Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a performance profile that is heavily dictated by resolution and settings in Lockdown Protocol. The measured data indicates a system where both components are relevant, but their respective roles shift noticeably as the workload changes across the tested configurations. This analysis examines the collected benchmark results to interpret the scaling behavior, the CPU and GPU contributions, and the practical settings recommendations.

Resolution Scaling

The data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases across all settings presets. Moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, the average frame rates drop significantly, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. For instance, at Low settings, the 1080p average of 159 FPS falls to 117 FPS at 1440p, and further to 75 FPS at 4K. This represents a 52.8% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. At High settings, the frame rate drops from 99 FPS at 1080p to 72 FPS at 1440p, and to 47 FPS at 4K, a 52.5% decrease. The scaling pattern suggests that as the pixel count increases, the load on the GPU grows, and the CPU's contribution diminishes in relative impact.

The difference between Low and Ultra at each resolution is also informative. At 1080p, the spread from Low (159 FPS) to Ultra (74 FPS) is 85 FPS, indicating that even at the lowest resolution, settings have a massive impact. This spread narrows slightly at 1440p, where Low produces 117 FPS and Ultra produces 54 FPS, a difference of 63 FPS. At 4K, the spread is 40 FPS (75 FPS on Low vs 35 FPS on Ultra). This narrowing suggests that at higher resolutions, the GPU is less capable of handling the increased workload, and the relative cost of Ultra settings becomes a larger fraction of the performance budget.

Looking at the 4K data specifically, the difference between Low and Medium is 22 FPS (75 to 53), and between Medium and High is 6 FPS (53 to 47), while between High and Ultra it is 12 FPS (47 to 35). The scaling is not linear, which indicates that the game's rendering pipeline has a complex interaction with the GPU's capabilities. The data shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is a viable card for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, it is pushed to its limits, particularly at higher settings.

The average FPS at 4K on Ultra is 35 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a fast-paced FPS. Even at 4K High, the average FPS of 47 is marginal. This indicates that for 4K gaming, the GPU is the limiting component, and users would need to reduce settings to achieve playable frame rates. The scaling data also reveals a CPU role: at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 159, which is the highest recorded in the data, but this is still below the 240Hz intervals that some high-end displays offer. This suggests that the CPU is not the primary limiting factor at any resolution, but its performance is still relevant.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It has 24 MB of shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The benchmark results from the FACT PACK show a strong multi-core performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064. The Geekbench scores are 16673 for multi-core and 2491 for single-core. These results indicate that the CPU has substantial processing power, which is relevant for CPU-bound scenarios, such as those at 1080p with low settings.

The CPU's role in Lockdown Protocol is likely to be more pronounced at lower resolutions and lower settings, where the GPU can render frames more quickly. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 159 FPS, which is the highest in the dataset. This frame rate suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at this resolution and settings. However, when the resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor, and the CPU's performance becomes less critical. The average FPS at 1440p Low is 117, and at 4K Low it is 75, which are still high but show a clear dependency on the GPU.

The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 90, which places it in the top 10% of processors. Its nearest rivals, based on average benchmark score, include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, AMD EPYC 4345P, Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX, and Intel Core Ultra 5 245. The scores are very close, with delta percentages ranging from -0.2% to +0.7%. This indicates that the i5-14600K is a strong performer, but its performance is comparable to other high-end processors in its segment. The Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% faster on average, while the Xeon Gold 5318H is 0.2% slower. This data suggests that the CPU's performance is not a bottleneck for Lockdown Protocol, and the system's overall performance is likely limited by the GPU.

The single-core performance, as measured by Cinebench R23, is 2064, which is a good indicator of the CPU's ability to handle single-threaded workloads. In modern games, single-core performance is often critical for maintaining high frame rates, especially in scenarios with limited number of AI-controlled characters or physics calculations. The boost clock of 5.30 GHz provides a high ceiling for single-threaded performance. The data does not show a direct correlation between the CPU's benchmark scores and the measured FPS, but the high scores suggest the CPU is more than capable of supporting the GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is based on the TU106 chip with a Turing architecture, featuring 2176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. It has 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores, which are relevant for ray tracing and DLSS, though the benchmark data does not include specific ray tracing or DLSS settings. The GPU has a base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is listed as 1750 MHz, which is effective as a 14 Gbps effective.

The GPU's benchmark scores reveal a mid-range performance. It has a PassMark G3D score of 16462 and a PassMark GPU Compute score of 6721. Its percentile rank is 62, meaning it performs better than 62% of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 18093, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, AMD Radeon Pro 5700, AMD Radeon RX 460, and Intel Arc A770M. The delta percentages are negative, indicating it is slightly slower than these rivals. For example, the RTX 3060 Mobile is 0.4% faster, and the Radeon Pro 5700 is 0.5% faster. This suggests the RTX 2060 SUPER is a mid-range GPU that, while not top-tier, is still capable of handling modern games, as evidenced by the measured FPS in Lockdown Protocol.

