPU and GPU divide responsibilities across different resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system is heavily GPU-bound, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling. With the Low preset, the game runs at 226.1 FPS, but this drops significantly to 139.2 FPS on the High preset and further to 106.5 FPS on Ultra. This 53% reduction in performance from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows the immense load placed on the graphics card by higher-quality settings. The Intel Core i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 3070 Ti at this resolution, meaning the GPU's rendering speed is the sole determinant of output.

As the resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU's workload becomes even more dominant. Performance figures drop across all presets compared to 1080p, with the Low preset falling from 226.1 FPS to 163.2 FPS and the Ultra preset falling from 106.5 FPS to 79.5 FPS. This consistent decline, roughly a 25-30% reduction in frame rate for a 78% increase in pixel count, confirms that the RTX 3070 Ti's fill rate and memory bandwidth are being taxed heavily. The CPU's role remains secondary; even at the highest settings, the i9-14900K's processing power is sufficient to maintain frame pacing and avoid becoming a bottleneck.

The trend culminates at 3840x2160, where the GPU is overwhelmingly the limiting factor. Here, the Ultra preset drops to 52.8 FPS, below the 60 FPS playable threshold, while the High preset manages 64.5 FPS. The gap between Low (109.3 FPS) and Ultra (52.8 FPS) at 4K is a 51% performance swing, almost identical to the swing seen at 1080p. This indicates that the RTX 3070 Ti's computational resources are the primary constraint across all resolutions, while the CPU's performance ceiling is far above what this game requires at these settings. The data suggests that for this specific game, upgrading the GPU would yield far greater performance gains than upgrading the already-powerful CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested hardware combinations, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti holds a rank of 1298 out of 3714 total combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This places the combo in the upper echelon of tested systems, denoting that it outperforms roughly 65% of all other CPU-GPU pairings in this specific title. The ranking confirms the balance between the high-end CPU and the upper-midrange GPU, which together deliver a solid gaming experience.

The combo's rank is likely driven by the strength of the i9-14900K, which sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs according to its benchmark score of 79097. This ensures the processor is never a weak link. The RTX 3070 Ti, while not a flagship, still performs admirably, ranking in the 75th percentile of all GPUs with an average score of 29945. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a capable GPU results in a system that handles high-refresh-rate gaming well, but its overall rank is tempered by the GPU's limitations at 4K Ultra settings, where it falls below the playability threshold.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Lockdown Protocol? The measured data confirms a definitive yes, with the system clearing the 60 FPS playable threshold at all tested resolutions, provided the right graphics settings are selected. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally capable, running every preset, including Ultra, well above 60 FPS, with an average of 106.5 FPS on the Ultra preset. This makes it an excellent choice for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the system continues to deliver a smooth experience, with all presets remaining playable. The Ultra preset achieves an average of 79.5 FPS, confirming that the RTX 3070 Ti has ample headroom for high-fidelity 1440p gaming. The verdict becomes more nuanced at 3840x2160. While the system can run the game at 4K, it cannot do so on the most demanding settings. The Ultra preset falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 52.8 FPS, but the High preset remains playable at 64.5 FPS. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, users should stick to the High preset or lower.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the game's performance varies significantly with the preset. The Low preset delivers an average of 109.3 FPS, which is remarkably high for 4K and suggests the game is well-optimized at lower graphical loads. Moving to Medium reduces the average to 77 FPS, while the High preset brings it down to 64.5 FPS, narrowly clearing the playable threshold. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, yielding an average of 52.8 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are substantially higher across the board. The Low preset achieves an average of 163.2 FPS, offering a very smooth experience for competitive play. The Medium preset averages 120.1 FPS, and the High preset averages 104.9 FPS, both providing excellent fluidity. The Ultra preset also clears the threshold comfortably with an average of 79.5 FPS, making 1440p a sweet spot for this hardware configuration.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its maximum potential. The Low preset produces an impressive average of 226.1 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Medium preset averages 158.7 FPS, and the High preset averages 139.2 FPS. The Ultra preset still delivers a very high average of 106.5 FPS, ensuring that even the most visually demanding settings are easily playable at this resolution.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which produces an average frame rate of 106.5 FPS. This allows users to enjoy the game with all visual features enabled while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the playable threshold, making it the recommended choice for the highest visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is also the best choice, with an average of 79.5 FPS. This setting provides a perfect balance between visual quality and performance, as the frame rate is high enough for a smooth experience and remains above the 60 FPS threshold, even during intense gameplay sequences.

For 3840x2160, the highest preset that stays at or above the 60 FPS threshold is High, with an average of 64.5 FPS. While the Ultra preset is not playable at this resolution, the High preset still offers a high level of visual detail and a playable frame rate. Users seeking a 4K experience should select the High preset to ensure a stable performance level above the target threshold.