Lockdown Protocol

Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER: Lockdown Protocol Performance Analysis

The recorded benchmark data for Lockdown Protocol with this Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination reveals a system that is heavily influenced by the GPU at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample overhead at lower settings. The measured FPS values across three resolutions and four quality presets indicate that the RTX 2060 SUPER, which sits at the 62nd percentile among all GPUs, is the primary constraint at 4K, while the Core Ultra 7 265K, at the 94th percentile among CPUs, ensures that 1080p performance remains fluid even at the most demanding preset. The data shows a clear scaling pattern that shifts from GPU-bound at 3840x2160 to a more balanced, and eventually CPU-friendly, scenario at 1920x1080.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling between resolutions and presets tells a clear story about component roles. At 3840x2160, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is a dramatic 43.6 FPS (from 77.7 FPS down to 34.1 FPS), which represents a 56% performance drop. This significant sensitivity to image quality settings suggests that the GPU is the dominant factor; the RTX 2060 SUPER is working at its limits at this resolution. The gap between Medium (52.3 FPS) and High (48.7 FPS) is relatively small at 3.6 FPS, indicating that the GPU is hitting a performance ceiling where incremental setting changes have diminishing returns.

At 2560x1440, the scaling becomes more linear. Low settings produce 115.2 FPS, Medium drops to 83.4 FPS, and High further reduces to 73.1 FPS, with Ultra at 54 FPS. The 41.2 FPS difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is less pronounced than at 4K, suggesting the GPU has more headroom but is still the primary bottleneck. The 1440p data indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER can comfortably handle up to High settings, but Ultra pushes it below the 60 FPS threshold.

The 1920x1080 results show the CPU beginning to assert more influence. Low settings yield 157.9 FPS, Medium 112.4 FPS, High 98.2 FPS, and Ultra 71.6 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is 86.3 FPS, which is the largest absolute range across all resolutions, but the minimum FPS at Ultra (71.6) is still above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This pattern suggests that at 1080p, the Core Ultra 7 265K's 20 cores and 20 threads provide enough processing power to keep frame rates high, but the GPU still dictates the overall ceiling. The data implies that at 1080p Ultra, the system is well-balanced, with neither component being a severe bottleneck.

The verdict data confirms this analysis. At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable (77.7 FPS), while at 2560x1440, High becomes the best playable preset (73.1 FPS). At 1920x1080, even Ultra maintains 71.6 FPS, showing that the GPU, while not top-tier, is sufficient for this game at mainstream resolutions when paired with this strong CPU.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Xeon 6511P (0.2% lower score), Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 (0.7% lower), Intel Core i7-14700KF (1% higher), and AMD Ryzen 7 9700F (1.3% higher). These CPUs would likely produce nearly identical frame rates in Lockdown Protocol, as the performance difference is within 1.3%. For gaming purposes, the Core i7-14700KF and Ryzen 7 9700F are more relevant comparisons, as they represent mainstream desktop alternatives that would behave almost exactly the same in this game. The Xeon processors are server parts, but their benchmark proximity suggests they would not bottleneck the RTX 2060 SUPER any differently.

On the GPU side, the RTX 2060 SUPER's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (0.4% lower score), AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (0.5% lower), AMD Radeon RX 460 (1.5% lower), and Intel Arc A770M (1.6% lower). The RTX 3060 Mobile is particularly interesting, as it suggests that a laptop GPU can match this desktop card's performance in this game. The Radeon Pro 5700 is a workstation card, but its similar score indicates it would provide comparable FPS in Lockdown Protocol. The RX 460 and Arc A770M are slightly lower in score, but within 1.6%, so they would likely deliver very similar frame rates at each resolution and preset. For a user considering alternatives, swapping to any of these GPUs would result in nearly indistinguishable performance in this specific game, with differences of only a few FPS at most.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, which achieves 77.7 FPS on average. This is the only playable setting at 4K, as Medium (52.3 FPS), High (48.7 FPS), and Ultra (34.1 FPS) all fall below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the best playable setting is High, with an average of 73.1 FPS. Medium (83.4 FPS) and Low (115.2 FPS) are also playable, but High offers the best visual quality while maintaining a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. Ultra at 54 FPS is not playable.

