Lockdown Protocol

The Intel Core i7-13700K pairs a 16-core, 24-thread configuration with a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock, built on the Raptor Lake architecture with a 10 nm process. This is a high-end desktop part, and its benchmark scores place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. In synthetic tests, the chip demonstrates a strong scaling curve: the 3DMark score rises from 1136 in single-thread to 8193 in the 8-thread test, and further to 12412 at max threads. The Cinebench R23 results show a similar pattern, with a multicore score of 39000 against a single-core score of 5505. This scaling suggests that the CPU has ample headroom for workloads that can utilize its 24 threads, and games that are well-threaded will benefit.

For Lockdown Protocol, the data indicates that the CPU is likely not the primary constraint at lower resolutions. The PassMark multithread score of 45887 and the single-thread score of 4333 are both robust, indicating that the processor can handle the game's simulation and logic threads without becoming a bottleneck. The cache hierarchy, with 2 MB of L2 per core and 30 MB of shared L3, provides a large pool for frequently accessed data. When compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-13700K trails the Intel Core i7-13700KF by a negligible -0.1%, and it is 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 4364P. The data suggests that the CPU's role is to provide a stable foundation, ensuring that frame times remain consistent when the GPU is not fully saturated.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the other half of this pairing, and its role is far more decisive in this game's frame rates. This GPU is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a 6 nm process and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU's boost clock is rated at 2655 MHz, with a game clock of 2250 MHz. In the PassMark G3D benchmark, it scores 16634, placing it in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs. This is a mid-range graphics card, and its performance profile is less impressive than the CPU's. The GPU's average benchmark score of 20258 is nearly identical to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which sits just 0.6% higher, while the RX 7600 is 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile.

The data from the measured FPS shows that the GPU is the limiting factor when settings are increased. The GPU has 2048 shading units and 32 ray accelerators, which are sufficient for 1080p gaming but become strained at higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a key detail; at 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 34, which suggests the GPU is running out of memory or computational headroom. The GPU's FP32 performance of 21.75 TFLOPS provides a theoretical ceiling, but the actual game performance is heavily influenced by the memory bandwidth and the settings chosen.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear narrative about how this combo scales across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 159.3, which is exceptionally high and suggests the CPU is feeding frames efficiently. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 115.9, a reduction of approximately 27%. At 4K Low, the average is 73.7, which is another 36% drop from 1440p. This pattern indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as the pixel count increases, even on the lowest settings.

The scaling under High settings is similar but with lower absolute numbers. The 1080p High average is 101.4 FPS, falling to 75.7 FPS at 1440p, and then to 48.9 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is about 52%, which is steeper than the Low preset's 54% drop. This suggests that the game's rendering load grows faster than the GPU's ability to process it, and the 8 GB VRAM may be a contributing factor at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most severe scaling, with a 1080p average of 72.8 FPS collapsing to 34 FPS at 4K, a 53% reduction. The data implies that the limiting component shifts from the CPU to the GPU between 1080p and 1440p, and the GPU becomes the sole constraint at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 ranks 1137 out of 1637 tested combos for Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the database, which is a surprising result given the CPU's high percentile ranking. The ranking indicates that while the CPU is powerful, the GPU's mid-range performance drags the overall combo down in this specific game. The data suggests that the combo is not well-balanced for this title, as the CPU's potential is left untapped at higher resolutions where the GPU is overwhelmed.

The combo's rank of 1137 out of 1637 means that roughly 70% of other tested configurations achieve higher average FPS in this game. This is not a reflection of the CPU's capability, but rather a result of the GPU's constraints. The nearest rival data for the GPU shows it is closely matched with the RX 7600 XT, but that does not translate to a high combo ranking because the game is demanding on the graphics card. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the i7-13700KF, would likely produce a similar ranking when paired with this GPU, suggesting that the bottleneck is firmly on the graphics side.

FAQ

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

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with Medium settings is 116.1.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD EPYC 4364P's score of 47131.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 159.3, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the GPU more powerful than the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT?

A: No, the GPU has an average score of 20258, which is 0.6% lower than the RX 7600 XT's score of 20146.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K on Ultra settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 72.8 at 1080p to 34 at 4K, a reduction of 38.8 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank in the game's database?

A: The combo ranks 1137 out of 1637 tested combinations.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal balance between visual quality and performance is found at 1080p with High settings, yielding an average of 101.4 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a smooth experience. For users with 1440p monitors, the High preset is still viable at 75.7 FPS, but the Medium preset at 82.1 FPS offers a slightly higher frame rate with a marginal visual trade-off. At 4K, the data shows that only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 73.7 FPS; the Medium preset drops to 57.1 FPS, which may be borderline for some players.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution, as it produces the lowest frame rates across the board, including a 34 FPS average at 4K. The data indicates that the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and bandwidth are insufficient for Ultra settings at higher resolutions. The Low preset at 1080p, with an average of 159.3 FPS, is ideal for competitive play where high refresh rates are prioritized over visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 1080p, at 116.1 FPS, provides a good middle ground, but High offers a better visual experience with only a 14.7 FPS penalty compared to Medium.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combo is as follows. At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 48.9 on High, 73.7 on Low, 57.1 on Medium, and 34 on Ultra. At 2560x1440, the averages are 75.7 on High, 115.9 on Low, 82.1 on Medium, and 56.1 on Ultra. At 1920x1080, the averages are 101.4 on High, 159.3 on Low, 116.1 on Medium, and 72.8 on Ultra.

The data shows a consistent hierarchy: Low settings always yield the highest FPS, followed by High, then Medium, with Ultra being the lowest. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 86.5 FPS, which is a substantial gap. At 1440p, the gap is 59.8 FPS, and at 4K, it narrows to 39.7 FPS. This narrowing gap at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is becoming saturated even on Low settings, reducing the relative impact of the preset. The scaling from 1080p to 4K on Medium settings shows a drop from 116.1 to 57.1 FPS, a 51% reduction, which is consistent with the GPU being the primary limiting factor across all presets.