Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070

The pairing of Intel's Core i5-12400 with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1070 presents a familiar mid-range combination from two different hardware generations, and the measured FPS data for Lockdown Protocol reveals how this system handles the game's demands across resolutions and settings. This combo ranks 1380 out of 1637 tested configurations, placing it in the lower third of the database, which suggests that while playable at certain settings, this is not a combination built for maximum fidelity or high-refresh-rate dominance. The results show a system that can deliver smooth frame rates at 1080p with the right settings, but struggles to maintain playability at 4K with higher quality presets.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and tells a clear story about where the bottleneck sits. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 80.5 at 1920x1080 to 61.1 at 2560x1440, then drops to 36.9 at 3840x2160. That represents a 24% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 40% decline from 1440p to 4K. The pattern is consistent across all presets: Low settings go from 128 FPS at 1080p to 97.7 at 1440p to 64.6 at 4K, while Medium drops from 93.8 to 69.9 to 45.1 across the same resolution steps.

These scaling characteristics indicate that the GTX 1070 is the primary limiting component as resolution increases. The GPU's 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus width, yielding 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth, are being taxed heavily at higher pixel counts. The fact that the frame rate nearly halves when moving from 1080p to 4K at High settings suggests that the GPU's compute throughput and memory subsystem are saturated, rather than any CPU limitation. The i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is unlikely to be the constraint at higher resolutions, as the workload shifts overwhelmingly onto the graphics card.

Interestingly, the scaling between settings at the same resolution is also revealing. At 4K, the spread from Low (64.6 FPS) to Ultra (30.5 FPS) is a 34.1 FPS gap, while at 1080p the same settings range from 128 FPS down to 58.9 FPS. This wider absolute gap at lower resolutions implies that the CPU can feed frames fast enough to let the GPU's settings-based performance differences shine through, whereas at 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that even reducing settings from Medium to Low only recovers about 19.5 FPS.

GPU Role

The GTX 1070's specifications directly inform the measured results. With a base clock of 1506 MHz and a boost clock of 1683 MHz, the Pascal architecture GPU delivers 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The 1920 shading units, 120 texture units, and 64 ROPs are paired with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth. These figures place the GTX 1070 at the 51st percentile of all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 12331.

The nearest rivals to this GPU in the benchmark database highlight its position: the NVIDIA Quadro K4200 scores 12241 (0.7% lower), while the GeForce GTX 880M scores 12490 (1.3% higher) and the GTX 1650 SUPER scores 12504 (1.4% higher). This tight cluster of scores indicates that the GTX 1070 is performing right at the expected level for its class, and the Lockdown Protocol results reflect that midrange positioning. The GPU's 16 nm process node and 7,200 million transistors on a 314 mm² die explain its thermal and power characteristics, but the benchmark data shows it is outclassed by more modern parts.

At 1080p Low, the 128 FPS average suggests the GPU can still stretch its legs when pixel count and effects load are reduced. However, the 4K Ultra result of 30.5 FPS is below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay, indicating that this GPU's 8 GB frame buffer and memory bandwidth are insufficient for maxed-out 4K in a modern FPS like Lockdown Protocol. The GTX 1070's DirectX 12 support (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility are present, but the raw throughput is simply not there for high-resolution, high-detail workloads.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1380 out of 1637 total tested combinations places this system in the bottom 16% of the database. This is a surprisingly low ranking given the individual components' midrange standing, and it suggests that Lockdown Protocol is particularly demanding or that this specific pairing has weaknesses exposed by the game's engine. The i5-12400 sits at the 77th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 19850, while the GTX 1070 is at the 51st percentile of GPUs. Yet the combined result is far lower than either percentile would suggest.

This discrepancy implies that the game is heavily GPU-bound, and the GTX 1070's age relative to modern titles is the limiting factor. The CPU's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-9700 (0.1% higher score), Intel Core i7-8700 (0.2% lower), AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (0.4% lower), and Intel Core i5-11600K (0.4% higher) — all within a narrow band of the i5-12400's performance. This shows the CPU is not a weak link in general terms, but when paired with a GPU that is at the 51st percentile, the overall system falls behind many combinations that use stronger graphics cards.

The rank of 1380 means there are 257 tested combos that perform worse, but a substantial majority of systems in the database deliver better Lockdown Protocol results. For a 1080p gamer targeting 60 FPS, this combo achieves that at High settings (80.5 FPS) and even at Medium (93.8 FPS), but the low overall rank indicates that most other tested configurations offer more headroom or higher quality options.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy of what this system can handle. For 1080p gaming, the Low preset delivers 128 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play where frame rate matters more than visual fidelity. Medium at 93.8 FPS is arguably the sweet spot for most players, offering a balance of visual quality and smoothness well above the 60 FPS threshold. High at 80.5 FPS is also playable and provides better visuals, while Ultra at 58.9 FPS dips just below the 60 FPS mark, making it marginal for those who prefer a locked 60.

