Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a demanding FPS title, and the combination of an Intel Core i7-12700KF with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti produces a distinct performance profile. The data shows a system that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, yet capable of delivering high frame rates at 1080p with adjusted settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and presets, examines the roles of the CPU and GPU, and contextualizes the combo's standing among 3,714 tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases, clearly identifying the graphics card as the primary bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 122 FPS, which drops to 90 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 58 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a significant 52% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K at the Low preset, indicating that the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth of the GTX 1660 Ti are being saturated.

The scaling pattern holds across all settings presets. With High settings, the average FPS falls from 76 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p and finally to 36 at 4K. The Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, sees averages of 57, 42, and 27 FPS across the same resolution steps. The consistency of these drops—roughly a 25-30% reduction going from 1080p to 1440p, and another 35-40% reduction from 1440p to 4K—points to a system where the CPU has ample headroom. A CPU-bound configuration would show less dramatic scaling at higher resolutions, as the load shifts more heavily onto the GPU.

At 4K, the experience is largely unplayable for competitive play, with even the Low preset only managing 58 FPS average. The Medium preset at 4K has a measured minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS, indicating noticeable frame pacing issues. The Ultra preset at 4K bottoms out at 27 FPS average, which is a slideshow by modern standards. The data strongly suggests that 1080p is the target resolution for this combo, with 1440p being a viable option only if the user is willing to accept lower frame rates and potentially use adaptive sync technology.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the decisive factor in this pairing. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, it provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a modest amount by contemporary standards, and the benchmark results reflect that limitation. The GPU's boost clock is rated at 1770 MHz, and its FP32 performance is 5.437 TFLOPS. These specifications place it in the 41st percentile of all GPUs, which aligns with its measured performance in Lockdown Protocol.

The GPU's benchmark scores are telling. In Passmark's G3D test, it scores 12,871, and its DirectX 12 score is a low 51. This low DirectX 12 result is particularly relevant, as Lockdown Protocol is a modern FPS that likely relies on the newer API features. The nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon 540 and the Intel Arc A310, have average scores within 2.3% of the GTX 1660 Ti, indicating that this is entry-level performance territory. The GPU's Passmark G2D score of 804 is also low, but that is less relevant for 3D gaming workloads.

In practice, the 6 GB VRAM capacity is a constraint. At 4K resolution, the game is likely exceeding the memory buffer, leading to texture thrashing and the severe frame rate drops observed. The difference between Low (58 FPS) and Medium (41 FPS) at 4K is 17 FPS, suggesting that the extra memory usage from medium textures incurs a high penalty. The GPU is end-of-life per its production status, and this data shows why: it lacks the raw throughput and memory capacity for high-resolution gaming in 2024 titles. The 41st percentile ranking versus all GPUs confirms that it sits below the median, and the measured FPS in this game aligns perfectly with that standing.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. This is a high-end desktop part, and its benchmark scores reflect that. In Cinebench R23, it scores 28,838 points in multi-core and 4,071 points in single-core. It sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, a stark contrast to the GPU's 41st percentile. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-13700T and the Intel Core i5-13600T, both within 0.2% of the i7-12700KF's average score of 35,365. This suggests that the i7-12700KF provides a level of computational performance that is more than sufficient for feeding the GTX 1660 Ti. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU is likely handling game logic, physics, and draw calls without breaking a sweat. The fact that the FPS scales so heavily with resolution and settings is direct evidence that the GPU is the bottleneck, not the CPU.

The CPU's 25 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide a solid foundation for gaming. Its Passmark single-thread score of 3,984 is robust, which is crucial for games that rely on a primary render thread. However, the data shows that this CPU's power is largely untapped in this pairing at resolutions above 1080p. At 1080p Low, the 122 FPS average suggests the CPU can push frames quickly, but the GPU cannot keep up at higher loads. This is a classic case of a high-end CPU being held back by a mid-range GPU, resulting in a system that is ready for a GPU upgrade without needing a platform change.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the i7-12700KF and GTX 1660 Ti ranks 3,199 out of 3,714 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the bottom 14% of all configurations, which is a poor showing. This low ranking is directly attributable to the GPU's limitations. While the CPU is in the top 15% of all processors, the GPU's 41st percentile ranking drags the overall system down. The ranking indicates that most other tested systems, likely featuring more balanced or newer components, deliver better performance.

This ranking makes sense when looking at the measured FPS. At 1080p Ultra, the system only manages 57 FPS average, which many players would find suboptimal for a fast-paced FPS. To get a competitive frame rate, the user must drop to Low settings, which sacrifices visual fidelity. The combo's position in the rankings is a warning that this system is not suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors or high-resolution gaming in this title. The delta between the CPU and GPU performance percentiles is vast, creating a significant imbalance that hurts the overall experience. For comparison, a system with a more modern mid-range GPU paired with this CPU would likely rank significantly higher, as the CPU has the headroom to support it.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide clear guidance on the optimal settings for this hardware. The primary goal should be to maintain a playable frame rate, ideally above 60 FPS, without sacrificing too much visual quality. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. It delivers an average of 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS. This offers a smooth experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a good balance between visual detail and performance.

The High preset at 1080p drops to 76 FPS average, which is still playable but offers diminishing returns in visual quality. The Ultra preset at 1080p falls to 57 FPS, which is below the ideal target and not recommended for a competitive shooter. At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only option that exceeds 60 FPS, hitting 90 FPS average, but it sacrifices most visual effects. The Medium preset at 1440p (64 FPS) is borderline, but the minimum FPS is not recorded, making it a riskier choice. The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely, as even the Low preset only achieves 58 FPS average, which is not stable enough for this genre.

Therefore, the recommended configuration is 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This yields an average of 87 FPS, which is a significant improvement over the High preset's 76 FPS and a massive leap over the Ultra preset's 57 FPS. The measured minimum of 74 FPS ensures that the frame rate does not drop into stutter territory. This setting respects the GPU's 6 GB VRAM limit while still providing a visually coherent image. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 1080p (122 FPS) is an option, but the Medium preset offers a far better visual experience for only a 35 FPS cost.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is the complete measured FPS data for the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti in Lockdown Protocol:

At 1920x1080:

• Low settings average 122 FPS.
• Medium settings average 87 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 100 FPS.
• High settings average 76 FPS.
• Ultra settings average 57 FPS.

At 2560x1440:

• Low settings average 90 FPS.
• Medium settings average 64 FPS, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS.
• High settings average 56 FPS.
• Ultra settings average 42 FPS.

At 3840x2160:

• Low settings average 58 FPS.
• Medium settings average 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS.
• High settings average 36 FPS.
• Ultra settings average 27 FPS.

The data shows a clear progression: as resolution increases, the average FPS drops for every preset. The Medium preset consistently provides the most stable frame times, as evidenced by the recorded minimum and maximum values at each resolution. The performance gap between Low and Ultra presets narrows as resolution increases, from a 65 FPS difference at 1080p to a 31 FPS difference at 4K, further confirming the GPU as the primary constraint. This breakdown serves as a definitive guide for users, showing exactly what to expect from this hardware pairing in every major configuration.