Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Lockdown Protocol, but the data shows that 4K Ultra settings push this combination beyond its comfortable limits. The measured FPS indicates a system that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides ample headroom for high refresh rate gaming at lower settings.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, running on a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which is critical for maintaining high frame rates in an FPS title like Lockdown Protocol where single-thread performance often dictates minimum frame pacing. The processor's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help reduce memory latency, which is beneficial for game logic and physics calculations. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and single-core score of 4642 place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong overall headroom for gaming workloads.

The benchmark results show that the CPU is not the bottleneck at 1080p. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 177.2 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate across all configurations. This suggests the i5-14600K's boost clock of 5.30 GHz is sufficient to feed the GPU with frames even in less demanding scenes. The processor's PassMark single-thread score of 4270 further reinforces its capability, and the data shows it sits just 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark score, with the Intel Core i5-14600KF being only 0.4% faster. This indicates the 14600K is not leaving performance on the table relative to its direct peers.

At 4K, the CPU's role diminishes. The frame rate difference between Low (80.5 FPS) and Ultra (41.2 FPS) at 3840x2160 is driven almost entirely by GPU load, not CPU processing. The processor's Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 13810 and Geekbench multi-core score of 15846 suggest it has plenty of compute headroom for game logic, but the measured data shows that at higher resolutions, the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth become the primary constraint. The CPU's 14 cores and 20 threads are more than adequate for Lockdown Protocol's threading model, and the data does not indicate any CPU-related frame drops even at Ultra settings. The processor's 125 W TDP and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility are not directly reflected in the FPS numbers, but the performance data confirms that the i5-14600K is a capable partner for this GPU in this specific game.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture using a 12 nm process, with a TU104 chip containing 2560 shading units. Its base clock runs at 1605 MHz and boosts to 1770 MHz, while the 8 GB of GDDR6 memory operates at 14 Gbps effective across a 256-bit bus, yielding 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration is the deciding factor in Lockdown Protocol's higher settings, as the game's texture and geometry demands scale quickly with resolution. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 18169 places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 22206 is only 0.5% below the NVIDIA RTX A400, showing it remains competitive among its peers.

The measured FPS data clearly demonstrates the GPU's limitations at 4K. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo averages 41.2 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that most FPS players target. Dropping to High settings at the same resolution improves this to 53.5 FPS, while Medium reaches 61.2 FPS. The jump to Low settings at 4K yields 80.5 FPS, indicating that the GPU's 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are the constraining factors. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the data suggests that at 4K Ultra, memory pressure and texture fill rate begin to limit performance.

At 2560x1440, the RTX 2070 SUPER shows a more balanced profile. High settings deliver 79.5 FPS, while Low settings reach 129.7 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 60.8 FPS. This indicates that 1440p is the sweet spot for this GPU, where its 160 TMUs and 64 ROPs can keep up with the render load. The GPU's boost clock of 1770 MHz is not the limiting factor; rather, the memory bandwidth and shading unit count dictate the scaling. The GPU's 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores are present but not directly reflected in the FPS data, which focuses on rasterization performance. The measured results show that the RTX 2070 SUPER is a solid 1440p performer but falls short of 4K Ultra viability in this title.

FAQ

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

A: The highest measured average FPS is 177.2 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Lockdown Protocol?

A: At 4K, the combo reaches 53.5 FPS on High settings and 41.2 FPS on Ultra. Only Low settings at 4K exceed 80 FPS, so 4K gaming is possible but requires reduced settings for smooth play.

Q: How does the i5-14600K compare to its closest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-14600K's average benchmark score is 49166, which is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-14600KF.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings produce 129.7 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 60.8 FPS, a difference of 68.9 FPS.

Q: Is the RTX 2070 SUPER more powerful than the GTX TITAN Z?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER's average benchmark score is 22206, which is 0.9% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z's score.

