Lockdown Protocol

Lockdown Protocol is a demanding FPS title, and the combination of an Intel Core i7-13700K with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 produces a highly resolution-dependent experience. The benchmark data clearly shows that this pairing is capable of delivering smooth frame rates at 1080p, but struggles to maintain playability as pixel count increases. This analysis examines the measured performance across three resolutions and four quality presets, focusing on what these numbers reveal about the balance between the CPU and GPU in this specific configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep performance cliff as resolution scales from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 128 FPS, which drops to 98 FPS at 1440p and further to 61.2 FPS at 4K. This represents a 52.2% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. The scaling pattern is consistent across all presets, but the severity of the drop varies significantly. With High settings, the average FPS falls from 78.4 at 1080p to 56.6 at 1440p, then plummets to 40.3 at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic decline, starting at 61.1 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 43.9 at 1440p, and collapsing to 28 FPS at 4K.

This scaling behavior is a classic indicator of GPU limitation. The GTX 1070’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus width are being saturated as the render resolution increases. The data shows that the gap between the CPU’s capability and the GPU’s output widens with every step up in resolution. At 1080p, the i7-13700K has ample headroom to feed the GPU, resulting in higher frame rates. However, at 4K, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck, as evidenced by the Ultra preset’s 28 FPS average, which is below the threshold for comfortable playable frame rates. The data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring significant settings compromises to achieve acceptable performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the primary limiting factor in this configuration for Lockdown Protocol. Its benchmark profile shows a 51st percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12331. The card’s specifications include 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. The core operates at a base clock of 1506 MHz with a boost clock of 1683 MHz, and the memory runs at 2002 MHz with an 8 Gbps effective data rate. These figures place the GTX 1070 in a middle-tier position, and the measured game performance reflects this.

The memory configuration is particularly relevant for Lockdown Protocol. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K with High or Ultra settings, the demand for texture data and frame buffer space likely exceeds the available memory, causing performance to suffer. The data supports this: at 4K, the average FPS drops from 61.2 on Low to 45 on Medium, and further to 40.3 on High, before falling to 28 on Ultra. This progressive decline indicates that the GPU is struggling with both memory capacity and compute throughput. The card’s raw compute capability, measured at 6.463 TFLOPS FP32, is modest by modern standards, and the 1920 shading units are working hard at higher resolutions. The GTX 1070’s role in this pairing is clear: it provides acceptable performance at lower resolutions and settings, but it cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K serves as the strong foundation in this pairing, offering substantial processing power that far exceeds the demands of Lockdown Protocol at the tested settings. The CPU features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark results are impressive, with a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 47282. In multi-threaded tests, the CPU scores 39000 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 45887 in Passmark multithread, demonstrating its capability to handle heavy workloads. Single-thread performance is also strong, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2850 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4333.

The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this game. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 128 FPS, which suggests the CPU can handle frame generation well beyond what the GPU can render. The i7-13700K’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700KF with a delta of -0.1%, and the AMD EPYC 4364P with a delta of 0.3%, indicating that this CPU is on par with its closest competitors. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 provide ample bandwidth for game logic and asset streaming. In Lockdown Protocol, the CPU’s role is to maintain consistent frame pacing and handle the game’s simulation, which it does effectively. The measured FPS at 1080p across all presets (ranging from 61.1 on Ultra to 128 on Low) indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor; rather, the GPU’s rendering capabilities cap the performance.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Lockdown Protocol, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 1403 out of 1637 total combos. This places it in the lower 15th percentile of all tested configurations, which is a surprising result given the CPU’s high performance. The rank reflects the overall gaming experience, which is heavily weighted by the GPU’s ability to render frames. The GTX 1070’s 51st percentile ranking among GPUs drags down the combo’s overall standing, despite the CPU’s 93rd percentile ranking.

This disparity between the CPU and GPU performance is the defining characteristic of this combo. The i7-13700K is capable of supporting much higher frame rates, as evidenced by its benchmark scores, but the GTX 1070 cannot deliver them in Lockdown Protocol. The combo rank of 1403 suggests that many other pairings, likely those with more balanced CPU-GPU configurations, outperform this setup. For context, the CPU’s nearest rivals (i7-13700KF, EPYC 4364P, i9-12900F, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945) all have similar average scores with deltas within 0.5%, so the CPU choice is not the issue. The GPU’s nearest rivals (Quadro K4200, GTX 880M, GTX 1650 SUPER, Tesla K20Xm) show that the GTX 1070 is in a competitive but not dominant position. The data indicates that this combo is CPU-heavy and GPU-light, which is reflected in its low overall rank.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 128 FPS, and even at High settings it maintains 78.4 FPS, which is smooth for a fast-paced FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Barely, and only at lower settings. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 61.2, but this drops to 45 on Medium, 40.3 on High, and 28 on Ultra. The 4K Ultra result of 28 FPS is not playable for competitive FPS gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this setup?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU benchmarks in the 93rd percentile, while the GPU is in the 51st percentile. The FPS scaling pattern with resolution confirms that the GTX 1070 is limiting performance.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 1403 out of 1637 combos, placing it in the lower portion of the database. This is due to the GPU’s modest performance relative to the high-end CPU.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the combo achieves 128 FPS on Low and 61.1 FPS on Ultra. This is a significant 52.3% drop in performance when switching to the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the GTX 1070’s VRAM affect performance?

A: Yes. With 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, the card struggles at 4K with higher settings. The FPS drops sharply from 61.2 on Low to 28 on Ultra at 4K, suggesting VRAM capacity and bandwidth are strained at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience with this combo, the measured data points to specific settings that balance visual quality with playable frame rates. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers 93.6 FPS, which is an excellent balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the Low preset at 1080p achieves 128 FPS, providing a competitive advantage in a fast-paced FPS. The High preset at 1080p is also viable, with 78.4 FPS, but it represents a compromise compared to Medium.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields 66.3 FPS, which is still playable for most casual players, but the Low preset at 98 FPS is the safer choice for maintaining high refresh rates. The High preset at 1440p drops to 56.6 FPS, which is approaching the lower boundary of acceptable performance for an FPS. At 4K, the Low preset is the only option that provides a playable experience, with 61.2 FPS, but even this is borderline for competitive play. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 45 FPS, and High falls to 40.3 FPS. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as it produces 28 FPS at 4K and 43.9 FPS at 1440p, which are not recommended for this genre.

The data suggests that the optimal configuration for this hardware pairing is 1080p with Medium settings, offering a 93.6 FPS average that balances visual clarity with responsive gameplay. If the monitor supports higher refresh rates, dropping to Low at 1080p yields 128 FPS for maximum smoothness. For 1440p users, Medium is the highest preset that maintains a comfortable frame rate above 60 FPS. This combo is best treated as a 1080p gaming solution, with 1440p as a secondary option at lower settings, and 4K reserved for less demanding titles or for players who accept sub-60 FPS performance.