Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a fast-paced FPS that stresses both CPU and GPU, and the pairing of the Intel Core i5-14400F with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 produces a distinctive performance profile. The data shows a system that is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p but begins to struggle as resolution increases, with the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor. The Core i5-14400F, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, provides ample processing power, while the GTX 1070, an older Pascal architecture card, shows its age under heavier loads. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS results across resolutions and settings, examines the specific roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides actionable recommendations based on the benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p, the system is capable of delivering high frame rates, with the Low preset hitting 131 FPS and the High preset reaching 81 FPS. This suggests that at this resolution, the combination is well-balanced, with neither component being a severe bottleneck. However, the drop to 2560x1440 is significant, with High settings falling from 81 FPS to 59 FPS, a 27% reduction. This trend accelerates at 4K, where High settings yield only 38 FPS, a 53% drop from the 1080p High result.

The scaling pattern indicates that the GTX 1070 is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit memory bus, providing 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth, are insufficient to maintain performance as pixel count increases. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only manages 62 FPS, which is below the 96 FPS achieved at 1440p Low. This disproportionate drop suggests that the GPU is being saturated by the pixel fill rate demands, not the CPU. The GTX 1070’s pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s is a key constraint here.

At 1080p, the scaling between settings is more moderate. The difference between Low and High is 50 FPS (131 vs 81), indicating that the CPU can still feed the GPU adequately. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 61 FPS, which is close to the High setting’s 81 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns from further graphical enhancements. The benchmark results indicate that the sweet spot for this combo at 1080p is the Medium preset, which delivers 93 FPS with a minimum of 79 FPS, providing a smooth experience without the frame rate drop seen on High.

The 4K results are largely unplayable for competitive play, with Ultra at 29 FPS and Medium at 44 FPS. The only 4K setting that approaches playability is Low at 62 FPS, but this sacrifices visual fidelity. The data shows that the system is not suited for 4K gaming, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS minimum. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at High settings is a 36% performance loss (59 to 38 FPS), which is steeper than the 27% loss from 1080p to 1440p, confirming the GPU’s inability to handle the increased resolution.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, which is particularly demanding in an FPS with many dynamic entities. The benchmark data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at any resolution tested, as the FPS drops are more consistent with GPU limitations.

The i5-14400F’s benchmark scores demonstrate its strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21645 and single-core score of 3055 indicate a capable processor. The PassMark single-thread score of 3701 and multithread score of 25470 further confirm its ability to handle modern game workloads. The CPU’s percentile ranking of 83 versus all CPUs means it outperforms 83% of processors, placing it in the upper tier of desktop CPUs.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-14400F’s average benchmark score of 32279 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233, deltaPct 0.1) and Intel Core i9-11900 (32226, deltaPct 0.2). It also slightly edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (32354, deltaPct -0.2) and Intel Core i7-12800H (32121, deltaPct 0.5). This indicates that in synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14400F performs on par with these mobile and older desktop chips, though its real-world gaming performance is influenced by the GTX 1070.

The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 cache per core are sufficient for gaming workloads. The 65 W TDP is modest, but the processor can boost to 4.70 GHz when needed. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s high single-thread performance is beneficial for frame pacing, as the game’s physics and AI routines often rely on a few cores. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 131 FPS, which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough frames to reach that level.

However, the CPU’s role becomes less critical as resolution increases. At 4K, the FPS is entirely GPU-bound, as evidenced by the steep drop across all settings. The CPU’s performance is more relevant at 1080p, where the GTX 1070 is less stressed. The benchmark results indicate that the i5-14400F provides a solid foundation, but it is not the limiting factor in this configuration. The CPU’s 16 threads are more than enough for Lockdown Protocol, which likely uses fewer, and the processor’s boost clock of 4.70 GHz ensures responsive gameplay.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the clear bottleneck in this system, especially at higher resolutions. The GPU features 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, based on the Pascal architecture. Its base clock of 1506 MHz and boost clock of 1683 MHz, along with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, provide a memory bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. These specs were competitive at launch in 2016, but the data shows they are insufficient for modern 4K gaming.

The GTX 1070’s benchmark scores place it in the 47th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 9780. Its nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro W5000 (9803, deltaPct -0.2) and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (9832, deltaPct -0.5), indicating that it performs at a mid-range level. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 13498 is respectable, but its DirectX 12 score of 48 is notably low, suggesting poor performance in modern APIs. In contrast, its DirectX 11 score of 100 is much higher, which is relevant for Lockdown Protocol if it uses an older rendering path.

In Lockdown Protocol, the GPU’s role is to render the game’s environments, characters, and effects. The measured FPS data shows that the GTX 1070 can handle 1080p gaming well, with High settings achieving 81 FPS and Medium at 93 FPS. However, at 1440p, the GPU struggles, with High settings dropping to 59 FPS. The 4K results are poor, with Ultra at 29 FPS and High at 38 FPS, confirming that the GPU is not designed for such high pixel counts.

The GPU’s memory capacity of 8 GB is a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the game likely requires more than 8 GB of VRAM, leading to texture streaming issues and reduced performance. The GTX 1070’s memory bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s is also insufficient for the data throughput required at 4K. The data shows that reducing settings from Ultra to Low at 4K improves performance from 29 FPS to 62 FPS, a 114% increase, which indicates that the GPU is heavily dependent on graphical load.