In the game, the GPU's performance is evident in the FPS scaling. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 113 FPS, which is a playable frame rate for an FPS. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the higher memory and bandwidth requirements may become a factor. However, the benchmark data does not provide VRAM usage, so this is qualitative. The 4K data shows that the GPU is pushed to its limits, with Low settings producing only 75 FPS and Ultra producing 35 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra is 12 FPS, which indicates the GPU's shading capacity is the limiting factor.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is a key consideration for high resolutions, as the game may need to access textures and geometry data. The 8 GB VRAM is a common size for its generation, but modern AAA titles can exceed that at 4K with high-quality textures. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 35, which suggests the GPU is struggling, but it is still playable if the user is not sensitive to frame rates. The card's TDP is 175 W, and the suggested power supply is 450 W, but these are not directly relevant to the FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the system achieves the following average FPS: Low 159 FPS, Medium 113 FPS, High 99 FPS, and Ultra 74 FPS. The Medium setting includes a min FPS of 96 and a max of 130, indicating some fluctuation. The High and Ultra settings do not have min/max data, but the averages are consistent with the scaling pattern.

At 1440p, the average FPS is 117 on Low, 83 on Medium (with a min of 70 and a max of 95), 72 on High, and 54 on Ultra. The 1440p Medium data shows a 25 FPS spread between min and max, which is a notable variance. The 1440p High and Ultra have averages closer to 72 and 54, respectively, and the lack of min/max data for those settings suggests the performance is more consistent.

At 4K, the FPS drops to 75 on Low, 53 on Medium (with a min of 45 and max of 62), 47 on High, and 35 on Ultra. The 4K Medium data shows a 17 FPS spread, which is the smallest of the Medium presets, indicating that the GPU is more constrained at this resolution. The 4K Ultra average of 35 FPS is the lowest in the dataset, confirming that the system is not ideal for 4K Ultra in this game.

The settings are clearly the key factor in the FPS. For instance, at 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 85 FPS, which is a very large gap. At 1440p, the gap is 63 FPS, and at 4K it is 40 FPS. The data shows that the system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can handle most settings at a playable frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 99 FPS.

Q: How many frames per second does the system achieve at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 83 FPS, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 95.

Q: Is the system capable of 4K gaming?

A: At 3840x2160, the system can run the game at an average of 75 FPS on Low settings, but drops to 47 FPS on High and 35 FPS on Ultra. This indicates that 4K gaming is possible only at lower settings.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded?

A: The highest average FPS is 159 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has an average benchmark score of 48618, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and 0.8% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, but 0.3% higher than the AMD EPYC 4345P and 0.7% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile rank among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has a percentile rank of 62, indicating it performs better than 62% of all GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combination depends on the resolution and the player's frame rate preference. At 1080p, the system can handle High settings with an average of 99 FPS, which is smooth for most players. For players who prioritize a higher frame rate, Low settings provide 159 FPS, which is nearly double the High setting, making it ideal for competitive play. Medium settings at 1080p offer a balanced 113 FPS, which is also a strong choice.

At 1440p, the system can run High settings at 72 FPS, which is still playable, but not as high as 1080p. Medium settings at 1440p provide 83 FPS, which is a good balance between quality and performance. Low settings yield 117 FPS, which is a high frame rate for 1440p, making it suitable for players who want a smooth experience without the visual quality. Ultra settings at 1440p drop to 54 FPS, which may be below what some players consider comfortable.

At 4K, the system is limited. Low settings provide 75 FPS, which is acceptable, but High settings drop to 47 FPS, which is below 60 FPS. Medium settings are 53 FPS, and Ultra is 35 FPS, which is not recommended for smooth gameplay. For 4K users, the suggestion is to use Low or Medium settings to maintain a playable frame rate.

Overall, the best experience is likely at 1080p High or 1440p Medium, as these provide a combination of visual quality and performance that is suitable for FPS. The High preset at 1080p offers 99 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold, and the visual quality is sufficient. At 1440p, Medium provides 83 FPS, which is also above the threshold. For players with a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, the Low preset at 1080p or 1440p provides the highest frame rates, which is beneficial for competitive play. The Ultra preset is not recommended due to the significant FPS drop, especially at 1440p and 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER has a combo rank of 2630 out of 3714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This ranking indicates that the system is below the 50th percentile, with a percentile of approximately 70.8% (2630/3714 = 0.708). This suggests that while the system is capable of running the game, it is not a top-tier configuration for this particular title.

The CPU's performance is strong, with a percentile of 90 among all CPUs, but the GPU's 62nd percentile is lower, which likely contributes to the overall combo rank. The combination of a high-end CPU with a mid-range GPU results in a system that is balanced but not exceptional for a game that is likely to be GPU-bound at higher settings. The data shows that the system's FPS is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K performance is below average for a modern system.

When compared to other tested combos, this setup is in the middle of the pack, but the high CPU and GPU scores indicate the potential for better performance if the GPU were a more powerful model. The combo's rank is likely influenced by the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution in the tested data. The benchmark results indicate that users with this configuration can expect a good experience at 1080p and 1440p, but they may need to lower settings to achieve the desired frame rates at 4K.