At 1440p, the situation tightens. Low at 97.7 FPS remains smooth, Medium at 69.9 FPS is playable, and High at 61.1 FPS is just above the 60 FPS line. Ultra at 46.2 FPS is not recommended for a consistent experience, as frame rates will likely feel choppy in fast-paced FPS combat. For 4K, only Low at 64.6 FPS crosses the 60 FPS threshold, with Medium at 45.1 FPS and High at 36.9 FPS falling into less desirable territory. Ultra at 30.5 FPS is essentially unplayable for a competitive shooter.

The data suggests that the best experience for this combo is 1080p Medium or High, where the system can maintain strong frame rates while preserving some visual detail. For players who prioritize maximum smoothness, 1080p Low at 128 FPS is the clear choice. At 1440p, Medium is the recommended preset for a playable experience, while 4K should be avoided except for Low settings in non-competitive contexts.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which achieves 64.6 FPS average. Medium drops to 45.1 FPS, High to 36.9 FPS, and Ultra to 30.5 FPS, all below ideal playability for an FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p gaming?

A: Medium at 93.8 FPS provides a strong balance, though Low at 128 FPS is better for competitive play. High at 80.5 FPS is also viable, while Ultra at 58.9 FPS falls just short of 60 FPS.

Q: How does the GTX 1070 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 1070 scores 12331 on average, which is 0.7% higher than the Quadro K4200 (12241), 1.3% lower than the GTX 880M (12490), and 1.4% lower than the GTX 1650 SUPER (12504).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck in this game?

A: The CPU performs near its rivals, with a 0.1% difference from the i7-9700 and 0.2% from the i7-8700. The large FPS drops with resolution indicate the GPU is the limiting factor rather than the CPU.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The average FPS is 61.1, which is just above the 60 FPS target. Medium at 69.9 FPS offers more headroom, while Low at 97.7 FPS is the smoothest option at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems?

A: It ranks 1380 out of 1637 total combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the database, consistent with the GTX 1070's 51st percentile standing among all GPUs.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 brings 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This Alder Lake-S architecture processor, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 163 mm² die size, includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration and connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Its benchmark results are strong: Cinebench R23 multicore scores 15935 and single-core 2249, while PassMark multithread reaches 18747 and single-thread 3456.

The CPU's percentile ranking at 77th among all processors indicates it is a capable chip, and its nearest rivals cluster tightly: the i7-9700 at 19831 (0.1% higher), i7-8700 at 19894 (0.2% lower), Threadripper PRO 5995WX at 19928 (0.4% lower), and i5-11600K at 19771 (0.4% higher). These deltas are negligible, showing the i5-12400 delivers performance consistent with its class. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU, as evidenced by the FPS scaling patterns. The 3DMark scores, including 5873 for 16 threads and 910 for single-thread, suggest the CPU can handle the game's threading demands without becoming a major constraint.

The fact that 1080p Low achieves 128 FPS indicates the CPU can feed frames quickly, but the GPU's limits at higher resolutions dominate the results. The CPU's 65 W TDP and active production status suggest it remains a viable modern choice, but the data implies that upgrading the GPU would yield larger gains in this game than any CPU change, given the i5-12400's already-solid performance relative to its peers.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are as follows: Low settings deliver 128 FPS, Medium achieves 93.8 FPS, High reaches 80.5 FPS, and Ultra produces 58.9 FPS. These figures show a clear progression where each settings tier costs roughly 15-20% performance, with the jump from High to Ultra being the most punishing at 21.6 FPS lost. The 1080p Low result is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset, indicating the system's peak capability when the GPU workload is minimized.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop to 97.7 FPS at Low, 69.9 FPS at Medium, 61.1 FPS at High, and 46.2 FPS at Ultra. The relative ordering remains consistent, but the gaps between settings narrow in percentage terms. The 1440p results show that this combo can still deliver playable frame rates at Medium and High, but Ultra falls below 50 FPS, which is marginal for a fast-paced FPS title.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 64.6 FPS at Low, 45.1 FPS at Medium, 36.9 FPS at High, and 30.5 FPS at Ultra. The 4K Low result is the only one above 60 FPS, and it comes at a significant visual cost. The progression from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 34.1 FPS range, which is the narrowest absolute spread across all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is so saturated at this pixel count that settings changes have diminishing returns. The data across all twelve measured configurations paints a consistent picture: this system is best suited for 1080p gaming, acceptable at 1440p with reduced settings, and only marginally usable at 4K on the lowest preset.