Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 is a desktop combination built around Intel’s Arrow Lake-S architecture and AMD’s RDNA 3.0 graphics. For Lockdown Protocol, an FPS released on 2024-03-11, this pairing delivers playable frame rates across most settings, with the CPU holding a 94th percentile rank among all tested processors and the GPU sitting at the 58th percentile. The data shows a clear pattern: at 1440p and 1080p, the combo clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every preset, while 4K requires dropping to Medium settings for a stable experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Core Ultra 7 265K produces an average benchmark score of 70879, placing it within a tight band of comparable CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon 6511P, scores 71051, which is 0.2% higher than the 265K. The Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 scores 71370, a 0.7% advantage. On the other side, the Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70163, putting it 1% behind the 265K, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F scores 69996, 1.3% lower. In practical terms, anyone considering the 265K would see nearly identical CPU-bound behavior from the i7-14700KF or the Ryzen 7 9700F, with only a single-digit percentage difference in synthetic workloads. The two Xeon parts are also close, though they are server-oriented and less relevant for gaming.

For the GPU, the Radeon RX 7700 posts an average benchmark score of 15852. Its closest competitor is the AMD Radeon R9 370X at 15862, a negligible 0.1% difference. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 scores 16014, which is 1% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16129, 1.7% higher. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 trails at 15679, 1.1% lower. In gaming scenarios, the RX 7700 will behave almost identically to the R9 370X, while the RX 9060 and RTX 3060 Ti offer a marginal edge of 1-2% in raw compute. That difference is unlikely to change the playability verdict for Lockdown Protocol, as the measured FPS gaps between these GPUs would be within a few frames.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K + RX 7700 combo playable at 4K in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Yes, but only at Low or Medium settings. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 is 95 on Low and 67 on Medium, both above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings drop to 59 FPS, just below playable, and Ultra falls to 44 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p with this combo?

A: At 2560x1440, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable. The most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 68 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's launch price compare to its performance tier?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has a launch MSRP of $394. It ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs and scores 35850 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, indicating high-end performance for its price segment.

Q: What memory configuration does the RX 7700 use?

A: The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. The memory clock is 2438 MHz, effective at 19.5 Gbps.

Q: Does the CPU support overclocking?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked. The 265K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, with a TDP of 125W. It also supports ECC memory and uses DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1709 out of 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol. This places it slightly below the median, reflecting the GPU's mid-tier standing relative to the CPU's high-tier placement.

Best Settings per Resolution

For Lockdown Protocol, the playable threshold is 60 FPS. The most demanding preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at each resolution is as follows:

• 3840x2160 (4K): Medium settings, averaging 67 FPS. High settings fall to 59 FPS, so Medium is the ceiling for smooth play.
• 2560x1440 (1440p): Ultra settings, averaging 68 FPS. Every preset from Low to Ultra clears 60 FPS, so you can push the visual quality to the maximum.
• 1920x1080 (1080p): Ultra settings, averaging 93 FPS. The headroom is ample, with Low hitting 200 FPS and Medium at 142 FPS.

At 4K, the combo is limited by the GPU; even though the CPU is capable, the RX 7700 cannot sustain High at 60 FPS. At 1440p and below, the GPU has enough headroom to run the game at its highest preset without compromise.

The Verdict

The data confirms that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the experience varies by resolution. At 3840x2160, the playable settings are Low and Medium, with the best option being Medium at an average of 67 FPS. High is not playable (59 FPS), and Ultra is far below the threshold at 44 FPS. At 2560x1440, all four presets—High, Low, Medium, and Ultra—are playable, with Ultra delivering 68 FPS. At 1920x1080, the same is true, and Ultra reaches 93 FPS. The verdict is clear: for 4K gaming, you must accept Medium settings; for 1440p and 1080p, you can run the game at Ultra with a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists the exact measured frame rates for each resolution and settings combination. Where min and max values were not recorded, only the average is shown.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | High | 59 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 95 | — | — |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 67 | 57 | 77 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 44 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | High | 91 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 147 | — | — |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 104 | 88 | 120 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 68 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | High | 124 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 200 | — | — |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 142 | 121 | 163 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 93 | — | — |

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern. At 1080p, Low hits 200 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh monitors. Medium and High remain above 120 FPS, and Ultra still delivers 93 FPS. At 1440p, the same pattern holds, with Ultra at 68 FPS and Low at 147 FPS. The 4K results are the only concern, where the GPU's compute limits become evident—Medium dips to a minimum of 57 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

Among all 3714 tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this specific pairing ranks 1709th. That places it just above the 46th percentile, meaning roughly 46% of tested combos perform worse. The CPU alone ranks in the 94th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 70879. The GPU, however, ranks in the 58th percentile with an average score of 15852. The gap between the CPU's elite standing and the GPU's mid-tier placement explains the overall rank: the system is CPU-bound in synthetic tests, but the RX 7700's compute capacity is the limiting factor for 4K gaming. In practice, this means the combo is well-suited for 1440p and 1080p gameplay, where the CPU's headroom is not fully utilized, but it struggles to maintain high settings at 4K. The rank of 1709 out of 3714 reflects a balanced but not top-tier configuration, with the GPU being the primary bottleneck in demanding resolutions.