The GPU’s FP32 performance of 6.463 TFLOPS and texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s are modest by today’s standards. In an FPS like Lockdown Protocol, which likely has complex lighting and particle effects, the GTX 1070’s compute capabilities are stretched. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the dominant factor in determining performance, especially at 1440p and above. The system’s overall combo rank of 3068 out of 3714 combos reflects this GPU limitation, placing it in the lower half of tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 60+ FPS?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, all settings except Ultra achieve 60+ FPS, with Low at 131 FPS, Medium at 93 FPS, and High at 81 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low (96 FPS) and Medium (68 FPS) exceed 60 FPS. For 4K, no setting reaches 60 FPS, with Low being the highest at 62 FPS.

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

A: The GTX 1070’s average benchmark score is 9780, which is nearly identical to the AMD FirePro W5000 (9803, deltaPct -0.2) and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (9832, deltaPct -0.5). It is slightly ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla M10 (9724, deltaPct 0.6) and Tesla C2070 (9716, deltaPct 0.7).

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at any resolution?

A: No. The benchmark data shows that the FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with GPU limitations, not CPU performance. The i5-14400F’s high single-thread score of 3055 in Cinebench R23 and 3701 in PassMark single-thread indicate it can feed the GPU adequately at all tested resolutions.

Q: What is the difference in performance between Medium and Ultra at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Medium settings achieve an average of 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS, while Ultra drops to 45 FPS. This is a 34% reduction in average FPS, indicating that Ultra settings are too demanding for the GTX 1070 at this resolution.

Q: How does the combo rank in Lockdown Protocol compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 3068 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 17.4% of all configurations. This low rank is primarily due to the GTX 1070’s mid-range performance, as the CPU is above average.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at 1080p Medium?

A: The data shows a minimum FPS of 79 and a maximum of 107, with an average of 93 FPS. The variance of 28 FPS between min and max indicates some frame time inconsistency, but the average is high enough for smooth gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal setting for this combo depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset offers the best balance of performance and visual quality, with an average of 93 FPS and a minimum of 79 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold and avoids the significant drop seen on High (81 FPS) and Ultra (61 FPS). The Low preset at 1080p achieves 131 FPS, which is beneficial for competitive play, but Medium offers a better visual experience without sacrificing too much frame rate.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the highest playable option, with an average of 68 FPS and a minimum of 58 FPS. While the minimum dips slightly below 60 FPS, the overall experience is acceptable. The Low preset at 1440p delivers 96 FPS, making it the best choice for players prioritizing frame rate over visuals. High settings at 1440p drop to 59 FPS, which is borderline, and Ultra is not recommended at 45 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that only the Low preset is viable for playable frame rates, with an average of 62 FPS. However, even this setting may experience stutters due to the GPU’s VRAM limitations. The Medium preset at 4K yields 44 FPS with a minimum of 37 FPS, which is too low for a smooth experience. For the best experience at 4K, players should accept the Low preset’s visual trade-offs or lower the resolution.

The data shows that the Ultra preset is consistently the worst performer across all resolutions, with frame rates of 61 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The performance gap between Medium and Ultra is substantial, with the latter offering marginal visual improvements. For this reason, the Medium preset is the recommended choice for most users, as it provides the best balance of frame rate and graphical fidelity. The High preset is a reasonable alternative at 1080p and 1440p, but the gains over Medium are not worth the FPS loss.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how the combo performs across all combinations of resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 131 FPS, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 93 FPS, with a minimum of 79 FPS and a maximum of 107 FPS. High settings drop to 81 FPS, and Ultra falls to 61 FPS. All 1080p settings maintain an average above 60 FPS, making this resolution the most playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings average 96 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium averages 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. High settings average 59 FPS, barely above the 60 FPS threshold. Ultra averages 45 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most games. The data shows that at 1440p, only Low and Medium are recommended for smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles significantly. Low settings average 62 FPS, which is the only 4K result above 60 FPS. Medium averages 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. High averages 38 FPS, and Ultra averages 29 FPS. These results indicate that 4K gaming is not viable for this combo, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain consistent frame rates above 60 FPS.

The frame time data, available for Medium settings at all resolutions, shows the variance. At 1080p Medium, the min-max range is 79-107 FPS (28 FPS spread). At 1440p Medium, the range is 58-78 FPS (20 FPS spread). At 4K Medium, the range is 37-50 FPS (13 FPS spread). The smaller spread at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is more consistently saturated, while at 1080p, the variance may be due to CPU or driver overhead.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combo ranks 3068 out of 3714 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 17.4% of all configurations, indicating that it is a below-average performer for this game. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU, as the i5-14400F is a strong processor with a percentile of 83 versus all CPUs.

The CPU’s performance is solid, but it is held back by the GTX 1070. The GPU’s percentile of 47 versus all GPUs means it is roughly average, but its age and lack of modern features like hardware ray tracing or DLSS put it at a disadvantage in a 2024 FPS title. The combo rank of 3068 reflects this imbalance, as the system is not well-suited for the game’s graphical demands.

Compared to other combos, this system would likely be outperformed by any configuration with a more modern GPU, even if paired with a weaker CPU. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions, so upgrading the graphics card would yield the most significant performance improvement. The CPU’s high benchmark scores suggest it could handle a more powerful GPU without becoming a bottleneck.

The combo’s rank of 3068 out of 3714 means there are 646 tested combinations that perform worse. This places the system in the lower third of the database, but it is not the worst performer. The GTX 1070’s 8 GB of VRAM and 256-bit memory bus provide a baseline level of performance, but they are insufficient for the high-resolution demands of Lockdown Protocol. For players with this combo, the data suggests that sticking to 1080p Medium settings is the best way to achieve a playable experience, as higher resolutions and settings result in significant frame rate drops.