Lockdown Protocol

# Lockdown Protocol with Intel Core i7-13700K + AMD Radeon RX 7700

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 delivers a consistently playable experience across all tested settings in Lockdown Protocol, though the combo's overall rank of 1275 out of 2828 tested combinations places it in the middle of the pack. The CPU's 16 cores and 24 threads, combined with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, provide substantial headroom, while the GPU's RDNA 3.0 architecture with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit bus width handles the game's demands effectively. Benchmark results show this pairing excels at 1080p with all presets exceeding 90 FPS, but 4K Ultra dips to 44 FPS, indicating the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor built on Intel's 10 nm Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz boosts up to 5.40 GHz, and the CPU's 30 MB of shared L3 cache helps keep frequently accessed game data close at hand. In synthetic benchmarks, this processor achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116, with Geekbench results of 19429 multicore and 2529 single-core. These figures place the CPU in the 89th percentile among all tested processors, with an average benchmark score of 46881.

The CPU's nearest rivals in aggregate performance are the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 with an average score of 46971 (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 at 47022 (0.3% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX at 46654 (0.5% lower), and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 at 46653 (0.5% lower). This tight clustering means the i7-13700K sits in a highly competitive performance tier, and any differences in Lockdown Protocol frame rates are more likely attributable to the GPU than to CPU performance gaps.

In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU's role is substantial at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 200 FPS, which drops to 147 FPS at 1440p Low and 95 FPS at 4K Low. This scaling pattern suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is feeding the GPU enough data to reach very high frame rates, while the GPU becomes progressively more stressed as resolution increases. The CPU's 3DMark scores support its capability: 10717 with 16 threads, 8193 with 8 threads, 4469 with 4 threads, and 2262 with 2 threads. The single-thread score of 1136 indicates strong per-core performance, which is beneficial for a game like Lockdown Protocol that likely relies on a few primary threads for game logic.

The 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier allow for potential overclocking, but the data shows the stock configuration already delivers strong results. The CPU's memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus means system memory bandwidth is flexible, though the measured FPS numbers do not differentiate between memory types. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 is present but irrelevant for gaming with a discrete GPU installed.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Lockdown Protocol?

A: Based on measured FPS, 1920x1080 provides the highest frame rates across all settings, with Low achieving 200 FPS, Medium at 142 FPS, High at 124 FPS, and Ultra at 93 FPS. At 2560x1440, the range spans 68-147 FPS depending on settings, while 3840x2160 ranges from 44-95 FPS. For competitive play, 1080p is optimal; for visual fidelity with acceptable performance, 1440p High at 91 FPS is a strong choice.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46971, which is 0.2% higher; the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47022, 0.3% higher; the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46654, 0.5% lower; and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46653, 0.5% lower. The differences are minimal, indicating the i7-13700K is essentially on par with these alternatives for CPU-bound tasks in Lockdown Protocol.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck at 4K in this game?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops to 59 on High, 67 on Medium, and 44 on Ultra. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 20974 and its 58th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggest it is a mid-tier performer. The 4K results show a clear performance ceiling, with the GPU's 2560 shading units and 96 ROPs struggling to maintain high frame rates at this resolution.

Q: What settings provide the smoothest experience at 1440p?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 Low achieves 147 FPS, Medium reaches 104 FPS with a minimum of 88 FPS and maximum of 120 FPS, High delivers 91 FPS, and Ultra drops to 68 FPS. For a balance of visual quality and smooth gameplay, Medium at 104 FPS offers the best combination, as the minimum FPS of 88 remains above common 60 FPS thresholds.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This CPU+GPU combination ranks 1275 out of 2828 total tested combos in Lockdown Protocol. This places it in the 45th percentile of all combinations, meaning roughly 45% of tested systems perform better and 55% perform worse. The mid-pack ranking reflects the CPU's strong performance (89th percentile) being offset by the GPU's more modest standing (58th percentile).

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 200 FPS while Ultra produces 93 FPS, a difference of 107 FPS. This represents a 53.5% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra. The Medium preset at 142 FPS and High at 124 FPS sit between these extremes, showing a predictable performance curve as graphical demands increase.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, with the severity of the drop varying by settings preset. At Low settings, the combo delivers 200 FPS at 1080p, 147 FPS at 1440p, and 95 FPS at 4K. This represents a 26.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 35.4% drop from 1440p to 4K. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is 52.5%, indicating that even at low graphical settings, the GPU's rendering load at 4K substantially limits frame rates.

At Medium settings, the pattern continues: 142 FPS at 1080p, 104 FPS at 1440p, and 67 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 26.8% from 1080p to 1440p and 35.6% from 1440p to 4K, nearly identical to the Low setting scaling. This consistency suggests that the resolution scaling is primarily driven by pixel count and GPU fill rate requirements rather than by specific graphical features that differ between Low and Medium.

