Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. In the Lockdown Protocol benchmark data, this CPU demonstrates strong headroom, as evidenced by its synthetic scores: a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23,444 and a single-core score of 3,309. Its passmark multithread score of 27,575 places it in the 84th percentile among all CPUs, indicating solid performance for a modern FPS title.

The CPU’s capability becomes clear when examining frame rates at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 284 FPS, a figure that suggests the processor is not the primary constraint at this setting. The 16 threads allow for efficient handling of game logic and physics, which is typical for the FPS genre. The processor’s average benchmark score of 27,827 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, which scores 27,829 with a 0% deltaPct. This parity indicates that in purely CPU-bound scenarios, the 12600KF offers comparable compute capacity to a higher-tier older generation part.

However, the role of the CPU in this combo is to feed the GPU. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system reaches 284 FPS, but at 4K High, it drops to 82.4 FPS. This scaling suggests that while the CPU is capable of high frame generation, its influence diminishes as resolution increases. The 3dmark 16-thread score of 7,956 and the 8-thread score of 6,128 show a slight scaling inefficiency beyond 8 threads, but for a game like Lockdown Protocol, which likely does not use all 16 threads optimally, the single-thread performance (3dmark single-thread score of 1,016) becomes more relevant for ensuring consistent frame pacing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is 2,512 MHz, and its raw compute capability is 30.87 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. With 6,144 shading units, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores, the card is well-equipped for modern rendering workloads. Its passmark G3D score of 29,137 places it in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41,687.

The GPU’s VRAM capacity is a critical factor in Lockdown Protocol, especially at higher resolutions and settings. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the combo produces 60.8 FPS, while at 4K Low, it jumps to 134.5 FPS. This 73.7 FPS difference is primarily driven by the GPU’s workload, as lower settings reduce pixel shading and texture complexity, allowing the RTX 5070 to push more frames. The 12 GB frame buffer is sufficient for 4K High settings (82.4 FPS), but the Ultra preset likely increases texture memory demands beyond what the bus width can efficiently handle, leading to a steeper performance penalty.

The GPU’s nearest rival in the database is the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, which has a similar average score of 41,610 (0.2% deltaPct), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, scoring 41,441 (0.6% deltaPct). This indicates that the RTX 5070’s performance is comparable to a previous generation flagship, despite having less VRAM (12 GB vs. the RTX 3090’s typical 24 GB). In this game, the measured data shows the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the frame rates scale more directly with settings changes than with resolution changes when the CPU has headroom.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo delivers 284 FPS on Low, 200.2 FPS on Medium, 172.4 FPS on High, and 128.4 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, these figures drop to 204.5, 146.7, 130.6, and 95.8 FPS respectively. At 4K, the numbers fall further to 134.5, 95.4, 82.4, and 60.8 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K on Low settings is from 284 to 134.5 FPS, a reduction of 52.6%, while on Ultra, the drop is from 128.4 to 60.8 FPS, a reduction of 52.6% as well. This consistency across settings suggests the scaling is uniform.

This uniform scaling indicates that the limiting component shifts from the CPU to the GPU as resolution rises. At 1080p Low, the CPU is able to feed the GPU enough data to reach 284 FPS, but the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes the bottleneck as resolution increases. The RTX 5070’s pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s are fixed, so higher resolutions demand more work per frame, reducing the frame rate proportionally. The data shows that at 1440p High (130.6 FPS), the system is still comfortably above 60 FPS, but at 4K Ultra (60.8 FPS), it just barely meets that threshold, indicating that 4K is only viable with lower settings.

The scaling analysis suggests that the 12600KF is not a bottleneck until very high frame rates are reached. At 1080p Low (284 FPS), the CPU’s single-thread performance (passmark single thread score of 3,925) is likely the upper limit, but the game’s engine appears to be optimized for multi-threading, as the CPU still maintains high averages. For users seeking the highest refresh rates, 1080p is the target, while 1440p offers a balanced experience, and 4K requires compromising on settings to maintain playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combos for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 ranks 309th out of 1,637 total combinations, placing it in the top 18.9% of all systems tested. This rank reflects a high-performing setup that is well above the median, but not at the absolute top tier. The combo’s average FPS across all measured settings and resolutions is 134.5 (the 4K Low score), which is a strong indicator of its overall capability.

The rank of 309 out of 1,637 suggests that while this setup excels, there are many combinations with more powerful CPUs or GPUs that achieve higher frame rates. The CPU’s 84th percentile ranking and the GPU’s 83rd percentile ranking both contribute to a balanced system, but neither component is in the top 1%, which explains why the combo does not crack the top 200. The data shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance in this game, as the RTX 5070’s score is more influential than the CPU’s in determining the final rank.

Compared to other combos, this pairing is likely limited by the GPU’s 12 GB VRAM at 4K Ultra, where it scores 60.8 FPS. If the GPU were paired with a faster CPU, the frame rates at lower resolutions might improve slightly, but the overall rank would not change dramatically. The combo’s performance is consistent with its component scores, and the measured data confirms that it is a capable 1440p high-refresh-rate system, with 4K playable at High settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Lockdown Protocol?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 284, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27,827, which is virtually identical to the Intel Core i9-10900K’s score of 27,829, with a deltaPct of 0%.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this setup?

A: Yes, but only on lower settings. The combo achieves 134.5 FPS at 4K Low, 95.4 FPS at Medium, and 82.4 FPS at High, but drops to 60.8 FPS at Ultra, which is just at the playable threshold.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 41,687, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (41,610) and 0.6% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (41,441).

Q: At which resolution does the combo show the biggest FPS drop?

A: The largest relative drop occurs when moving from 1080p to 1440p on Low settings, where the average FPS falls from 284 to 204.5, a decrease of 79.5 FPS.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 309th out of 1,637 total combinations tested for Lockdown Protocol, placing it in the top 19% of systems.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy for optimal settings based on target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 128.4 FPS, which is above the 120 Hz threshold for high-refresh monitors, making it the recommended choice for competitive play. The High preset at 1080p offers 172.4 FPS, which is excellent for 144 Hz displays, but the visual fidelity loss from Ultra to High may not be worth the extra 44 FPS for most players.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the sweet spot, delivering 130.6 FPS, which is smooth for 120 Hz panels. The Ultra preset at 1440p produces 95.8 FPS, which is still playable but may cause noticeable dips in intense scenes. The Medium preset at 146.7 FPS is a good alternative for those prioritizing frame rate over visual quality, but High is the best balance of performance and image quality.

For 3840x2160, the High preset is the only viable option for a good experience, providing 82.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at 60.8 FPS is exactly at the 60 FPS minimum, but any frame drops could make it feel stuttery. The Medium preset at 95.4 FPS is a better choice for 4K, as it offers a 15 FPS improvement over High while still looking decent. The Low preset at 134.5 FPS is not recommended for 4K, as the visual compromise is too severe. Ultimately, the data suggests that 1440p High is the best overall experience, as it combines high frame rates with sufficient visual detail, while 4K is best reserved for High or Medium settings depending on the player’s tolerance for frame rate fluctuations.