At 1920x1080, Ultra is the best setting, delivering 71.6 FPS on average. This is the only resolution where the highest preset is playable, and it still maintains a solid 11.6 FPS headroom above the 60 FPS threshold. High (98.2 FPS), Medium (112.4 FPS), and Low (157.9 FPS) are all well above the playable mark.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Lockdown Protocol at 4K with high settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160, High settings produce only 48.7 FPS on average, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Only Low settings at 4K achieve playable performance at 77.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this PC?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is the most demanding configuration that maintains 60+ FPS, achieving 71.6 FPS. This is the only resolution where the highest preset is playable.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18093, which is 0.4% lower than the RTX 3060 Mobile (18159), 0.5% lower than the Radeon Pro 5700 (18189), 1.5% higher than the Radeon RX 460 (18373), and 1.6% higher than the Arc A770M (18383). These differences are minimal and would result in nearly identical gaming performance in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K overkill for this GPU?

A: The benchmark data suggests the CPU is not the bottleneck at most settings. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 157.9 FPS, indicating the CPU can push well beyond the GPU's limits. The Core Ultra 7 265K's nearest rival, the Core i7-14700KF, scores 1% higher, but this does not translate into meaningful FPS differences in this game.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The recorded data shows 83.4 FPS on average at 2560x1440 with Medium settings. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a good balance between visual quality and performance.

Q: Does the game favor CPU or GPU performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the scaling from Low (157.9 FPS) to Ultra (71.6 FPS) shows a 86.3 FPS drop, indicating the GPU becomes more important as settings increase. However, even at Ultra, the system stays above 60 FPS, suggesting the CPU has enough headroom to support the GPU fully.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the measured average FPS values are: Low 77.7, Medium 52.3, High 48.7, and Ultra 34.1. The progression shows a steep decline from Low to Medium (25.4 FPS drop), a smaller drop to High (3.6 FPS), and a larger drop to Ultra (14.6 FPS). This pattern indicates that the GPU struggles significantly at this resolution, with only Low settings providing a playable experience.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low 115.2, Medium 83.4, High 73.1, and Ultra 54. The drop from Low to Medium is 31.8 FPS, from Medium to High is 10.3 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 19.1 FPS. The system maintains playable performance up to High, but Ultra falls 6 FPS short of the 60 FPS mark.

At 1920x1080, the averages are: Low 157.9, Medium 112.4, High 98.2, and Ultra 71.6. The largest drop is from Low to Medium (45.5 FPS), followed by Medium to High (14.2 FPS) and High to Ultra (26.6 FPS). All presets are playable, with Ultra maintaining a 11.6 FPS margin above the threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this configuration of Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 2701 out of 3714 total combos. This places it in the lower 27% of tested systems, which is consistent with the GPU's 62nd percentile ranking among all GPUs. The CPU's high percentile (94th) does not boost the overall combo ranking because the GPU is the limiting factor in this game. The rank suggests that while the CPU is capable, the RTX 2060 SUPER holds the system back, particularly at higher resolutions where the game becomes more GPU-intensive. Users with GPUs in higher percentiles would likely see significantly better performance, especially at 4K where the RTX 2060 SUPER can only manage Low settings.

The Verdict

The data shows that this PC can run Lockdown Protocol, but the playable experience depends heavily on the chosen resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) exceed the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra delivering 71.6 FPS on average. This is the recommended setup for the best visual quality while maintaining smooth gameplay. At 2560x1440, the system can handle Low, Medium, and High settings, with High providing 73.1 FPS. Ultra at this resolution falls short at 54 FPS. At 3840x2160, only Low settings are playable at 77.7 FPS. For users who prioritize 4K, the RTX 2060 SUPER is a significant limitation, and lower image quality settings are necessary. The verdict is clear: this combination is suitable for 1080p gaming with maximum settings, capable at 1440p with high settings, and only marginally playable at 4K with minimal settings. The Core Ultra 7 265K provides ample CPU performance, but the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and Turing architecture are the decisive factors in determining the overall experience.