Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i9-14900K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a robust 1080p and 1440p experience in Lockdown Protocol, with the data showing all tested presets clearing the 60 FPS threshold at those resolutions. At 4K, the combination remains viable but requires a careful preset choice, as the most demanding settings push the average frame rate below the playable line. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes the ranking against other tested combinations, and identifies the optimal settings for each resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this combination covers three resolutions and four settings presets, revealing a clear performance hierarchy. At 1920x1080, the results are exceptionally high across the board. The Low preset produces an average of 258.6 FPS, while Medium reaches 184.6 FPS and High hits 162.3 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset still maintains a strong 121.5 FPS average. These figures indicate that at 1080p, the system has substantial headroom, with even the heaviest settings delivering more than double the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very playable but show the expected scaling impact. The Low preset averages 189.7 FPS, dropping to 133.8 FPS on Medium and 116.6 FPS on High. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 91.8 FPS, which is still comfortably above the 60 FPS playable line. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 25-30% of the average frame rate depending on the preset, indicating a balanced scaling pattern that keeps the experience smooth.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve steepens noticeably. The Low preset averages 124.8 FPS, which is surprisingly high for 4K and suggests the game is not overly demanding at lower settings. Medium drops to 87.6 FPS, and High settles at 73.6 FPS. However, the Ultra preset at 4K falls to 55.3 FPS, which sits below the 60 FPS playable threshold. This is the only configuration in the dataset that fails to maintain playable frame rates, marking a clear boundary for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination holds the 926th position out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the top 25% of all configurations tested for this game, indicating that it is a strong performer relative to the broader hardware landscape. The percentile data supports this assessment, with the CPU ranking in the 95th percentile against all CPUs and the GPU in the 81st percentile against all GPUs.

The combo rank of 926 out of 3714 suggests that while this system is well above average, there are still many configurations that achieve higher frame rates. Given the CPU's exceptional multi-core and single-core benchmark scores, the bottleneck in achieving a higher rank likely resides with the GPU's mid-range positioning. The data shows that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU effectively at lower resolutions, but at 4K Ultra, the GPU's limits become the defining factor.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the optimal preset is the most demanding one that still maintains an average FPS at or above 60. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, delivering 121.5 FPS. This leaves significant performance in reserve, making the system future-proof for any additional graphical demands or background tasks.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset remains the best option, averaging 91.8 FPS. This is well above the playable threshold and provides the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness. The gap between Ultra and High at this resolution is 24.8 FPS, so there is no practical reason to drop below Ultra unless targeting higher refresh rates beyond 144 Hz.

At 3840x2160, the best playable setting is High, which averages 73.6 FPS. The Ultra preset falls short at 55.3 FPS, so users must step down one tier to maintain playability. The Medium preset at 87.6 FPS and Low at 124.8 FPS are also viable, but High offers the best balance of visual quality and performance at 4K.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i9-14900K provide context for CPU performance. The Intel Core i9-14900KF has an average benchmark score that is 0.3% lower, making it functionally identical in gaming workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is 0.6% lower, while the AMD EPYC 7413 is 1.2% lower. On the higher side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is 1.7% above the i9-14900K. These deltas are all within a narrow band, meaning users with any of these CPUs would see nearly indistinguishable frame rates in Lockdown Protocol.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4, which scores 0.1% higher, and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which is 0.4% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile is 1.3% lower, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% higher. These small percentage differences suggest that swapping to any of these alternatives would yield similar performance, though the RTX 4070's feature set and thermal characteristics may differ.

CPU and GPU Roles

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals how the CPU and GPU share the workload in Lockdown Protocol. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low (258.6 FPS) and Ultra (121.5 FPS) is substantial, indicating that the GPU is heavily utilized as settings increase. The CPU's high single-thread performance, evidenced by its benchmark scores, ensures it is not a limiting factor at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance drop from 1080p is consistent across presets, with the Ultra preset falling from 121.5 FPS to 91.8 FPS. This 24.4% reduction aligns with the increased pixel count, suggesting the GPU is becoming more dominant. The CPU's role diminishes further at 4K, where the Ultra preset drops to 55.3 FPS from 91.8 FPS at 1440p. This 39.8% decline at the same settings shows that the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

The data indicates that the i9-14900K provides ample headroom for the RTX 4070 at all tested resolutions. The GPU is the bottleneck when frame rates fall below 60 FPS, specifically at 4K Ultra. Users seeking higher 4K performance would need a more powerful GPU, while the CPU is unlikely to become a limiting factor in this game.

The Verdict

This PC can run Lockdown Protocol at 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 with all settings presets maintaining average frame rates above 60 FPS. At 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 121.5 FPS, and at 1440p, the Ultra preset achieves 91.8 FPS. Both resolutions offer a smooth experience with no compromise on visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the system remains playable with the High, Medium, and Low presets. The best option is High, which averages 73.6 FPS, comfortably clearing the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended, as its 55.3 FPS average falls below the playable line. Overall, this combination is best suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K playable at high but not maximum settings.

FAQ

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

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average FPS is 55.3, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset is the highest playable option at 4K, delivering 73.6 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 is the best choice, as it maintains a 91.8 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the highest visual quality.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combination ranks 926th out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 25% of all tested systems.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the GPU is the primary factor when changing settings, with the Ultra preset at 121.5 FPS versus Low at 258.6 FPS. The CPU's high single-thread performance ensures it is not a bottleneck at this resolution.

Q: What is the lowest playable settings preset at 4K?

A: The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 124.8 FPS, which is the lowest settings tier but still highly playable. The Medium preset at 87.6 FPS and High at 73.6 FPS are also viable options.

Q: Are there any comparable GPUs that perform similarly to the RTX 4070?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 0.1% higher, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 0.4% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 1.3% lower in average benchmark scores.