Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti lands at rank 646 out of 1637 tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. That places this build in the top 40% of all systems tested, a solid mid-upper tier position for a 1440p-focused machine. The data shows this combo is not chasing the absolute top of the leaderboard, but it consistently delivers frame rates that are smooth for competitive play at the most common resolutions. This pairing leverages a strong 12-core CPU with a capable 8 GB Ampere GPU, and the measured results indicate a balanced system where neither component is a glaring bottleneck in this particular FPS title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 646 out of 1637 represents a strong showing for a system built around hardware from the previous generation. This places the i7-12700KF and RTX 3070 Ti squarely in the upper-middle tier of all tested configurations. The data suggests this is a high-performing pairing that will handle Lockdown Protocol without struggle. It is not a top-100 contender, but it is far from a budget compromise. The rank indicates that a significant number of systems outperform it, likely with newer GPUs, but this combo will still provide a decisive advantage over the majority of the tested field. The percentile positions of the individual components support this: the CPU sits at the 89th percentile against all processors, while the GPU is at the 74th percentile against all graphics cards. This means the processor is a relative standout, providing a strong foundation that allows the GPU to work efficiently.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture with 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s. The data shows this memory configuration is the defining factor for this game at higher resolutions. The GPU's base clock is 1575 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz, and it features 6144 shading units. When looking at the measured frames per second, the GPU's performance scaling is consistent with its memory bandwidth. At 4K Ultra, the card drops to 48.9 FPS, showing a hard limit on the 8 GB buffer and the chip's compute power. However, at 1440p and 1080p, the card demonstrates its strength. The GPU's benchmark scores, including a PassMark G3D score of 23356, place it in the 74th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 6700, is only 0.8% faster on average, showing the 3070 Ti is positioned in a very tight performance band. The card's 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p play, but the data suggests that at 4K, the memory capacity and bus width become a limiting factor, preventing high settings from being viable.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data reveals a clear sweet spot for this combo. At 1080p, the "High" preset delivers an average of 139.6 FPS, which is excellent for a high-refresh-rate monitor. However, the "Medium" preset at 164.1 FPS and "Low" at 227.4 FPS show significant headroom. For 1440p gaming, which is likely the intended target for this hardware, the "High" preset at 100.8 FPS is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The "Ultra" preset at 1440p drops to 76.6 FPS, which is still playable but introduces a noticeable step down in smoothness. For competitive play where frame rate is king, the "Low" preset at 1440p yields 165 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh 1440p panels. The data strongly suggests that "High" is the recommended preset for 1440p, as it maintains an average frame rate above the 100 FPS threshold, while "Ultra" is only recommended for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate consistency. At 4K, the "Low" preset is the only viable option for playable performance, hitting 108.2 FPS, while "High" and "Medium" fall to 64.3 and 77 FPS, respectively, which are too low for a fast-paced FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a clear picture of performance scaling across resolutions and settings.

3840x2160 (4K): The RTX 3070 Ti struggles to maintain high frame rates here. The "Low" preset is the only one that breaks the 100 FPS barrier, with an average of 108.2 FPS. The "Medium" preset falls to 77 FPS, "High" drops to 64.3 FPS, and "Ultra" is the weakest at 48.9 FPS. This indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and 8 GB capacity are not sufficient for high-detail 4K rendering in this title.

2560x1440 (1440p): This is where the combo finds its stride. The "High" preset averages 100.8 FPS, providing a smooth experience for most players. The "Medium" preset increases this to 118.4 FPS, offering a good balance. For those seeking maximum refresh rates, the "Low" preset hits 165 FPS. The "Ultra" preset, at 76.6 FPS, is the first setting to show a significant performance penalty, suggesting that the extra graphical features consume a large portion of the available resources.

1920x1080 (1080p): The performance here is exceptional. The "High" preset delivers 139.6 FPS, which is more than enough for a 144Hz monitor. The "Medium" preset jumps to 164.1 FPS, and the "Low" preset reaches a massive 227.4 FPS. The "Ultra" preset at 108.2 FPS is still very playable, but it is the only setting at this resolution that dips below the 130 FPS mark, showing that even at 1080p, the Ultra preset has a substantial performance cost. The data shows a consistent pattern: the step from High to Ultra costs roughly 30-40 FPS at every resolution.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 4K is only playable on the "Low" preset, which averages 108.2 FPS. The "High" preset at 4K yields only 64.3 FPS, and "Ultra" drops to 48.9 FPS, making them less suitable for a competitive FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU pairing?

A: The benchmark results indicate 2560x1440 is the sweet spot. The "High" preset averages 100.8 FPS, and the "Low" preset reaches 165 FPS, providing excellent performance for both quality and competitive play.

Q: How does the RTX 3070 Ti perform against its nearest competitor?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 30849, placing it 0.8% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700 and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME. This shows the 3070 Ti is in a very tight performance cluster.

Q: Is the "Ultra" preset worth the performance hit?

A: The data shows that selecting "Ultra" over "High" costs a significant number of frames. At 1440p, it drops from 100.8 FPS to 76.6 FPS, and at 1080p, it drops from 139.6 FPS to 108.2 FPS. The performance loss is substantial across all resolutions.

Q: What kind of frame rates can I expect at 1080p on High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average of 139.6 FPS at 1920x1080 with the "High" preset. This is a very strong result, well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combo?

A: The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 74th percentile. This suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor for achieving higher frame rates, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which allows it to handle high-thread-count workloads with ease. The CPU's benchmark scores are robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28979 and a single-core score of 4091. Its PassMark multithread score is 34092, and its 3DMark max threads score is 9983. These numbers place the CPU in the 89th percentile of all processors, making it a top-tier performer. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-14400, is only 0.1% faster on average, showing that this older i7 still holds its own against newer mid-range parts. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's performance is more than sufficient to feed the RTX 3070 Ti. The data shows that at 1080p with "Low" settings, the combo achieves 227.4 FPS, indicating that the processor is not a bottleneck even at high frame rates. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache and 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes provide a solid platform for the GPU and system memory. This CPU provides a strong foundation, ensuring that the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rate in this game, especially at higher resolutions and graphical settings.