High settings show 124 FPS at 1080p, 91 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. The drops are 26.6% and 35.2% respectively, again following the same proportional pattern. Ultra settings produce 93 FPS at 1080p, 68 FPS at 1440p, and 44 FPS at 4K, with drops of 26.9% and 35.3%. The remarkable consistency across all four presets — approximately 26-27% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and 35% reduction from 1440p to 4K — strongly indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at all resolutions above 1080p.

The CPU's performance does not scale with resolution in the same way. With its 3DMark scores showing strong multithreaded capability (12412 at max threads) and single-thread performance (1136), the i7-13700K is unlikely to be the bottleneck even at 1080p where frame rates reach 200 FPS. The fact that the 1080p-to-1440p drop is consistent across settings suggests the GPU is already the limiting factor at 1080p, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom to feed the GPU at all tested resolutions.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo produces its highest frame rates across all presets. Low settings achieve an average of 200 FPS. Medium settings deliver 142 FPS average with a minimum of 121 FPS and a maximum of 163 FPS, providing a solid window of performance. High settings reach 124 FPS average. Ultra settings drop to 93 FPS average. All four presets at 1080p exceed 90 FPS, making this resolution viable for high-refresh-rate monitors even at maximum graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but noticeably lower. Low settings produce 147 FPS average. Medium settings deliver 104 FPS average with a minimum of 88 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS, keeping the experience smooth for most displays. High settings achieve 91 FPS average. Ultra settings drop to 68 FPS average. The Medium preset at 1440p offers the best balance, with the 88 FPS minimum still comfortably above standard 60 Hz refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings produce 95 FPS average, which is still playable. Medium settings deliver 67 FPS average with a minimum of 57 FPS and a maximum of 77 FPS, putting the minimum dangerously close to 60 FPS thresholds. High settings achieve 59 FPS average, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings drop to 44 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS target and may feel stuttery in fast-paced FPS action.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all three resolutions. At 1080p, the range spans 121-163 FPS; at 1440p, it spans 88-120 FPS; at 4K, it spans 57-77 FPS. This data shows that the performance variance, measured as the difference between minimum and maximum FPS, is 42 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and 20 FPS at 4K. The narrowing variance at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU becomes more consistently saturated, reducing frame time spikes but also capping maximum performance.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific configuration of the Intel Core i7-13700K with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 ranks 1275 out of 2828 tested combinations in Lockdown Protocol. This places the combo in the top 45.1% of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms 1553 combinations and trails 1274 others. The mid-pack ranking is notable given the CPU's high individual standing.

The CPU's 89th percentile ranking among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 46881, places it well above the median CPU. Its nearest rivals — the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX, and Intel Xeon w3-2535 — all score within 0.5% of the i7-13700K, indicating that any of these CPUs would likely produce similar results in this game when paired with the same GPU.

The GPU's 58th percentile ranking among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 15852, is the more limiting factor in this pairing. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862, 0.1% higher), AMD Radeon RX 9060 (16014, 1% higher), AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679, 1.1% lower), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129, 1.7% higher). The RX 7700's position just below the RTX 3060 Ti in aggregate GPU benchmarks helps contextualize its Lockdown Protocol performance.

The gap between the CPU's high percentile (89th) and the GPU's more modest percentile (58th) explains why the combo ranks near the middle of all tested systems. In CPU-bound scenarios or at lower resolutions, this combo punches above its weight; in GPU-bound scenarios at higher resolutions, the GPU caps performance. The 4K Ultra result of 44 FPS and the 1080p Low result of 200 FPS illustrate this dual nature well.

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

For 1920x1080, the Medium preset at 142 FPS with a 121-163 FPS range offers the best overall experience. It provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, smooth frame pacing, and better visual quality than Low. The High preset at 124 FPS is also viable, but the 18 FPS difference between Medium and High does not justify the visual improvement for most players. Ultra at 93 FPS is playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset at 104 FPS with an 88-120 FPS range is the recommended choice. The 88 FPS minimum ensures consistent smoothness on 60 Hz displays and remains adequate for 100 Hz monitors. High at 91 FPS is acceptable, but the 13 FPS reduction from Medium may not be worth the graphical gains. Ultra at 68 FPS is borderline, and Low at 147 FPS sacrifices too much visual quality for a frame rate that exceeds display capabilities.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 95 FPS is the only option that provides a comfortable experience, though it sacrifices significant visual fidelity. Medium at 67 FPS with a 57-77 FPS range is playable but risks dropping below 60 FPS in demanding scenes. High at 59 FPS is marginal, and Ultra at 44 FPS is not recommended for a fast-paced FPS game. Players prioritizing 4K should accept Low or Medium settings; those prioritizing visual quality should consider dropping to 1440p.

Overall, the data indicates that 1440p Medium provides the best balance of visual quality and performance for this combo, with 1080p Medium as a strong alternative for higher refresh rate displays. The GPU's limits at 4K mean that resolution should only be pursued with reduced settings, and the CPU's strength ensures it will not be the limiting factor in any configuration tested.