Q: What is the best resolution for high refresh rate play with this combo?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the combo reaches 126.9 FPS, and with High settings it reaches 107 FPS, making 1080p the most reliable choice for high refresh rate monitors.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive picture of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are consistently high, with Low settings delivering 177.2 FPS, Medium reaching 126.9 FPS, High achieving 107 FPS, and Ultra producing 82.3 FPS. This resolution shows the least performance degradation, with even Ultra settings maintaining over 80 FPS, indicating that the combo is well-suited for competitive play at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down predictably. Low settings produce 129.7 FPS, Medium hits 90.4 FPS, High reaches 79.5 FPS, and Ultra drops to 60.8 FPS. The drop from High to Ultra at 1440p is 18.7 FPS, which is a significant but playable reduction. The data shows that 1440p High is a viable option for players seeking a balance between visual quality and frame rate, as it stays above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the performance takes a substantial hit. Low settings average 80.5 FPS, Medium reaches 61.2 FPS, High drops to 53.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41.2 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 39.3 FPS, which is the largest spread across all resolutions. This data confirms that 4K Ultra is not a practical setting for this combo, as the average FPS falls well below the 60 FPS target. The measured numbers show a clear trend: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, and settings must be reduced to maintain playable frame rates.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 177.2 FPS at 1080p to 129.7 FPS at 1440p, a 26.8% reduction, and then to 80.5 FPS at 4K, a 37.9% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU's rendering capacity is the limiting factor, as the CPU's boost clock of 5.30 GHz and 20 threads are not stressed by the increased pixel count.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is even more pronounced. The combo produces 82.3 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 60.8 FPS at 1440p (a 26.1% reduction), and then to 41.2 FPS at 4K (a 32.2% reduction from 1440p). The data shows that the RTX 2070 SUPER's 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 9.062 TFLOPS of compute are insufficient for the 8.3 million pixels at 4K. The GPU's 8 GB of VRAM also contributes to this scaling, as higher resolutions require more texture memory, and the measured FPS suggests that memory pressure is a contributing factor at 4K Ultra.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings, which confirms that the CPU is not the bottleneck. If the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see a smaller FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at lower settings, where the GPU has less work to do. Instead, the data shows a nearly linear scaling with resolution, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The i5-14600K's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 indicates it has ample headroom, and the measured FPS at 1080p Low (177.2 FPS) is likely close to the game's engine limit rather than a CPU limit.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and frame rate. At 1920x1080, High settings deliver 107 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual quality and performance for most players. For those seeking maximum frame rates, Low settings at 177.2 FPS are ideal, but this sacrifices visual fidelity. Medium settings at 126.9 FPS provide a solid middle ground, while Ultra settings at 82.3 FPS are still playable but offer diminishing returns over High.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 79.5 FPS are the recommended choice for a smooth experience, as they stay above the 60 FPS threshold while providing good visual quality. Medium settings at 90.4 FPS offer a slight performance boost with minimal visual difference. Ultra settings at 60.8 FPS are marginal, as they barely stay above 60 FPS and may drop below in demanding scenes. Low settings at 129.7 FPS are best for competitive players who prioritize frame rate over visuals.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that only Low settings (80.5 FPS) provide a consistently smooth experience. Medium settings at 61.2 FPS are playable but leave little headroom, and High settings at 53.5 FPS will feel sluggish in a fast-paced FPS. Ultra settings at 41.2 FPS are not recommended for serious play. For 4K users, the data indicates that Low or Medium settings are the only viable options, and even then, the frame rates are below what is achievable at 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination ranks 1019 out of 1637 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the rankings, which is consistent with the GPU's 65th percentile performance among all GPUs. The CPU's 93rd percentile ranking does not boost the combo further, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor in this pairing.

The rank of 1019 out of 1637 indicates that roughly 62% of tested combos perform better in this game. This is not surprising given the RTX 2070 SUPER's age and the game's release in 2024, which likely favors newer GPU architectures. The data shows that the combo's performance is competitive at 1080p and 1440p, but it falls behind at 4K Ultra. The GPU's nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX A400, has a nearly identical average benchmark score (22307 vs 22206), suggesting that the RTX 2070 SUPER is still relevant in its class.

The combo's rank is driven by the GPU's limitations rather than the CPU's capabilities. The i5-14600K's performance is well above average, but it cannot compensate for the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth at higher resolutions. The measured FPS data supports this conclusion, as the combo performs admirably at 1080p where the GPU is less stressed, but the rank drops as resolution increases. For players with this combo, the data suggests that focusing on 1080p or 1440p gaming will yield the best results relative to other tested combinations.